Toyota Tacoma vs Toyota Tundra | 2023 Comparison + The Best Model Year For Every Budget

While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies the Tacoma and Tundra as pickup trucks, that’s about where the similarities end. The Tundra is substantially larger, so its capabilities are more robust than the Tacoma. 

However, not everyone wants or needs such bulk. The Tacoma outsells the Tundra two-to-one, according to carsalesbase.com. In addition, the Tacoma is available with an Access Cab (two standard front doors with two smaller rear access doors) or the Double Cab (four standard doors), while the Tundra takes a somewhat different approach. 

The Tundra offers a Double Cab with four standard-opening doors, but the back doors are smaller and have exterior handles. On the contrary, the doors in the Tacoma Access Cab have a clamshell opening and are without outside handles for the back doors (the front door has to be open to operate the back door).  There’s also the Tundra CrewMax, with four standard doors. 

I’ll look closer at payload, towing, cargo bed length, and other measurement comparisons later. 

Engine Options & Specifications:

Some of the price discrepancies between the 2023 Tacoma and Tundra can be explained by what’s under the hood. The base engine for the Tacoma is a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine. Its 159 horsepower output leaves much to be desired in terms of performance, but there are buyers more focused on the bottom line than acceleration. Choosing the 278-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 substantially improves the Tacoma’s capabilities. 

Towing for the four-cylinder Tacoma is limited to 3,500 pounds, while the V6 can almost double the towing limits to as much as 6,700 pounds. Despite the differences in horsepower, there’s not much separating the fuel economy for the 2023 Tacoma. The base engine is rated for 20 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, while the upgraded engine delivers 19 mpg around town and 24 mpg on the open road. 

The three engine options for the Tundra are a whole different story. All rely on a 3.4-liter V6 with twin turbochargers. The standard arrangement makes a hefty 358 horsepower. Thanks to some engineering tweaks, the mid-tier Tundra powerplant produces 389 horsepower. The top-dog engine includes a hybrid system that cranks output to a potent 437 horsepower. 

Toyota dropped the Tundra’s V8 with the introduction of the third generation for the 2022 model year. So, the replacement engine had to deliver V8-like power. Toyota met the challenge while enabling the Tundra to offer 20% better fuel economy.

Transmission Options & Specifications:

Pickups require rugged transmissions to better handle the rigors of hauling and towing. As a result, you won’t find a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in the Tacoma or Tundra. A CVT is best left to passenger cars and crossovers more focused on moving people than things. 

See the “Tech Talk” section below the charts to learn about CVTs.

Purists will appreciate that the Tacoma is available with a manual gearbox on a few trims. It’s a rarity as more and more pickups drop do-it-yourself shifting (the Tundra, Ford F-150, and Chevrolet Silverado, included). Otherwise, buyers can choose a six-speed automatic for the Tacoma (standard on some trims). 

As mentioned, the 2023 Tundra is strictly an automatic transmission affair. However, it gets a sophisticated ten-speed unit that maximizes power delivery and fuel economy. 

TECH TALK: CVTs

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) does not use gears like a typical automatic transmission. Instead, it has two pulleys connected by a belt. One pulley connects to the engine, and the other connects to the wheels. The belt transfers the power between the pulleys. This setup allows the pulleys to continuously change positions as needed. The CVT automatically adjusts the pulleys as required, providing smooth and efficient power delivery.

Toyota wisely recognizes that not everyone needs a truck with four-wheel drive (4WD), so most Tacoma and Tundra trims come with rear-wheel drive (RWD) as standard equipment. A RWD truck uses less gas and requires less long-term maintenance. 

However, some editions (Trail Special Edition and TRO Pro for the Tacoma and TRD Pro and Capstone for the Tundra) come with 4WD from the factory. 

NHTSA Safety Ratings

While the Tacoma and Tundra get used frequently for hauling/towing and off-road adventures, they also see duty as family transportation and for commuting and long-distance travel. FIXD surveys show that about one-fourth of owners use their Tacomas and Tundras for these non-truck-like activities. This usage puts a spotlight on safety.

Crash testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that the Tacoma gets a four-star (out of five) rating for overall safety performance, frontal crashes,  and five stars for side crashes. 

On the other hand, the Tundra aces its NHTSA testing with five-star performance across the board. These results are attributable to the Tundra being a newer design (the third-generation Tacoma’s design dates back to 2016) and the Tundra’s larger size. In truth, a four-star ranking in NHTSA testing is still commendable, but those seeking top safety results will want to consider the Tundra’s performance.

