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Ford F-150 Lightning vs Ram 1500

2025 Ford F-150 Lightning vs 2025 Ram 1500 — two standard pickup trucks compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Ford F-150 Lightning

2025 Ford F-150 Lightning

Standard Pickup Trucks 4WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV
VS4 – 1Ford F-150 Lightning wins 4 of 5 categories
Ram 1500

2025 Ram 1500

Standard Pickup Trucks 2WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

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The short version

That works out to about $1,850 a year less in fuel for the Ford F-150 Lightning (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

Across all model years since 2005, the Ford F-150 Lightning has had fewer recall campaigns (15 vs 96).

The two cars

The 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning is a standard pickup truck powered by electricity and 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 230 inches long and 80 inches wide on a 145-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 6,021 lb (EV 4dr Pickup).

The 2025 Ram 1500 is a standard pickup truck offered with 2 engines (3.6L 6-cyl and 3.0L 6-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive. It measures about 233 inches long and 80 inches wide on a 145-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,971 lb (Crew Cab 5.7-Ft Box 2WD).

Buying used? The 2024 F-150 Lightning and the 2024 1500 have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2023 F-150 Lightning and the 2015 1500.

Basics

Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Class
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD
EV
Fuel
Hybrid, Regular Gasoline, Premium Gasoline
EV
Engines
3.6L 6-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
4-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

–
Best combined MPG
23 MPG
–
City / highway MPG (best)
20 city
320 mi
EV range
–
$1,050
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$2,900

Performance & space

–
Horsepower (most powerful)
540 hp
–
Seats (most)
6
229.9 in
Length
229.1 in
79.9 in
Width
79.5 in
75.6 in
Height
77.6 in
6,021 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
4,800 lb

Safety & reliability

10
Driver-assist features standard
11
3
Recalls (2025)
8
15
Recalls, all years since 2005
96
9
Owner complaints (latest year)
365

Interest

8,207
Wikipedia views, 30 days
6,559

Buying used

2024
Best used year
2024
2023
Year to avoid
2015

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Ford F-150 Lightning if…

  • You want an EV with more range (320 miles)
  • You put reliability history first (15 vs 96 recalls since 2005)

Choose the Ram 1500 if…

It doesn't clearly beat the Ford F-150 Lightning on any measure we track.

Pros & cons of each

2025 Ford F-150 Lightning

  • Long EV rangeUp to 320 miles on a charge (EPA).
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

2025 Ram 1500

  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
  • 8 recallsMore than similar models (about 4). Confirm repairs with the VIN.

Full 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning specs →Full 2025 Ram 1500 specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →