It seems like trucks are getting more expensive by the day. The 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten & 2025 Ford F-150 Powerboost King Ranch demo vehicles that I had the chance to review were worth over $100,000 CAD. So with their 6-figure price tags, are they essentially the same trucks or do they feel different enough from each other?
Performance
Engine – With the Ford F-150, there are a few Ecoboost V6 engines and a V8 to choose from. This Powerboost F-150 has a hybrid 3.5L Ecoboost V6 which develops 430 hp & 570 lb-ft of torque (321 kW & 773 Nm). The output is a bit less than the F-150 Raptor but this powertrain produces a lot more torque. With a curb weight of 2,533 kg (5,584 lbs), it’s a bit lighter than the Raptor so the power deficit is negligible because it feels just as fast, perhaps a bit faster.
The hybrid component of this truck does allow it to drive, for brief periods, on nothing but electricity. Usually, this only happens at city speeds and not so much at highway speeds. With a nearly fully charged battery, the electric motor even has enough grunt to get the truck going on its own. Yes, the truck will need to be unladen & the acceleration will be slow but it is possible.
The big news in the 2025 Ram 1500 is that the V8 engine is no longer available on any trim level. This truck can only be equipped with a V6 or two different versions of a new 3.0L twin-turbocharged inline-6 engine. This Tungsten trim has the high output version which develops 540 hp & 521 lb-ft of torque (403 kW & 706 Nm). This Ram 1500 is heavier than the F-150 at 2,690 kg (5,930 lbs) but thanks to the higher output of the motor, it feels just as fast as the Ford. This new engine has loads of low end grunt but sadly, it doesn’t sound anywhere near as good as the old V8.
Fuel Economy – Of the two trucks, it’s the Ford F-150 hybrid that is more fuel efficient. It is rated for 11.2 L/100km (21 MPG) in a city and 10 L/100km (23.5 MPG) on a highway. This time around, I didn’t achieve such good fuel economy numbers as I did a couple years ago when I last drove the F-150 Powerboost, but I still managed a respectable 11.7 L/100km (20.1 MPG).
The 2025 Ram 1500 is not as efficient. It’s actually less efficient than the old V8. It’s rated for 15.7 L/100km (15 MPG) in a city and 11.5 L/100km (20.5 MPG) on a highway. I managed to average 14.8 L/100km (15.9 MPG) during my time with the Ram 1500.
Transmission – Like every other Ford pickup truck, the F-150 Powerboost is equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Generally, this is a smooth and decently responsive transmission. In the past, I’ve noticed that it liked to skip 2nd gear under normal driving conditions. The gear position is no longer visible in this model year so I’m not sure if it still does this or not. In the past, this skip was evident but now, if it still does it, I can’t tell.
The 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten is equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This is a smooth shifting box with nearly seamless gear changes. It’s plenty fast to change gears too or react to a stab of the throttle but you cannot take over shifting duties. The most you can do is limit how high of a gear to go into when towing or going down a hill.
Braking – In the F-150 Hybrid, the battery is recharged partially by the engine and partially by braking through regenerative braking. The brake pedal has quite a bit of travel which makes it very easy to modulate for smooth stops. It also doesn’t have any discernible characteristic changes between regen braking and normal, friction braking with the brake discs.
The brakes on the Ram 1500 are strong and easy to modulate for smooth stops. Nose dive is well controlled by the suspension and the brake pedal progressively gets firmer the harder you push on it.
Handling – Dynamics wise, the 2025 Ford F-150 Powerboost Hybrid is just like any other truck. The steering is light for easy maneuverability, the suspension walks a fine line between comfort & payload resistance, and overall it’s an easy truck to drive. The turning circle is a bit wide but that depends on how long the bed & wheelbase is. Like other trim levels, there are different drive modes to choose from including Eco, Tow/Haul, Sport, Slippery among many others and the F-150 Hybrid is equipped with a locking rear differential.
This Ram 1500 Tungsten is not a TRX by any means but the air suspension system limits enough of the body roll through corners to not make it feel as though the truck is driving on its door handles. Steering is just light enough at slow speeds for parking but firms up when on the move with a decently direct feel. This particular trim of the Ram 1500 was not meant to go off the beaten path but it is equipped with automatic 4×4 and the air suspension can raise the truck to an off-road 2 height.
Capability – The Hybrid engine in the F-150 is available with both 5.5’ & 6.5’ bed configurations. This demo vehicle is the former with the rated payload rating being 787 kg (1,735 lbs). The tow rating of this specific truck is 4,899 kg (10,800 lbs) with the 3.73 rear differential but it can be higher when properly equipped, up to 11,200 lbs with the hybrid powertrain. The bed can be equipped with a spray-on bedliner, a drop-in bedliner, or no bedliner at all. There are tie down points in each corner with more being made available through the accessories catalog. There are bed lights on either side and on the left side of the bed, you’ll find the ProPower on board. This provides you with up to 7.2 kW of power and multiple power outlets including a 240-Volt outlet. The tailgate is power operated on this trim, for both up & down functionality, and has the new smaller barn door style opening in the middle. There are also ruler marks in the tailgate, cup holder indentations, and even bottle openers. But don’t drink and drive.
