2019 Silverado Holds Its Own in Ram 1500 Comparison

Ram costs $12,000 more, but the Silverado still received high praises in the head-to-head review.

Business Insider’s automotive reviewer Matthew DeBord recently spent time in the 2019 Silverado LTZ Crew Cab and the 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn, comparing the two trucks head-to-head. On the surface, it seems like a relatively fair comparison, even though the Ram tested costs $12,000 more than the Chevy. When you look a little closer, the comparison is a bit lopsided.

Trim Comparison

The Ram 1500 is fitted with the Laramie Longhorn trim level while the Silverado is an LTZ model. If you look at the trim level lineup of each, you will see that these are both one step down from the top-of-the-line trim, with the Ram also coming in Limited trim while the Chevy can be ordered with the High Country package. The “problem” for this comparison is that the Laramie Longhorn and the Limited packages from Ram are very similar, with the Longhorn having more of a western, equestrian theme, so this is really a comparison of one of Ram’s premium packages against the Silverado that is one step below the top.

The better comparison would have been the Longhorn and the High Country, but we digress, pointing out that the Ram had a price-as-tested of $12,000 more, yet the Chevy still gave it a run for its money.

Hybrid Hemi Ram

The lengthy, photo-heavy comparison begins with the 2019 Ram 1500, with DeBord sharing a long list of pictures accompanied by comments on what he did and didn’t like. He likes the blue exterior paint, the automatic running boards and all of the chrome, but the main attraction with the Laramie Longhorn is the interior.

The Ram has the biggest infotainment system of any truck sold in America, a premium Harman Kardon sound system and loads of premium finishes, hard and soft.

As for the driving dynamics, DeBord praises the power of the hybrid-assisted Hemi and the air suspension system, each of which played a role in the Ram winning this comparison.

On to the Silverado

After discussing the 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn with a series of pictures, DeBord moves onto the 2019 Silverado LTZ. He starts by pointing out the fact that this new truck is a few hundred pounds lighter than outgoing version while being able to tow 12,000 pounds. He also explains why he doesn’t love the look of the new front end:

“I’m not a huge fan of the Silverado’s front end. The LED headlights are too small, messing up the balance of the other elements: chrome grille and gold bowtie badge.”

While DeBord doesn’t like the front end, he does like the included tonneau cover, the integrated bumper bed step and the powerful 6.2-liter V8.

“The V8 makes 420 horsepower with a whopping 460 lb-ft of torque. It can propel the truck to 60 mph in about six seconds, sending the power through a 10-speed automatic transmission. The MPGs are actually respectable, at 16 city, 20 highway, and 17 combined.”

As he moves onto the interior, he points out that it isn’t as fancy as the Ram’s Longhorn package, but the Silverado is no slouch.

“Of course, some owners might not want a lot of cowboy flash in their trucks. The front seats are heated and cooled, a nice extra. The rear seats are merely heated.”

He does like the fact that Chevy is still using a traditional shift handle rather than the Ram’s knob and he raves about all of the storage space around the driver, including multiple convenient locations for a cell phone. He also likes the Silverado’s infotainment system, even though the screen is smaller than the Ram’s

“Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available. The system — IntelliLink — is wonderful, a breeze to use with a response touchscreen and a few useful knobs and buttons for backup. The 4G LTE Wi-Fi offers speedy device support through GM’s OnStar connectivity technology.”

The piece ends with DeBord naming the Ram 1500 the winner due to its loaded interior, hybrid engine and adjustable air suspension, all of which lead to a price that is $12,000 more than the Chevy. For those who don’t want the western interior theme, a hybrid drive system or air suspension, the Silverado LTZ is the better choice for the money.

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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