2023 Toyota Tundra 2WD vs 2023 Toyota Tacoma 2WD

The 2023 Toyota Tundra and Toyota Tacoma are two of the most popular pickup trucks on the market. They both offer reliable performance and advanced features. The biggest difference between the two trucks is their size. The Tundra is a full-size pickup truck, while the Tacoma lies in the midsize category. However, there are several other differences between the two.

The following puts these two beasts head to head, and looks at their highlights:

Features

The Tundra is currently in its 3rd generation, which was launched last year. The gasoline version has 5 trim levels and 1 powertrain option. This year’s Tundra 2WD sees some changes in terms of appearance.

Meanwhile, the Tacoma is also in its 3rd generation which was updated in 2020. The 2023 Tacoma 2WD comes with 7 trim levels and it offers 2 engine options. The new Tacoma gets some changes in its standard features.

Both of these vehicles have purpose-built trims catering to on- and off-tarmac driving.

Powertrain and Numbers

Both of these vehicles are highly powerful, but the Tundra 2WD gets the lead. The 2023 Tundra comes with a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 that makes 389 hp and 479 lb-ft. This utilizes a 10-speed automatic gearbox. It also offers a hybrid version, named the 2023 Tundra i-Force Max.

At the same time, the 2023 Tacoma 2WD has a 2.7-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 159 hp and 80 lb-ft. You can also get the 3.5-liter V6 with 278 hp and 265 lb-ft. You can have this with either a 6-speed automatic or manual gearbox.

The Tundra is the quicker truck here, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just 6 seconds. The Tacoma is no slouch, taking just 1.5 seconds more to do the same. Either way, both of these acceleration times are great for their respective classes.

As expected, the Tundra has a greater towing capacity. It can tow up to 12000 lbs and carry a payload of 1940 lbs. Meanwhile, the Tacoma can pull up to 6800 lbs and haul a maximum payload of 1685 lbs.

Then we have the fuel economy numbers, where the two are similar. The 2023 Tundra can do 20 mpg city and 24 mpg highway, which are excellent numbers for the ½ ton class. The Tacoma can manage 20 mpg city and 23 highway, according to the EPA.

Interior and Technology

Both these trucks have handsome, large, and spacious interiors. Obviously, the 2023 Tundra is roomier since it’s a full-size truck. It also has more in-cabin storage and is more modern. The 2023 Tacoma has also received praise for its ergonomic design and easy-to-use controls.

The basic 2023 Tundra 2WD comes with push-button ignition, keyless entry, a 4.2-inch digital gauge cluster, single-zone climate control, an 8-inch touchscreen, 6 speakers, and a backup camera. So, how different is its smaller sibling?

Well, the entry-level 2023 Tacoma 2WD has dual-zone climate control instead of a single-zone one, and it has more USB ports as well. However, it has a smaller 7-inch touchscreen, and the aforementioned keyless entry is optional.

Both these trucks offer a suite of driver’s assistance features. They both get forward-collision warning (w/automated emergency braking), lane-departure warning (w/lane-keeping assist), and adaptive cruise control.

Tacoma Interior

Tundra Interior

Exterior and Driving

These two trucks are regarded as handsome brutes with commanding demeanors. You’ll find LED headlamps up front, and 18- and 16-inch steel wheels on the Tundra and Tacoma 2WD respectively. You can equip the them with appearance packages to personalize even further.

They both offer a lot of cargo capacity for their respective categories. The Tundra offers more options in bed lengths – 5.5, 6.5, and 8.1 ft. Meanwhile, the Tacoma offers 5 and 6 ft sizes. They’re both available in double and extended cab options.

The driving abilities of these trucks are amazing. They feel very composed and are quite maneuverable for their respective sizes. They also offer TRD packages that tune them up for off-roading. These variants come with thicker tires, upgraded shocks, locking rear diffs, and exclusively styled wheels.

Tacoma Exterior

Tundra Exterior

Reliability and Warranty

Of course, these nameplates are two of the most dependable as far as pickups are concerned. The 2023 Tundra gets a decent score of 70 out of 100 from JD Power. The Tacoma has a score of 83 out of 100, which puts it in the Great category.

They both get the industry average as far as coverage is concerned. You get a limited warranty that’s good for 3 years/36k miles and a powertrain warranty for 5 years/60k miles. There’s also Toyota’s complimentary maintenance plan that lasts for 2 years/25k miles.

If you opt for the hybrid Tundra, you can even get an extra warranty for the hybrid components.

Verdict

The 2023 Toyota Tundra 2WD gets an upper hand over the 2023 Tacoma 2WD as it exists in a higher weight class. The Tundra is more powerful and is quicker to accelerate. It also has higher towing and hauling ratings due to its sturdier construction. You can count on it to give slightly better highway mileage ratings as well.

Then there’s the interior, which is more spacious in terms of room for passengers and cargo. Both trucks offer a variety of standard amenities but each has one or two features that the other one doesn’t.

On the outside, they both come with several different configurations. The Tundra offers one bed size more than the Taco. Off-road-oriented trim levels are available on both of them, and so are some appearance packages.

In terms of reliability, once again they both do well. However, the 2023 Tacoma gets the win here. Also, regardless of whichever truck you get, they both will come with comped maintenance for a limited time.

If you need a truck with better numbers the Tundra may be the better choice. If you prioritize more reliability and a lower price point, while still having a capable truck for light-duty tasks, the Tacoma is a great option.

To get the 2023 Tundra in Bountiful, UT, check out Performance Toyota Bountiful here. Get the 2023 Toyota Tacoma here.