2026 Ram 1500 vs. Chevy Silverado 1500 | Imlay City, MI
Rugged capability, robust power, and refined design make the 2026 Ram 1500 and 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 top-of-the-line contenders for your next pickup truck. See what sets these two trucks apart from each other with this in-depth comparison guide created by the team at Imlay City Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. We’ve compared the standard and available features, performance specs, and towing capabilities for both trucks so you can make a more informed purchase.
If luxury design and enhanced power appeal to you, then find your new Ram 1500 for sale in Imlay City, MI. Browse our available inventory to find your favorite truck, then schedule a test drive at a time that’s convenient for you. Be sure to check out our Ram 1500 lease offer for competitive monthly rates on your new pickup truck.
Questions? Give us a call at (810) 724-0444 or contact our team online to get the conversation started.
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2026 Ram 1500
2026 Ram 1500 vs. Chevy Silverado 1500 Exterior Design
Find standard trailering equipment, heated and power-adjustable mirrors, and LED lighting on the 2026 Ram 1500 Tradesman®, which starts at $41,025 MSRP. With the 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 WT, starting at $39,495, you get standard halogen headlamps, manual-adjustable mirrors, and access to an added-cost Trailering Package.
The ultimate off-road form of the 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 is the ZR2 trim, which starts at $74,295 MSRP and includes a lifted suspension, Goodyear® Wrangler Territory® tires, and skid plates. For ultimate off-road capability in the 2026 Ram 1500, choose the RHO trim, which starts at $69,995 MSRP, and includes a Bilstein® Black Hawk® e2 shock system with adaptive damping and a 2-inch suspension lift, along with 35-in. Goodyear Wrangler Territory all-terrain tires.
Compare the standard and available exterior features for the 2026 Ram 1500 and 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 in the following table.
| Ram 1500 (Standard) | Ram 1500 (Available) | 2026 Truck | Chevy Silverado (Standard) | Chevy Silverado 1500 (Available) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class IV receiver hitch with seven-pin wiring harness | 12-way/one-way trailer connector | Trailering Equipment | N/A | Trailer hitch, platform, connectors, and harness |
| 18-in. steel wheels | 18-, 20-, or 22-in. wheels | Wheels | 17-in. steel wheels | 17-, 18-, 20-, or 22-in. wheels |
| LED reflector headlamps with auto on/off and auto high-beam control | Bi-function LED projector headlights / LED taillamps with lighting animation / Premium LED fog lamps / Pickup box lighting | Lighting | Halogen reflector headlamps / Daytime running lamps | LED reflector headlamps / LED fog lamps / Perimeter lighting / Cargo bed LED lighting / LED taillamps |
| Heated, power-adjustable, manually foldable exterior mirrors with convex wide-angle inserts | Automatic power-folding exterior mirrors with courtesy lamps, supplemental signals, and auto-dimming driver’s side | Mirrors | Manual-folding exterior mirrors | Heated, power-adjustable, power-folding, driver’s side auto-dimming exterior mirrors with puddle lamps |
| N/A | Power-sliding rear window / Rain-sensitive windshield wipers | Exterior Convenience Features | CornerStep rear bumper | Rainsense™ windshield wipers |
| N/A | Power-release tailgate / multi-function tailgate with 60/40 swing doors | Tailgate Upgrades | N/A | Power up and down tailgate / Six-function Multi-Flex tailgate |
| N/A | Four adjustable cargo tie-down hooks / Deployable bed step / RamBox® cargo management system / Spray-in bedliner | Box Features | 12 tie-downs | Spray-on bedliner / Multi-Flex audio system by Kicker® |
| N/A | Dual-pane panoramic | Sunroof | N/A | Single-pane |
| N/A | 2-in. raised ride height / Bilstein Black Hawk e2 shock system with adaptive damping / 35-in. Goodyear Wrangler Territory all-terrain tires | Off-Road Features | N/A | Lifted suspension with Multimatic DSSV™ dampers / Skid plates / MT Goodyear Wrangler Territory tires / |
| N/A | Active-Level™ four-corner air suspension | Air Suspension System | N/A | N/A |
2026 Ram 1500
2026 Ram 1500 vs. Chevy Silverado 1500 Interior Design & Technology
Standard interior features in the 2026 Ram 1500 Tradesman and 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 WT include vinyl seat upholstery, front bench seats, single-zone climate control, and 3.5-inch driver information displays. Standard infotainment capabilities differ slightly, with a Uconnect® 5 infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen in the Ram 1500 and a Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system with a 7-inch color touchscreen in the Silverado 1500.
For top-of-the-line interior features, pick the 2026 Ram 1500 Tungsten, which starts at $88,095 MSRP or the 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 High Country, which starts at $68,995 MSRP. Notable interior and technology advantages for the Ram 1500 include its available 10.25-inch front passenger’s interactive display, 24-way power massaging front seats, ventilated and reclining rear seats, and 23-speaker Klipsch® Reference Premiere sound system. Unique interior features for the Silverado 1500 include its seat-back storage compartments, Bose® seven-speaker sound system, and built-in Google capabilities.
