For one automotive YouTuber, the decision to go with a 2026 Ram Rebel over the usual suspects – the Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra, and Chevy Silverado – was about reliability, ride quality, and a few personal preferences that tipped the scales in Stellantis’s favor.

Ford and GM transmissions make him uncomfortable

The Car Guy Online explained that he avoided Ford and GM entirely because of lingering transmission concerns.

Both the F-150 and Silverado have had spotty reliability reports, particularly around valve bodies and certain V8s prone to lifter and crankshaft issues.

While many owners never see problems, the thought of future repairs or upgrades didn’t appeal to him. Ram’s ZF automatic paired with the 3.0L inline-six Hurricane engine promised a smoother, more predictable experience, and that confidence played a major role in his choice.

The Tundra’s seating and windshield didn’t work for him

Although he considered the Tundra Limited with the TRD package, he didn’t like the seating position or windshield layout for his height.

He also noticed more wind noise than in the Ram. For someone prioritizing highway comfort and long drives, those factors were dealbreakers.

Even with Toyota’s strong reliability reputation, the Tundra required compromises he wasn’t willing to make.

Ram Rebel’s ride quality outshines the competition

Ride comfort was another decisive factor. Ram moved away from leaf springs in the rear long before Toyota and the others, and combined with Bilstein shocks, the Rebel soaked up rough pavement with minimal cabin noise.

He noted that most drivers spend 90% of their time on-road, making a smooth, compliant suspension far more relevant than extreme off-road capabilities.

Compared to the competition, the Rebel simply offered a superior daily driving experience.

Stunning “Canyon Lake” color

For The Car Guy Online, looks mattered more than many might expect.

He ranked the Ram at the top of his personal aesthetics list, ahead of GMC, Ford, and Toyota. 

The Canyon Lake color shifts from sage green to darker shades depending on light, giving the truck a distinctive presence.

For someone who creates car content on YouTube, a visually striking truck is a must.

Feature-rich Ram Rebel packages offer better value

Price and included features also influenced his decision. Ram offered more competitive deals than Toyota while packing the Rebel with essentials like skid plates, a bed utility package, heated seats, and a heated steering wheel.

Ultimately, though, he chose the level-one package because the step-up didn’t justify the extra cost. In his view, Ram provided a complete, well-equipped truck without unnecessary tradeoffs.

Smooth powertrain and early reliability impress

Finally, the Rebel’s powertrain sold him. The ZF transmission and inline-six engine felt responsive and refined, with fewer known issues than competing trucks.

While he remained cautiously optimistic about long-term durability, early impressions suggested the Rebel would provide a dependable, enjoyable driving experience without the same mechanical headaches reported in the F-150, Silverado, or Tundra.

In the end, this was about more than specs

This car guy wanted a truck that balanced reliability, ride comfort, looks, and feature content. For him, the 2026 Ram Rebel checked all the boxes, offering confidence on the highway and a setup that’s enjoyable on the daily.

This wasn’t a flat-out rejection of Ford, GM, or Toyota. Just a careful choice to minimize tradeoffs while maximizing ownership enjoyment.