2014 Ram 1500 vs. Its Competition

Martin Padgett Editorial Director

Domestic pickup trucks rule the full-size class, and while the Ram 1500 is one of our favorites, there's much to recommend elsewhere from Detroit.

The Ford F-150 is the closest rival to the Ram 1500; it's also improved immensely in ride quality and refinement over the past couple of years, though we tend to think that the Ram rides a bit better with an empty load because of its coil-spring rear setup.

The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra have been revamped extensively, and look great; their new V-6 engines outpace the Ram's for outright performance and towing, and the 5.3-liter V-8 nearly hits Ram's V-6 economy figures.

Meanwhile, the other full-sizers are a woeful pair: the Toyota Tundra struggles with an awkward, chunky style inside, as well as a less proportionally on-the-mark interpretation of the big-rig look, and its interior appointments feel a little more cost-cut.

The Nissan Titan, the oldest truck in this class, isn't offered in base work-truck form.

Instead it's geared toward recreational users who tow a boat on the weekends, but the Titan doesn't ride all that well and gets by far the worst mileage among full-size trucks.