North Georgia Ford Compares 2016 Ford F-150 VS 2016 GMC Sierra Near Jasper, GA

The rear seatbelts optional on the F‑150 SuperCrew inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The Sierra doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

The F‑150 Lariat/King Ranch/Platinum offers an optional 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Sierra only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing safer, the F‑150 (except XL)’s optional cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Sierra doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the F‑150 and the Sierra have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, available four-wheel drive, collision warning systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and blind spot warning systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford F‑150 is safer than the GMC Sierra:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Ford F‑150 SuperCab is safer than the Sierra Crew Cab:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford F‑150 is safer than the GMC Sierra:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the F‑150 the rating of “Top Pick” for 2016, a rating granted to only 89 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sierra is not a “Top Pick” for 2016.

The F‑150’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Sierra’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 74 percent more Ford dealers than there are GMC dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the F‑150’s warranty.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the F‑150 have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engines in the Sierra.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without their vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports predicts that the F‑150’s reliability will be 74% better than the Sierra.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2015 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 12th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 16th, below the industry average.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford F‑150 2.7 EcoBoost V6 is faster than the GMC Sierra 5.7 V8:

On the EPA test cycle the F‑150 2.7 EcoBoost gets better fuel mileage than the Sierra:

On the EPA test cycle the F‑150 gets better fuel mileage than the Sierra:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the F‑150 2.7 ECOBoost’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Sierra doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford F‑150 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Sierra with the 6.2 V8 engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The F‑150’s optional fuel tank has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sierra Long Bed’s standard fuel tank (36 vs. 34 gallons).

The F‑150 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Sierra doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the F‑150’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Sierra:

The F‑150 stops much shorter than the Sierra:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the F‑150’s wheelbase is longer than on the Sierra:

The F‑150 5.5 ft. bed Platinum SuperCrew 4x4 handles at .76 G’s, while the Sierra 1500 Standard Box SLE Regular Cab 4x4 pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The F‑150 6.5 ft. bed SuperCab 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Sierra 1500 Short Box Denali Crew Cab 4x4 (28.5 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 30 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the F‑150 6.5 ft. bed SuperCrew has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Sierra 1500 Standard Box Regular Cab (9.3 vs. 8.6 inches), allowing the F‑150 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The F‑150 6.5 ft. bed Regular Cab’s minimum ground clearance is .5 inch higher than on the Sierra 1500 Double Cab (9.4 vs. 8.9 inches).

The Ford F‑150 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 550 pounds less than the GMC Sierra.

The front grille of the F‑150 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Sierra doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The F‑150 Regular Cab has 1.8 inches more front hip room and .7 inches more front shoulder room than the Sierra Regular Cab.

The F‑150 SuperCab has 1.8 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom and 4.5 inches more rear hip room than the Sierra Double Cab.

The F‑150 SuperCrew has 1.8 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear legroom, 4.4 inches more rear hip room and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sierra Crew Cab.

The F-150 5-1/2’ Bed has a much larger cargo box than the Sierra Short Box (53.9 vs. 53.4 cubic feet).

The F‑150 6-1/2’ Bed has a larger cargo box than the Sierra Standard Box (62.9 vs. 61 cubic feet).

The F-150 8’ Bed has a much larger cargo box than the Sierra Long Box (78 vs. 76.3 cubic feet).

A low lift-over bed design makes loading and unloading the F‑150 easier. The F‑150 Regular Cab’s bed lift-over height is 34.7 inches, while the Sierra Regular Cab’s liftover is 36.3 inches. The F‑150 SuperCab’s bed lift-over height is 34.1 inches, while the Sierra Double Cab’s liftover is 34.8 inches. The F‑150 SuperCrew’s bed lift-over height is 34 inches, while the Sierra Crew Cab’s liftover is 34.9 inches.

The F‑150 XLT/Lariat/King Ranch/Platinum’s front power windows both open or close with one touch of the switches. The Sierra’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the F‑150 XLT/Lariat/King Ranch/Platinum’s exterior keypad. The Sierra doesn’t offer an exterior keypad entry system, and its extra cost OnStar ® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Intelligent Access standard on the F‑150 Lariat/King Ranch/Platinum allows you to unlock the driver’s door, tailgate and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading cargo, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The GMC Sierra doesn’t offer an advanced key system.

The F‑150’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Sierra’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The F‑150’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

Both the F‑150 and the Sierra offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the F‑150 SuperCab/SuperCrew has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Sierra doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the F‑150 Lariat/King Ranch/Platinum offers an optional Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Sierra doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The F‑150 Lariat/King Ranch/Platinum’s optional Lariat/King Ranch/Platinum can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Sierra doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Ford F‑150, based on reliability, safety and performance. The GMC Sierra isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the F‑150 first among large light duty pickups in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Sierra was rated third.

Motor Trend selected the F‑150 as their 2012 Truck of the Year. The Sierra was Truck of the Year in 1999.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the F‑150 as the 2009 North American Truck of the Year. The Sierra has never been chosen.

The Ford F-Series outsold the GMC Sierra by over three to one during 2015.