2020 Ford F-150 vs GMC Sierra 1500
The battle of the half-ton pickup trucks keeps producing one champion. And that would be the 2020 Ford F-150. To show you what we mean, we’ve paired it with the GMC Sierra 1500 in this comparison guide. Point by point, you’ll see why the F-150 is both drivers’ and critics’ choice year after year.
Engine Options: 2020 Ford F-150
We start with engine options because, if you’re like most truck owners, this is the category that really counts. Why else go with a half-ton pickup if you don’t need the power and torque it provides? Looking at the F-150’s engine options, you have a whopping six choices to pick from. There’s everything from the base 290-horsepower V6 to the tier-topping high-output 450-horsepower turbo V6. And if you prefer a diesel, there’s also a 250-horsepower turbodiesel. Anything you need, Ford’s got it. This includes the 450-hp engine that comes exclusively on the Raptor and Limited trims.
To its credit, the GMC Sierra 1500 comes with one of five engine options. The 1500 starts off with a 285-horsepower V6 and climbs to a 420-horsepower V8. There’s also a 277-horsepower turbodiesel, if that’s your thing. No matter how you soin it, the GMC Sierra comes in second place to the F-150, from number of options to base or top-tier horsepower. That’s the trend you’ll see continue into the other categories in this guide.
Towing and Payload: 2020 Ford F-150
Of course, horsepower is only good if it translates to work power. And, in the case of the Ford F-150, it does in spades. That’s why the Ford F-150 offers a maximum payload capacity of 3,270 pounds and a maximum towing capacity of 13,200 pounds. Again, the GMC Sierra comes in at second place. When properly configured, the Sierra offers a payload of 2,240 pounds and a towing capacity of 12,100 pounds. Decent numbers, but not enough to unseat the F-150.
Another perk about the Ford F-150 is that no matter what you drive, there’s a trim level priced for your budget. The F-150 starts at $28,745. But if you want the best engine and all the fixin’s, you can get one in even the $70,000 range. The base trim level is geared to be more of a workhorse, while the upper trims are real luxury liners.
Despite having a weaker base engine, the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 has a higher price tag, starting at $29,600. While it’s upper trims only go to the upper $50 grand or so, keep in mind that the engine up there is weaker than the one in the comparable F-150 trim level.
For our money, we stand by the Ford F-150. Test drive one at LaFayette Ford in Fayetteville this week.