2021 Ford F-150 vs 2021 Toyota Tacoma

The Ford F-Series pickup truck has been the bestselling vehicle in the United States for decades, so a lot is at stake with any redesign. The 2021 Ford F-150 plays it safe, with changes that are smaller in scope than the truck’s previous redesign (for the 2015 model year), but nonetheless significant.

This latest redesign brought an updated version of the previous-generation truck’s bold styling, a revamped interior with more convenience features, and the new Sync 4 infotainment system, as well as an available PowerBoost hybrid powertrain. This is the first time Ford has offered an F-150 hybrid, and the PowerBoost is currently the only full-hybrid powertrain available in a full-size pickup truck.

The F-150’s traditional rivals are the Chevrolet Silverado 1500/GMC Sierra 1500 twins and Ram 1500, along with the slower-selling Nissan Titan and Toyota Tundra.

Ford offers a staggering array of options, including six trim levels (XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited), three cab configurations, three bed sizes, six powertrains, and the choice of rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). Our test vehicle was an F-150 King Ranch with the SuperCrew cab, 4WD, and the PowerBoost hybrid powertrain.

Last redesigned for the 2016 model year, The Tacoma once dominated midsize-truck sales. In recent years, though, it’s faced stronger competition from the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon twins, the Ford Ranger, and the Jeep Gladiator. A redesigned Nissan Frontier and heavily-updated Honda Ridgeline are also on the way.

Meanwhile, the Tacoma enters the 2021 model year largely unchanged. The only updates are two new special editions—the Nightshade Edition and Trail Special Edition—and standard dual-zone automatic climate control on all V6 models.

Pickup truck buyers tend to want choices, and Toyota delivers. The Tacoma is available with four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines, Access Cab and four-door Double Cab body styles, rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD), and six trim levels— SR, SR5, TRD Off Road, TRD Sport, Limited, and TRD Pro—plus the two special editions.

Our test vehicle was a Tacoma TRD Pro Double Cab. The TRD Pro is the most off-road focused of the Tacoma models, so naturally, it gets standard 4WD drive. While Toyota does offer a more comfort-oriented Tacoma Limited model, the TRD Pro is also positioned at the top of the lineup.

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