The 2021 Toyota Tundra and 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 are two best-selling trucks. How do you decide between them? Consumer Reports ratings are a great way to decide which truck is a better fit for you. One look at the reliability ratings can help you decide between the 2021 Toyota Tundra or 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The Tundra’s reliability rating is much higher. Let’s look at why.

The Sierra’s road test score is higher

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 scores a 4/5 for its acceleration. It can reach 0 to 60 in 6.9 seconds. Braking is decent in the Sierra 1500, at a 4. The Sierra 1500 takes 136 feet to brake from 60 mph on dry pavement and 148 feet on wet pavement. The Sierra 1500’s headlights score a 4/5.

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Toyota Tundra also scores a 4/5 for its acceleration. It can reach 0 to 60 in 6.7 seconds. However, braking is abdominal in the Tundra, at a 1. This is what really kills the Tundra’s road test score. The Tundra takes 153 feet to brake from 60 mph on dry pavement and 178 feet on wet pavement.

The Tundra has more standard safety equipment

Consumer Reports has a whole slew of advanced safety features that it recommends. The 2021 Toyota Tundra comes standard with nearly all of these features. The exceptions are blind-spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, and daytime running lights, which are optional. Unfortunately, lane-keeping assist isn’t available. 

The IIHS crash-tested the 2021 Toyota Tundra, and the results are mixed. The front moderate overlap, side crash, and rear crash test results are good. However, the roof crush score is only acceptable, and the front small overlap, driver side is marginal. The front small overlap, passenger side rating is poor. 

The NHTSA has crash-tested the 2021 Toyota Tundra and gave it four stars for its overall crash, overall frontal-crash, and overall frontal-crash on the driver and passenger side. The overall side crash, side-crash driver and rear passenger side, and side pole-crash all get five stars. The rollover rating for both the 4WD is four stars, but the 2WD score is only three stars.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 doesn’t come standard with many of these features. It only has rear view camera, anti lock brakes, traction control, stability control, and daytime running lights. Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking at city speeds, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, blind spot warning, and rear cross traffic warning are optional. In addition, automatic emergency braking at highway speeds isn’t optional for the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500.

The IIHS crash-tested the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500, and the results are mostly good. The exception is the front small overlap, passenger side rating, which is marginal. 

The NHTSA has crash-tested the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 and gave it four stars for its overall crash, overall frontal-crash, and overall frontal-crash on the driver and passenger side. The overall side crash, side-crash driver and rear passenger side, and side pole-crash all get five stars. The rollover rating for both the 4WD and 2WD is four stars.

The Toyota Tundra Smokes the GMC Sierra in reliability

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Toyota Tundra a 4/5 for its predicted reliability. Reliability for the 2019 and 2020 Toyota Tundras is pretty good. The only score in the 2020 to be mediocre is paint and trim. In the 2019, the only problem area is body integrity.

Even though the safety ratings for the Tundra aren’t great, people love them. The owner satisfaction score is a 4/5. Most notably, the driving experience is an 81 and comfort is a 74. Styling receives a 74. Value, however, is a fairly high 51, as far as value scores go. 79% of Tundra owners would buy their truck again, which is the most in its class.

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 a pretty terrible 1/5 for its predicted reliability. Both the 2019 and 2020 reliability for the GMC Sierra 1500 was poor. Major problem areas include the transmission minor, brakes, and in-car electronics. The power equipment and engine minor weren’t great, either.

Predicted owner satisfaction for the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 is a 3/5. Most notably, the driving experience is an 84 and comfort is a 77. Styling receives an 86. Value is a 44. Only 69% of Sierra 1500 owners would buy their truck again, which is pretty low on the list.

If you’re shopping for safety, the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 is probably a better choice. However, if reliability is your top priority, then the 2021 Toyota Tundra is the way to go. It has a much better reliability rating. Just don’t count on the brakes to stop if you need them.