2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty vs 2021 Toyota Tacoma

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty had an updated styling with a more detailed grille and headlights. The new grille moved away from the gaudy chrome-clad bars of the 2019 model, but remained imposing. The massive headlights, though still large, had additional detail and contouring, giving them a more refined look. Despite these updates, the design was a modest evolution from the 2017 model year, and the cabin remained unchanged with blocky styling. The interior was ideally suited for work use, featuring plenty of usable space, but lacked the welcoming feel of some rivals.

Trim levels for the 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty ranged from the basic XL with 17-inch steel wheels and vinyl seats, to the luxurious Limited with power-retractable running boards and a premium Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Lariat trim bridged the gap between work and luxury, adding leather upholstery and dual-zone climate control. The King Ranch and Platinum trims offered unique exterior designs and additional comfort features, such as heated-and-ventilated seats and massaging front bucket seats.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma had a rugged, boxy design that embodied the stereotypical pickup look. It featured boxy fender flares, a tall hood, and a shield-like grille. Certain models, like the Trail Edition and Nightshade Edition, had unique styling features, while the TRD Pro had a model-specific grille, blacked-out hood, and exclusive Lunar Rock color. The Tacoma stuck with body-on-frame construction, benefiting towing and off-road capability, but penalizing ride and handling.

The Tacoma was available in Access Cab and Double Cab configurations, with the latter offering more interior space. The interior had rugged styling with chunky plastic elements, but material quality was harder to justify at higher trim levels. The TRD Pro model focused on off-roading, with features like Fox internal-bypass shocks and a front skid plate. However, the Tacoma's interior space was limited, and the ride quality was poor, especially with the V6 engine's slow acceleration and the six-speed automatic's hesitance to shift.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty offered three engine options: a 6.2-liter gas V8 with 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, a 6.7-liter turbodiesel Power Stroke V8 with 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque, and a new 7.3-liter gas V8 with 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The 6.2-liter V8 came with either a six-speed or a 10-speed automatic transmission, while the 7.3-liter and 6.7-liter engines came standard with the 10-speed automatic. The F-350 had impressive towing capacities, with a conventional towing capacity of 24,200 pounds, a fifth-wheel towing capacity of 32,500 pounds, and a gooseneck trailer capacity of 37,000 pounds. It also had a maximum payload capacity of 7,850 pounds.

The F-350's size and height were noticeable in corners, and models set up for higher towing capacities had a "chattery" ride over bumps when not towing or hauling. The Tremor off-road package, available on the XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum trims, added 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires, a lifted suspension, and Trail Control, providing 10.8 inches of ground clearance.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma offered two powertrain options: a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine with 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 3.5-liter V6 with 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. The four-cylinder engine was available only with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the V6 was available with both the automatic and a six-speed manual transmission. The optional part-time 4WD drivetrain featured low range and a standard electronic rear limited-slip differential.

The TRD Off-Road model had a locking rear differential, upgraded suspension with Bilstein shocks, Multi-Terrain Select drive modes, and Crawl Control. The TRD Pro added Fox internal-bypass shocks, a 1-inch front lift, and wider wheels. The Tacoma's maximum towing capacity was 6,800 pounds, and its maximum payload capacity was 1,685 pounds. However, these capacities were only achievable in specific configurations. The Tacoma's off-road capability was on par with the Ford Ranger FX4 and GMC Canyon AT4, but it fell short of the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 and Jeep Gladiator Rubicon.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty was offered in Regular Cab, Super Cab, and Super Crew configurations. The Super Cab had rear-hinged half-doors, providing decent space for rear-seat passengers but requiring the front door to be opened first. The Super Crew had a full four-door crew cab with ample headroom and legroom, and the rear seats folded up to provide a large load floor. The F-350 was available with either a 6-foot-9-inch bed or an 8-foot bed, with the latter also available in a dual-rear-wheel configuration. The bed featured a step that extended from the tailgate, making it easier to load items.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma's Double Cab configuration lacked interior space compared to other midsize pickups. Rear headroom and legroom were the worst in the segment, and front headroom and legroom were also below average. The rear seats folded up to reveal storage cubbies, but other in-cab storage was limited. The Tacoma's bed had a standard rail system with tie-down cleats and an available 120-volt outlet. The inner bed was made from sheet-molded composite, a lightweight alternative to steel that wouldn't rust.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty featured the SYNC 3 infotainment system, which included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The system had an intuitive menu layout with large icons and a Home icon for easy navigation. However, SYNC 3 occasionally had buggy hiccups, especially when switching between SYNC 3 and Apple CarPlay. The F-350 also had impressive towing features, such as Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which made backing up a trailer easier by allowing the driver to operate a dial to "point" the trailer where needed.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma's base SR trim level had a 7-inch touchscreen, while all other models had an 8-inch touchscreen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Higher trim levels offered a six-speaker JBL audio system with a subwoofer. The infotainment system was functional but not a standout feature, with plain graphics and basic functions. The TRD Pro model had the optional Multi-Terrain Monitor surround-view camera system, which was useful for spotting obstacles off-road and maneuvering in parking spaces.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty came standard with a full array of airbags, automatic high beams, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The XLT trim level added automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Lariat trim added a reverse-sensing system, while the King Ranch trim included Pro Trailer Backup Assist. The Platinum trim added adaptive cruise control and adaptive steering, and the Limited trim provided all these features as standard equipment.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, except for an "Acceptable" score in the passenger-side small overlap front test. Headlights received mixed ratings, but the Tacoma earned the highest "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. The NHTSA gave both the Access Cab and Double Cab configurations a four-star overall rating. Standard driver-assist features included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.