2020 Ram 1500
Starting at
$32,145
2020 GMC Sierra 1500
Starting at
$31,195
| 269 - 480 | Torque (lb-ft) | 305 - 460 |
| 12,750 | Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs) | 12,100 |
| 12" | Available Infotainment Display | 8" |
A full-size, light-duty truck is a great option for anyone interested in the power and utility of a pickup without going quite as far as the massive muscle of a heavy-duty model. But even if you narrow down your options to this one particular class, there are still a lot of different models for you to choose from. It is often easiest to pick just a couple of your options and dig into what they have to offer to see which is right for you. Looking at the 2020 Ram 1500 vs 2020 GMC Sierra 1500, for example, you can see that while they both have their strengths, the Ram 1500 is a better overall choice.
In some ways, these two trucks can seem pretty comparable at first: they both have numerous engines available, including a diesel option, they both have great towing and payload capacities, and they both have great features inside. As you dig deeper, however, you can see that there are some substantial differences that really set the 2020 Ram 1500 apart. For example, although it has multiple engines like the GMC Sierra 1500, two of them feature a mild hybrid system that helps boost torque at low speeds for better overall performance.
Similarly, while you can get good towing and payload with the GMC pickup, the 2020 Ram 1500 offers superior performance in both categories when properly equipped. Inside these trucks, you will find great features in both, but the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 simply falls short in some key ways, despite its best efforts. For example, The Ram 1500 offers a sound system with far more speakers, has a much larger Infotainment display, and a spectacular dual-pane panoramic sunroof. Visit us at Orange Coast CJDRF in Costa Mesa, CA, when you are ready to see the impressive 2020 Ram 1500 for yourself.
Performance
Few things are as important when looking at a couple of different truck options as the engines that you can get on them. So much of your truck’s performance and capability depends on choosing the right model with the right engine, so you really cannot spend too much time on this decision. Both the 2020 Ram 1500 and the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 have at least four engines available for you to choose from, though the GMC’s most impressive engine is limited to 4WD.
The 2020 GMC Sierra 1500
The 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 starts off with a 4.3L EcoTec3 V6 engine that provides up to 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque, which comes paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Then there is an available 2.7L Turbo engine that offers up to 310 hp and 349 lb-ft of torque, with an 8-speed automatic. Next up is a 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine that delivers up to 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, with either an 8-speed or 10-speed automatic.
There is also an available 3.0L Duramax Turbo-Diesel I-6 engine that provides up to 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Finally, a 4WD model can include a 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 engine that offers up to 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. But anyone that wants this engine is greatly restricted in terms of drive type.
The 2020 Ram 1500
With the 2020 Ram 1500, on the other hand, you have four different engines to choose from, all of which are available on every trim. The standard engine on the Ram 1500 is a 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine that offers up to 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. It is worth noting, however, that this engine comes with Ram’s eTorque mild hybrid system, which boosts torque and performance at low speeds. There is also a 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 engine available that provides up to 260 hp and an impressive 480 lb-ft of torque.
You can also choose a 5.7L HEMI V8 engine that delivers up to 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque for tremendous performance and power. Finally, there is a version of the HEMI V8 engine available with the eTorque mild hybrid, which boosts its impressive torque even further for exceptional towing capacity. No matter which engine you choose, it comes paired with a TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic transmission that makes the 2020 Ram 1500 incredibly fun to drive.
Towing and Payload
Any time you are looking at trucks, you should consider the towing capacity and payload limit they have to offer. Even if you are not sure you will do much towing, you want to be sure that you have it as a viable option in the future, so you know you have a truck that can handle everything you need for years to come. While the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 is a fine truck, it cannot quite keep up with what the Ram 1500 has to offer.
Impressive Towing Capabilities
When properly equipped, with the available 6.2L V8 engine, which is only offered on some models with 4WD, the GMC Sierra 1500 has a maximum towing capacity of 12,100 lbs. If you are not interested in 4WD, however, then you do not have access to the 6.2L engine, which means the maximum towing capacity you can get on the GMC pickup is 11,300 lbs. And if you are interested in a diesel engine, then the best towing capacity available on the Sierra 1500 is just 9,100 lbs.
The 2020 Ram 1500, on the other hand, gives you more freedom to choose the engine you want and get the towing you need. The 5.7L HEMI V8 engine with eTorque, which boosts its torque by up to 130 lb-ft, has a maximum towing capacity of up to 12,750 lbs. If you are interested in a diesel engine and great towing, then the Ram is definitely the truck for you: with its available 3.0L EcoDiesel engine, the Ram 1500 has a maximum towing of up to 12,560 lbs.
Remarkable Payload Capacities
In terms of payload, both of these trucks offer impressive power, though the 2020 Ram 1500 pushes ahead once more. The maximum payload with the Ram 1500 is 2,300 lbs when properly configured. With the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500, on the other hand, maximum payload tops out at 2,240 lbs. To be fair, that is a minor difference, but still worth noting.
Interior
For years now, Ram has been an industry leader when it comes to luxurious and sophisticated interiors. When looking at the 2020 Ram 1500, it is not hard to see why. While there are some impressive features in the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500, the Ram still comes out on top.
The 2020 Ram 1500
Available features inside the 2020 Ram 1500 include luxurious, 8-way power, leather front passenger and driver’s seats, a 12-inch Infotainment touchscreen display, and a 7-inch driver information digital cluster with full-color 3D graphics. You can also get a 19-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, interior active noise cancellation, and a 10-square-foot dual-pane panoramic sunroof in the Ram 1500. All of this comes together to create one of the richest and most rewarding driving experiences on the road.
The 2020 GMC Sierra 1500
The 2020 GMC Sierra 1500, on the other hand, has an available 8-inch infotainment display, which is significantly smaller than what you can get in the Ram 1500, and an available 7-speaker Bose sound system. The 10-way power front seats are impressive, though they lack the refinement of the Ram seating. Although the 8-inch driver information display is large, it is not as dynamic or impressive, overall, as the gorgeous graphics of the Ram’s driver display.
