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| 5 | Available Engines | 3 |
| 285-420 HP | Horsepower | 305-395 lb-ft |
| 305-460 lb-ft | Torque | 269-420 lb-ft |
Nothing quite beats the utility of a pickup truck. They are arguably the most versatile vehicles on the planet. Well, at least among those available to civilians. Nonetheless, modern pickup trucks can still perform amongst the best vehicles ever made. One of the best things about the pickup truck market is the range of options you have to choose from. These can vary by size, use, make, model and many other factors. When sitting down to choose a new pickup truck, you certainly have no shortage of options, among these options is a classic debate: the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2019 Ram 1500.
Both of these pickup trucks are in the upper echelon of the pickup truck market. They are consistently among the highest-rated and best-selling pickup trucks, not only in the North American market, but around the world. Each offers plenty of the power, utility and versatility pickup trucks are valued for. But, depending on what you are uniquely looking for in a new pickup truck, one is bound to be more suited to your particular needs.
Here, we will look at a few of the facets of these two giants in the industry. Once you are done and have seen what both bring to the table, you are invited to come down to Rick Hendrick Buick GMC in Duluth and see, in person, what we mean.
A large part of what attracts pickup truck buyers to an individual model is what that particular pickup truck has under the hood. It is important to know that your new pickup truck has the muscle to perform the day to day tasks you will be putting it through. Both the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 and the 2019 Ram 1500 have plenty of power to get the jobs done.
The 2019 Ram 1500 offers three different engine options. The first is a 3.6 liter V6 engine that gets 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque. That is the base engine that comes on the lowest of the Ram 1500’s trim levels. It has plenty of punch, but Ram offers a little more at the higher trims.
The other two engine options are very similar. They are both 5.7 liter V8 engines that offer 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. The only difference is that the highest engine option 5.7 liter V8 adds a feature called eTorque, which slightly raises the overall towing capacity of the 2019 Ram 1500. It might not be completely accurate to call it the “highest” engine option, though, because Ram offers this engine option across all trim levels.
The 2019 GMC Sierra 1500, on the other hand, offers four engine options across its six trim levels, including a variant engine options. This offers considerably more in the way of options, as well as overall power available. The first engine is the 4.3 liter V6 with 285 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque.
The next two are incredibly similar, both being 5.3 liter V8 engines with 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. One, however, is a variant that comes with Dynamic Fuel Management technology. This feature allows other fuel types to be used. This adds a fair amount of mileage to the projected fuel economy of the engine, as it doesn’t unnecessarily waste gas.
A brand-new engine is making its debut in the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500, as well. An all-new 2.7 liter inline 4-cylinder turbocharged engine brings 310 horsepower and 348 lb-ft of torque. This engine was specifically designed for the GMC Sierra and its cousin, the 2019 Chevy Silverado, to maximize torque efficiency. It is also the first General Motors four-cylinder engine to utilize Active Fuel Management technology. This feature alternates which cylinders are being actively used while the engine is running, in order to maximize fuel efficiency.
The largest engine offered on the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 is the 6.2 liter V8, which brings as whopping 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. This is a significant upgrade not only from the Sierra’s lower engines, but also from the largest engine offered by the 2019 Ram 1500.
As you can see, the engine options and power of the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 are much more varied and powerful than those offered by the 2019 Ram 1500. The next question is, “What does all that engine power do?”
All of these numbers are cool to look at and all, and may mean something completely different if you are looking into a muscle car. However, the power generated by a pickup truck’s engine means how much a truck can tow and haul. That is, after all, the primary benefit of having a large pickup truck.
Because both the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 and the 2019 Ram 1500 both have several different engine options, as well as body configurations, the total weights will vary greatly, depending on which engine and body style you opt for.
On the low end, the 2019 Ram 1500 can only tow 6,730 pounds, while reaching a respectable 12,750 pounds at the top end of its spectrum. That is quite a bit of power to tow anything from work materials to weekend toys.
The 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 has comparable tow capacities, starting out at 7,600 on the lower levels and ending up at just about the same as the 2019 Ram 1500, at 12,500 pounds. Both trucks have plenty of power to trailer just about anything you may need behind them.
Where the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 really shines, however, is in the technology that General Motors has applied to the new trailering systems. The Sierra comes with loads of applicable features, such as Auto Electric Parking Brake Assist, Hitch Guidance with Hitch View, Hitch Area Lighting and many more. All of these are accessed through the Sierra’s all-new trailering app on the infotainment system. They have also added features that make attaching even the largest and most cumbersome trailers a one-person job. On top of that, all of the trailering features that can be found on the infotainment app can also be accessed through an app on your smartphone. However, if you are driving, it is probably best to just stick to the touchscreen on your dash.
GMC went out of its way to outfit the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 with a host of trailering features, to make it the best option out there for towing just about anything. While the Ram 1500 has a few of these same options, or similar ones, it does not have nearly the suite of features offered by the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500.
Theoretically, you could tow great weights in a trailer with a properly outfitted SUV. You could also do that with a sports car, if you are adventurous and have plenty of money to spare on fixing an expensive sports car. What you cannot do in those vehicles, however, is haul a ton of stuff in the cargo area. And we literally mean a ton.
Between the bed configurations and the cab sizes available on both the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 and the 2019 Ram 1500, cargo bed dimensions will vary even more than towing capacities. That being said, the payload capacity can still be measured on a scale of 0 to a literal ton, and then some.
The 2019 Ram 1500 has a maximum payload of 2,300 pounds, while the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 tops it with a maximum payload of 2,543 pounds. Either of these powerful pickup trucks can haul around just about anything that can fit in their truck beds.
GMC outshines Ram, as well as the rest of the automotive world, with an innovative approach to the cargo bed. They are offering what they are calling their MultiPro Tailgate. This ingenious new tailgate design opens up in six different ways, allowing for versatility in hauling different objects, as well as loading and unloading them. No other pickup truck on the market has this design, including the rest of the GM family. Though we do expect this to be imitated around the world very soon.
Both the 2019 Ram 1500 and the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 are fine vehicles, each worth a second and even third look. They have plenty of power to get all the hauling and towing done that you will need. Both are introducing new generations in 2019, complete with new exterior and interior designs, features and technologies.
We at Rick Hendrick Buick GMC in Duluth think that, even though both of these pickup trucks are excellent vehicles, the clear frontrunner in the power, towing and hauling categories is the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500. Stop by our showroom soon to see this impressive specimen in person. Our sales staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have. We can show you all around the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 and even set you up on a test drive. Until you can come down in person, check out the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 at our online showroom, open 24 hours a day. It has all the information you need, as well as pictures, specifications and reviews.
We look forward to getting you into an all-new 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 soon!
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.