2025 Ram 1500 is coming, but how does it stack up against the Toyota Tundra, Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado?

04/01/2025 05:00 PM

Prices and features for the 2025 Ram 1500 have been announced and while more than 30,000 1500s and 2500s have been sold here since 2016, there's stiff competition in the Australian full-size pick-up market.

The Ram 1500 gets a mild styling update on the outside for the 2025 model year, but the big news is the arrival of a new Hurricane twin-turbo inline six-cylinder.

While it has greater towing capacity – and lower running costs in terms of better fuel efficiency – the 2025 Ram 1500 kicks off at $22,000 higher than the previous model.

A two-model line-up starts with the Ram 1500 Laramie Sport and the top-spec Ram 1500 Limited – with other models above and below these potential candidates for local showrooms later on.

MORE: 2025 Ram 1500 price and specs – Australian power, towing, and payload confirmed for new six-cylinder

With Australian arrivals scheduled to land in April 2025, we're yet to put the 2025 Ram 1500 under the microscope on local roads.

Based on the specs released so far, should you hold off your Toyota Tundra, Ford F-150 or Chevrolet Silverado purchase until the new Ram 1500 arrives?

Pricing and model range

The 2025 Ram 1500 Laramie Sport is $141,950 before on-road costs – compared to $119,950 starting point for the 2024 model year 1500 – but that's due to the range kicking off with higher spec models.

The 2025 Ram 1500 Laramie Sport is closest in spec to the $138,000 Silverado ZR2, the F-150 Lariat SWB at $139,950 and the Toyota Tundra Limited – only a single model offered Australia – at $155,990 before on-roads.

MORE: 2025 Ram 1500 six-cylinder coming soon: Everything we know

The range-topping Ram 1500 Limited is priced at $159,950 before on-road costs, making it the most expensive pick-up in the class.

The lower-spec, cheaper Ram 1500 Big Horn and Laramie were offered in 2024 and may return to the Australian line-up at a later date if they're needed to compete with lower-spec, cheaper Chevrolet and Ford rivals. 

The Chevrolet Silverado range begins at $130,500 for the 1500 LTZ and the Ford F-150 XLT SWB is $106,950 before on-road costs, a significant price difference to the Ram 1500 Laramie Sport for budget conscious buyers.

It's worth noting the F-150 is still the previous model with Australian showrooms yet to receive the latest facelift, with the 2023 model year still in local dealers.

MORE: V8 Hemi return to Ram 1500 TRX mooted despite 2024 cancellation for straight six

Size, dimensions and space

The Ram 1500 is offered in Australia in a single four-door body and single tub length.

The 1500 Laramie Sport sits on 20-inch wheels and measures 5916mm long, 2084mm wide and 1971 mm high, with the 1500 Limited the same dimensions apart from its 1972mm height as it rides on 22-inch alloys.

That's stretched over a 3672mm wheelbase compared to the Silverado's 3760mm, Tundra's 3700mm and F-150's 3694mm wheelbase.

The tub size for both 1500s is 1270mm wide (between the wheel arches), 509mm high and 1712mm long and comes with a spray-in bedliner and standard power tailgate.

There's also a standard RamBox storage system for an extra 420L of space – 210L per side.

Ground clearance sees the Silverado lead with 296mm, with the F-150 next on 239mm and the 1500 on 217mm – one millimetre more than the Tundra.

Engine, transmission and fuel economy

The Ram 1500 brings two versions of its new-generation Hurricane twin-turbo inline six-cylinder both with an eight-speed automatic and four-wheel drive as standard. 

Even the lower-powered spec six-cylinder has both more power and more torque than the 5.7-litre V8 Hemi it replaces.

The 'Standard Output' in the entry-level Laramie produces 313kW/635Nm; the top-spec 1500 Limited running the High Output 403kW/707Nm.

In terms of power, that makes the 1500 king of the hill, with both Ram engines making more than the Tundra's 290kW, the V6 F-150's 298kW and the Silverado V8's 313kW.

Looking at torque, the Ram 1500 wins again – but you need the High Output 707Nm engine to beat the Tundra's 649Nm and F-150's 678Nm.

MORE: Ram ute – Ford Ranger rival confirmed for 2027, on Australian wishlist

The entry-level Laramie's 635Nm is still ahead of the Silverado's 624Nm, with the only V8 in the mix having the least torque.

New for 2025 are five driving modes (Auto, Sport, Tow, Snow and Off-Road modes).

There is also a larger 125L fuel tank in the Ram 1500 Limited, up from 98L in the previous model which remains standard in the 1500 Laramie Sport.

Fuel economy figures are 10.74L/100km for the Laramie Sport and 11.79L/100km (both combined fuel figures) for the Limited – ahead of the Silverado's 12.2L/100km and the F-150's 12.5L/100km.

Toyota Australia does not publish a fuel figure for the Tundra Limited.

Towing and payload

The Ram 1500 Laramie Sport has a braked tow-rating of 4500kg –  matched by the Silverado, F-150 and Tundra. 

The Laramie Sport payload is 863kg, compared to the Tundra's 758kg, the Silverado's 713kg and F-150's 685kg.

The Ram 1500 Limited has a braked tow-rating of 4200kg and a 782.5kg payload.

New for 2025, the Ram 1500 Limited also has standard three-mode air suspension, while Trailer Sway Control is standard on both models.

Comfort and Technology

Eight-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with leather upholstery are standard in the 2025 Ram 1500, with a premium leather used in the upmarket 1500 Limited which also scores a front-seat massage function.

Dual-zone climate control and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof are also standard range-wide.

The driver uses a 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster, while a new 14.4-inch infotainment screen – larger than any rival's with the Silverado's 13.4-inch unit the closest – comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility.

On the passenger side is a 10.25-inch display and two wireless phone chargers – accompanied by six USB ports and one HDMI port throughout the vehicle – with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system standard on the line-up, too.

MORE: 2025 Ram 2500 and 3500 update revealed with more powerful diesel

The Limited now has a 360-degree camera and Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) standard, with the 1500 line-up already including six airbags, AEB with pedestrian detection and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

The size of the Ram 1500 and its rivals means none of them have been subjected to ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) testing – and therefore do not have a crash-test star rating.

The 2025 Ram 1500 line-up does not have an ANCAP rating, but it has been assessed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States where it was awarded an overall rating of five stars.

All of the pick-ups compared here have achieved a five-star NHTSA rating.

A full-size spare is standard in both Ram 1500s and Silverado – but the F-150 and Tundra have only an 18-inch spare when they both run 20-inch wheels standard.

Warranty, servicing and running costs

The 2025 Ram 1500 comes with a three-year/100,000km warranty including 24/7 roadside assistance.

That's matched by the Chevrolet Silverado, but both Toyota and Ford each offer a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.

Toyota comes out on top as while Ford offers 12 months of roadside assistance – extended each time your F-150 is serviced at Ford during the warranty period – Toyota offers added warranty as well as up to seven years emergency assistance serviced

Yet the Tundra has the shortest service intervals at six months/10,000km – whichever occurs first.

The Ram, Chevrolet and Ford all have 12-month service intervals, with the 1500 and Silverado at 12,000km, with the F-150 at 12 months or 15,000km.

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