2022 Ford F-150 Lightning vs 2021 Toyota Tacoma

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma displayed the quintessential appearance one would expect from a truck. It featured boxy fender flares, a tall hood, and a prominent, shield-like grille, coupled with straight lines that seemed to have been designed with a ruler. This gave it a classic and rugged look that contrasted well with the more streamlined designs of the Ford Ranger and GM's midsize trucks. Certain Tacoma models such as the Trail Edition and Nightshade Edition offered unique styling elements like the TRD Off-Road alloy wheels, blacked-out trim, and exclusive colors.

Despite its rugged design, the Tacoma maintained body-on-frame construction, commonly favored for its improved towing and off-road capabilities, although at a cost to ride and handling. The interior continued the rugged theme, with a dashboard made of chunky plastic elements. Material quality varied; what seemed acceptable on a base model felt out of place in the higher-end TRD Pro model, especially at its base price of around $45,000.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning looked astonishingly normal for a vehicle likely deemed one of the most significant debuts in decades. The Lightning had its unique exterior styling cues but largely resembled other F-150s on American roads. It offered four trims: Pro, XLT, Lariat, and Platinum, each with one cab style and a 5.5-foot bed. Its front end featured a distinctive LED headlight bar and a faux grille, making it identifiable as an electric vehicle.

Inside, the F-150 Lightning also impressed. It offered expansive legroom, with 43.9 inches of front-seat legroom and 43.6 inches in the rear. High-quality materials and ergonomics contributed to a refined feel. The Lariat trim even had a large panoramic sunroof and robust air conditioning, crucial for hot climates.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma came with two powertrains. The base four-cylinder engine, a 2.7-liter unit generating 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, was only available with a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional 3.5-liter V6 produced 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque, available with both an automatic and a six-speed manual transmission. The Tacoma's part-time 4WD system with a rear limited-slip differential solidified its off-road credentials, especially in the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro models, which featured upgraded suspensions and additional off-road tech.

Despite its off-road capabilities, the Tacoma's on-road performance lagged behind. Its V6 engine provided sluggish acceleration, the six-speed automatic hesitated to shift, and the cat-back exhaust's sound failed to impress. It offered a maximum towing capacity of 6,800 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,685 pounds, but these weren't class-leading numbers.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, however, stood out due to its electric powertrain. Dual electric motors provided AWD and generated either 426 horsepower with the standard-range battery or a massive 563 horsepower with the extended-range battery. The latter also resulted in 775 pound-feet of torque. The Lightning offered an estimated 230 miles of range with its standard battery and 320 miles with the extended-range battery.

Acceleration was impressive due to the instant torque, and its low center of gravity helped with handling, although it was still a heavy truck. The Lightning's independent rear suspension, as opposed to traditional leaf springs, showed Ford’s innovative approach to accommodating its large battery packs.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma's interior offered compromised space, especially in the Double Cab configuration. Rear headroom and legroom were notably tight, even compared to other midsize trucks. Storage options included fold-up rear seats with storage cubbies and a limited number of in-cab storage options. The bed featured a rail system with tie-down cleats and a 120-volt outlet, although it lacked more innovative storage solutions found in competitors like the Honda Ridgeline and GMC Canyon.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning excelled in both form and function. Its 5.5-foot bed, while limiting in length, featured multiple tie-down points, and its innovative "Mega Power Frunk" added 14.1 cubic feet of storage, complete with a drainable underfloor bin for storing ice. The Lightning's backup generator capability allowed it to power a typical household for three days or smaller items at a job site with its 9.6-kilowatt onboard power supply. It also offered a maximum towing capacity of 10,000 pounds and a payload capacity of 2,000 pounds, although towing to the max would impact its driving range.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma included a 7-inch touchscreen in the base SR trim and an 8-inch touchscreen in other trims, supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Higher trims could get a six-speaker JBL audio system. The infotainment system was functional but not outstanding, with clear but plain graphics. The Multi-Terrain Monitor surround-view camera, available on the TRD Pro, was useful for both off-roading and parking.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning offered more advanced technology. All trims boasted at least a 12-inch touchscreen running Sync 4, with the Pro and XLT trims featuring a landscape-oriented display, and the Lariat and Platinum trims sporting a 15-inch portrait-oriented screen. While visually impressive, the 15-inch screen's layout was less intuitive. Standard and available features included SiriusXM satellite radio, an 8-speaker B&O stereo in the Lariat trim, and a 15-speaker system in the Platinum. Additionally, the Lightning offered wireless phone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, as well as built-in games.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma boasted solid safety ratings. The IIHS gave it top scores in most crash tests, with an "Acceptable" rating for the passenger-side small overlap front test. The NHTSA awarded it a four-star overall rating. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning also excelled in safety, equipped with Ford's Co-Pilot 360 ADAS. Standard features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims offered additional features like adaptive cruise control, intersection assist, BlueCruise hands-free driving, and a 360-degree camera.