Both trucks get four stars in the government’s rollover assessments, typical for vehicles (pickups and SUVs) with elevated ground clearance. 

IIHS Awards:

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) takes a somewhat different approach to safety testing. In particular, it focuses on its small frontal overlap crash test, which the organization feels represents a more real-world scenario (a single car running into a fixed object). IIHS also looks at side impact crashes, roof strength, headlight effectiveness, and advanced driver safety technologies (like automatic emergency braking). 

While tested vehicles receive a Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor grade, the true measure comes if a car gets a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ designation. If “Good” is a “B” grade, Top Safety Pick notches things up to an “A-,” and the Top Safety Pick+ signifies an “A+.”

Although IIHS tested the Toyota Tacoma, its performance yielded no Top Safety Pick awards.

In comparison, the 2023 Tundra received a Top Safety Pick+ designation. Like with NHTSA testing, the Tundra’s stellar achievement with IIHS comes from being newer and larger than the Tacoma. 

Airbags & Head Restraints:

The federal government estimates that airbags have saved over 50,000 lives. It’s a proven safety technology that is present in the 2023 Tacoma and Tundra. 

Airbags for the front row protect Tacoma and Tundra occupants against front and side collisions. There are also knee airbags that better position the driver and front passenger to minimize injuries in a frontal accident. These trucks also get side curtain airbags to protect both rows during a rollover or side impact. 

Neither the Tacoma nor the Tundra comes with overhead airbags. This newer technology replaces traditional front-row units (steering wheel and dashboard) with overhead devices. Active head restraints are usually found in specialty and high-end vehicles to minimize whiplash injuries. Mainstream vehicles like the Tacoma and Tundra aren’t usually equipped with this feature.

Semi-Autonomous Driving:

While the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado are available with hands-free driving technology, the Tacoma and Tundra fall far short. Adaptive cruise control (ACC), which Toyota calls Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, is about as high-tech as it gets for the Tacoma (all trims come with ACC). The Tundra also has ACC as standard equipment.

Given that the Tundra is more modern, it comes with steering support technology that’s missing in the Tacoma. Lane departure alert with steering assist warns the driver if a Tundra is veering out of its lane and provides gentle steering correction to center the vehicle. See the next section to learn about lane departure warning with the Tacoma.

Driver Warning Systems & Telematics:

Driver warning technology, part of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), helps prevent accidents before they happen (or at least lessen the severity). Under its Safety Sense label, Toyota includes several ADAS features with the Tacoma and Tundra. Both trucks have lane departure warning (LDW), which alerts the driver if the vehicle drifts out of the lane. There’s also forward collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection,

Blind-spot monitoring (BSM) and rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA) aren’t available with the base (SR) trim of either truck, while optional on the SR5 versions. BSM and RCTA are optional on mid-tier Tacomas and standard on the higher-end editions. These technologies are standard on the remaining Tundra trims. 

If ADAS technology appears like alphabet soup, check out an effort from AAA, Consumer Reports, J.D. Power, and other groups working to standardize the terminology for these systems. 

Road Visibility Features:

One way the 2023 Tacoma shows its age is its road visibility features (or lack thereof). Only higher-end trims get LED headlights, while all Tundras get this equipment. More and more vehicles are getting LED headlights as standard equipment, so it’s reasonable to think that the fourth-generation Tacoma will have this feature when it arrives for 2024. 

Other visibility equipment like rain-sensing windshield wipers and a head-up display are the sole domain of higher-end Tundras as a standard feature or option. However, both trucks have automatic high beams and a rearview monitor. 

Interior Features:

If your primary concern in choosing a Toyota truck is Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, then you can move on to other requirements; the 2023 Tacoma and Tundra have these technologies. Nonetheless, you’ll need to be more selective if heated front seats are a priority. 

Only the Tacoma TRD trims (Sport, Off-Road, and PRO) come with a heated front row as an upgrade or standard. In contrast, most Tundra trims come standard with heated front seats. The feature is only unavailable with the SR trim, while the SR5 requires an optional package. 

And speaking of heated seats, some automakers offer this feature through a subscription service. This hasn’t yet happened in the U.S., but in certain countries, BMW offered heated seats for a monthly fee. The advantage is you can shut off the service during warm months, but you’ll need to keep paying (or pay a one-time upfront fee) to activate the heated seats. Recently, BMW announced it was backing away from this practice. Moving forward, the automaker will only charge a subscription for software-based services (like upgraded navigation). Hardware-based features will be part of the vehicle’s initial purchase price. 

