2024 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD vs 2024 Ram 2500

• 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD

  

  Starting at

  $43,400 ^[a]

  2024 Ram 2500

  

  Starting at

  $47,740

  470	Horsepower (hp):	410
  975	Torque (lb-ft):	850
  22,510	Max. Towing (lbs):	19,990

  For most people, a full-size, light-duty truck like the Chevy Silverado 1500 will do just fine—or even a midsize model like the Chevy Colorado. If you need a pickup that can get some serious work done, however, then you ought to be looking at more powerful and capable models. Choosing the right one can be tricky since there are so many impressive options, which is why it helps to compare them. Looking at the 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD vs 2024 Ram 2500, for example, quickly reveals that the Ram 2500—despite its bold power and capability—does not keep up with what the Silverado 2500 HD can do.

  If we start with the engines, for instance, we can see at a glance that both of these trucks have two available: a standard gas engine and a diesel alternative. That seems great—yet, as we look closer, it becomes apparent that these engines are not on the same level. The Chevy Silverado has a V8 gas engine that puts out 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque, while the Ram 2500 features a V8 with 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque. That is pretty close, but the turbo-diesel V8 engine that Chevy offers delivers a massive 470 hp and 975 lb-ft of torque, compared to the I-6 diesel of the Ram 2500 and its 370 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque.

  Not only do you get more raw power from Chevy’s diesel engine, but this comes through in terms of towing capacity, too, where the Silverado 2500 can handle more than 1,000 lbs greater towing with its gas engine and more than 2,500 lbs greater towing with its diesel than the Ram 2500. Not only that, but the Silverado 2500 has much more cargo capacity compared to the Ram 2500, along with an incredibly functional bed and tailgate. While Ram is well known for making trucks with impressive luxury and tech features inside, the Ram 2500 is actually outclassed by the Silverado 2500 HD. The Ram 2500 has a 5.0-inch infotainment display standard and a 12.0-inch screen available; the Chevy Silverado 2500 HD comes with a standard 7.0-inch infotainment screen and has a 13.4-inch display available, plus more great features.

• Performance

  

  A vehicle's engine is always its key ingredient, but this is doubly vital in a truck and even more so for powerful trucks like the Chevy Silverado 2500 HD or the Ram 2500. With this sort of pickup, we expect them to have powerful engines available, which is exactly what we find, but there are some crucial differences between them. While engine power is not the only thing that matters in a hard-working truck, it is still essential and one of our top concerns. That is why we are so pleased to see that the Silverado 2500 HD comes out on top with more power and greater capability.

  To start with, you have two engines available for both of these trucks, which makes comparing them quite simple. The starting engine in the Chevy Silverado 2500 HD is a 6.6L V8 gas engine that delivers 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque. By comparison, the Ram 2500 starts with a 6.4L HEMI V8 engine that offers 410 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque; you can see the Ram truck has slightly more horsepower but quite a bit less torque. You can get a 6.6L Duramax Turbo-Diesel V8 engine from Chevy that delivers an incredible 470 hp and 975 lb-ft of torque. With the Ram 2500, however, there is a 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel I-6 that offers 370 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque, falling well short of what you get with the Silverado 2500 HD.

  We should also mention that both engines from Chevy come paired with an Allison ten-speed automatic transmission for a smooth driving experience, while the Ram 2500 has an eight-speed automatic with its gas engine and a meager six-speed with its diesel engine. Beyond the remarkable performance of the Silverado 2500 HD, it also comes out on top in towing capacity. With its standard engine, the Chevy can haul up to 18,700 lbs behind it, while the diesel engine lets it tow up to 22,510 lbs. The Ram 2500, on the other hand, has 17,540 lbs of towing capacity with its gas engine or 20,000 lbs of max towing with its diesel. Either way, the bold power and incredible engineering of Chevy lend greater capability.

• Functionality

  

  For most of us, a hard-working truck like the Chevy Silverado 2500 HD is all about helping us get some serious work done. That relies on things like powerful engines and great towing capacity, but it also requires an ingenuitive design that makes it highly functional. With both of these trucks, we find two bed sizes available, so you can customize them to get exactly what you want. The Chevy model gives you much more cargo space, however, and an incredibly functional bed and tailgate to make your life easier.

  The 2024 Ram 2500 has a 6.4-foot bed that has just over 57 cu.ft. of cargo capacity available, or an 8.2-foot bed that ups that to more than 74 cu.ft. of cargo space. Those are both great, but they are quickly overshadowed by the kind of cargo space you get with Chevy’s truck. The 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD has a 6.9-foot bed available that gives you more than 69 cu.ft. of cargo space or an 8.2-foot bed that provides you with over 83 cu.ft. of total cargo capacity. That tremendous amount of room beautifully illustrates how well Chevy’s engineers design trucks to help you get your job done.

  Perhaps best of all, the Silverado 2500 HD has one of the most functional beds and tailgates you will find on any truck out there. For starters, the bed makes it easy for you to access the substantial cargo space thanks to integrated BedSteps and a CornerStep rear bumper so you can easily reach into the bed and get what you need. You get twelve standard tie-downs in the bed rated at 500 lbs per corner, plus available LED cargo area and perimeter lighting for ease of use after the sun goes down. With the available Multi-Flex Tailgate, you get six different functions from the bed designed to make it easier to load, unload, and drive with confidence, even when you have large objects in your truck bed.

• Interior

  

  The Chevy Silverado 2500 HD and the Ram 2500 each have great features, both standard and available, but a closer look reveals a clear winner. To start with, the Ram 2500's base Tradesman trim has a 5.0-inch infotainment system, a four-speaker sound system, manual air conditioning, and vinyl seating. At higher trims, we can find some notable improvements, such as an available 12.0-inch infotainment system, dual-zone air conditioning, and more comfortable seating. Higher trim improvements definitely make for a better ride, but they are still not as nice as they could be.

  The 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD, on the other hand, gives you great features across all of its options, including impressive luxury beyond what we find elsewhere. The starting trim for the Silverado 2500 HD comes with a 7.0-inch infotainment display, with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker sound system, and even a small Driver Information Center screen in the instrument cluster.

  Looking at higher trims, you get incredible features like a 13.4-inch infotainment display with Google built-in, wireless audio streaming, a Bose seven-speaker sound system, and heated and ventilated leather seating up front. Add in a heated steering wheel, a 12.3-inch Driver Information Center display, and a wireless charging pad, and you can see the Silverado 2500 HD becomes something truly special.

The 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD at Blossom Chevrolet