Compare the standard and available interior and technology features for the Ram 1500 and Chevy Silverado 1500 in the following table.
| Ram 1500 (Standard) | Ram 1500 (Available) | 2026 Truck | Chevy Silverado (Standard) | Chevy Silverado 1500 (Available) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy-duty vinyl | Cloth, leather, premium leather, or premium quilted leather | Seat Materials | Vinyl | Cloth or perforated leather |
| Front bench seat with 40/20/40 split and four-way manual outboard seats | Heated and ventilated, 24-way power front seats with massage feature | Front Seat | 40/20/40 split front bench seat with four-way manual outboard seats | Heated and ventilated, ten-way power front seats |
| Folding rear seat | Heated and ventilated, reclining 60/40-split folding rear seat | Rear Seat | 60/40 split rear seat | Heated 60/40 split rear seat |
| N/A | Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel | Steering Wheel Upgrades | N/A | Heated, wrapped steering wheel |
| Uconnect 5 infotainment system with 8.4-in. touchscreen | Uconnect 5 Nav infotainment system with 12- or 14.4-in. touchscreen | Infotainment System | Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system with 7-in. color touchscreen | Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Premium system with 13.4-in. touchscreen |
| N/A | Off-Road Info Pages / Performance Pages | Unique Info Pages/Apps | N/A | Google built-in / In-vehicle trailering app |
| 3.5-in. driver information cluster display | 7- or 12-in. driver information cluster display / 10.25-in. front passenger’s interactive display / head-up display | Additional Screens | 3.5-in. driver information center | 12.3-in. driver information center / head-up display |
| N/A | Trailer brake controller / Trailer hitch line-up assist steering support / Trailer reverse guidance | Trailering Support Features | N/A | Trailer brake controller |
| Remote start system | Driver memory settings / Digital automatic-dimming rearview mirror / Power-adjustable steering column / power-adjustable pedals | Convenience Features | N/A | Remote start / Driver memory settings / Power tilt and telescoping steering column / Rear camera mirror |
| N/A | Front center-seat cushion storage / Rear under-seat storage compartment / In-floor storage bins | Storage Options | Front under-seat storage | Rear seat back storage \ Rear under-seat storage |
| 12V and USB charge ports | 400W power inverter / 115V auxiliary power outlet / dual wireless charging pad | Charging options | 12V and USB ports | 120V and wireless charging pad |
| Single-zone climate control with Ram clean air system | Dual-zone automatic climate control with Ram clean air system | Climate control | Single-zone manual climate control | Dual-zone automatic climate control |
| Six-speaker audio system | 23-speaker Klipsch Reference Premiere sound system | Sound System | Two-speaker sound system (regular cab) / six-speaker sound system (double and crew cabs) | Bose seven-speaker premium sound system with Richbass® woofer |
2026 Ram 1500
2026 Ram 1500 vs. Chevy Silverado 1500 Engine Specs & Towing Capacity
Four engine options are offered in both the 2026 Ram 1500 and 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500.
2026 Ram 1500 engine options:
- 3.6L Pentastar® V6
- 5.7L HEMI® V8
- 3.0L Hurricane I6
- High-output 3.0L Hurricane I6
2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 engine options:
- TurboMax™
- 5.3L EcoTec3 V8
- 6.2L EcoTec3 V8
- Duramax® 3.0L turbo diesel
The standard 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine in the Ram 1500 makes 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, while the standard 2.7L TurboMax engine in the Silverado 1500 makes 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. If you want the most powerful engine in the Ram 1500, choose the high-output 3.0L Hurricane inline six-cylinder (I6) engine with 540 horsepower and 521 pound-feet of torque. For the highest horsepower numbers in the Silverado 1500, choose the 6.2L V8 engine, and for the highest torque numbers, choose the Duramax 3.0L turbo diesel engine.
The maximum towing capacity of the 2026 Ram 1500 is 11,610 pounds with the 3.0L Hurricane engine, while the maximum towing capacity of the 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 is 13,300 pounds with the Duramax 3.0L turbo diesel. To achieve the maximum payload capacity of 2,360 pounds in the Ram 1500, you will need the standard 3.6L Pentastar engine. The maximum Silverado 1500 payload capacity of 2,260 pounds is also achieved with the standard TurboMax engine.