In the crew cab, short bed configuration with 4×4, the 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten is rated to carry 1,170 lbs of payload and tow up to 9,920 lbs. The Limited trim of the Ram 1500 can carry a higher payload but cannot tow as much as this Tungsten trim with the high output version of the inline-6 engine. The bed comes in either 5’7” or 6’4” lengths and can be optioned with the Ram Boxes on either side. These do take up some of the bed area but are great for storing tools as they are lockable. The tailgate on this demo vehicle is not the barn door design and is instead a simple power operated tailgate. There is a small deployable step on the left side of the bumper for easier access into or out of the bed.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – Of the two trucks, the 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten has the better ride thanks to the air suspension. It doesn’t quite glide over bumps like the Mercedes S-class but among other truck competitors, this easily has the best ride. The ride of the 2025 Ford F-150 Powerboost is not bad per se, but it can feel a bit more jittery over small bumps than the ride of the Ram 1500.
Interior Space – These being full-size pickup trucks, they both provide an abundance of interior volume. Perhaps, there’s a little bit more space in the Ram 1500 than in the F-150. Even with my above average height of 6’4”, I feel small in the front seats of the Ram. The seats themselves are plenty comfortable with enough adjustments for both tall and short individuals.
The rear seats in the Ram 1500 are a bit more luxurious because not only are they ventilated on this Tungsten trim (in addition to heating like the ones in the F-150) but they can also recline. Albeit, it’s a small recline angle but it’s something that the rear seats in the Ford can’t do. The seats in both trucks can also be lifted to unveil a small storage box underneath them. However, the one in the Ford is collapsable while the one in the Ram is not.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The Ram 1500 has one of the best insulated interiors among the big three truck manufacturers. Wind, road, and engine noise are very well insulated from the occupants.
When the 2025 Ford F-150 PowerBoost is driving on electricity in a city setting, it’s as quiet as a luxury sedan on the inside. Very little outside noises intrude. On highways, you do notice more wind noise and a bit of tire noise but it’s not overly intrusive. When the engine kicks in, the transition is very smooth. It’s also a quiet engine under normal operation. Only when you put your foot down does it sound loud.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten is the most expensive Ram truck that is on sale. It has a starting price of $103,945 CAD ($87,075 USD). There aren’t too many packages and options to add onto it as this demo vehicle came equipped at a price of $109,105 CAD ($90,075 USD).
The 2025 Ford F-150 King Ranch is not the top spec trim of this truck, that would be the Platinum. Even so, it has a starting price of $94,940 CAD ($73,945 USD). With a few options, this demo vehicle had an as-tested price of $100,865 CAD ($78,175 USD).
Gadgets – For all that money, both trucks are not sparsely equipped. They have the usual luxury features such as leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats (also massaging in the Ram), heated rear seats (also ventilated in the Ram), a head-up display, a panoramic sunroof, surround view cameras, power running boards, big touchscreens, and wireless phone charging pads to name just a few.
The F-150 has a bit of a leg-up on the Ram 1500 with its Blue Cruise system. It allows for hands-free driving on most highways throughout Canada & the United States. The truck comes with a 90-day trial of Blue Cruise but after that, you do have to pay for it if you want it. The Ram 1500 has a new hands-free system as well but I found that the hands-free portion of it doesn’t work quite as often as the Blue Cruise system. Most of the time, it required me to have at least one hand on the steering wheel but it still had steering input to keep the truck centered in the lane.
As for the infotainment systems, the Ford has SYNC4 while the Ram has Uconnect5. Personally, I prefer the SYNC4 system as it is a bit more easier to navigate around but the Uconnect5 system allows for a bit more customizability. Additionally, I had a few more problems with phone connectivity in the Ram than in the Ford. From time to time, my phone would get disconnected from the Uconnect system.
Interior Design – Since the introduction of this generation of Ram truck back in 2019, it has easily been the nicest and most luxurious pickup truck on the market. Though most of the functions are integrated into the big touchscreen, there are some physical redundant controls flanking each side for the climate and most commonly used features. Additionally, the bright colour of the leather and headliner made the cabin feel more “airy” than that of the F-150. This is the type of interior that one would expect from a nearly 6-figure pickup truck and the Ram delivers.
The Ford F-150’s interior has a perfect blend of physical controls & touchscreen real estate. Climate temperature, fan speed, heated or ventilated seats controls, and so on all have their own dedicated buttons. The rest of the interior is a blend of different plastics and some leather pieces.
Exterior Design – It’s on the outside that you’ll notice some of the updates to the Ford F-150. It received some styling changes for the 2024 model year which include a new headlight design with new LED daytime running lights and new taillights.
2025 marks a mid-cycle update for the Ram 1500. It too had new headlights and taillights along with a larger grille. Overall, both trucks have evolved designs of the trucks that were introduced for their respective current generations.
Safety – With both trucks being top spec trims, they are equipped with every safety & driver aid that is available on these trucks from the respective brands. These include lane keep, front pedestrian detection with emergency braking and adaptive cruise control with stop/go function, auto high beams and blind spot sensors with cross traffic alert among many other features.
Warranty – Both trucks are covered by the same warranty. 3 years / 60,000 km new vehicle warranty and a 5 year / 100,000 km powertrain warranty. For more information on Ford’s Canadian warranty, click here. For USA warranty information, click here. For more information on Ram’s Canadian warranty, click here. For USA warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – So although these are both 6-figure trucks, in the Canadian market, they are very different from one another. The F-150 is much more efficient with its hybrid engine and is more capable in this configuration. The Ram is a quick truck with the new inline-6 engine and it is still the definitive luxury truck, if that’s what you’re after.
Thank you to Ford for providing the F-150 Powerboost. www.Ford.ca
Thank you to Ram Canada for providing the Ram 1500. www.RamTruck.ca
2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten Gallery
2025 Ford F-150 Powerboost King Ranch Gallery
