View Photos of the 1996 Full-Size Truck Comparison Test
1997 Ford F-150, 1996 Dodge Ram 1500, and 1996 Chevrolet C1500 exterior and interior photos.
Pickup trucks are increasingly standing in for cars in America's daily-driver fleet, so we evaluated these three through the lens of a casual trucker to see what it's like to live with a beast of burden.
The 1997 Ford F-150 is the newest design, and it looks it alongside the Chevy and Dodge.
None of these trucks had four-wheel drive, which made snow a challenge.
You've gotta dress the part when you're a hardworking ink-slinger.
A typical C/D HR meeting circa 1996.
"What do you guys think about these door chimes? Pretty great, huh?!"
The C1500 dates to 1987 and blends in with the fabric of American life.
The Chevy's clamshell rear passenger door makes it easy to access the back seat.
For 1996, the C1500's 5.0-liter V-8 got bumped to 220 horses.
This is what the HR meeting was about.
We unanimously enjoy the Ram's macho styling.
The tall, upright seating position gives the Ram the best King of the Road feeling behind the wheel.
This Ram's 220-hp 5.2-liter V-8 might've been tight, because its 9.8-second 60 mph time was a second off that of a regular-cab truck we tested.
Now we can contest our speeding tickets from anywhere in the Lower 48.
The 1997 Ford F-150 is still being sold alongside the 1996 F-150, but nobody will have any trouble telling the two apart.
The F-150's interior looks the most modern and, like the Chevy, is easy to access.
Fold down the Ford's rear seat and you've got lockable, dry cargo space—a luxury in a pickup.
The SOHC 4.6-liter V-8 makes 210 hp—slightly less than the other two—but offers lightning throttle response.
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