Starting at
Starting at
13.4 | Screen Size (in) | 12 |
89.1 | Cargo Space (cu.ft.) | 77.4 |
Avl. | Diesel | No |
For many people, a great truck is essential for getting their job done and enjoying their free time, making it one of the most important items they own. If you are as passionate about trucks as we are, then you probably spend a fair amount of time looking at all your options and comparing them to ensure you get the best pickup possible. You might look at the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2023 Ford F-150 to see which one will best meet your needs. While the Ford truck certainly has a lot to offer, the GMC Sierra comes through in ways that no other pickup on the market can.
For starters, the standard engine in the Sierra 1500 is an absolute marvel and one of the most powerful standard engines of any truck on the road. It is more powerful than the Ford F-150’s starting engine and just as powerful as many of Ford’s available options. Best of all, this power comes through to provide you with far more towing capacity than you can get with the F-150 and its starting engine. Ford has some impressive powertrain options on the 2023 F-150, but if you are looking for great power without breaking the bank, the 2023 Sierra 1500 cannot be beat.
Not only can the GMC Sierra 1500 handle a lot more towing capability with its standard engine, but you get much more cargo capacity overall with the Sierra. Across the board, no matter which bed size you choose from––both the GMC and the Ford have three bed sizes available––the Sierra 1500 gives you more cargo space to enjoy. Best of all, while Ford has certainly done a lot to try to catch up to the impressive selection of tech features and convenience options in the GMC, the F-150 still comes up short. For example, while there is an available 12-inch infotainment display in the F-150, the 2023 Sierra 1500 has a 13.4-inch touchscreen.
The heart of every vehicle is the engine. While the engine is important enough in cars and SUVs, it is even more crucial when it comes to trucks. Since so many of us rely on our trucks to get work done––either professionally or in our private lives––you need to have a pickup that you can rely on, knowing it has the muscle you need for your required tasks. It does not matter if you want a truck for loading up with building materials, pulling a boat to a lake for the weekend, or moving your kid into a new apartment: you need to have a hard-working pickup that you can depend on.
Both the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 and the 2023 Ford F-150 have numerous engines available, giving you plenty of options to choose from to get the right amount of power for your needs. These trucks offer similar power output from their high-end gasoline engines, but GMC uses proven V8 engines instead of smaller turbocharged powertrains. While the 2023 Sierra 1500 features an available 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 engine that delivers 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, the 2023 F-150 has an available 3.5L EcoBoost V6 that offers 400 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque.
It is also worth noting that fans of diesel trucks will not find what they are looking for in the Ford lineup. While GMC has continued to upgrade its available 3.0L Duramax I-6 turbo-diesel engine, even introducing a new version for 2023 that provides 305 hp and a massive 495 lb-ft of torque, Ford has not kept pace. In fact, Ford completely discontinued the diesel F-150 during the 2021 model year.
What is particularly noteworthy is the difference in the starting engines between these two trucks. The standard engine in the 2023 F-150 is a 3.3L V6 that offers just 290 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque, which is pretty lackluster. By comparison, the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 features a standard 2.7L Turbo High Output engine that generates 310 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. Not only is this more horsepower, but the torque from the GMC truck is substantially greater, providing you with a superior overall driving experience and greater capability.
One of the most important things you should look at when considering your next truck is the kind of work it can actually get done. For most of us, that comes down to getting the towing capacities that meet your needs and enough cargo space to haul everything you require. The Sierra 1500 and F-150 are full-size trucks that deliver impressive power and the ability to get a lot of work done, but the GMC model comes through in some key ways. If you are interested in the powerful standard engine in the Sierra 1500, that is a major advantage.
Looking at the standard engines for these two trucks, the one in the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 is far more powerful––in particular, the Sierra 1500’s base engine gives you 155 lb-ft of additional torque over the standard Ford engine. This is already impressive on paper, but it also translates into a big difference in the towing capacity you get with these two trucks and their starting engines. The 2023 Ford F-150 with its standard engine can handle up to 8,200 lbs of towing; by comparison, the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 with its standard engine gives you up to 9,400 lbs of towing. That is a significant difference that can impact the work you do with your truck.
More importantly, you get much more cargo capacity with the GMC Sierra 1500 than with the Ford F-150. Both trucks have three bed lengths available: a short bed, a standard bed, and a long bed. However, comparing them shows you get more cargo space with the Sierra 1500 in every similar bed. The F-150 short bed has just 52.8 cu.ft. of cargo volume, while its standard bed increases that to 62.3 cu.ft. of space, and the long bed makes it 77.4 cu.ft. Looking at the GMC Sierra 1500, you get 62.9 cu.ft. of cargo volume with its short bed, 71.7 cu.ft. of space with its standard bed, and an incredible 89.1 cu.ft. of total cargo volume with its long bed.
Modern trucks have come a long way since the stripped-down workhorses of the past. These days, you can get advanced technology and remarkable features throughout the interior in a wide range of pickups. While both the Sierra 1500 and F-150 have excellent options, the GMC Sierra simply gives you more to enjoy. For example, inside the 2023 Ford F-150, you will only find a 12-inch infotainment center, even in the top trim. The F-150’s starting XL trim features manual single-zone air conditioning, a four-inch productivity screen, and basic cloth seating. Higher trims have some excellent features, but it is a shame that the F-150 starts pretty stripped-down.
Looking at the GMC Sierra 1500, you get a lot more to enjoy, including a gorgeous 13.4-inch infotainment display. In addition, you also get a 12.3-inch color Driver Information Center to provide personalized data while driving. Even the base Pro trim comes standard with features such as Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB-A and USB-C data ports, express down front and rear windows, and more. Higher trims add to these features, of course, but knowing you get all of this standard means you get a great ride in the most basic GMC Sierra 1500 trim.