For light use: Ford F-150 2.7 liter or Ram 1500 3.6 liter?

For light use: Ford F-150 2.7 liter or Ram 1500 3.6 liter?


“I tow my ATV a few times a year in a closed trailer, which gives it a weight of 1150 kg (2500 lbs). Otherwise, it is a vehicle that I will use for my daily trips and I would like to keep it for 10 years. What to choose between Ford F-150 with a 2.7 liter turbocharged V6 engine and 1500 sheep and the 3.6 liter engine, both used 2 or 3 years old? ” – Jean Claude

Answer

Welcome to Jean-Claude

This is a simple application that you will repair your car. Both are certainly capable of doing so, but certain characteristics favor one or the other.

Ford F-150 2021 Photo provided by: Ford

First, know that a Ford F-150 with a 2.7-liter twin-turbo engine offers performance that will undoubtedly be greater than that of a Ram 1500 with a naturally aspirated V6 engine. This is not surprising, given that the Ford engine has 325 horsepower, but on top of that is an impressive 400 pound-feet of torque, which has everything to do with the Ram’s V6 with its 305 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. The 2.7 liter is also a very lively engine and very pleasant to use every day. However, it is connected to a 10-speed automatic that continues to attract complaints over the years, due to the jerks it produces in certain situations, such as at low speeds or during acceleration.

Ford also offers the most multimedia interface of the two. You have a choice of an 8- or 12-inch screen, depending on trim, and they’re more user-friendly in both cases than the Ram’s 8- or 12-inch interfaces. Plus, the exterior looks a lot simpler than the Ram, mostly because of the shape. of the front doors and lower dashboard space.

Ram 1500 2021 2
Ram 1500 2021 Photo provided by: Stellantis

For others, Ram

The Ford, however, is not a pickup truck I recommend buying. I think the Ram, despite the few disadvantages I just mentioned compared to the Ford, is the best truck for the needs you describe.

First, since you’ll rarely use your car for towing, you’ll appreciate the Ram’s handling and spring-back suspension even more. This makes the ride smoother and more stable on the road, unlike the Ford which has a more bouncy ride. In addition, the overall soundproofing of the cabin is better for the Ram, for better comfort.

Second, since you are considering keeping the car for a long time, I believe it is wise to choose a simple engine like a regular 3.6-liter V6 rather than a 2-turbocharged engine like the 2, 7 from Ford. The latter has proven to be reliable so far, but repair costs will be higher than with the Pentastar V6 in the long run. Furthermore, the marriage of the 8-speed automatic transmission with the Ram 1500’s V6 is better than the marriage of the 10-speed with the Ford’s V6. So it would be a more interesting engine/transmission combination, albeit less powerful.

Ram 1500 2021 7
Ram 1500 2021 Photo provided by: Stellantis

Third, since you are considering a used car that is 2 or 3 years old, you will fall into the 2021 or 2022 model year. It is in these years that the current generation Ford F-150 arrived. The Ram 1500 was already a few years old, or even several years if you choose the Classic version. It is best to choose a car that is not in its first model year in this category.

By the way, if you can choose the standard (non-Standard) version of the Ram, known as DT, I encourage you to do so. Improvements in ride comfort, refinement and handling are significant, giving you a truck you’ll enjoy even more.