2018 GMC Sierra vs. 2018 RAM 1500
Trucks are more popular than ever. They give you the size and capability for towing, hauling, and moving, while they also give you the comfort and technology you need as well.
Buying a truck is a big decision. It can be hard to know which one to choose. That’s why we are doing a head-to-head comparison of two popular truck options: the 2018 GMC Sierra and the 2018 RAM 1500. These trucks are both strong and capable with some great features.
Below, we will take a look at the interior and exterior size comparison, the performance comparison and the features comparison. Then, you can decide which truck is the one for you.
Interior and Exterior Size Comparison
On the outside, the Sierra has more cargo volume than the RAM. The Sierra gives you 61 cubic feet of cargo volume, this includes a cargo box length of 78.87 inches. The RAM, however, gives you 50.3 cubic feet of cargo space including 67.4 inches for the cargo box length. On the inside, the Sierra can also seat up to six passengers comfortably, while the RAM can only seat five passengers.
Overall, on the interior and the exterior, the 2018 GMC Sierra offers you more space than the 2018 RAM 1500. That is an important consideration for passengers as well as cargo.
Performance Comparison
Next, let’s take a look at what’s powering each of these trucks. The Sierra 1500 has a 4.3-liter V6 engine as its base engine option. This engine gives you 285-horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque.
This truck also has to V8 engine options for those who are looking to do more towing and hauling. These options include the 5.3-liter V8 engine that gives you 355-horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. If you are looking for even more power than that, you can check out the 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces 420-horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque.
The Sierra also has one more unique option for you, a mild hybrid powertrain. You can get the Sierra eAssist which is a 5.3-liter V8 engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor. This last option gives you 355-horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque.
You get the best fuel economy with the eAssist and the V6 engine. Both of these engines give you 18 city miles per gallon and 24 highway miles per gallon.
For the RAM 1500, your standard engine option is the 305-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine that gives you 269 pound-feet of torque.
This truck has two other engine options if you want to upgrade for more ability. The 5.7-liter V8 engine gives you 395-horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. Your other option is the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 engine that gives you 240-horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque.
For fuel economy, the V6 engine is your best fuel economy option with 17 city miles per gallon and 25 highway miles per gallon.
Overall, these vehicles have some similarities when it comes to performance. Their V6 engines are similar in terms of fuel economy. The Sierra’s V6 has more torque while the RAM’s has more horsepower. However, if you are looking for the most powerful engine of the bunch, it can be found on the Sierra, it is the 6.2-liter V8 engine with 420-horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque.
The Sierra can also do the most towing and hauling with towing capabilities up to 12,500 pounds and a max payload of 2,250. The RAM 1500 can’t match that with towing up to 10,640 and a max payload of 1,880.
Features Comparison
Finally, let’s take a look at the features available on each vehicle. Below, we will simply look at the trim level options and what features each option has as well as price to give you a general idea of the options you have.
The GMC Sierra has four trim options. The base option is just called the GMC Sierra and it starts out at a price of $28,705. This base trim gives you features such as a rearview camera, Teen Driver, the IntelliLink infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen. This trim also gives you Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Your next Sierra option is the Sierra SLE for $35,405. This upgrades you to features like OnStar 4G LTE with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, an upgrade infotainment system and more. The SLT costs $42,530 and it comes standard with the 355-horsepower V8 engine. It also gives you features like leather upholstery and heated front seats.
Finally, you have the Denali trim option. This is the luxury option and it includes premium features like a seven-speaker Bose audio system, wireless device charging, forward collision alert, forward automatic braking and more. The Denali starts at $52,605.
For the RAM 1500, you have five trim options. The first is the Tradesman which starts off at $27,095 and it gives you a rearview camera and an audio system. You have to pay more to add an infotainment system. The Sport is the next trim. This has a starting price of $36,895, and it gives you the option of the V6 or V8 engine. The Sport includes features like heated front seats and an 8.4-inch infotainment system.
The Laramie starts off at $40,145 and it adds features like ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control. The Longhorn trim costs you $50,095 and it gives you the V8 engine standard. Finally, you can get the Limited trim for $53,295 and it is the top-of-the-line, giving you almost every feature you want standard.
The pricing on these trucks is very similar. The base model of the Sierra is about $1,000 more expensive than the base model of the RAM, while the high-end RAM is more expensive than the high-end Sierra. It is important to note that the Sierra gives you a lot of technology standard starting off in the base model, and the RAM asks you to pay for a lot of their technology. This will probably make the Sierra more affordable in the long run.
Which is Right For You?
Which truck is the right truck for you? If we look over all the information, it seems that the Sierra wins this comparison. It has more space for passengers and cargo, it has a stronger engine and more towing capacity, and it also has great features for a competitive price.
You have to pick the truck that’s best for you, but we think the Sierra wins this battle.