There are a lot of different truck choices currently on the market. All of the newer models sound great, which makes it extremely difficult to decide which is the best match for you. When buying a new vehicle, one of the techniques you can use that simplifies the process is picking two models, such as the Toyota Tundra and Ram 1500 and deciding which is better. You can use this technique to work through the entire list of current models, until you have the vehicle that perfectly suits your needs.

At first glance, the two vehicles are quite similar.

The 2020 Toyota Tundra 1500

The prices of 2020 Toyota Tundra 1500 range from $30,918 to $48,822. The vehicle comfortably seats five people but there are enough seatbelts for six if you need to scrunch someone else into the cab. When you purchase the vehicle, you’ll get a standard 3 year/36,000-mile warranty. The vehicle is fitted with a V8 engine.

The 2020 Dodge Ram 1500

The standard purchase price of the 2020 Dodge Ram 1500 ranges from $31,000 to about $52,000. The vehicle has a seating capacity for five or six people. The vehicle comes with a basic 3 year/36,000-mile warranty. It’s equipped with a standard V6 engine.

Don’t be fooled by the engine

It appears that the engines are the biggest difference between the two vehicles, but it’s not as big a difference as you might think. When you take a closer look, you’ll notice that the Tundra’s big engine only provides drivers with 310 horsepower and 327 pound-feet of torque.

Meanwhile, the Ram’s V6 provides you with 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. The biggest difference between the engines is the gas mileage. The Tundra gets 17 – 18 MPG on the highway, whereas the smaller Dodge Ram engine averages 24 – 26 MPG on the highway. That’s a difference that really adds up. 

Safety is important

Both Ram and Toyota have a reputation for producing extremely safe vehicles. While the Ram performed extremely well in all standard safety tests, most feel that the Toyota provides a slightly safer ride.

The reason for that is the Toyota’s Safety Sense suite which is a standard feature in all Toyota Tundras. The Toyota Safety Sense suite doesn’t necessarily save more lives in the event of an accident, but it does provide an assortment of features that reduces the odds of the driver getting into an accident in the first place. 

Towing with the Tundra vs. towing with the Ram

Towing is one of the areas that the Dodge Ram has a leg up on the Tundra. While the Tundra can pull a load, drivers who have used both vehicles felt that the Dodge Ram handled better when there was a load behind it. This is especially important if you plan on using the truck to haul livestock.

Resale value

As much as you’d like to keep your new pickup truck, the day will come when you find it’s time to upgrade to a newer model. When it comes to resale value, you can’t beat the Toyota Tundra.

Not only does the Tundra resale better than the Dodge Ram, but it also resales better than all other 1500 models of trucks on the market. The main reason the Tundra has such a wonderful resale market is because the vehicle is designed to withstand a great deal of wear and tear and isn’t as prone to rusting as other brands.

Conclusion

While both the Dodge Ram and Toyota Tundra are extremely nice vehicles, the improved smoothness while towing and the significantly better gas mileage make the Dodge Ram the better choice when you’re in the market for a new truck.