2021 Ford F-150 Takes On Toyota Tundra In New Comparison

These two trucks are a great representation of how quickly pickups evolve these days.

By Brett Foote - May 4, 2021
2021 Ford F-150 Takes On Toyota Tundra In New Comparison
2021 Ford F-150 Takes On Toyota Tundra In New Comparison
2021 Ford F-150 Takes On Toyota Tundra In New Comparison
2021 Ford F-150 Takes On Toyota Tundra In New Comparison
2021 Ford F-150 Takes On Toyota Tundra In New Comparison
2021 Ford F-150 Takes On Toyota Tundra In New Comparison
2021 Ford F-150 Takes On Toyota Tundra In New Comparison

Old vs New

Pitting the current-gen Toyota Tundra against the brand new, 14th generation 2021 Ford F-150 is akin to comparing a dinosaur to a domesticated animal. This is because while Toyota has failed to meaningfully update the Tundra for years, Ford continues to perfect its best-seller, adding tons of cool and innovative features along the way. Regardless, it's interesting to see where these two trucks stand, before the all-new Tundra arrives, in this video from The Fast Lane Truck.

Closely Priced

TFLT's F-150, as we've seen before, is a base model XL trim pickup that's equipped with Ford's new PowerBoost hybrid drivetrain and SuperCrew configuration, which pushes the price tag to $51,970. On the flip side, the Tundra is equipped with the Nightshade limited edition package and stickers for $53,354.


>>Join the conversation about the 2021 F-150 vs Tundra right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.

Old School Approach

The drivetrains couldn't be much more different here as the Tundra uses a naturally aspirated 5.7-liter V8 that produces 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque, connected to a six-speed automatic transmission. The old school, reliable combination returns a mere 14 miles-per-gallon combined, however, which isn't great.



>>Join the conversation about the 2021 F-150 vs Tundra right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.

Hybrid Power

The F-150, on the other hand, packs Ford's brand new PowerBoost hybrid drivetrain that pairs an electric motor with its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 to produce a combined 430 horsepower and 570 pound-feet of torque. Mated to a 10-speed automatic gearbox, the hybrid combo returns an impressive 24 mpgs combined.



>>Join the conversation about the 2021 F-150 vs Tundra right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.

Spartan Cabin

As far as interiors go, it's hard to accurately compare these two pickups since the F-150 is a base XL model, but TFLT does note a few things they don't like about the new Ford. For starters, it doesn't have a push-button start, and turning on the air conditioning requires two steps - pushing the directional button and then selecting the zone on the touchscreen. 

Compare and Contrast

The Tundra's cabin is a bit nicer materials-wise, but it's also more expensive, and the overall design here is woefully outdated. Then there's the matter of actual utility - the Tundra's max payload is a mere 1,185 pounds versus the F-150's 1,708 pounds in this configuration. Heck, even the mid-size Ford Ranger can carry a few hundred pounds more than the Tundra in any configuration.


>>Join the conversation about the 2021 F-150 vs Tundra right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.

Coming Soon

Add it all up, and it's hard to see why anyone would buy a current-gen Tundra over an F-150 unless they just get a spectacular deal on one. The next-gen 2022 model figures to be much more competitive, however, and we're looking forward to seeing if it can truly make Toyota a competitor in the incredibly competitive U.S. truck market.

>>Join the conversation about the 2021 F-150 vs Tundra right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.

For help with your repair and maintenance projects, please visit our how-to section in the forum.

NEXT
BACK
NEXT
BACK