2021 Ford F-150 Limited Vs. 2022 Ram 1500 Limited: Which Truck Has the Nicer Interior?
If you haven’t shopped for a full-size pickup truck in a while, you might be surprised to learn how luxurious certain trim levels can be. From interiors wrapped in premium leather to upscale amenities like heated and ventilated massaging seats, the full-size pickup has come a long way from its humble roots — so far, in fact, that the 2020 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn and Limited won our 2020 Luxury Vehicle of the Year award.
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What Ram has accomplished hasn’t gone unnoticed, as both Ford and Chevrolet have given the 2021 F-150 and 2022 Silverado 1500 updated interiors as well. We were curious to see how the Ram’s cabin compares with our Best of 2021-winning Ford F-150 Limited, so we took a close look at the interiors of these luxury trucks to see which one has the nicer interior.
The Trucks
Both the F-150 and Ram 1500 have Limited trim levels that serve as the top-of-the-line luxury models in their respective lineups, and these were the versions we tested. Our long-term F-150 Limited’s as-tested price was $77,845 (all prices include destination). If that seems expensive, our well-equipped Ram 1500 Limited test truck was even pricier at $81,395. Both trucks were crew-cab models with four conventional doors. See a side-by-side comparison of their specs.
2021 Ford F-150 Limited
Finished in a blue and slate color scheme, the F-150 Limited’s cabin has quality leather upholstery, carbon-fiber accents and a suede-style headliner. The overall look is stylish and sophisticated, marred only by knurled-chrome accents that look a little cheaper than the materials around them. American flag graphics on the sides of the dashboard recall Easter egg design cues popularized by Jeep, a Ram sibling in Stellantis’ family of brands, but the artistic flourishes are just as effective in the Ford.
Interior quality diminishes when you get level with the front-seat cushion and below, where there’s more hard-plastic trim. There are also elements of the Limited interior that aren’t different enough from lower-spec F-150s, like the A-pillar grab handles and center console trim.
The F-150’s dashboard controls are intuitive, with a 12-inch touchscreen multimedia system high on the dash and easy-to-use buttons and knobs for the audio and climate systems below the screen. The truck offers a comfortable driving position, and the driver faces a vibrant 12-inch digital instrument panel that’s easy to read. The rear bench seat is spacious with plenty of legroom for taller adults, but the rear-seat cushion is a little short.
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2022 Ram 1500 Limited
Our Ram 1500 Limited also had a blue interior with light-gray accents. The Ram’s leather quality is similar to the F-150’s, but the interior has richer detailing and trim overall, with quilted door panels and nicer touchpoints on the front door and A-pillar grab handles. Even the floormats are nicer. However, like the F-150, the Ram has its share of lower-grade chrome trim on the dash.
The Ram has analog gauges that frame a central information screen, and the attention to detail seen in the rest of the interior carries over to this part of the truck. The gauges have a three-dimensional appearance, and the screen has high-quality graphics. The center of the dashboard has a vertically oriented 12-inch touchscreen. The screen is responsive, but its graphics aren’t as crisp as the F-150’s.
Both trucks have large front center consoles that separate the driver and front passenger, but while the F-150’s is relatively conventional with some cupholders and a forward storage bin (our long-term truck doesn’t have the optional Interior Work Surface), the Ram’s is configurable with a sliding section.
The Ram’s rear seating area is similar in size to the F-150’s, but it’s more comfortable overall thanks to its adjustable rear bench seat with a reclining backrest. The Ram also has more backseat amenities, with heated and ventilated rear seats compared to the F-150’s heated rear seats.
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- Ram 1500: Which Should You Buy, 2021 or 2022?
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Winner: Ram 1500
The Ford F-150 Limited is a luxury truck with premium amenities, but it’s not quite as luxurious as the Ram 1500 Limited, which is even more upscale and has a more comfortable backseat. We’re looking forward to comparing a Ram back-to-back with the updated 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, but right now, the Ram 1500 Limited is still the ultimate luxury pickup.
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