Tacoma or Tundra?

My Tacoma gets 17 mpg just putting around town. From everything I've read from owners, the new Tundra gets roughly the same mpg.

I think the decision is simply based on what the OP needs in a truck. If your hauling/towing needs exceed what a Tacoma can handle, get the Tundra. I expect maintenance, gas, and everything else will be about the same between the two. I personally wouldn't buy one quite yet...may a year or so, to let some bugs get worked out.

 

Pretty ridiculous statement to make about a vehicle that's been out like 3 months.

 

The answer is really easy. Do you need the interior room? Do you need the towing and/or hauling capacity? Is there even a remote chance you will need either in the next 10 years? If the answer to any of those questions is yes, get the Tundra. Or another 1/2 ton truck. If no, then stay with Tacoma. Fuel costs aren't a consideration. Not really enough difference to matter.

I had always known Toyota was a great truck, but they were simply too small for me until my son graduated from high school in 2007. That is when I traded my crew cab F150 for a crew cab Tacoma. It's been a great truck, but within 10 years I had 5 grandkids and needed a bigger truck to be able to carry more people comfortably and to pull a heavier trailer than Tacoma could handle.

I was in a position where I could afford to buy a crew cab F150 and still keep my Tacoma as a spare vehicle. But if that hadn't been possible I'd have traded the Tacoma for the bigger truck. You've gotta do, what you've gotta do.

And don't get hung up on Tundra. Tacoma rules mid-size trucks. Tundra is a minor player when it comes to 1/2 tons and the 2022's are an unknown. There are other options with proven track records.

 

you people.... How do you know the 3.5 is "not as reliable"??

 

It's an Internet forum..."intelligent answer"...what's that got to do with anything

 

Uhhh...ya think!?! Unless of course EVERY reliability ranking system ever known to man has been wrong for the past 40 years!

 

Any turbo engine I've ever owned has come with more maintenance, no question. I am sure the new 3.5 twin turbo on the Tundra will be no different, although I hope I am wrong. A turbo vehicle is fun to drive and tune, absolutely, but these are high compression engines with just more moving parts and more potential for things to break. There is no way a Turbo v6 is going to be as reliable as the outgoing NA V8. So, if you're willing to accept likely more maintenance $$ and higher purchase $$ for the benefit of the full-size capability and the driving experience, then yeah a Tundra is probably the right move for your situation.

Personally I'd never buy the first model year of a new generation vehicle. Give it a year or two for Toyota to work out the issues.

 

I'm sure they are equally reliable. It would come down to size for me.

 

Can't judge the reliability of a vehicle or motor that's only been out 3 months. Every other option, that is more than 3 months old is more reliable.

 

There's plenty of people here that bought a first year 3rd gen and enjoyed it for years before selling it for practically what they paid new. I'd say that kicks your "never go new model" square in the groin.

 

My parents class A RV is nearly 1000 canadian dollars to fill lol. Gas motor. Gets about 700km on a tank.

 

I’ll give my opinion, as I’ve driven a multitude of trims of the new tundra, sometimes over decent distances as well (50+ miles).

(I transport new vehicles for a dealership)

The tundra is a superior vehicle to the Tacoma. People are gonna get mad at me, but it just is. It has a better interior, more power, the seating position is better, it turns just as sharp, handles better, gets better fuel economy in my experience, the transmission actually feels like a transmission from 2022, rather than 2012, and is obviously more capable. The only places it looses out on are-

The availability of a Manual
Physical size


And you know what? Despite it being objectively better at everything, I still LIKE my Tacoma better. It gives me a feeling the tundra doesn’t. It makes me smile and giggle like an idiot when I slam the gas pedal to the floor and it kicks me in the ass with the 1920s leaf spring suspension bucking over a bump.

If you’re just looking for a tool to get you from A-B, and haul heavy shit well doing it, don’t even think about it, just get the tundra.

If you’re looking for a vehicle, and one that you’ll get enjoyment out of, give it thought, and try and take a tundra for a drive. I can’t tell you what you’ll like. But I know I adore my Tacoma despite its flaws.

 

I saw two new RVs being driven to a dealership on Tuesday, I was thinking they wanted to get them before the price of fuel climbed any higher.

Unless there was an RV show some where in the Region.

 

I have both. It depends on your needs.

I wouldn't buy the new Tundra right now. The turbo issues are showing up in the February builds. Wait for the wastegate actuator issue to be resolved if you want a 3rd gen TTV6 or wait a little longer for the hybrid engine. Or buy a nice 5.7 with clean cam shaft towers.

 

I say buy a 3.5 ecoboost, once the Tundra has been proven to be a success. Then buy a Tundra twin turbo 6. That way you have something to compare the Tundra to.

 

The hybrid engine is going to be speedy. New hybrid Tundra will be fun.

 

I saw tons of first year issues reported here. Even my 2017 had issues. My 2021 has been great so far, but I’ve only had it 15 months. Looks like a keeper so far.

No way I’d buy a first year hybrid Tundra. They look like a Tacoma steroid cosmetic surgery gone wrong anyway. Fucking ugly.

Platinum Capstone. Lol

 

I really miss my Tundra. However, I think I will wait til they work out some of the issues with the new one and then re-evaluate.

That said, I do agree that it probably depends on your use for your truck. I have like my Tacoma, but I dont have a reason why I would go back to the Tundra.

 

One thing I do miss is the driver grab bar. I can't believe the Tacoma doesn't have one.

 

I love reading stories/testimonials like yours. Very honest...and quirky! lol

I sat in an SR5 Tundra and felt small in it...I'm 5'7" and almost 195 lbs...so I'm stocky build with short legs!

It just didn't feel like I would enjoy driving it because of the enormity of it. That plus, I also considered the 38 gallon tank/fuel economy.

The Tacoma is just right for someone like me. I wouldn't mind driving other people's trucks but at the end of the duty day, I can give it back.

This is my first REAL truck so the "bucking" I get is exciting to me...with zero experience in driving a similar truck.