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.
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.
2021 Ford F-150 Limited | Cars.com photo by Christian Lantry
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.
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.
2022 Ram 1500 Limited | Cars.com photo by Christian Lantry
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.
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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Keyword: 2021 Ford F-150 Limited Vs. 2022 Ram 1500 Limited: Which Truck Has the Nicer Interior?