Compare the2026 Ford F-150 LightningVS 2026 GMC Sierra EV

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford F-150 Lightning have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The GMC Sierra EV doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The F-150 Lightning has standard Post-Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Sierra EV doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the F-150 Lightning’s optional Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Sierra EV doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the F-150 Lightning and the Sierra EV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The F-150 Lightning’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Sierra EV’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 71 percent more Ford dealers than there are GMC dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the F-150 Lightning’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. With 6 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Ford higher than GMC.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 7 places higher in reliability than GMC.

The F-150 Lightning’s electric motors produces 170 lbs.-ft. more torque (775 vs. 605) than the Sierra EV Standard Range’s standard electric motors.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford F-150 Lightning is faster than the Sierra EV Elevation Extended Range:

The F-150 Lightning can travel longer on a full charge than the Sierra EV on a full charge:

The F-150 Lightning stops much shorter than the Sierra EV:

For better traction, the F-150 Lightning has larger tires than the Sierra EV (275/65R18 vs. 265/70R18).

The F-150 Lightning’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 65 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sierra EV AT4’s standard 75 series tires.

The F-150 Lightning offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your work or a trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Sierra EV; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

The F-150 Lightning Short Bed STX handles at .78 G’s, while the Sierra EV AT4 pulls only .66 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The F-150 Lightning Short Bed Platinum executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Sierra EV AT4 (26.8 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the F-150 Lightning has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Sierra EV Elevation Air Suspension (8.4 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the F-150 Lightning to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Ford F-150 Lightning may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1550 to 1950 pounds less than the GMC Sierra EV.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the F-150 Lightning Short Bed Platinum is quieter than the Sierra EV Denali (65 vs. 67 dB).

The F-150 Lightning has 1.2 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, 1.2 inches more rear hip room and 2.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sierra EV.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the F-150 Lightning Lariat/Platinum has a standard power cargo door, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Sierra EV doesn’t offer a power cargo door.

The F-150 Lightning’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Sierra EV’s standard power windows’ front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the F-150 Lightning’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Sierra EV doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the F-150 Lightning has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Sierra EV doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The F-150 Lightning Platinum has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Sierra EV.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the F-150 Lightning as the 2023 North American Truck of the Year. The Sierra EV has never been chosen.

The Ford F-Series outsold the GMC Sierra by over two to one during 2025.