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Toyota offers two highly capable pickup trucks with the midsize Tacoma and full-size Tundra. Find out the differences between the two trucks in this 2023 Toyota Tacoma vs. 2023 Toyota Tundra comparison.

2023 Toyota Tacoma vs. 2023 Tundra: What are the differences?

Barcelona Red Metallic 2023 Toyota Tacoma driving up a hill
Barcelona Red Metallic 2023 Toyota Tacoma | Toyota

In this 2023 Toyota Tacoma vs. 2023 Toyota Tundra comparison, we evaluated several areas. This includes performance, gas mileage, towing, off-road capabilities, safety, warranty coverage, reliability, and price.

Tacoma vs. Tundra: Performance

Front angle view of Magnetic Gray Metallic 2023 Toyota Tundra
Magnetic Gray Metallic 2023 Toyota Tundra | Toyota

For performance, the 2023 Toyota Tacoma offers two engine options. The base 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine generates 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, and the available 3.5-liter V-6 engine produces 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque.

Likewise, the 2023 Toyota Tundra also offers two engine options. The i-FORCE 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine generates 389 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque, while the i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain produces 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque. 

With its smaller size, the Tacoma is more maneuverable than the Tundra. Depending on the trim, the Tacoma has a turning circle that ranges from 20.3 to 22.05 feet, compared to 24.3 to 26 feet for the Tundra.

Tacoma vs. Tundra: Gas mileage

For efficiency, the two pickup trucks are fairly evenly matched. The Tacoma has an estimated gas mileage of up to 20 city/23 highway mpg, while the Tundra gets an estimated gas mileage of up to 20 city/24 highway mpg.

Tacoma vs. Tundra: Towing

On the towing front, the 2023 Tundra has the advantage. It has a maximum towing capacity of 12,000 pounds, compared to 6,800 pounds for the Tacoma. 

Tacoma vs. Tundra: Off-road capabilities

The Tacoma and Tundra have high-level off-road capabilities. Both pickup trucks offer advanced four-wheel drive systems. Also, both the Tacoma and Tundra have off-road-focused models with the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro trims.

Tacoma vs. Tundra: Safety

The Tacoma and Tundra offer a similar roster of safety and driving assistance features. This includes a blind spot monitoring system, brake assist, a rear parking aid, a backup camera, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning.

Tacoma vs. Tundra: Warranty coverage and reliability

For warranty coverage, both the Tacoma and Tundra have the backing of a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Both pickup trucks also have a free maintenance plan, with two years or 25,000 miles of coverage. 

However, the Tundra is more reliable than the Tacoma. It has a J.D. Power predicted reliability rating of 86/100, compared to 81/100 for the Tacoma. 

Tacoma vs. Tundra: Price

Which Toyota pickup truck costs more: the 2023 Tacoma or the 2023 Tundra? While the price information is not yet available for the 2023 model year, both trucks will likely cost slightly more than the 2022 versions. 

For the 2022 Tacoma, the starting prices are $27,150 MSRP for the Access Cab models and $27,980 MSRP for the Double Cab models. In comparison, the starting prices of the 2022 Tundra are $35,950 MSRP for the Double Cab models and 38,000 MSRP for the CrewMax models.

2023 Toyota Tacoma vs. 2023 Toyota Tundra: Which pickup truck is better?

In this 2023 Toyota Tacoma vs. 2023 Toyota Tundra comparison, each pickup truck has various advantages. For the 2023 Tacoma, advantages include maneuverability and a lower price. Conversely, advantages for the 2023 Tundra include performance, towing, and reliability.

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