Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2012 Ram 1500 VS 2012 Ford F-150 Near Scottsdale, AZ

Full time four-wheel drive is available on the Ram 1500. Full-time four-wheel drive gives added traction for safety in all conditions, not just off-road, like the only system available on the F-150.

Both the Ram 1500 and the F-150 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

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 Ford F-150:

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

The Ram 1500’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the F-150’s 3.7 DOHC V6, 5.0 DOHC V8 and 3.5 turbo V6 engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Ram 1500 has a standard 160-amp alternator. The F-150’s standard 135-amp alternator and largest (optional) 155-amp alternator aren’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Ram 1500 has a standard 700-amp battery (750 optional). The F-150’s 540-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2011 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ram vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ram 20th in initial quality. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 23rd.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ram 1500 V8 is faster than the Ford F-150:

As tested in Motor Trend the Ram 1500 5.7 is faster than the Ford F-150 5.0 DOHC V8:

An engine control system that can shut down half of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Ram 1500 5.7 V8’s fuel efficiency. The F-150 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The Ram 1500 has a standard brake assist system to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The F-150 doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

The Ram 1500 stops much shorter than the F-150:

For better traction, the Ram 1500 has larger standard tires than the F-150 (265/70R17 vs. 235/70R17). The Ram 1500 R/T’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the F-150 (285/45R22 vs. 275/55R20).

The Ram 1500’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 70 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the F-150 4x4’s standard 75 series tires. The Ram 1500 R/T’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the F-150’s optional 55 series tires.

The front and rear suspension of the Ram 1500 uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the F-150, 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.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Ram 1500 is 1.1 inches wider in the front and .5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the F-150.

The Ram 1500 standard bed R/T Regular Cab handles at .75 G’s, while the F-150 6.5 ft. bed STX Regular Cab pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ram 1500 short bed Laramie Crew Cab 4x4 handles at .73 G’s, while the F-150 SuperCab 4x4 pulls only .67 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Ram 1500 standard bed R/T Regular Cab executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the F-150 6.5 ft. bed STX Regular Cab (28.2 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 29.5 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ram 1500’s turning circle is tighter than the F-150’s:

The Ram 1500 is shorter than the F-150, making the Ram 1500 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces:

The Ram 1500 Quad Cab has 2.7 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom and 1.4 inches more rear legroom than the F-150 SuperCab.

The Ram 1500 Crew Cab has 2.7 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more front shoulder room and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the F-150 SuperCrew.

The Ram 1500 has stake post holes, to allow the containment of tall, light loads. The F-150 doesn’t offer stake post holes.

On a hot day the Ram 1500’s driver can lower the front windows using the key in the outside lock cylinder or the keyless remote. The driver of the F-150 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Ram 1500 has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The automatic headlight on/off feature is not available on the F-150 XL/STX.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Ram 1500 has standard extendable sun visors. The F-150 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

When the Ram 1500 with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The F-150’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Ram 1500 Quad/Crew has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The F-150 doesn’t offer rear vents.