Let’s get ready to rumble in the biggest, baddest, and boldest showdown in automotive history. These two are not just your ordinary pickup trucks; these are heavy-duty trucks with bodies of high-grade steel and engines made of raw performance capability. Their rivalry has been going on for ages, and it’s about time they get some satisfaction by facing off head to head in the ring. The battle you’ve all been waiting for: The 2018 Chevy Silverado 3500HD vs 2018 Ford F-150. Three rounds, two trucks, and only one winner!
Meet the Contestants
It’s time to get a closer look at the contestants before they square off in a battle where no one is holding back. Just looking at them will give you a thrill, but let’s see what they truly have to offer.
The 2018 “Heavyweight Heartthrob” Chevy Silverado 3500HD
In this corner, you have the Heavyweight Heartthrob Silverado 3500 who can win over the masses with a single glance. This heavy-duty truck is ready to strike with its stunningly bold appearance and highly-efficient performance capability. This beast also has all the tech you could ever dream of, taking it from brute to brilliant. Its coach, Chevy, has trained this ride long and hard to become the people’s choice of hardworking vehicles. This contestant may be the underdog in size and power, but it most certainly isn’t ready to go out without a fight.
The 2018 “Tower of Terror” Ford F-350
And in this corner, you have the tower of terror F-350. This contestant got its name not only because of its massive towing potential but also because it towers over all its enemies. This rude ride has been best-in-class for years, and its coach, Ford, is known to be the toughest in the business. Beastly power and authoritative style have never been more impressively displayed in one ride. If you want to place your bets now, the F-350 is the easy choice.
Round One: Style
Ding Ding
Here we go, the first round of the battle is all based on style. The style is a vital part of any automotive purchase. This is where many drivers first see the vehicle and make their decision based on how attractive it is.
The 2018 Silverado 3500 gives drivers the perfect balance of commanding power and everyday efficiency. Driving a Silverado will gain you all the authoritative attention you desire without sticking out like a sore thumb. This is because the Silverado 3500 is not only bold but clean in design. This model also gets a few hits off with its refined cabin design that is quiet and simplistically stylish.
The 2018 F-350, on the other hand, is just begging for all the attention it can get with its obnoxious grille design that presents a whole lot of boldness but not a bit of clean delicacy that would make it refreshing. The inside offers nothing different as it keeps to a very bold and straightforward design scheme.
Both offer big headlights and mirrors for increased flair and visibility and proudly display their manufacturer’s logo to show who the true fans are. That being said it seems the clear winner of this round is the 2018 Chevy Silverado 3500HD for its balance of bold refinement.
Round Two: Performance
Ding Ding
Round two has begun, and it is all about performance capability now. Considering these are both heavy-duty trucks this should be a real heavy hitting round.
The 2018 Silverado 3500 offers its drivers two commanding V8 engines that give out more power than most drivers even know what to do with. The standard Vortec 6.0L V8 engine provides 360 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque with variable valve timing (VVT) for performance optimization. This engine is paired with a handy six-speed automatic transmission and is offered in a flex-fuel E85 capability model for little extra flexibility in your fuel options. The advanced option is everyone’s favorite diesel engine. The Duramax 6.6L Turbo-diesel V8 engine with 455hp and 910 lb-ft of torque comes paired with a six-speed Allison automatic transmission and can really provide you with nearly limitless performance capability.
The 2018 F-350 offers its own commanding engine lineup with a 6.2L V8 engine with 385 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque as the standard option and a 6.7L V8 Turbo Diesel engine 450 hp and 936 lb-ft of torque as the advanced option. These are some of the best engines in the automotive world when it comes to power and toughness. The standard option also offers flexible fuel options just like the Silverado 3500. These engines are both paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission for effortless handling.
Just because we know the engine types doesn’t mean this round is over just yet, these two must also battle it out in towing potential and fuel economy. The 2018 Silverado 3500 offers drivers an overwhelming 23,300 pounds of raw towing capacity and a respectable 19 mpg highway in fuel efficiency. The 2018 F-350, on the other hand, kills with 27,500 pounds of max towing capacity when properly customized and equipped, but it takes a hit with only 16 mpg highway.
Overall the winner of this round seems to be the 2018 Ford F-350 for its massive engines and towing potential. The 2018 Silverado 3500 sure did put up an amazing fight for such an underdog with its slightly less commanding hp, torque, and towing, and it’s impressive fuel efficiency.
Round Three: Features
Ding Ding
We are in the final round now, and the score is one round each. This is turning out to be an intense battle that seems to have no clear winner in sight, but we will see if the features round will change that.
The 2018 Chevy Silverado 3500 is just as brilliant as it is bold with Chevy’s signature MyLink infotainment system. This advanced system links you to pretty much anything via Bluetooth technology and your personal smartphone. Any Apple or Android phone will connect easily to your Silverado and offer you an intimidating list of features for your safety and convenience. Making and receiving calls while on the road may not be the safest thing, but with MyLink you can do it without your eyes even leaving the road, or your hands leaving the wheel. You can also play your personal playlist when the radio starts to annoy you by playing the same songs over and over. You will also gain access to a long list of apps, like maps, which will easily keep you from getting lost. This model also offers a standard USB port for your convenience
The 2018 Ford F-350 also offers its own infotainment system in the form of Sync3. This system is fairly user-friendly and offers the same connectivity options as MyLink, putting these two on an even playing field again.
These two also offer a long list of safety technology despite being large and in charge of heavy-duty trucks. Chevy keeps up its preventative measures with awareness-through-sensor technology, and Ford protects with that same bold exterior. Basically, when it comes to safety, these two are tit for tat with their active and passive safety measures, and both will cost you more if you want anything other than airbags and a rearview camera.
So round three ends in a draw, leaving this battle one for the ages!
Closing Remarks
So the battle is over, and things end in a draw. Some may say this is a disappointment, but a true truck fan will see this as a sign of how far we have come to have two such legendary fighters on our streets. The simple fact is if you want power, the F-350 will never let you down, but if you want something more efficient for everyday use, the Silverado 3500 is a dream come true.
