Compare the2022 Ram 1500 ClassicVS 2021 Toyota Tundra

Full-time four-wheel drive is optional on the Ram 1500 Classic. Full-time four-wheel drive gives added traction for safety in all conditions, not just off-road, like the only system available on the Tundra.

Both the Ram 1500 Classic and the Tundra have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras and available front and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ram 1500 Classic is safer than the Toyota Tundra:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ram 1500 Classic is safer than the Toyota Tundra:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are almost 2 times as many Ram dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 1500 Classic’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ram vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ram first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 13th.

The Ram 1500 Classic’s optional 5.7 V8 produces 14 more horsepower (395 vs. 381) and 9 lbs.-ft. more torque (410 vs. 401) than the Tundra’s 5.7 DOHC V8.

On the EPA test cycle the Ram 1500 Classic gets better mileage than the Tundra:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Ram 1500 Classic V8’s fuel efficiency. The Tundra doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Ram 1500 Classic, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Tundra.

The Ram 1500 Classic stops much shorter than the Tundra:

For better traction, the Ram 1500 Classic has larger standard tires than the Tundra (265/70R17 vs. 255/70R18).

The Ram 1500 Classic has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Ram 1500 Classic flat and controlled during cornering. The Tundra’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The front and rear suspension of the Ram 1500 Classic uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Tundra, which uses leaf springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The Ram 1500 Classic has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Tundra doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Ram 1500 Classic’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Tundra doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Ram 1500 Classic standard bed Quad Cab 4x4 handles at .77 G’s, while the Tundra Short Bed TRD Pro CrewMax 4x4 pulls only .66 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ram 1500 Classic short bed Crew Cab 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Tundra Short Bed TRD Pro CrewMax 4x4 (29 seconds @ .56 average G’s vs. 30.6 seconds @ .53 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ram 1500 Classic standard bed Regular Cab’s turning circle is 4.5 feet tighter than the Tundra Standard Bed Double Cab’s (39.5 feet vs. 44 feet). The Ram 1500 Classic standard bed Crew Cab 4x4’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Tundra Long Bed Double Cab’s (48 feet vs. 49 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Ram 1500 Classic short bed Crew Cab w/Air Suspension has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Tundra Standard Bed Double Cab (10.8 vs. 10.6 inches), allowing the Ram 1500 Classic to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Ram 1500 Classic may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 650 pounds less than the Toyota Tundra.

The front grille of the Ram 1500 Classic uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Tundra doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Ram 1500 Classic short bed Crew Cab 4x4 is quieter than the Tundra Standard Bed Limited Double Cab 4x4:

The Ram 1500 Classic Crew Cab has 8.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Tundra (125.3 vs. 117).

The Ram 1500 Classic Quad Cab has 1.3 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, .3 inches more rear hip room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tundra Double Cab.

The Ram 1500 Classic Crew Cab has 1.3 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 2.8 inches more rear hip room and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tundra CrewMax.

The Ram 1500 Classic offers an optional Fold-Out Bumper Step, which folds out and allows for much easier access to the cargo area. The Toyota Tundra doesn’t offer a rear cargo step.

The Ram 1500 Classic has stake post holes, to allow the containment of tall, light loads. The Tundra doesn’t offer stake post holes.

The Ram 1500 Classic has an all welded cargo box to eliminate possible corrosion spots and to provide better chassis stiffness. The cargo box in the Tundra is bolted through the bed to the frame with large bolts. These bolts are a prime area for corrosion to start as the normal flexing of the truck’s chassis causes them to eat through the finish; they can also snag cargo as it slides in and out.

Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Tundra is limited to 10200 pounds. The Ram 1500 Classic Regular Cab offers up to a 10610 lbs. towing capacity.

The Ram 1500 Classic has a higher standard payload capacity than the Tundra:

The Ram 1500 Classic has higher optional payload capacities than the Tundra:

The Ram 1500 Classic offers an optional under hood light to help in making nighttime maintenance checks, adding fluids, etc. The Tundra doesn’t offer an under hood light.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Ram 1500 Classic to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Toyota doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Tundra.

The power windows available on both the Ram 1500 Classic and the Tundra have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Ram 1500 Classic is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Tundra prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Ram 1500 Classic’s basic available front power windows lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Tundra’s standard power windows’ passenger windows don’t open automatically.

The Ram 1500 Classic’s power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Tundra’s power lock and cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Ram 1500 Classic’s variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The Tundra SR’s standard wipers have no intermittent settings at all, so the driver will have to constantly turn them on and off.

The Ram 1500 Classic’s optional power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Tundra’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

On extremely cold winter days, the Ram 1500 Classic Warlock’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Tundra doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Ram 1500 Classic comes in regular cab, extended cab and crew cab bodystyles; the Toyota Tundra isn’t available as a regular cab.

The Ram 1500 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 3 of the last 3 years. The Tundra has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Ram 1500 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” in 2019. The Tundra has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

Motor Trend selected the 1500 as their 2019 Truck of the Year. The Tundra was Truck of the Year in 2008.

The 1500 was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” for 4 of the last 13 years. The Tundra has never been an “All Star.”

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the 1500 as the 2013 North American Truck of the Year. The Tundra has never been chosen.

The Ram Pickup outsold the Toyota Tundra by over six to one during the 2021 model year.