2021 RAM 1500 vs 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty had an updated styling with a more detailed grille and headlights. The new grille moved away from the gaudy chrome-clad bars of the 2019 model, but remained imposing. The massive headlights, though still large, featured additional detail and contouring, giving them a more refined look. These subtle changes resulted in a more mature appearance for the heavy-duty pickup. However, the design was still a modest evolution of the 2017 model year, making the Super Duty look increasingly dated compared to the redesigned 2021 F-150. The cabin remained unchanged with blocky styling, which was not particularly inviting but suited for work use with plenty of usable space.

Trim levels for the 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty included XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited. The XL trim featured 17-inch steel wheels, black bumpers, and vinyl seats, giving it a "work truck" look. The XLT added 18-inch aluminum wheels, chrome bumpers, and the SYNC 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen. The Lariat bridged the gap between work and luxury trucks with leather upholstery and dual-zone climate control. The King Ranch featured a unique two-tone exterior and special saddle-style leather upholstery. The Platinum added 20-inch polished aluminum wheels and heated-and-ventilated seats, while the range-topping Limited offered power-retractable running boards and a premium audio system by Bang & Olufsen.

The 2021 RAM 1500 was a carryover model from its 2019 redesign, offering no new cosmetic changes. It came in quad or crew cab configurations, with the crew cab available with either a five-foot, seven-inch bed or a six-foot, four-inch bed. The two-door Ram 1500 was equipped with the longer box. Both configurations could be rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The biggest news for 2021 was the introduction of the TRX model, inspired by off-road rally races. The TRX featured a functioning hood scoop, massive grille, and fender vents, making it a commanding presence. It was a crew cab-only 4x4 with a 5-foot, 7-inch box, sitting on a 145.1-inch wheelbase with a height and width of 80.9 and 88 inches, respectively. The TRX had a skid plate-equipped ground clearance of 11.8 inches and could fjord through up to 32 inches of water. The interior of the TRX was luxurious, with standard black premium cloth and vinyl upholstery, available leather and suede materials, and a 12-inch Uconnect infotainment display.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty came with a standard 6.2-liter gas V8 engine producing 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. It also offered a 6.7-liter turbodiesel Power Stroke V8 with 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque, and a new 7.3-liter gas V8 with 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The 6.2-liter V8 had a six-speed automatic transmission, while the 7.3-liter gas and 6.7-liter diesel engines came with a 10-speed automatic. The F-350 had a conventional towing capacity of 24,200 pounds, a fifth-wheel towing capacity of 32,500 pounds, and a gooseneck trailer capacity of 37,000 pounds. It could also provide a maximum payload capacity of 7,850 pounds. The Tremor off-road package added 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires, a lifted suspension, and Trail Control, providing 10.8 inches of ground clearance.

The 2021 RAM 1500 TRX featured a 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, producing 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. It had a payload capacity of 1,310 pounds and a maximum towing capability of 8,100 pounds. The TRX could accelerate to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and had a top speed of 118 mph. It offered eight on- and off-road drive modes, including a newly calibrated Baja mode. The TRX performed well in various driving scenarios, from city commutes to off-road adventures. It featured a launch control system for quick acceleration and handled off-road tracks with ease, maintaining grip and stability.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty was available in Regular Cab, Super Cab, and Super Crew configurations. The Super Cab had rear-hinged half-doors, providing decent space for rear-seat passengers but requiring the front door to be opened for access. The Super Crew had a full four-door crew cab with ample headroom and legroom, and rear seats that folded up for a large load floor. The F-350 offered a 6-foot-9-inch bed or an 8-foot bed, with the regular cab only available with the longer bed. The 8-foot bed was also available in a dual-rear-wheel configuration. The bed featured a step that extended from the tailgate for easier loading.

The 2021 RAM 1500 TRX had identical interior dimensions to the standard Ram 1500, with front headroom and legroom measuring 40.9 inches and rear seats offering 39.8 and 45.2 inches, respectively. The TRX featured full-length rock rails for extra body protection and a full-size spare tire. The center storage bin had a large top tray and a cavernous main compartment. The front seats in the TRX Level 2 package were comfortable, and the powered-adjustable pedals were a useful feature. The seating position offered the most adjustability compared to rivals, preventing driver fatigue on long drives.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty featured the SYNC 3 infotainment system with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The system had an intuitive menu layout with large icons for easy navigation. However, it occasionally experienced buggy hiccups, especially when switching between SYNC 3 and Apple CarPlay. The F-350 also offered impressive towing features, including Pro Trailer Backup Assist, a 360 camera, and Trailer Reverse Guidance, which made backing up a trailer easier by taking over the steering inputs.

The 2021 RAM 1500 came standard with a 12-inch touchscreen featuring the Uconnect 4C infotainment system with navigation. The display was fully customizable, allowing owners to drag and drop frequently used controls to the bottom menu bar. The screen could be configured as a single-panel or split-screen display. The Uconnect system offered wireless charging, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, Bluetooth connectivity, and ports for AUX, USB-A, and USB-C connectors. The TRX also featured Performance Pages for vehicle calculations and Off-Road Pages for ride height and accessory gauges. The new full-color head-up display (HUD) provided real-time driving information and was customizable via the instrument cluster display or Uconnect touchscreen.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty came standard with a full array of airbags, automatic high beams, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The XLT trim added automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Lariat added a reverse-sensing system, while the King Ranch included Pro Trailer Backup Assist. The Platinum trim added adaptive cruise control and adaptive steering, and the Limited trim provided all these features as standard equipment.

The 2021 RAM 1500 TRX offered more than 100 safety and security features, including a rear backup camera with dynamic guidelines as standard. The Advanced Safety Group package included a 360-degree view, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and pedestrian detection with emergency braking. The Advanced Tech Group added a digital rear-view mirror and a brake-activated center high-mount stop lamp. Other available features included adaptive headlights, hill-start assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, trailer sway control, lane-departure warning, and front and rear park assistance with automatic braking. Passive safety features included an auto-reverse feature for windows and sunroof, and an enhanced accident response system.