Ford Trucks Vs. Chevy Trucks

For decades, Ford and Chevy have been direct competitors in the field of American trucks. Household names such as the F-Series, Silverado and Suburban have been best sellers for both companies. The brand rivalry continues today with each automaker offering its own full line of trucks.

Ford Truck History

Ford has been producing trucks since introducing the full-size F-Series pickup in 1948. That line has become one of the longest running and best selling model lines of any automaker, and the F-150 has been a perennial best seller for Ford. In 1966, Ford introduced the Bronco SUV. The company's first compact pickup was the Courier in 1972, which was replaced by the Ford Ranger in 1983. Since 1999, Ford has also produced the Super Duty series of full-size pickups. Since the 1990s, numerous SUVs, including the Explorer, Escape, Freestyle, Flex and Exhibition have also been part of Ford's truck lineup.

Ford Trucks Today

Ford's current truck lineup is an extension of its historic brands and includes the Ranger, F-150 and Super Duty. The compact Ranger is available with several inline-four-cylinder and V6 engines and offers an entry level pickup with relatively few extra features. The F-150, currently in its 12th generation, is a mid-size pickup available with two or four doors and in a number of trim levels. At the top of the Ford line is the Super Duty, which is a full-size commercial model. It is offered with a V8 or V10 engine, along with a diesel V8. In addition to its truck line, Ford also produces four SUVs: the Escape, Sport Trac, Explorer and Expedition.

Chevy Truck History

General Motors began building and selling trucks through its Chevrolet brand in 1935 with the Suburban truck. Pickup trucks became a staple for Chevy in 1960 with the C and K series of full-size pickups. The Chevy LUV (for light utility vehicle) was added in 1972 to give Chevy a compact pickup to compete with Ford's Courier. In 1982, the LUV was replaced by Chevy's new compact S10 pickup. Meanwhile, the Silverado replaced the C and K pickups, becoming a best seller immediately. In 2002, the Chevy Avalanche became the first of the brand's "sport/utility trucks," and the mid-size Colorado pickup was added for 2004.

Chevy Trucks Today

Chevy currently offers a line of trucks that includes the Avalanche, Colorado and Silverado. The Avalanche is a full-size pickup with four doors. It is available with two different V8 engines and either two- or four-wheel drive. The Colorado serves as the mid-size model in a place that was long held by the S10. The Colorado can be ordered with two or four doors and a number of different engines, including an inline-four-cylinder, inline-five-cylinder and a V8. The Chevy Silverado is the top of Chevy's truck line. It is available with a regular cab, extended cab or crew cab and any one of several V8 engines. The Silverado is also offered in a Heavy Duty commercial version, which competes with Ford's Super Duty truck. Chevy's SUV lineup includes the Tahoe as well as the venerable Suburban.

Similarities

At any point in their histories, Ford and Chevy have offered trucks and SUVs that are remarkably similar. Both companies have staked much of their financial success on truck profits, as evidenced by the trouble caused when truck sales plummeted in the mid-2000s amid rising fuel costs. Today, both Ford and Chevy offer hybrid versions of select truck and SUV models. The decision to buy a Ford or Chevy often rests on brand loyalty, as model offerings and pricing are quite similar.

References

• Ford Trucks
• Chevy Trucks

Resources

• Pickup trucks.com