Compare the2025 Toyota TundraVS 2025 GMC Sierra 1500

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Tundra have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The GMC Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Toyota Tundra has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Tundra has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Tundra has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Tundra and the Sierra 1500 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota Tundra Crew Cab Pickup is safer than the Sierra 1500 Crew Cab:

The Toyota Tundra achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Sierra 1500 is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

The Tundra’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Sierra 1500’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tundra for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. GMC only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Sierra 1500.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the Tundra have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of some of the engines in the Sierra 1500.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Tundra has a 776-amp battery. The Sierra 1500 only offers a standard 730-amp battery.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 59 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 18th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. GMC is ranked 24th.

The Tundra has more powerful engines than the Sierra 1500:

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

Regenerative brakes improve the Tundra i-FORCE MAX’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Tundra’s optional fuel tank has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sierra 1500 Long Bed’s standard fuel tank (32.2 vs. 28 gallons).

The Tundra i-FORCE MAX has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Sierra 1500. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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

The Tundra stops much shorter than the Sierra 1500:

For better traction, the Tundra 5.5-foot bed TRD Pro Crew Cab Pickup’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sierra 1500 (285/65R18 vs. 275/65R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tundra has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sierra 1500.

The front and rear suspension of the Tundra uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Sierra 1500, 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 Tundra Platinum/1794/Capstone has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tundra 6.5-foot bed Extended Cab Pickup’s wheelbase is 19.2 inches longer than on the Sierra 1500 Standard Box Regular Cab (145.7 inches vs. 126.5 inches). The Tundra 8.1-foot bed Extended Cab Pickup’s wheelbase is 7.6 inches longer than on the Sierra 1500 Standard Box Crew Cab (164.6 inches vs. 157 inches).

The Tundra 5.5-foot bed TRD Pro Crew Cab Pickup handles at .73 G’s, while the Sierra 1500 Short Box AT4X Crew Cab pulls only .69 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Tundra 5.5-foot bed Limited Crew Cab Pickup 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Sierra 1500 Short Box AT4X Crew Cab (28.5 seconds @ .59 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Tundra 8.1-foot bed Extended Cab Pickup has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sierra 1500 Standard Box Crew Cab (9.3 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Tundra to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Tundra has standard flush composite headlights. The Sierra 1500 has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The Tundra Extended Cab Pickup has 1.4 inches more front hip room and .3 inches more rear hip room than the Sierra 1500 Double Cab.

The Tundra Crew Cab Pickup has 1.4 inches more front hip room and .3 inches more rear hip room than the Sierra 1500 Crew Cab.

The Toyota Tundra has a standard Easy lower and lift tailgate, which prevents the heavy tailgate from falling with a crash and causing injury. It allows adults and children to easily open and close the tailgate with one hand to better facilitate loading and unloading. Tailgate assist costs extra on the GMC Sierra 1500.

The Tundra’s front and rear power windows all open or close 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 Sierra 1500’s standard power windows’ passenger windows don’t close automatically. The Sierra 1500 SLT/AT4/Denali’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Tundra the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Sierra 1500 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Tundra’s standard Smart Key System allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, unlock the tailgate, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Push Button Start standard on the Sierra 1500 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the truck. Push Button Start is not available on the Sierra 1500 SLE/Elevation/SLT/AT4/Denali.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Tundra to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Tundra has standard power remote mirrors. The Sierra 1500 only comes with remote mirrors at extra cost. Without them the driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

The Tundra’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. GMC charges extra for heated mirrors on the Sierra 1500.

The Tundra Limited/Platinum/1794/TRD Pro/Capstone has standard front air conditioned seats and the Tundra Platinum/1794/Capstone also has them in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Sierra 1500 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Tundra will be $1887 to $7053 less than for the GMC Sierra 1500.