When looking at the full-size truck landscape, there are several excellent options out there. Realistically you can’t go wrong with any of the American made pickups. In fact, the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado 1500, and the Ram 1500 are the three top-selling vehicles (not just trucks) in the United States. It says something when customers keep coming back to the Big Three when purchasing a new pickup. Each of these manufacturers has moved on to the next 2020 model year, and before you know it, you’ll be hearing about the 2021 trims, most likely at the Detroit Auto Show coming up. But that doesn’t mean some of the older models can’t deliver impressive specs and performance potential. You’ll still find plenty of 2019 editions on lots around the country. Even with the new 2020 trims available, dealerships are looking to move these 2019 models, which means now is a fantastic time to buy the year-old model. But which is right for you? Here’s everything you need to know when comparing the 2019 Chevy Silverado vs 2019 Ford F-150 pickups.
Comparing the Initial Cost
Comparing the MSRP is a bit tricky with the older model years. While these are still new (so there’s no need to look up a Kelley Blue Book value), most dealerships around the country are offering deals and discounts to move the 2019 models to make room for the 2020 editions. So keep that in mind when considering the MSRP, as there’s a good chance you may be able to land a deal for under that price.
The starting MSRP on a 2019 Chevy Silverado is $28,300. At first blush, the $28,155 for the cheapest Ford F-150 might sound like a good deal, but it’s important to point out this is a regular, 2-door cab. If you went with the double cab (or SuperCab, as Ford calls it), the MSRP would jump to $32,240, or $40 more than the Chevy with the double-cab.
Engines and Performance Features
With the base Chevy Silverado Work Truck (WT), the pickup comes standard with a 4.3L V6. It produces 285 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque. The base Ford F-150 (XL) comes with a smaller 3.3L V6 that produces 290 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. Overall, the Chevy Silverado 1500 has 5 available engines, and the F-150 has 6, but only including the Ford Raptors engine. When it comes to which truck is easier to customize, that is going to fall on you, but you will find that there is a greater chance to pick specific engines on the Chevy.
When considering the High Country Silverado 1500, it comes standard with a 5.3L V8 that produces 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. With this top model, you do have the option of going with a smaller I4 turbocharged engine (the 2.7 I4 produces 310 horsepower and 348 lb-ft. of torque). You can also go with the standard V6 if you’d rather have this engine as well. There is a fourth option if you get the model in four-wheel drive, a 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 engine that gets 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The top-tier Ford F-150 models, including both the Limited and the Raptor, use a Twin Turbo V6. While smaller than the V8, it does turn out 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque.
The Towing Capacity You Need
The towing potential for both the Chevy Silverado and the Ford F-150 depends on the trim option and add-ons you go with. The base Chevy Silverado 1500 can tow up to 9,800 lbs. However, the base Ford F-150 is only able to tow 5,000 lbs. This is less than what many smaller, compact pickups can do (an upper-trim Chevy Colorado can tow more than this).
Now, if you went to max potential towing, the Chevy Silverado is able to tow up to 12,200 lbs while the Ford F-150 Limited can tow 13,200. One thing to consider with this though, is while the Limited does come essentially full-loaded, you will still need to make some additions and go with the Twin Turbo V6 to get this. The Chevy Silverado can hit the 12,200 lbs without any significant add-ons. This means the pickup that’s already over $10,000 less than the Ford becomes an even better bang for your towing buck.
Keeping You Entertained
Both of the base trims come rather bare-boned in terms of entertainment features. However, as you climb up the trim options, you’ll discover the pickups come with some significant entertainment features.
For the base Chevy Silverado, the pickup comes with AM/FM stereo, an AUX input, MP3 player, smart device integration via Bluetooth, and an optional WiFi hotspot. On the Ford F-150, you will have an AM/FM stereo and AUX input as standard. That’s it. You can add on satellite radio, MP3 compatibility, and smart device integration. However, all of this costs extra, and you don’t have the ability to go with WiFi as it isn’t offered on this trim.
On the Chevy Silverado 1500 High Country, the truck comes standard with everything you might want. This includes AM/FM stereo, HD radio, AUX jack, MP3 compatible, a premium sound system, satellite radio, smart device integration, WiFi hotspot, onboard hands-free communications system, and a navigation system.
On the Ford F-150 Limited, the pickup comes with the Ford SYNC entertainment system, which provides smart device integration, onboard hands-free communications, and navigation. It also features AM/FM stereo, an AUX jack, MP3 compatibility, a premium sound system, HD radio, satellite radio, and a WiFi hotspot.
It’s important to point out that you will receive a free trial of satellite radio after purchasing the vehicle (typically three months/90 days, although this might vary depending on your purchase agreement). The WiFi hotspot is available as well, but you will need to purchase a data plan, similar to what you’d do when adding data to a tablet.
Which Pickup Is Right For You?
So, which pickup is right for you? Are you a Chevy fan, or are you someone who goes with the classic Ford F-150? The F-150 uses aluminum, which may or may not be something you’re looking for. Ford claims it reduces insurance costs, but we’ve heard plenty of people say their insurance costs increased after purchasing the new aluminum Ford F-150. Does that even matter to you? With so many truck options out there, chances are you’ll find a make and model perfect for your needs. But what are you looking for in a pickup? Do you shop around purely for towing potential and engine power? Would you go with a smaller V6 over a V8 that has more horsepower? Or is the sound of a V-8 coming to life part of the thrill of driving such a vehicle? Let us know in the comments! We’d love to get your opinion.