One industry study shows mixed results for consumer acceptance of features on demand (FoD), with about one-fifth not even being aware of the concept. 

Interior Dimensions:

The size difference between the Tacoma and Tundra comes to light when looking at interior dimensions. Just don’t assume that the Tundra is bigger across the board. 

Interestingly, the Tacoma has more front legroom than the Tundra (42.9 inches vs. 41.2 inches). However, the Tundra comes out on top in other key measurements. Notably, the Tundra has substantially more rear shoulder (65.0 inches vs. 58.3 inches) and hip (62.6 inches vs. 56.3 inches) room. The Tundra will be noticeably more comfortable if you regularly seat three people in the second row.

Exterior Features:

Wheels may also be an afterthought for many car buyers. But wheel size can impact ride quality. Larger rims can translate into better traction and cornering but may result in a bumpier ride. Bigger wheels also offer better aesthetics by filling out the wheel wells more completely. This is why the higher the trim, the larger the wheel. Different materials (steel or alloy) and finishes also help separate the wheels among the various trim levels. 

Those looking for a subtle exterior for their Toyota truck will have no problem finding an acceptable white, black, silver, or gray shade. There are also options for red and blue if a splash of color is preferred. The Tundra is even available in Army Green. Toyota also offers a hard-to-miss Solar Octane orange with either truck. Yet, the most distinctive exterior color certainly belongs to the Tacoma: Electric Lime Metallic.

Exterior Dimensions:

The Tundra is the obvious winner in exterior size—it’s nearly two feet longer than its smaller stablemate. The Tundra also has five inches of width and almost seven inches of height on the Tacoma. Naturally, the Tundra weighs more, tipping the scales by as much as three-quarters of a ton over the Tacoma. 

But let’s look at the practical differences. The Tundra’s cargo bed is 5-17 inches longer (depending on the trim) than the Tacoma’s back end. This extra capacity means the Tundra can handle a maximum bed load of up to 1,885 pounds, compared to 1,155 pounds for the Tacoma. 

The contrast also extends to the wheelbase, with the Tundra’s wheel-to-wheel measurement of 145.7 or 157.7 inches far surpassing the Tacoma’s 127.4 inches. A vehicle with a longer wheelbase delivers a smoother ride because it’s better able to even out rough road surfaces and highway expansion strips.

Since the Tacoma and Tundra are from the same manufacturer, they also have the same warranty coverage. Both trucks have a three-year or 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and powertrain coverage for five years or 60,000 miles. Toyota also includes 24 months of roadside assistance with no mileage restrictions. 

The only difference in protection is the extra coverage for the Tundra when it’s equipped with a hybrid powerplant. Toyota warranties this system for 120 months or 150,000 miles.

There’s no shortage of conversations on Reddit comparing the Tacoma and Tundra. Here are some of the highlights from r/whatcarshouldIbuy.

Size and Comfort: The Tacoma is often seen as more suitable for individuals or small families. One Redditor, discussing family use, mentioned, “The Tacoma rear feels like it is the smallest out of the mid-sized pickup trucks.” Another user highlighted the Tundra’s size, saying, “The Tundra is a big, reliable pig. Expensive to buy, but even more expensive to run.” This suggests that while the Tundra offers more space, it costs more. 

Performance and Utility: Users noted differences in performance and utility. A comment from a user comparing older models (2006 Tundra vs. 2012 Tacoma) pointed out that “Those old Tundras are about the same size as a modern Tacoma.” Another Redditor, focusing on off-roading, said, “I do some off-roading but plan on doing a lot more, sometimes pretty rough stuff so off-roading capability is definitely necessary.” It’s feedback that indicates a preference for the Tacoma in off-road conditions.

Price and Value: Price is a significant factor in the decision-making process. One Reddit user mentioned, “The Tacoma is going for 28k and the Tundra is going for 10k.” This reflects the general sentiment that Tundras are more expensive, both in purchase price and running costs. However, another Redditor suggested, “Get the Tundra if you have to choose between the two, and the size won’t be a pain.”

The Tacoma is favored for its off-roading capabilities and suitability for smaller families or individual use. At the same time, the Tundra is recognized for its larger size and power, albeit with higher costs. Redditors suggest considering factors like family size, intended use (especially off-roading), and budget.