Chevrolet Silverado vs Ford F-150
It’s Ford vs Chevy, aluminum vs steel, F-150 vs Silverado. The battle for best half ton truck has raged for years and shows no signs of stopping. The Ford F-Series has been the best-selling truck brand for 38 years and recently advanced to a light-weight aluminum-alloy body. The 2015 Chevrolet Silverado is in its second year of a very attractive redesign. Can Chevy edge out Ford in the ultra-competitive US truck market? Find out as we compare specs, design, performance, safety, and features of the Chevrolet Silverado vs Ford F-150.
Chevrolet Silverado (base)
Engine: 4.3L V6
Horsepower: 285
Fuel Economy: 18 City / 24 Hwy
MSRP: From $26,520
2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Review
Design:
Now in its second generation since redesign, the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado has a bolder presence on the road than ever before. Starting with the front, the Silverado has a menacing and blunt presence with large mesh grille, stacked headlights, and dual-dome hood. Flared fenders plus additional side and rear sculpting enhance the modern appearance of the 2015 Silverado. This year, 4 new colors are available: Deep Ocean Blue Metallic, Sunrise Metallic, Rain Forrest Metallic, and Pewter Metallic.
©General Motors
Step inside, and you’ll find a simplified and upright instrument panel designed with ease of use in mind. Materials in the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado are higher quality than ever before. Stain-resistant high-wear vinyl, cloth, or leather will accommodate those who work in and out of their truck on a daily basis.
©General Motors
Cargo space inside the Silverado is impressive, with upper and lower glove box, rear seat storage box, and more. The Crew Cab is roomy enough for 4 adults, while the Double Cab still has some passenger room in the back seats. There are 3 bed lengths available: 5’8”, 6’6”, and 8’.
Performance:
The base Chevy Silverado 1500 comes with a 4.3L V6. This engine boasts the most torque of any standard V6 in its class, with 305 lb-ft. It also is the first V6 pickup with Active Fuel Management. While this should be enough for most drivers, upgraded options include the 5.3L V8, and a 6.2L V8. The high-powered 6.2L engine has a trailering capacity up to 12,000 lbs.
©General Motors
With 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway, the 4.3L V6 is the most efficient option in the lineup. The 5.3L V8 achieves 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. The top 6.2L V8 achieves 15 mpg city and 21 mpg highway.
Safety:
The 2015 Chevrolet Silverado achieved a 5-star crash test rating from the NHTSA, while the IIHS has not completed full testing on the truck. Standard safety features include Hill Start Assist, head-curtain side airbags with rollover protection, StabiliTrak with Trailer Sway Control, and more. Available features include lane departure warnings, rear camera, front and rear park assist, and forward collision alerts.
Features:
Every Silverado 1500 will come with a few perks like keyless entry and dual USB ports. The list of upgraded features is large and impressive, with options such as WiFi, sunroof, Chevrolet MyLink, navigation, 8.0-inch touch screen, 12-V outlets, additional USB ports, additional towing features, dealer maintenance notifications, and more.
Ford F-150 Overview (base)
Engine: 3.7L V6
Horsepower: 325
Fuel Economy: 18 City / 25 Hwy
MSRP: From $26,030
2015 Ford F-150
Design:
On the outside, the 2015 Ford F-150 is very recognizable. The front of this truck features the expected upright grille, C-shaped headlights, and a muscular hood. Sides of the F-150 have sharp sculpting toward the bottom of the truck, which matches the sharply sculpted tailgate. Those thinking ahead to resale value should note, the all new aluminum body won’t rust.
Interior design of the Ford F-150 is angular with mostly large, hard buttons. The interior is designed with work in mind. Standard materials are of decent quality, but the wood trim and leather found in upper trims are much more impressive.
The regular cab of the F-150 has plenty of room up front with some passenger room in the rear, while SuperCab and SuperCrew models have room for up to 6 adults. Storage space is ample, thanks to features such as a huge center console and rear seats that fold up, revealing a large and flat storage floor. The 3 available bed lengths are roughly 5’7”, 6’7”, and 8’2”.
Performance:
Most notable in the Ford F-150 is the all new aluminum-alloy body, which makes the F-150 up to 700 pounds lighter and improves overall performance. The base 3.5L V6 has plenty of towing power, but is often overshadowed by the more efficient 2.7L EcoBoost engine with standard stop/start technology. This little engine can tow up to 8,500 pounds, meeting the needs of most drivers. For maximum speed and towing, check out the 5.0L V8, which touts up to 12,000 pound maximum tow weight.
2.7L EcoBoost Engine
Ford’s truck is currently the most efficient in its class, with the 2.7L engine that achieves 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. The less expensive 3.5L V6 achieves 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.
Safety:
The 2015 Ford F-150 has proved that aluminum can match the safety of steel, thanks to a 5-star crash test rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS concurs by making this year’s F-150 a Top Safety Pick. Notable safety features include second-row inflatable seat belts, Curve Control, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitors, 360 degree camera, and more.
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)
Features:
The Ford F-150 XL (base) trim comes with manual windows and locks, AC, tilting/telescoping steering wheel. Ford has an impressive lineup of optional feature and body combinations, but some of the most notable features include Ford SYNC, power sliding rear window, remote tailgate, twin panel power moonroof, tailgate step, box side steps, 110V outlet, pro trailer backup assist, and much more.
Chevrolet Silverado vs Ford F-150 Winner:
Base model: Chevrolet Silverado
While the base Ford F-150 comes with virtually no perks, the Chevrolet Silverado feels more like a modern truck at its lowest price point, and will still have plenty of power to get the job done.
Upgrades: Ford F-150
Ford has a myriad of available features and trims, from off-road ready to luxurious, the F-150 can become nearly any truck you want it to be. Not to mention that beefy V8 engine with top of the line payload and towing capacity.
Overall Winner: 2015 Ford F-150
For 38 years, Ford F-Series has been the best-selling brand of truck. There’s no sign of this stopping, as the 2015 Ford F-150 truly delivers. The all-new aluminum body is a step forward in the automotive industry. This lighter body makes the F-150 more powerful and efficient, without compromising safety. It’s a close matchup when you compare the Chevrolet Silverado vs Ford F-150, but the 2015 Ford F-150 wins this year thanks to superior power and ground-breaking use of aluminum-alloy.
