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Ford F-150 vs Ram 1500

2026 Ford F-150 vs 2026 Ram 1500 — two standard pickup trucks compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Ford F-150

2026 Ford F-150

Standard Pickup Trucks 2WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV
VS4 – 2Ford F-150 wins 4 of 6 categories
Ram 1500

2026 Ram 1500

Standard Pickup Trucks 2WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

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The short version

The Ford F-150 is more fuel-efficient: 24 vs 22 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $250 a year less in fuel for the Ford F-150 (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Ram 1500 is the bigger car, about 22 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Ram 1500 has had fewer recall campaigns (96 vs 124).

The two cars

The 2026 Ford F-150 is a standard pickup truck offered with 4 engines (3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 2.7L 6-cyl turbo, 5.0L 8-cyl and 5.2L 8-cyl), including a hybrid version and rear-wheel drive and part-time 4-wheel drive. It measures about 241 inches long and 80 inches wide on a 157-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 5,584 lb (Hybrid P/U Supercrew 6.5-Ft Box 4X4).

The 2026 Ram 1500 is a standard pickup truck offered with 4 engines (3.6L 6-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 5.7L 8-cyl and 6.2L 8-cyl), including a hybrid version and rear-wheel drive, 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 233 inches long and 80 inches wide on a 145-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,971 lb (Crew Cab 5.7-Ft Box 2WD).

Buying used? The 2024 F-150 and the 2024 1500 have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2018 F-150 and the 2015 1500.

Basics

Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD
Class
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD
Hybrid, Regular Gasoline, Premium Gasoline
Fuel
Hybrid, Regular Gasoline, Premium Gasoline
3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 2.7L 6-cyl turbo, 5.0L 8-cyl, 5.2L 8-cyl
Engines
3.6L 6-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 5.7L 8-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl
Rear-Wheel Drive, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

24 MPG
Best combined MPG
22 MPG
23 city
City / highway MPG (best)
20 city
$2,800
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$3,050

Performance & space

–
Horsepower (most powerful)
540 hp
–
Seats (most)
5
206.7 in
Length
229.1 in
79.9 in
Width
79.5 in
75.2 in
Height
77.6 in
4,220 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
4,800 lb

Safety & reliability

10
Driver-assist features standard
11
8
Recalls (2026)
9
124
Recalls, all years since 2005
96
18
Owner complaints (latest year)
103

Interest

37,618
Wikipedia views, 30 days
6,559

Buying used

2024
Best used year
2024
2018
Year to avoid
2015

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Ford F-150 if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (24 vs 22 MPG)
  • You want something easier to park (22 in shorter)

Choose the Ram 1500 if…

  • You want more room (22 in longer)
  • You put reliability history first (96 vs 124 recalls since 2005)

Pros & cons of each

2026 Ford F-150

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 24 MPG combined — 17% better than the average 2026 standard pickup truck (20.5 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

2026 Ram 1500

  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Full 2026 Ford F-150 specs →Full 2026 Ram 1500 specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →