Known for being sturdy, agile and tough, the Toyota Tacoma and Tundra are pickup trucks that combine intelligent engineering with a memorable performance. They are vehicles that rely on brute strength while maintaining style and class to help you stand out among the rest, whether you’re on the highway or on an off-road adventure.
When comparing the Toyota Tacoma and Tundra, here are some key points to consider when determining which is more ideal for you.
An easily distinguishable difference when comparing the Tacoma vs. Tundra is the fact the Tacoma is a mid-size pickup while the Tundra is full-size. The Tundra is the oldest full-size pickup truck on the market, introduced in 1999 while the Tacoma was introduced four years prior.
The Tundra is a six-seater which is 20’6” long, 6’6” wide and a wheelbase measuring 13’7”. The Tacoma, meanwhile, is a four-seater whose maximum length is 18’8” with a maximum wheelbase of 11’8”. The Tundra weighs more, has twice the fuel capacity and gives you more cab options.
Both the Tacoma and the Tundra boast hexagonal-shaped grilles. The Tacoma’s grille is more defined and angular, with slanted headlights giving it a smoother front-end. The Tundra features a hood bulge above the grille with a thin rectangular opening. The Tacoma, particularly the TRD Sport trim, comes with a honeycomb grille and a hood scoop to buffer its more aggressive look.
Each features front and rear splash guards and power-adjustable heated mirrors.
While the Tacoma has dual exterior mirrors and halogen exterior lighting, the Tundra has headlamps with manual control as well as chrome front/rear bumper ends. Though built differently, each pickup is incredibly stylish and blended with personality.
The interiors of the Tacoma and Tundra are pretty similar despite the size disparity. Both give you 39.7” of headroom in the front seat as well as just under 43” of legroom.
With the Tundra, the TRD Off-Road package adds features like Bilstein shocks, all-terrain tires, navigation, and clearance and backup sensors to help you tackle tougher terrain. And ups your convenience with features like Connected Services by Toyota and smart key with push-button start. The top of the line Tundra with the top of the line Off-Road Premium package, only available on the CrewMax SR5, nets you a leather steering wheel and seats, blind-spot monitoring, a spray-in bed liner, and embedded navigation.
Similarly, the Tacoma has plenty of features to keep you comfortable. All Tacomas now feature standard connectivity, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. TRD Sport, Off-Road and Limited models feature Connected Services by Toyota Premium Audio with Remote, which brings a new level of convenience and peace-of-mind to your adventures, with Remote Connect, Service Connect, Safety Connect, Destination Assist Connect, and embedded navigation. Leather seats, sunroof and chrome accents are some available options.
The Tundra has an eight-way power driver’s seat and a four-way manual passenger seat while the Tacoma has more basic driver’s seat adjustable recline/incline. Both interiors are simple, yet comfortable and easy to manage for interested drivers.
When debating the Tacoma vs Tundra, you’ll notice that pickup comes with two engines. The Tacoma comes with a 2.7L 4-cylinder engine and a 3.5L V6 engine, with the latter pushing 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque.
On the contrary, the Tundra has two V8 engine options, the 4.6L (310 hp, 327 lb-ft) and the 5.7L (381 hp, 401 lb-ft), accompanied by a 6-speed automatic transmission. Both have high-strength, steel-based builds and possess powerful powertrains to give them sturdiness and strong performance levels.
The Tundra’s full-size build comes in handy as its models offer between 6,400 and 10,200 lbs of towing capacity. It also has an integrated brake controller for better trailer sway control. And, it boasts 1,730 lbs of maximum payload, the weight the Tundra can carry with passengers and cargo in the cab and cargo bed.
The Tacoma offers between 3,500 and 6,800 lbs in towing capacity and its maximum payload is slightly less. It will be enough to pull trailers and some boats, but the Tundra can carry along heavier boats and overall cargo as a result of its build.
The Tacoma and Tundra each offer the off-road-focused TRD Pro trim, including heavy-duty suspension. The Tundra has 20” alloy wheels compared to the Tacoma’s 16’’ wheels while both have aluminum skid plates and bold grille designs.
You might find the Tacoma more appealing for Canada’s toughest off-road settings given its off-road technology options such as Multi-Terrain select mode and Locking Rear Differential Crawl Control. You can also get the optional “desert air intake” for your Tacoma, a feature mounted on your fender that keeps your vehicle’s air clean amidst dusty off-road situations.
Come to Goderich Toyota today and choose the better of these highly-rated pick-ups to suit your needs!
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