2021 Toyota Tacoma vs 2020 Ford F-150

The 2020 Ford F-150 showcased a design that was both confident and restrained, avoiding the aggressive styling trends of its competitors. Its clean lines and blocky grille gave it a timeless appeal, ensuring it would remain attractive even as it aged. Inside, the F-150 featured a straightforward, mechanical-looking dashboard that came to life upon startup. While the lower trims were dominated by hard plastics, the higher trims introduced soft-touch materials and leather, though they still fell short of the luxury offered by the Ram 1500. The F-150 prioritized durability and functionality, with a cabin designed to withstand wear and tear.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Tacoma embodied the quintessential truck design with its boxy fender flares, tall hood, and shield-like grille. It offered unique styling features in certain models, such as the Nightshade Edition's blacked-out trim and the TRD Pro's model-specific grille. The Tacoma's body-on-frame construction favoured towing and off-road capability over ride comfort. Inside, the Tacoma's rugged styling continued with a dashboard of chunky plastic elements. While the material quality was suitable for a base model, it felt lacking in the higher-priced TRD Pro. Despite its focus on off-roading, the Tacoma's interior space was limited, with rear headroom and legroom being the worst in its segment.

The 2020 Ford F-150 offered a variety of powertrain options, starting with a 3.3-litre V6 engine producing 290 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. The lineup also included a 2.7-litre turbocharged EcoBoost V6 with 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, and a 5.0-litre V8 delivering 395 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. The most powerful option was the 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6, generating 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. A 3.0-litre Power Stroke turbodiesel V6 was also available, offering 250 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. The F-150's towing capacity reached up to 5,987 kilograms (12,300 pounds) when properly equipped. The Raptor variant stood out with its off-road capabilities, featuring a lifted suspension and specialized drive modes.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. It utilized Toyota's D4S fuel-injection system for improved fuel efficiency. The Tacoma offered both 6-speed automatic and manual transmissions, with a part-time 4WD drivetrain featuring a standard electronic rear limited-slip differential. The TRD models enhanced the Tacoma's off-road prowess with features like upgraded suspension, Multi-Terrain Select drive modes, and Crawl Control. However, the Tacoma's on-road performance was less impressive, with slow acceleration and poor ride quality. Its towing capacity was 2,948 kilograms (6,500 pounds), but it lagged behind competitors in both towing and payload capacities.

The 2020 Ford F-150 provided three cab sizes—Regular Cab, SuperCab, and SuperCrew—and three bed sizes, offering versatility in configuration. The SuperCrew stood out with its spacious cabin, providing ample backseat legroom and a large load floor when the rear seats were flipped up. The F-150 also featured numerous storage options, including a large centre console storage bin and a bed step for easy access to the truck bed.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma, with its Double Cab configuration, struggled with interior space. Rear headroom and legroom were the worst in its segment, and front space was also below average. The Tacoma's interior felt cramped, with limited in-cab storage options. However, it did offer a standard rail system with tie-down cleats and a 120-volt outlet in the bed. The Tacoma's bed was made from sheet-molded composite, providing a lightweight and rust-resistant alternative to steel.

The 2020 Ford F-150's technology offerings varied by trim. The base XL trim featured a basic AM/FM radio, while the XLT and higher trims included the SYNC 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and enhanced voice recognition. FordPass with a 4G Wi-Fi modem was available on XLT-and-up trims, allowing remote vehicle access and status checks. Higher trims offered a B&O sound system by Bang & Olufsen for superior audio quality.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma came with a 7-inch touchscreen on the base model, while other trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth, with SiriusXM satellite radio available on all but the base model. Higher trims offered a seven-speaker JBL audio system. The TRD Pro model included the Multi-Terrain Monitor surround-view camera system, useful for both off-road and urban environments.

The 2020 Ford F-150 came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including front- and side-impact airbags, curve control, and AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control. Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite offered additional driver-assistance features like automatic high beams, blind-spot warning, and adaptive cruise control. The F-150 SuperCrew received top safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma received high safety ratings, with the Double Cab earning top scores in most IIHS crash tests. The Tacoma's Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. However, it lacked some features offered by competitors, such as lane-keep assist and blind-spot monitoring for trailers.