2021 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2021 Toyota Tacoma

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma epitomized the archetypical pickup truck design. Its rugged, boxy fender flares, tall hood, shield-like grille, and ruler-straight lines created a clear contrast to the more streamlined Ford Ranger and General Motors' midsize twins. Yet, it avoided the over-the-top styling of larger trucks, including Toyota’s own Tundra. The Tacoma also provided unique styling touches depending on the variant. For instance, the newly introduced Trail Edition featured 16-inch TRD Off-Road alloy wheels and the Tacoma Limited's grille, available in special colors. Meanwhile, the Nightshade Edition came with blacked-out accents, and the TRD Pro boasted a distinctive grille with “Toyota” block lettering, a blacked-out hood and fender flares, Rigid Industries LED fog lights, and an exclusive 2021 color - Lunar Rock.

Toyota's decision to stick with a body-on-frame construction, instead of the unibody approach used by many modern cars and SUVs, underscored the Tacoma’s commitment to off-road and towing prowess, albeit at the cost of ride and handling smoothness. The Tacoma was available exclusively as an Access Cab with rear half-doors, or a Double Cab with four full-size doors. The Access Cab rode on a 127.4-inch wheelbase with a 73.7-inch bed, while the Double Cab offered either a 127.4-inch wheelbase with a 60.5-inch bed or a 140.6-inch wheelbase with a 73.7-inch bed.

The interior of the Tacoma was as rugged as its exterior, featuring chunky plastic elements. Although the material quality was adequate for a base model, it seemed less justifiable in the higher-end TRD Pro trim, priced around $45,000 even with optional leather upholstery. However, considering the off-roading features included at that price, the compromise was understandable.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500, on the other hand, presented a different proposition. The main draw of the Sierra over its Chevy Silverado sibling lay in its styling and the high-end Denali trim. Owning a Sierra Denali carried a sense of prestige akin to driving a Mercedes in truck circles. But even other Sierra variants could be optioned to reach the same price territory, including the off-road-ready AT4 tested, which came with a heftier $66,695 MSRP including destination charges.

The Sierra AT4 featured a factory-installed 2-inch suspension lift, Rancho monotube shocks, skid plates, a two-speed Autotrac transfer case, a locking rear differential, and unique design elements like red front recovery hooks. Further enhancing its rugged appeal, our AT4 included mud-terrain tires, multiple option packages, and the AT4 CarbonPro Edition Package, which featured a CarbonPro carbon fiber composite cargo bed and MultiPro Audio System with a six-position tailgate. Despite its black-on-black aesthetic that appealed visually, it quickly showed dirt—a minor inconvenience for an off-road designed vehicle.

Inside, the Sierra's interior mirrored an industrial era, with an expansive sea of black plastic complemented by metallic accents and caramel seat trim in our test model. While practical features like rubber floor mats with snap-in carpet inserts added utility, the cabin lacked the sense of luxury one might expect, especially in a truck that could exceed $70,000 in Denali trim.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma featured two engine choices. The base powertrain was a 2.7-liter four-cylinder generating 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. More popular, however, was the optional 3.5-liter V6 producing 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. This V6 used the Atkinson cycle and Toyota's D4S fuel-injection system, which combined port and direct injection for improved fuel efficiency.

The four-cylinder engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the V6 offered the choice of a six-speed manual or automatic. A part-time 4WD system with low range and a standard electronic rear limited-slip differential was available, with a fully locking rear differential as an option. The Tacoma’s coil-spring front suspension and leaf-spring rear suspension set a strong foundation for off-roading.

The TRD models elevated the Tacoma's off-road capabilities. The TRD Off-Road trim featured 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, retuned rear suspension, and Goodyear Wrangler Kevlar-reinforced all-terrain tires.

However, the TRD Pro’s road performance fell short. Acceleration was sluggish, partly due to the automatic transmission's hesitance to shift. Handling and braking were also traditional truck-like, making maneuvering more challenging compared to car-like midsize trucks from Ford and GM. Maximum towing capacity reached 6,800 pounds in Access Cab V6 RWD form, and max payload hit 1,685 pounds with the four-cylinder engine. Nonetheless, the Tacoma lagged competitors like the Jeep Gladiator, Ford Ranger, and diesel versions of the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon in both towing and payload capabilities.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 boasted an attractive Duramax 3.0-liter turbodiesel six-cylinder engine at a bargain price of $995. This engine produced 277 hp at 3,750 rpm and a muscular 460 lb-ft of torque from just 1,500 rpm. This torque figure was the same as the Sierra's 6.2-liter V8 but delivered 4,100 rpm sooner.

Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Duramax engine excelled in gear selection and maintaining optimal torque. The driver-switchable 4WD system accommodated varying conditions effortlessly. In a test from sea level to a 5,160-foot mountain summit and back, the Sierra maintained traction in diverse weather while achieving 21.1 mpg, though less than the EPA’s 24 mpg combined rating.

The AT4’s suspension managed various terrains comfortably, favoring it for both off-roading and city driving compared to standard suspension setups in other GM pickups. While the AT4’s mud-terrain tires were ill-suited for twisty roads, they proved effective in wet off-road conditions, displaying the truck’s off-road prowess.

When properly equipped, the Sierra Duramax could tow up to 9,300 pounds and handle a payload of 2,150 pounds. Our 4WD crew cab AT4 had an 8,800-pound towing capacity and a 1,810-pound payload rating, aligning with its high-capacity competition.

With the 2021 Toyota Tacoma, fitting a bed and full seating in a midsize footprint led to interior compromises. Compared to other midsize trucks, the Tacoma Double Cab suffered from the tightest rear headroom and legroom. Even front headroom and legroom were below average, resulting in a cramped, bunker-like space and restricted forward visibility due to the tall hood.

Despite these shortcomings, the Tacoma’s rear seats folded up to reveal storage, and an in-cab wireless charging pad accommodated large phones. A standard rail system with tie-down cleats and an available 120-volt outlet compensated for the lack of a bed step or in-bed storage bins found in competitors like the Honda Ridgeline.

In contrast, the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 offered ample space and comfort, as expected in a full-size truck. The front seats were large and adjustable, offering heated and cooled cushions. The Sierra's rear seats, also heated, provided plenty of room for three adults. Features like high-clearance side rails and the six-position Multipro tailgate with a wide step facilitated easier access to the truck’s cargo bed.

The AT4 CarbonPro Edition package added dent, scratch, and corrosion-resistant carbon fiber to the bed, shaving off 60 pounds and boosting payload capacity. The Sierra’s bed could hold between 62.9 and 89.1 cubic feet of cargo, larger than most light-duty full-size pickups. However, interior storage fell short compared to other trucks, lacking innovative space solutions except for the non-lockable cubbies in rear seatbacks.

The base Toyota Tacoma SR featured a 7-inch touchscreen, while all other models came with an 8-inch screen. Standard tech included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Higher trims offered a six-speaker JBL audio system. The infotainment system, though functional and easy to navigate with its responsive touchscreen and helpful shortcut buttons, lacked standout features and impressive graphics. The TRD Pro’s Multi-Terrain Monitor surround-view camera proved useful not only off-road but also for parking.

Conversely, the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 excelled in camera-based tech with a surround-view camera, trailer and bed views, and a rear camera mirror. These features facilitated easier maneuvering in tight spots. The optional Technology Package included these cameras plus a 15-inch head-up display and an 8-inch driver information display.

The Sierra’s infotainment system featured a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen, both running the latest hardware and software for quick responses and appealing graphics. Our test truck had wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and navigation. The Bose premium sound system, while adequate, was outclassed by audio setups in top-tier rival trucks. The Sierra’s 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and 115-volt in-dash outlet proved lifesaving during a power outage, although a flat work surface like the Ford F-150's would’ve been a welcome addition.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma earned strong IIHS ratings, with top “Good” scores in most crash tests, although the passenger-side small overlap front test received an “Acceptable” score. Headlights varied from “Good” to “Marginal,” but the front-crash prevention technology was rated “Superior.” NHTSA awarded the Tacoma a four-star overall rating, with four stars in front and rollover tests and five stars in side tests. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. However, the Ford Ranger surpassed the Tacoma with additional features like lane-keep assist and blind-spot monitoring for both truck and trailer.

GMC’s Sierra 1500 fell short in safety feature generosity. While forward-collision warning, front pedestrian braking, and automatic emergency braking were available even for the base Sierra, they weren’t standard on upper trims like the Denali. Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warnings were included in the Denali but optional elsewhere. Higher trims also offered lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and a vibrating Safety Alert Seat, with adaptive cruise control available for the SLT, AT4, and Denali variants. The upcoming 2022 Sierra was set to receive Super Cruise for enhanced hands-free driving.

In crash testing, the Sierra's results were mixed. The NHTSA rated it four stars overall, with a concerning four-star frontal crash score. The IIHS rated the Sierra "Marginal" for front passenger protection in small overlap crashes and gave its headlights a "Poor" rating. The LATCH system also rated "Marginal" for accessibility. Among full-size trucks, only the aging Toyota Tundra performed worse.