There’s certainly no lack of competition in the light-duty pickup world. The 2022 Ram 1500 and 2022 Toyota Tundra are just two of some of the biggest names in the class. If you’re wondering which of these tough, hard-working trucks you should have in your driveway, take a look at how they compare in some key areas.
Engine Options
A light-duty pickup like the Ram 1500 and Tundra should offer plenty of strength to let you take on your toughest jobs. To take those jobs on, you need muscle from a fine-tuned powertrain. Both of these truck options offer multiple powertrains for you to choose from so that you can find your ideal level of strength.
2022 Ram 1500
The new Ram 1500 gives you plenty of engine options to choose from, including:
- 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine with 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque
- 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine with 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque
- 3.0-liter turbo-diesel HEMI V-6 engine with 260 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque
- Supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V-8 engine with 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque
2022 Toyota Tundra
Image via Toyota
The Toyota Tundra takes more of a one-size-fits-all approach with its powertrain options, which are:
- Turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 389 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque
- Same V-6 engine in a hybrid system with 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque
Verdict
The Toyota Tundra wins points for starting its lineup off with stronger engine output and the availability of the hybrid powertrain. But for those who are looking for a traditional truck experience that lets you pick and choose your ideal level of muscle, the 2022 Ram 1500 is the way to go. It offers a more powerful gasoline engine and has a diesel option, which the Tundra has foregone.
Towing and MPG
Image via Unsplash by Brock Wegner
You can have all the engine you want, but if the truck doesn’t pull, it doesn’t pull. Let’s see how much real-world work these two light-duty trucks can handle.
2022 Ram 1500
The Ram 1500 offers engines equipped with the eTorque mild hybrid system that gives the truck a boost in towing capacity. Opt for the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 with eTorque to take advantage of the 2022 Ram 1500’s maximum towing capacity of 12,750 pounds. If you go for the diesel option, you’ll be able to tow up to 12,560 pounds. The Ram 1500 can handle up to a 2,300-pound payload. The 2022 Ram 1500 gets up to 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.
2022 Toyota Tundra
The 2022 Toyota Tundra offers up to 12,000 pounds of towing capacity when it’s properly equipped. The Tundra can handle up to 1,940 pounds of payload. Even when equipped with the hybrid engine option, the Toyota Tundra gets just 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Its standard engine option gets up to 20 mpg combined.
Verdict
The Tundra just can’t quite keep up with the Ram 1500 when it comes to real-world work. The Ram 1500 can tow more and handle more payload, making it the better choice if you’re planning on using your truck for work or towing gear. The Ram 1500 can even outdo the hybrid Tundra when it comes to fuel economy, which can be disheartening for truck drivers wanting to maximize their efficiency on the road.
Starting Prices
Which of these trucks gives you the most bang for your buck? As usual, each is offered in a series of trim levels that allow you to pick and choose the features you want to stay within your budget.
2022 Ram 1500
Image via Ram
The 2022 Ram 1500 has six primary trim levels for you to choose from. Those trim levels and their starting MSRPs are:
- Tradesman: $35,900
- Big Horn: $40,955
- Laramie: $49,550
- Rebel: $50,395
- Limited Longhorn: $56,980
- Limited: $61,695
2022 Toyota Tundra
Image via Toyota
The 2022 Toyota Tundra has seven trim levels to choose from, with these starting MSRPs:
- SR: $35,950
- SR5: $40,755
- Limited: $46,850
- Platinum: $56,990
- 1794: $57,690
- TRD Pro: $66,805
- Capstone: $73,540
Verdict
We’ll call this category a tie, although the Tundra starts to get much more expensive at its higher trim levels. But if you’re looking for a truck with the $35k to $60k range, you’ll find plenty of options with each model.
Interior Features
You’ll see some pretty big changes in the amount and quality of interior features both the Ram 1500 and Tundra offer as you upgrade through their trim levels. The competition evens out in this category and becomes largely a question of personal taste.
2022 Ram 1500
The Ram 1500 comes standard with a 5-inch touch screen that offers Bluetooth connectivity. For a more impressive screen, you’ll need to opt for the Big Horn, which comes with an 8.4-inch or an available 12-inch screen with enhanced smartphone connectivity.
Prepare your truck for adventure in any weather by choosing the Laramie, which is equipped with heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The Laramie’s classic ranch-style cabin is complete with leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel to keep you ready for action when you reach your destination.
2022 Toyota Tundra
The Tundra starts its lineup off with an 8-inch touch screen that’s compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A 14-inch screen shows up at the Limited trim level.
The Tundra Limited has creature comforts such as heated and ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control at the Limited trim level. The Limited also equips your truck with simulated leather upholstery, but you won’t find genuine leather until the Platinum trim level.
As you can see, the 2022 Ram 1500 takes first place in many aspects when going head to head with the all-new 2022 Toyota Tundra. If you agree with our team that the 2022 Ram 1500 leaves the 2022 Toyota Tundra in the dust, you can test drive the light-duty truck at Huffines CJDR Plano in Plano, Texas. Take your test drive to get a feel for the new Ram 1500’s next-level style, impressive strength, and go-anywhere attitude.