2017 Ram 1500 vs 2017 Toyota Tundra
Posted on March 5, 2020
Japanese models pretty much dominate the pickup markets of the world outside North America, but those are what we'd see as compact or midsize models that are a long way short of what our full-size light-duty trucks can do. Japanese manufacturers have definitely been upping their game in North America with their full-size models though, so let's see how they're doing by comparing the 2017 Ram 1500 to the 2017 Toyota Tundra.
Styling
The current Ram 1500 is probably one of the older models in today's full-size light-duty truck market, but you wouldn't know to look at it. The Ram can be anything you want from basic to overt and opulent, with work trucks being fairly utilitarian while at the other end of the scale the top trims can be extremely stylish and very cool. The Toyota Tundra looks a lot more like a domestic truck than some other Japanese rivals, but it's certainly not as brash, rugged and macho as the Ram. The Tundra is a clean, handsome design, but it doesn't stir the soul the way the 1500 does, so first blood here goes to the Ram pickup truck.
Engines
There's an impressive engine lineup for the Ram 1500, which is made up of two gas units and a turbodiesel. The base engine is a 3.6-litre Pentastar V-6 with 305 horsepower and 269 lb.-ft. of torque, while the other gas engine is a 5.7-litre Hemi V-8 offering 395 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. A diesel is still a reasonably rare thing to find in a light-duty truck, and this one is a 3.0-litre V-6 developing 240 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. The two engines in the Tundra are both gas V-8s, with the least powerful one being a 4.6-liter producing 310 horsepower and 327 lb.-ft., and the larger unit being a 5.7-litre that gets you 381 horsepower and 401 lb.-ft. Obviously, this is an easy win for the more powerful Ram 1500.
Capability
The most the Ram 1500 can tow when properly specified is a very capable 4,187 kg, while the maximum payload capacity can be as high as 853 kg. The maximum trailer rating for the Toyota Tundra is 4,762 kg and the payload rating is 943 kg, so this is an impressive win for the Toyota.
Interior comfort and quality
There are some trucks costing considerably more money that can be as comfortable and opulent as a luxury sedan, but the Ram doesn't venture quite that far. At the entry level it's very much a utilitarian work truck, but the Laramie Limited is pretty close to a prestige interior. Standard and Quad Cabs are not ideal for carrying four adults on a long journey, but the larger Crew Cab is a fine alternative to a family sedan. The Tundra is as wide as is legally permitted to still qualify as a light-duty model, so there's plenty of room inside. However, the abundance of hard plastics is hard to accept at this price, so this is another round we're giving to the Ram.
Verdict
The Tundra is a good attempt at taking on one of the Detroit three here in the shape of the 2017 Ram 1500, but the Japanese automaker has some way to go yet to be considered on a par with the Ram. It's closer to a domestic truck than it used to be, but there's still some way to go.
The 2017 Ram 1500 is available now from Caledon Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, so give us a call for more information, to arrange a test drive and to discuss our latest offers.