Compare the2024 Ram 1500 ClassicVS 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Both the Ram 1500 Classic and the Silverado 1500 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive and front and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ram 1500 Classic is safer than the Chevrolet Silverado 1500:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Ram 1500 Classic is safer than the Chevrolet Silverado 1500:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Ram 1500 Classic’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Silverado 1500’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Ram 1500 Classic’s reliability 14 points higher than the Silverado 1500.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ram vehicles are better in initial quality than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ram second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked fifth.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Ram vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ram 5 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

On the EPA test cycle the Ram 1500 Classic gets better mileage than the Silverado 1500:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ram 1500 Classic uses regular unleaded gasoline (mid-grade octane recommended with the 5.7 V8 engine for maximum performance). The Silverado 1500 with the 6.2 V8 engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 31.4 cents more per gallon.

The Ram 1500 Classic’s standard fuel tank has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Silverado 1500 Diesel Short/Standard Bed’s standard fuel tank (26 vs. 22 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Ram 1500 Classic’s standard fuel tank has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Silverado 1500 Double/Crew Cab’s standard fuel tank (26 vs. 24 gallons). The Ram 1500 Classic’s optional fuel tank has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Silverado 1500 Regular Cab Long Bed’s standard fuel tank (32 vs. 28.3 gallons).

For better stopping power the Ram 1500 Classic’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Silverado 1500:

The Ram 1500 Classic stops much shorter than the Silverado 1500:

For better traction, the Ram 1500 Classic has larger standard tires than the Silverado 1500 (265/70R17 vs. 255/70R17).

The Ram 1500 Classic has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Ram 1500 Classic flat and controlled during cornering. The Silverado 1500’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The front and rear suspension of the Ram 1500 Classic uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Silverado 1500, which uses leaf springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The Ram 1500 Classic has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Silverado 1500 doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Ram 1500 Classic’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Silverado 1500 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Ram 1500 Classic standard bed Quad Cab 4x4 handles at .77 G’s, while the Silverado 1500 Short Box ZR2 Crew Cab pulls only .70 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Ram 1500 Classic’s turning circle is tighter than the Silverado 1500’s:

The Ram 1500 Classic is shorter than the Silverado 1500, making the Ram 1500 Classic easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces:

The front grille of the Ram 1500 Classic uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Silverado 1500 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Ram 1500 Classic Quad Cab has 2 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Silverado 1500 Double Cab.

The Ram 1500 Classic Crew Cab has 2 inches more front hip room, 3 inches more rear hip room and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Silverado 1500 Crew Cab.

The Ram 1500 Classic has a standard tailgate assist feature, which prevents the heavy tailgate from falling with a crash and causing injury. It allows adults and children to easily open and close the tailgate with one hand to better facilitate loading and unloading. Tailgate assist costs extra on the Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

The Ram 1500 Classic has stake post holes, to allow the containment of tall, light loads. The Silverado 1500 doesn’t offer stake post holes.

The Ram 1500 Classic offers an optional under hood light to help in making nighttime maintenance checks, adding fluids, etc. The Silverado 1500 doesn’t offer an under hood light.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Ram 1500 Classic, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ram 1500 Classic second among large light duty pickups in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Silverado 1500 isn’t in the top three.

The Ram 1500 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 5 more times in the last 6 years. The Silverado hasn’t been picked since 2008, and the Silverado has only been chosen 5 times.

Motor Trend selected the 1500 as their 2019 Truck of the Year. The Silverado was Truck of the Year in 2011.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the 1500 as the 2019 North American Truck of the Year. The Silverado was last chosen in 2014.