Big Data Shootout: VIO Stats for Ford F-150 vs Chevy Silverado vs Ram pickups
We again dove into our US vehicle registration database of 245 million vehicles for our latest Big Data Shootout on Vehicles in Operation (VIO). This Shootout looks at the Ford F-150/F-Series, compared to Dodge Ram and Chevy Silverado pickups. We compared these trucks head to head: we looked at the most total registrations for 2014 year to date, as well as the biggest increase or decrease in registrations from 2013. Let the Shootout begin!
Third place but pulling strong: Ram pickup registrations
First, some quick background on the Ram brand: In 2010-2011 Chrysler spun off the “Ram” brand from Dodge, so what was previously known as Dodge Ram pickups became just “Ram” pickups. That decision came after Fiat acquired Chrysler and dedicated the Dodge brand to cars only. In December 2014, parent company Chrysler became officially known as “FCA US LLC” (for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, United States, Limited Liability Corporation). The current lineup is the fourth generation of Dodge Ram/Ram pickups.
On to the shootout: Total new registrations YTD for Ram pickups came in third place vs. Chevrolet Silverado and the Ford F-series. However, Ram is coming on strong with an amazing 60% increase in total registrations YTD compared to 2013. At this pace Ram pickups may take over second place for total pickup sales.
Ram models include the 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500. The 1500, at Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) class 2, had more moderate growth, with triple-digit increases coming from the heavier 2500 through 5500 models.
Total registrations of Ram trucks with the Cummins diesel engine are also up triple-digits. A smaller diesel engine is available in the current 1500, an EcoDiesel V6, but the workhorse diesel engine is the 6.7L Cummins diesel available in the Ram 2500 and 3500 models.
Second place: Chevrolet Silverado pickup registrations
The popular Chevy Silverado pickup line came in second place for total registrations YTD, barely ahead of Ram registrations in 2014. Looking at the increase in registrations from 2013 the Silverado registered a small bump, nowhere near the increase we’ve seen from Ram in 2014.
America’s most popular pickup? No, that’s not really a brand new Ford F-150. That’s a 1955 Ford F-100 with rare high wall bed sides. The staff here just thought it looked cool. This F-100 would have probably had a 223 cubic-inch inline 6 cylinder engine or a 239 cubic inch Y-block V8, none of which has anything to do with this article.
Chevy Silverados with the diesel engine option are showing a larger increase in registrations over 2013. The 6.6L Duramax LML diesel platform is an option for the Silverado 2500 and 3500 models.
Although the Chevy Silverado is basically the same as the GMC Sierra, we didn’t include the Sierra in this shootout because sales are less than half of the Silverado.
First place: Ford F-150 and F-Series pickup registrations
The number one pickup in the land: the Ford F-Series which includes the F-150, and the Super Duty line: the F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550. A much larger, diesel-powered lineup, the F-650 and F-750, are also available.
The Ford F-Series outsells the Chevy and Ram models by a wide margin. In fact the F-Series outsells all other cars or trucks, including the popular Toyota Camry.
The difference from 2013 doesn’t look pretty, however; total registrations YTD are flat. Ford is re-launching a revised model for the 2015 model year, intending to turn that around.
Many of these F-150 or F-250 trucks sell for over $50,000 (as does the Chevy Silverado and Ram, as well as SUVs from all three makes), leading to the question of what exactly is a luxury vehicle? A Ford F-150 King Ranch that comes off the lot at over $50,000, or a Mercedes-Benz CLA Class which is marketed as starting at $31,500? Or, for a more direct comparison look at the Mercedes-Benz GLA Class SUV, marketed as starting at $33,300.
