Compare the2024 Ram 1500VS 2024 Toyota Tundra

Full-time four-wheel drive is optional on the Ram 1500. 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 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ram 1500 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 flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ram 1500 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’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Ram 1500’s reliability 19 points higher than the Tundra.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ram 1500 first among large light duty pickups in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Tundra isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 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 second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 53 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 22nd, below the industry average.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ram 1500 V8 hybrid gas is faster than the Toyota Tundra:

On the EPA test cycle the Ram 1500 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 V8’s fuel efficiency. The Tundra doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ram 1500 uses regular unleaded gasoline (mid-grade octane recommended with the 5.7 V8 hybrid engine for maximum performance). The Tundra requires premium, which can cost on average about 31.4 cents more per gallon.

The Ram 1500 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Tundra doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the Ram 1500’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Tundra:

The Ram 1500 stops much shorter than the Tundra:

For better traction, the Ram 1500 has larger standard tires than the Tundra (275/65R18 vs. 245/75R18).

The Ram 1500 Rebel’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 70 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Tundra SR’s standard 75 series tires. The Ram 1500’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Tundra Capstone’s 50 series tires.

The Ram 1500 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Tundra doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

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

The Ram 1500’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 short bed Limited Crew Cab 4x4 handles at .78 G’s, while the Tundra 5.5-foot bed TRD Pro Crew Cab Pickup pulls only .70 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Ram 1500 standard bed Quad Cab 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Tundra 5.5-foot bed TRD Pro Crew Cab Pickup (27.7 seconds @ .73 average G’s vs. 29.1 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ram 1500’s turning circle is tighter than the Tundra’s:

The Ram 1500 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 800 pounds less than the Toyota Tundra.

The Ram 1500 is shorter than the Tundra, making the Ram 1500 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces:

The Ram 1500 offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Tundra doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Ram 1500 short bed Limited Crew Cab 4x4 is quieter than the Tundra 5.5-foot bed TRD Pro Crew Cab Pickup:

The Ram 1500 has standard seating for 6 passengers; the Tundra can only carry 5.

The Ram 1500 Quad Cab has .8 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 2.3 inches more rear legroom, 2.9 inches more rear hip room and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tundra Extended Cab Pickup.

The Ram 1500 Crew Cab has .8 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 3.6 inches more rear legroom, 2.9 inches more rear hip room and 3.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tundra Crew Cab Pickup.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Ram 1500 Crew Cab’s available rear seats recline. The Tundra’s rear seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Ram 1500 Crew Cab is 1.5 inches lower than the Tundra Crew Cab Pickup (22.5” vs. 24”). The Ram 1500 Crew Cab’s rear step up height is 1.1 inches lower than the Tundra Crew Cab Pickup’s (23.6” vs. 24.7”).

The Ram 1500 Quad Cab has a much larger cargo box than the Tundra Extended Cab Pickup shortbed (61.5 vs. 54.3 cubic feet).

The Ram 1500 Crew Cab shortbed has a much larger cargo box than the Tundra Crew Cab Pickup shortbed (53.9 vs. 45.8 cubic feet). The Ram 1500 Crew Cab longbed has a much larger cargo box than the Tundra Crew Cab Pickup longbed (61.5 vs. 54.3 cubic feet).

The Ram 1500’s cargo box is larger than the Tundra’s in almost every dimension:

The Ram 1500 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 12000 pounds. The Ram 1500 standard bed Quad Cab offers up to a 12750 lbs. towing capacity.

The Ram 1500 4WD can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Ram 1500 can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Tundra can’t be towed flat on the ground.

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

The Ram 1500 has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Tundra (2300 vs. 1940 lbs.).

The Ram 1500’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Tundra’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn/Limited has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Tundra doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Ram 1500 Laramie/Longhorn/Limited’s optional Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Tundra doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Ram 1500, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Toyota Tundra isn't recommended.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its October 2022 issue and they ranked the Ram 1500 short bed Limited Crew Cab 4x4 first. They ranked the Toyota Tundra 5.5-foot bed TRD Pro Crew Cab Pickup third.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ram 1500 second among large light duty pickups in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Tundra isn’t in the top three.

The Ram 1500 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 5 more times in the last 6 years. The Tundra has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the Ram 1500 as their 2019 Truck of the Year. The Tundra has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Ram 1500 as the 2019 North American Truck of the Year. The Tundra has never been chosen.

The Ram Pickup outsold the Toyota Tundra by almost four to one during 2023.