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Starting at
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| 445 | Max Horsepower (HP) | 410 |
| 910 | Max Torque (lb-ft) | 850 |
| 10-speed | Available Transmission | 8-speed |
Full-size pickup trucks are the cream of the crop when it comes to having the capabilities to accomplish any task you need to be done — whether that’s towing, hauling, or going on a trip with friends or family. They have enough space for all your cargo and passenger needs, plus they can work as hard as you can. However, if you want some even harder workers, you’ll have to move on from the light-duty trucks and start checking out the heavy-duty (HD) pickups. HD trucks are built with the sole purpose of making sure you can depend on them when the going gets rough. They’ll still serve you just fine from getting from place to place and going on adventures, but their true purpose is to make work easier for you. With so many options for great HD trucks out there, it’s hard even to begin looking into them. To help you out, we’ll choose two of the best and make a quick comparison. Today, we have the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 vs 2020 Ram 2500.
Since HD trucks are bigger than their light-duty counterparts, you can expect their prices to start a little higher. For the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500, the starting MSRP is $37,195. On the 2020 Ram 2500, it’s $33,745. That’s a bit of a difference there in price, but as we go through this comparison, you can see why that may be. The 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 has some features that the 2020 Ram 2500 doesn’t, plus some additional performance options for under the hood. While the Ram 2500 may start at a lower price, its base model may not be able to compare to the base model of the GMC Sierra 2500. And, the Sierra 2500 has a much better available diesel engine option, which is the ideal complement for hard work. So, you can already see how the difference in price might be warranted.
If you are buying a truck, performance may be the most important detail you need to make your decision. With HD trucks, you want to make sure they can meet the high expectations of the people driving them. This means they need to be powered by big engines that can handle heavy loads and trailers. Without a powerful engine under the hood, it’s not really an HD truck.
The 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 comes with two different engine options. It’s common for the HD versions of vehicles to have fewer engine options overall compared to their light-duty variants because you only want the most powerful engines. Typically, it’s going to be one gas engine and one diesel engine. The first engine option is a 6.6L V8 gas engine. It has an output of 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque and is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The second engine option is a 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel engine with an output of 445 hp and 910 lb-ft of torque. The diesel engine is paired with an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission.
As expected, the 2020 Ram 2500 also comes with two engine options. The first is a 6.4L HEMI V8 gas engine with an output of 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque. The second is a 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel I6 engine with an output of 370 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque. They both come paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Overall, both trucks have similar engine options, but the options on the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 are superior.
If a truck can’t tow or haul a high capacity of weight, it’s probably not an HD truck. HD pickups are known for their extremely high towing and hauling capacities, and it’s no different on the 2500 series trucks from GMC and Ram. With either of these trucks, you’ll find more than enough capability to handle what you need. Just keep in mind that the towing capacity will likely be higher with a diesel engine equipped, and the payload capacity will probably be higher with a gas engine equipped. Unfortunately, you can’t usually get the maximum capacities in both categories with the same engine.
The 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 HD has a maximum conventional trailering capacity of up to 18,500 lbs. For fifth-wheel and gooseneck, it’s rated for up to 18,510 lbs. It also has a maximum payload capacity of up to 3,979 pounds. For most HD trucks in the 2500 range, the maximum trailering capacity should be getting close to 20,000 lbs, and the maximum payload capacity should be close to 4,000 lbs. These numbers aren’t set in stone, but that’s how these capacities have been in recent years.
The Ram 2500 has a maximum towing capacity of 19,680 lbs and a maximum payload capacity of 4,010 lbs. While the towing capacity is a bit higher than that of the Sierra 2500, the payload capacity is barely higher. Overall, the two trucks have similar towing and payload capabilities, but the Ram 2500 is slightly higher in both categories. However, with the 10-speed automatic transmission, the Sierra 2500 is a lot more efficient.
Performance and capabilities are usually at the forefront of consumers’ minds when they’re looking into HD trucks. Still, it should be noted that the features you find in and around a vehicle are often just as essential. Since a lot of time is spent inside of vehicles, they should at least be somewhat convenient and comfortable for their passengers. These days, that level of comfort and convenience has risen immensely with modern technology leading the way.
GMC Sierra models are often more expensive than other similar vehicles, and that’s usually attributed to the increased sense of luxury you feel inside a Sierra. If your truck can still handle all the hard work it’s supposed to, what’s wrong with having a bit of comfort and convenience as well? With the available multicolor 15-inch head-up display (HUD), you can easily keep track of important information without taking your eyes off the road. The HUD can display information directly onto the windshield, including speed, tachometer, audio, phone, available navigation, and low fuel. It can also show you some of the driver-assistive technologies, like forward collision alert and lane departure warning.
If you add on the available ProGrade Trailering System, you can easily streamline everything about towing and hitching with your truck. With the in-vehicle app, you can create five different trailer profiles, receive maintenance reminders, monitor trailer tire pressure, and more. And with the available technology package, you can have up to 15 different camera views added on. This will give you views of the trailer, behind the trailer, in the truck bed, above your truck, inside the trailer, on the sides of your vehicle, and more. With so many camera views, you can take the stress out of trailering.
And don’t worry, there are features for your passengers as well. With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibilities, it’s easy to stay connected through your vehicle’s display. Just connect a compatible phone, and you can start using phone apps through the vehicle.
The Ram 2500 does not offer the head-up display that is offered in the Sierra 2500, there still are some technology safety features available such as the ParkView rear back-up camera and the optional ParkSense rear park-assist system. Unfortunately, as far as advanced safety, that is all the Ram 2500 has to offer.
The 2020 Ram 2500 also comes with smartphone integration in the form of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You can connect to the available 12-inch touchscreen and be entertained with the available Harman Kardon Premium Audio System. For driver convenience, there is also the option of adding audio controls on the steering wheel.
While the Ram 2500 does have some nice technology features in the form of a back-up camera, park-assist, and infotainment, the options are far superior in the Sierra 2500. Between the HUD with forward collision alert and lane departure warning, and the various trailering cameras, the 2020 Sierra 2500 has the 2020 Ram 2500 beat in the realm of technology.
Here at Rick Hendrick Duluth, we believe in offering our customers the best value in high-quality vehicles. We back the GMC brand because they provide more than your average manufacturer when it comes to performance, comfort, and luxury in a truck. These days, a vehicle should tick all the boxes, and we think the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 does just that. To check one out for yourself, visit us in Duluth, just outside of Atlanta. Or you can browse our extensive stock of vehicles easily through our website. If you have any questions, give us a call so we can answer them for you. We’d be happy to help you have a great car-buying experience and look forward to hearing from you 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.