2018 Chevy Silverado Beats F-150 in Six Critical Categories | CommunityCars.com Blog

The Chevy Silverado and the Ford F-150 have a rivalry stretching back decades and, over the years, each truck has developed a passionate customer base. The two trucks have had a major impact on their segment of the auto industry, as many innovations adopted by other truck manufacturers are pioneered by Ford and Chevy. Although each truck has its “ride or die” fans, an objective look at how these trucks match up shows that the Chevrolet truck is the superior vehicle.

If you’re in the market for a new truck and are on the fence concerning which brand is right for you, consider these important factors and how the 2018 Chevy Silverado stacks up to the new F-150.

Performance – Truck owners don’t have much patience for under-powered engines. Towing trailers, hauling sand and wood, or muscling through off-road terrain takes power, and the new Silverado offers it in spades.

When it comes to performance, the 2018 Chevy Silverado often outclasses the engines offered by the Ford F-150. The Silverado’s base engine is a V-6 that cranks out 285 horsepower and 305 ft-lb of torque, while the F-150’s base engine is a marginally more powerful 290 horsepower V6. Silverado’s upgrade engines handily outperform the F-150. Silverado buyers can upgrade to two V8 engines—one produces 355 horsepower and 383 ft-lb of torque, while the other generates 420 horsepower and 460 ft-lb of torque.

The F-150 also has upgrade engines, but they’re not as powerful as those offered by the Silverado, providing 375 horsepower and 395 horsepower. Ford does offer a 450 horsepower engine, but it’s only available in the very expensive and not commonly produced Ford F-150 Raptor.

The Silverado offers a very smooth and composed ride. Steering is responsive and handling is excellent, and the vehicle is much more nimble than you’d expect a big truck to be. Silverado owners can also purchase a four-wheel-drive upgrade that will convert their trucks to very capable off-roaders, and a Z71 off-road package will make your Silverado a beast on hills and rough terrain.

Tech Features – While the F-150 has been a leader in many innovations in the truck segment, one area where it has a clear disadvantage is in its tech features. The Silverado has taken a clear lead in offering the latest technical innovations and offering some of them as standard equipment. For example, while the new Silverado offers a USB port to make charging your tablet or mobile device as standard equipment, you have to pay extra to get it on the F-150 as an option.

Standard tech features include the aforementioned USB port, an upgraded MyLink infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.  The MyLink infotainment system is a cut above other infotainment systems, as it is much more reliable and user-friendly than other brands’ systems.

The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado offers Wi-Fi hot-spot capability as standard equipment. For contractors and others who may need to use a laptop on job sites, the Wi-Fi connection is a great help, as it provides convenient access to the internet. A rearview camera is also standard equipment.

One really cool feature that the Silverado offers as an option is the Teen Driver system, which allows parents to program speed and audio volume limits for the vehicle.

Interior – The Silverado offers an attractive, upscale interior that’s a marked contrast to the F-150’s more bland and spartan cabin. High-quality materials are used throughout the Silverado’s cabin, and the dash and controls are well-designed and easy to use. In-cabin storage areas are useful and easy to locate. Chevy seats are also much more supportive and comfortable than Ford seats.

Towing – Towing is a big deal to truck owners and is often one of the major reasons they decided to purchase a truck. Whether you’re towing recreational watercraft or a trailer full of building materials, animals, or other products, you want a truck with the capacity to safely and competently tow these items.

The Chevy Silverado has the best towing capacity in its class—12,500 lbs. Combined with the other great features of the Silverado, the vehicle’s fantastic towing capacity is often the deciding factor in smart consumers’ decision to opt for the Chevy.

Reliability – Chevrolet has a great track record when it comes to building reliable vehicles that can truly stand the test of time. According to J.D. Power’s 2017 Vehicle Dependability Study, Chevy cars and trucks are in the top ten brands in terms of vehicle reliability, ranking with luxury nameplates such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The Silverado won a segment award for its reliability.

Ford is much lower on the list, underperforming the industry average. The Vehicle Dependability Study is based on reported problems per 100 vehicles after three years of ownership. J.D. Power surveyed more than 35,000 owners of 2014 model year vehicles for the study.

Auto consumers have more tools than ever before to evaluate the reliability of vehicles they intend to buy, including online reviews and studies from respected organizations like J.D. Power. The Chevy Silverado’s reliability is a clear indication to value-conscious consumers that it is the best truck on the market.

Chevy backs the Silverado with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Chances are that you will never need this warranty, however, thanks to Chevy’s fantastic reliability.

Pricing – While a base F-150 is less expensive than an entry-level Silverado, a top-tier, fully loaded F-150 is much more expensive than a fully loaded Silverado. A top trim level F-150 will cost more than $63,000, while a fully outfitted Silverado will run about $54,000. As most buyers are looking for something a little fancier than a base-level truck, the Silverado’s price advantage at the upper trim levels is a clear benefit to consumers. Even at the base level, the F-150 is only $1,000 less expensive than the Chevrolet truck.

Chevy Silverado History

The Chevy Silverado actually started as a trim level of the Chevy C/K truck. The Silverado name was associated with the C/K truck between 1975 and 1998. The Silverado hit the market as its own brand during the 1999 model year and replaced the C/K truck. The full-size and heavy-duty Silverado line of trucks are currently in their third design generation.

The third design generation launched in 2014 and is notable for incorporating a variety of tech features not present in previous Silverados. The third design generation also introduced the upscale High Country edition of the Silverado, the truck’s first luxury variant.

The modern Silverado is a great all-around heavy-duty truck, working well as a rough-and-tumble work truck or as a comfortable family cruiser.

For consumers seeking a new Chevy Silverado, finding a dealer with a wide selection of trucks and a helpful staff is important. Buying from a good dealer will help ensure that you get the right vehicle for your needs and budget, and that you get the continuing customer service you need after the sale.

Community Chevy is a Spencer Chevrolet dealer that strives to provide customers with an unparalleled car-buying experience. Sales representatives are highly trained and knowledgeable about Chevy products, including the new Silverado. They can answer all your questions and provide you with insight about the many excellent features of the Silverado. Stop by today for a test drive and experience the Silverado difference for yourself.

Source

1. https://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/silverado-1500/2018/review/

2. https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/chevrolet/silverado-1500

3. https://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/silverado-1500/2018/#edm-entry-pros-cons

4. http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/2017-vehicle-dependability-study

Photo Credit: Chevrolet Media.