Ask someone to name an “American full-size pickup truck,” and there’s a good chance the answer will be either the Chevy Silverado 1500 or the Ford F-150. These are the quintessential American pickups, and even though there are more powerful heavy-duty options available, for most truck owners, these are the ones they want. So let’s take a look at what each one has to offer and put them head to head: it’s the 2019 Chevy Silverado vs 2019 Ford F-150!
We could be here all day looking at every single option on every single model by drawing comparisons back and forth until the sun goes cold. To keep things simple, however, we’ll look at a few specific things and then make some general comparisons as well. We’ll start with the standard and available engines for each truck, to see just how much power can be packed into these beasts. Then we’ll look at the standard, baseline models and features for both trucks, and finally compare the available trim levels and additional options.
The Roar of the Engine
Sometimes it’s helpful to start off with a comparison of two vehicles by looking at their baseline builds or going over trim options to get a sense of what’s available. Other times you just want to dive in and find out what’s under the hood before looking at anything else. This is one of those times…
The 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 has five different engines available – but it’s worth noting that most of them are restricted based on trim level. You still have five different engines to choose from overall, starting with a 4.3L EcoTec3 V6 engine that offers 285hp and 305 lb.-ft. of torque. Next up is a 2.7L Turbo engine that provides 310hp and 348 lb.-ft. of torque; then there is a 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine that offers up to 355hp and 383 lb.-ft. of torque. There is also a second version of this 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine available with the same horsepower and torque along with Dynamic Fuel Management. Finally, there is a beastly 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 engine that offers up 420hp and 460 lb.-ft. of torque for immense overall power.
So far so good, let’s take a look at what the 2019 Ford F-150 has to offer. There are numerous non-diesel engines available for the F-150, but they are also restricted by trim level. The starting engine for the 2019 Ford F-150 is a 3.3L Ti-VCT V6 engine that offers 290hp and 265 lb.-ft. of torque. Then there is an available 2.7L EcoBoost V6 engine that provides up to 325hp and 400 lb.-ft. of torque. There is also a 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 engine that offers 395hp and 400 lb.-ft. of torque available. Finally, for incredible power, there is a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine with just 375hp but an impressive 470 lb.-ft. of torque.
To simplify this a little bit, the 2019 Chevy Silverado starts with a 4.3L EcoTec3 V6 engine with 285hp and 305 lb.-ft. of torque; the 2019 Ford F-150 starts with a 3.3L Ti-VCT V6 engine with 290hp and 265 lb.-ft. of torque. There are middle options for each, then they top off with the Silverado offering a 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 engine with 420hp and 460 lb.-ft. of torque; while the F-150 has a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine with 375hp and 470 lb.-ft. of torque.
Baseline Build Features
The baseline options for the 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 and the 2019 Ford F-150 are pretty comparable, though there are some things worth noting. For this comparison we’ll look at the Silverado 1500 with a Crew cab and short bed, 2WD, and the starting 4.3L V6 engine; while the F-150 has a SuperCrew, short bed, 2WD, and the starting 3.3L V6 engine. This puts both trucks pretty close to each other in terms of price – so these comparisons are as honest as possible.
The starting trim level for the 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 is the WT, which includes a 6-speed transmission and basic mechanical setup. Interior features include an Infotainment center with a 7-inch touchscreen, 6-speaker audio system, Bluetooth connectivity, and USB port. You get vinyl seats, a 3.5-inch monochromatic driver information system, and single-zone climate control. Regarding safety features, the Silverado 1500 WT has multiple airbags and a rear vision camera, but no real bells and whistles.
By comparison, the starting trim for the 2019 Ford F-150 is the XL and includes a 6-speed transmission and comparable mechanical setup. The interior of this standard package features a 2-inch productivity screen, auxiliary audio input, and single-zone air conditioning. The safety features on the Ford F-150 XL are similarly barebones with multiple airbags, a rearview camera, and not much in the way of additional features. Of course, both of these trucks have more trim options and packages available, which greatly improve their features.
Trim Option Comparison
While baseline features are nice, they don’t always paint a complete picture of what is available for a couple of different trucks. So let’s take a look at what you can get if you’re not worried about the price of your pickup and want the highest trim level for each of these beauties. For the 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500, that means the High Country; while for the 2019 Ford F-150, that means the Platinum.
The Chevy Silverado 1500 High Country has 20-inch wheels and includes interior features like an 8-inch Infotainment center with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support along with HD Radio. It features a Bose Premium sound system with seven speakers and a subwoofer, a wireless charging pad, multiple USB ports, and an 8-inch Driver Information Center. Safety features include front and rear park assist, an HD rear vision camera, lane change alert with side blind zone alerts and hitch guidance for towing.
The Ford F-150 Platinum also has 20-inch wheels and includes interior features like an 8-inch Productivity screen, Sirius Satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system. It includes numerous 12v outlets and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Safety features on the Ford F-150 Platinum include pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with cross-traffic alert, and a rearview camera with Dynamic Hitch Assist for towing.
The Takeaway
As you can see, both of these trucks offer a lot of power and great options for performance, interior comfort, and safety. In many ways, they are quite comparable and you can get just about anything you are looking for in a full-size pickup with either of these trucks. In terms of power, the Chevy Silverado 1500 starts off a bit stronger – while on the top end, the Ford F-150 has unbeatable torque, but it comes at the sacrifice of some horsepower.
So which is better? There simply isn’t a definitive “better” option when looking at these two trucks. There’s nothing available on either of them that will convert a die-hard Chevy lover into a Ford fan, or convince a life-long Ford driver to try out a Chevy. But that’s good news for everyone, really, since it means both Chevy and Ford have been stepping up their game over the years and keeping up with each other – providing great performance and options for drivers no matter what truck you prefer.
