2020 Toyota Tacoma vs 2021 Toyota Tundra

The 2020 Toyota Tacoma never aimed to be a showstopper in terms of aesthetics, but it was designed to convey a simple and pure look. Despite its rugged simplicity, some aspects still left room for improvement. The back doors had a slightly tinny sound reminiscent of older Toyota trucks, and the hood scoop was a decorative feature rather than functional. Seen from the driver’s seat, the fake hood scoop acted as a rugged accessory that played up the truck's masculine appeal. However, in real-life scenarios, such as driving to a yoga class, it felt somewhat out of place.

The Tacoma's body, whether in the extended Access Cab or the four-door Double Cab form, balanced the line between urban and rugged with its rounded edges and upright lines. This truck maintained efficiency over luxury with its design choices, the Limited trim being the flashiest option with 18-inch wheels. The TRD Pro variant, however, stood apart with redesigned LED headlights that spelled "TRD" and "PRO" and sequential turn signals, along with unique paint options like Army Green. Its exterior exuded confidence with features such as an aluminum skid plate, exposed red Fox Racing shocks, and 16-inch black TRD wheels adorned with all-terrain tires.

Internally, the Tacoma’s interior matched its exterior’s straightforward design. The upright dash framed with long rectangular planes featured a modestly sized touchscreen encircled by durable toggle switches, buttons, and knobs. While some models offered eye-catching orange trim and cloth seats, the TRD Pro opted for leather, which fell short in quality. Despite this, the fit and finish surpassed competitors like the Ford Ranger and Nissan Frontier, though the materials leaned toward practical rubbers and plastics rather than luxury.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Tundra’s exterior leaned towards a somewhat awkward aesthetic. Developed in the mid-2000s, the Tundra bore the marks of evolving truck design, with a massive grille paired with relatively small headlights. Our test vehicle was painted in “Cement,” which along with blacked-out wheels and badging, provided a modern twist to a dated design.

Inside, the Tundra’s cabin felt similarly out-of-date, with hard plastics and large monotone panels dominating the dash. This sort of interior styling screamed mid-2010s, but proved practical with all buttons and controls easily accessible. Compared to the cabin complexity of the new Ram 1500, the Tundra’s straightforward design allowed for immediate usability without much need for acclimation.

Despite a rather utilitarian interior, Toyota kept the Tundra relevant by including a standard 7-inch infotainment system equipped with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. Higher trims offered additional features and various degrees of premium touches, from leather upholstery in the Limited trim to unique badging and styling cues in the Platinum and 1794 Edition trims. The Nightshade Edition was a new addition for 2021, offering dark chrome accents and black wheels.

The 2020 Toyota Tacoma powered past its entry-level competitors with a significant leap from the base 2.7-liter 4-cylinder engine, which delivered a meager 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. This engine was only standard on the base SR and SR5 models, urging most buyers to opt for the 3.5-liter V6 engine, which revved up 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. This engine came paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive (RWD), although four-wheel drive (4WD) was standard on the TRD Pro and optional on other trims.

For manual transmission enthusiasts, the TRD Off-Road and Pro models offered a 6-speed manual with Clutch Start Cancel for precise control in difficult off-road situations. The automatic variants boasted features like Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) and Crawl Control to modulate traction and maneuvering through diverse terrains, though these were sometimes more exciting in theory than in practice.

On regular roads, the Tacoma felt less agile, with slow steering and numb on-center feel. The V6 engine, while competent, required the driver to engage the “ECT PWR” button to optimize gear shifts, otherwise presenting sluggish acceleration. The TRD Pro’s sport exhaust was more of a nuisance on longer drives, contributing to the Tacoma’s already subpar fuel economy of 20 mpg city, 23 highway for the inline-four, and 18, 22, 20 for the V6.

Conversely, the 2021 Toyota Tundra featured a robust I-Force 5.7-liter V8 engine as its sole powertrain, producing 391 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, provided strong acceleration and confident performance both at low and high speeds. Despite lacking the newer transmission designs of competitors, the six-speed automatic was responsive enough for most driving scenarios.

The Tundra’s ride quality was impressive, soaking up various road imperfections with ease while maintaining a stable demeanor in corners thanks to its broad stance. Though the steering felt vague at low speeds, it stabilized on highways, making it an ideal vehicle for long, relaxed drives.

The 2020 Toyota Tacoma’s more compact dimensions were a distinct advantage in urban settings. Its shorter length and narrower width simplified parking, fit easily in standard garages, and provided a reasonable turning radius. On trails, the Tacoma’s size and well-engineered features like a rail system for tie-down cleats in the bed and optional power outlet added to its utility. The Tacoma’s beds came in two lengths: 5-foot and 6-foot. The Double Cab’s rear seats, while adequate for short trips, felt cramped on longer journeys, a compromise attributed to the compact design. Under-seat storage added convenience, but the lack of a flat loading floor and rear defroster were notable drawbacks.

The 2021 Toyota Tundra, in comparison, offered two cab sizes and three bed lengths, accommodating diverse cargo needs. The Double Cab featured conventionally-opening rear doors, available with a 6.5-foot or 8.1-foot bed. However, the CrewMax, which came with a 5.5-foot bed, provided an enormous rear-seat space that rivalled first-class airline seating. Rear seats could fold up to provide more inside cargo space. The Tundra also offered optional in-bed storage lockers, although they fell short of the utility provided by the Ram 1500’s RamBox system.

The Tundra’s cab was equally spacious, with a large center console and ample storage around the shifter area. The power rear window, unique in its class, allowed extensive rear visibility and provided additional airflow and cargo flexibility. This feature set the Tundra apart, enhancing its overall usability compared to competitors.

The 2020 Toyota Tacoma ensured an uncomplicated user experience with its controls and interfaces. Standard features across the trims included a 7-inch touchscreen, while higher trims came with an 8-inch version that supported navigation, cloud-based traffic, and online searches. The 2020 update introduced Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa as standard. A new USB-C port was a welcome addition, even though it required new compatible devices. Optional tech features included wireless charging and onboard Wi-Fi, while a proximity key with push-button start remained a non-standard luxury.

Additionally, the Tacoma offered 360-degree cameras with functional, though not high-quality, video displays. The system provided clear views for parking and off-road navigation. The SUV also included a commendable suite of driver assists, such as adaptive cruise control, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2021 Toyota Tundra benefited from a significant technology upgrade introduced in the 2020 model year. This update included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features. The infotainment system operated through either a 7-inch or an optional 8-inch touchscreen that also supported Amazon Alexa. The intuitive layout and redundant hard buttons on the sides offered a hassle-free user experience.

Standard tech equipment featured multiple USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and a three-month WiFi hotspot trial. The Tundra’s audio system ranged from a six-speaker setup in the base model to a 12-speaker JBL premium audio system with a subwoofer and amplifier in top trims, catering to those looking for superior in-cabin sound quality.