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While the Ford F-150 has been on the market for many years and has quite the following, the Toyota Tundra is a pretty capable truck worth considering. Both the 2023 Ford F-150 and the 2023 Toyota Tundra are full-size pickup trucks with all the bells and whistles that shoppers might want, but which one is right for you?

Comparing the 2023 Ford F-150 and the 2023 Toyota Tundra

U.S. News notes that when choosing between the 2023 Ford F-150 and the 2023 Toyota Tundra, most people make the final decision based on brand loyalty. This is common in car shopping, where a consumer chooses a different vehicle from a favorite automaker.

Ford has been working hard at gaining new customers from other brands, especially regarding the F-150. For 2023, the Ford F-150 starts at $33,695 for the base XL trim and goes up to $84,910 for the top-of-the-line Limited. On the flip side, the Tundra goes from $36,695 for the base SR trim and goes up to $75,245 for the Capstone. Both options have plenty of trim levels in between to choose from, but the Ford has a $3,000 lead on the Toyota.

SpecFordToyota
Starting cost$33,695$36,695
Highest cost $84,910$75,245
Powertrain warrantyfive-year/60,000-milefive-year/60,000-mile
Best fuel economy25 mpg city/25 mpg hwy20 mpg city/24 mpg hwy
Max towing14,000 pounds12,000 pounds
Max payload3,325 pounds1,940 pounds
2023 Ford F-150 vs. 2023 Toyota Tundra

Both trucks get a warranty, which can vary a bit due to powertrain components. Ford offers a three-year or 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Toyota’s coverage consists of a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain for the Tundra’s powertrain and an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for hybrid components. A 10-year/150,000-mile warranty covers the battery pack.

The 2023 Ford F-150 can tow more than the 2023 Toyota Tundra

Both automakers have fuel-efficient options in the lineup. The most fuel-efficient version of the Tunda gets 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway from the 2.5L hybrid V6. Ford’s PowerBoost hybrid returns 25 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

One of the bigger arguments for buying one truck over the other is towing numbers. Ford has always had some of the best towing capacities in the segment, which doesn’t change this year. To get the maximum towing capacity of 14,000 pounds, you’ll need the 2023 Ford F-150’s twin-turbo V6 engine with the SuperCab or SuperCrew setup. The 2023 Toyota Tundra can tow up to 12,000 pounds and has a maximum payload of 1,940. That might be enough for some drivers, but the extra 2,000 pounds does make a difference.

One area where the 2023 Toyota Tundra excels is safety. Toyota is known for its Safety Sense suite of advanced driver-assistance features. This includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and traffic-sign recognition as standard features. Ford includes automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and forward collision warning standard, but other systems are only optional.

Don’t count out either truck from Ford or Toyota

The 2023 Ford F-150 in the snow and the 2023 Toyota Tundra on the road
A 2023 Ford F-150 and a 2023 Toyota Tundra | Ford, Toyota

Ford designed the F-150 to handle work first and comfort second, but it excels in both areas. With class-leading towing numbers, the 2023 Ford F-150 is still a winner for most buyers. Toyota designed the Tundra to handle work but still provide the safety and comfort that the automaker is known for. The 2023 Toyota Tundra checks all the boxes, especially if you don’t want to add additional packages to enhance the truck.

People who need to tow 14,000 pounds or more regularly are better off with the Ford F-150. The lower starting price means additional packages and systems can be added without exceeding the budget. Those who want a work truck that comes with standard safety features and don’t want to fuss with add-ons might be satisfied with a 2023 Toyota Tundra off the lot. Ford has been a major player in the history of the pickup truck, and though Toyota makes a competent opponent, the F-150 remains just a few steps ahead.

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