Compare the2026 Ram 1500VS 2026 GMC Sierra 1500

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ram 1500 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The GMC Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Ram 1500 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Sierra 1500’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Ram 1500 has standard Rear Cross Path Detection, helping the driver avoid collisions. GMC charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Sierra 1500.

The Ram 1500 (except Tradesman/Express/Warlock)’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Ram 1500 and the Sierra 1500 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Ram 1500 is safer than the GMC Sierra 1500:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Ram’s powertrain warranty covers the 1500 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than GMC covers the Sierra 1500. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Sierra 1500 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Ram 1500’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Sierra 1500’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 43 percent more Ram dealers than there are GMC dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the 1500’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Ram 1500 has a standard 230-amp alternator (240-amp - Ram 1500 optional). The Sierra 1500’s standard 220-amp alternator and largest (V8) 170-amp alternator aren’t as powerful.

The Ram 1500 has more powerful engines than the Sierra 1500:

As tested in Motor Trend the Ram 1500 is faster than the GMC Sierra 1500 V8:

On the EPA test cycle the Ram 1500 gets better mileage than the Sierra 1500:

Regenerative brakes improve the Ram 1500 V6’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Ram 1500 Short Bed’s standard fuel tank has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sierra 1500 2WD Diesel’s standard fuel tank (26 vs. 22 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Ram 1500 Short Bed’s standard fuel tank has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sierra 1500’s standard fuel tank (26 vs. 24 gallons). The Ram 1500 Long Bed’s optional fuel tank has 5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sierra 1500 Long Bed’s standard fuel tank (33 vs. 28 gallons).

For better stopping power the Ram 1500’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Sierra 1500:

The Ram 1500 stops much shorter than the Sierra 1500:

For better traction, the Ram 1500 has larger standard tires than the Sierra 1500 (275/65R18 vs. 255/70R17). The Ram 1500’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sierra 1500 (285/45R22 vs. 275/65R18).

The Ram 1500’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 65 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sierra 1500’s standard 70 series tires. The Ram 1500’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Sierra 1500 SLT/Denali’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ram 1500 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sierra 1500.

The Ram 1500 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Ram 1500 flat and controlled during cornering. The Sierra 1500’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The front and rear suspension of the Ram 1500 uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Sierra 1500, which uses leaf springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The Ram 1500 has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Ram 1500 5.5-foot Box Laramie 4x4 handles at .76 G’s, while the Sierra 1500 Short Box AT4X Crew Cab pulls only .69 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ram 1500 Tungsten executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the Sierra 1500 Short Box AT4X Crew Cab (27.5 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ram 1500’s turning circle is tighter than the Sierra 1500’s:

For greater off-road capability the Ram 1500 5.5-foot Box Crew Cab has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Sierra 1500 Standard Box Crew Cab (8.6 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Ram 1500 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Ram 1500 has standard flush composite headlights. The Sierra 1500 has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The Ram 1500 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Ram 1500 Quad Cab has 2.2 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more rear legroom, 3.2 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sierra 1500 Double Cab.

The Ram 1500 Crew Cab has 2.2 inches more front hip room, 1.4 inches more rear legroom, 3.2 inches more rear hip room and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sierra 1500 Crew Cab.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Ram 1500 Lariat/Limited/Tungsten’s rear seats recline. The Sierra 1500’s optional rear seats don’t recline.

The Ram 1500 has a standard tailgate assist feature, which prevents the heavy tailgate from falling with a crash and causing injury. It allows adults and children to easily open and close the tailgate with one hand to better facilitate loading and unloading. Tailgate assist costs extra on the GMC Sierra 1500.

The Ram 1500 6-foot Box Quad Cab has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Sierra 1500 Standard Box Double Cab (2360 vs. 2020 lbs.).

The Ram 1500 6-foot Box Quad Cab has a much higher optional payload capacity than the Sierra 1500 Standard Box Double Cab (2360 vs. 2040 lbs.).

The Ram 1500’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Sierra 1500’s standard power windows’ front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

The Ram 1500 has standard power remote mirrors. The Sierra 1500 only comes with remote mirrors at extra cost. Without them the driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

The Ram 1500’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. GMC charges extra for heated mirrors on the Sierra 1500.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Ram 1500’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Ram 1500 stands out above the GMC Sierra 1500 by offering not one, but two Qi-compatible phone chargers. This convenience helps travelers with multiple devices to keep powered up on-the-go. Wireless charging eliminates lost or cluttered charging cables and two of them provide more flexibility. Both vehicles also offer Qi charging for the rear passengers.

The Ram 1500’s optional Autonomous Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling the transmission and speed with the brake pedal. With its available fully controlled system, the driver just activates it and it parks autonomously, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its December 2024 issue and the Ram 1500 Tungsten won out over the GMC Sierra 1500 Short Box Denali Ultimate Crew Cab.

The Ram 1500 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2025 and 6 more times in the last 7 years. The Sierra 1500 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the 1500 as their 2025 Truck of the Year. The Sierra 1500 has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Ram 1500 as the 2019 North American Truck of the Year. The Sierra 1500 has never been chosen.