Compare the differences in the performance specs for the 2026 Ram 1500 and Chevy Silverado 1500 in the following chart.
| Ram 1500 | 2026 Truck | Chevy Silverado 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| Four | Engine Options | Four |
| 305 HP (3.6L Pentastar V6) | Standard Engine Horsepower | 310 HP (TurboMax) |
| 269 lb.-ft. (3.6L Pentastar) | Standard Engine Torque | 430 lb.-ft. (TurboMax) |
| 540 HP (High-output 3.0L Hurricane) | Max. Available Engine Horsepower | 420 HP (6.2L V8) |
| 521 lb.-ft. (High-output 3.0L Hurricane) | Max. Available Engine Torque | 495 lb.-ft. (Duramax turbo diesel) |
| 11,610 lbs. (3.0L Hurricane) | Max. Available Towing Capacity | 13,300 lbs. (Duramax turbo diesel) |
| 2,360 lbs. (3.6L Pentastar) | Max. Available Payload Capacity | 2,260 lbs. (TurboMax) |
| Eight-speed automatic | Transmission | Eight- or ten-speed automatic |
2026 Ram 1500
2026 Ram 1500 vs. Chevy Silverado 1500 Size & Cargo Space
The versatile cab options for the 2026 Ram 1500 include a quad cab with 35.6 inches of rear legroom and a crew cab with up to 45.2 inches of rear legroom. You will find the 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 available with a three-seat regular cab, double cab with 35.2 inches of rear legroom, or crew cab with 43.4 inches of rear legroom. Front legroom in the Ram 1500 cabs is 40.9 inches, while the Silverado 1500 cabs have 44.5 inches of front legroom. Cargo box volumes range from 61.5 cubic feet to 53.9 cubic feet for the Ram 1500, or from 89.1 cubic feet to 62.9 cubic feet for the Silverado 1500.
Compare the available 2026 Ram 1500 and 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 configuration options in the following chart.
| 2026 Truck | Ram 1500 | Ram 1500 | Chevy Silverado 1500 | Chevy Silverado 1500 | Chevy Silverado 1500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cab Option | Quad cab | Crew cab | Regular cab | Double cab | Crew cab |
| Max. Seating | Six | Six | Three | Six | Six |
| Max. Legroom (Front/Rear) | 40.9 / 35.6 in. | 40.9 / 45.2 in. | 44.5 / – in. | 44.5 / 35.2 in. | 44.5 / 43.4 in. |
| Cargo Box Sizes | 61.5 cu.-ft. | 61.5 or 53.9 cu.-ft. | 89.1 or 71.7 cu.-ft. | 71.7 cu.-ft. | 71.4 / 62.9 cu.-ft. |
2026 Ram 1500
2026 Ram 1500 vs. Chevy Silverado 1500 Safety Options & Features
An extensive collection of driver assistance technology is built into both the 2026 Ram 1500 and 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500, including systems designed to provide automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping support, and rear-facing camera views. Adaptive cruise control and a blind-spot system are standard on the Ram 1500 Tradesman trim and above and are included on select Silverado 1500 trims. Hands-free driving capability is available with hands-free active driving assist capability in the Ram 1500 and Silverado 1500, and Super Cruise® driver assistance technology in the Chevy Silverado 1500.
Standard 2026 Ram 1500 safety features:
- Advanced brake assist
- Active lane management system
- Adaptive cruise control with stop and go
- Blind spot and cross-path detection
- Full-speed forward collision warning plus
- Hill start assist
- ParkSense® front and rear park assist
- ParkView® rear backup camera
- Pedestrian emergency braking
- Rear seat reminder alert
- Trailer sway damping
Standard 2026 Silverado 1500 safety features:
- Automatic emergency braking
- Forward collision alert
- Front pedestrian braking
- Following distance indicator
- Lane keep assist with lane departure warning
- IntelliBeam® high beam assist
- HD rear vision camera
Available 2026 Ram 1500 safety features:
- Drowsy driver detection
- Evasive steering assist
- Hands-on active driving assist system or hands-free active driving assist system
- Intersection collision assist system
- Surround view camera system
- Traffic sign recognition
Available 2026 Ram 1500 safety features:
- Super Cruise driver assistance technology
- Adaptive cruise control
- Enhanced automatic emergency braking
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Front and rear park assist
- Up to 14 camera views, including HD surround vision
- Trailer side blind zone alert
- Rear pedestrian alert
- Safety alert seat
Learn More About the Ram 1500
Take the next step in your research journey with resources from our team of Ram truck pros. Explore key specs, options, and colors with our Ram 1500 model review. Compare standard features at each price point with our Ram 1500 trims page. See the detailed performance specs for each powertrain option with our Ram 1500 engines and towing page.
There’s no better way to see if the Ram 1500 is the right truck for your needs than to drive one. Pick your favorite option from our new inventory or available used Ram 1500 selection for sale in Imlay City, MI, and schedule a test drive. Get in touch with one of our dealership representatives online or by calling us at (810) 724-0444.
May not represent actual vehicle. (Options, colors, trim and body style may vary)
Max payload/towing estimate ratings shown. Additional options, equipment, passengers, and cargo weight may affect payload/towing weights. See dealer for details.