F-150 vs Silverado - Powertrain & Towing
When comparing pickup trucks like the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado, power and utility are two of the biggest factors that Ames Ford customers are looking at. If you're purchasing a pickup truck for work and need it to deliver, this is your bread and butter. To that end, both the F-150 and Silverado have a wide range of engine options and towing technology to get the job done. However, pound for pound, the 2019 Ford F-150 does come out on top in several important ways.
Starting with their base engines, Chevy uses its carryover 4.3l V6 from the last generation that makes 285 horsepower. On the other hand, the Ford F-150 manages 290 horsepower from a 3.3l V6. So for those sticking with the base engine, F-150 buyers can expect a bit more power and much better efficiency from the base engine.
Interestingly, both trucks then upgrade to a turbocharged 2.7l engine, but the Chevy is a four-cylinder, while Ford's configuration is a V6. The F-150's turbo V6 results in 15 more horsepower and a significant torque advantage of 400 lb-ft vs the 348 lb-ft of the Chevy. However, both engines represent a great trend, in that they bring impressive power while offering pickup truck buyers greater efficiency.
Next up are the popular V8 engines. We know many truck owners here in Ames who would never settle for anything less than a V8. The Chevy Silverado gets a 5.3l V8 at 355 horsepower, while Ford goes with a 5.0l V8 that gets 395 horsepower. Yet again, the Ford F-150 uses smaller, more efficient engines that also beat the Silverado on horsepower. Combined with the all-aluminum body of the F-150, owners can expect better acceleration and efficiency from the Ford.
The final engine option currently available on the 2019 Chevy Silverado is an optional 6.2l V8 that puts out 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. Ford, meanwhile, has two more engine options. The first is a turbocharged 3.5l V6, that comes in two different power levels. The first puts out 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, while the range-topping option clocks in at 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. For those that want an impressive balance of efficiency and towing power, there's an all-new 3.0l diesel V6 at 250 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque.
As you can imagine based on the numbers, the 2019 Ford F-150 with the turbo V6 manages to beat even the 6.2l version of the Chevy Silverado when it comes to towing. But that's not to say the Silverado is a slouch. Its max towing of 12,200 lbs is certainly impressive, but well short of the 13,200 lbs max offered by the Ford F-150.
