Toyota Tacoma vs. Ford F-150
Are you a pickup truck enthusiast looking for the ideal vehicle to suit your needs but don’t know where to start? We’re here to guide you on the top two choices: the Ford F-150 and the Toyota Tacoma.
So what makes them unique? For starters, the Ford F-150 is popularly dubbed America’s favorite pickup truck, and it's not by fluke that this robust powerhouse has gained such immense popularity. However, Toyota has an equally effective alternative if you’re on a lean budget to sort your pickup truck needs. Despite its relatively lower engine power and torque, the Tacoma has some remarkable features that make it a favorite among many truck lovers.
Wondering which of the two best fits your billing? Join us to explore more in detail.
Overview: Toyota Tacoma vs Ford F-150
Ford is, without a doubt, the American car company that manufactures custom-fit vehicles for the country’s demanding terrain, and the F-150 is a true testament to this. It’s a robust car with sufficient backspace to ensure you can carry all you need for your out-of-town trip.
The Tacoma is also handy if you’re looking for a mid-size van that can still fit enough stuff on the back and consume relatively less than the average F-150. It’s ideally lifted, giving you the ‘above the rest’ vibes while eating the countryside terrain with unmatched ease.
No doubt that the two cars are perfect competitors based on their overall properties. However, the Tacoma ranks slightly lower than the F-150 in several areas. Does this make it a really inferior car you should overlook when choosing between the two?
Before you make the decision, check out these differences between them.
Performance: Toyota Tacoma vs Ford F-150
First, the F-150 beats the Tacoma hands down when it comes to engine variety. Ford owners have up to seven variations compared to Tacoma’s two. With Ford, you are spoilt for choice, as there are many options, each with unique qualities that stand out.
Enjoy V-6 and V-8 engines such as the following:
Car engine Size | Horsepower | Torque (pound-feet) |
3.3-liter V-6 |
290 |
265 |
2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 |
325 |
400 |
3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 |
400 |
500 |
3.5-liter PowerBoost Full-Hybrid V-6 |
430 |
570 |
3.5-liter High-Output EcoBoost V-6 |
450 |
510 |
5.0-liter V-8 |
400 |
410 |
5.2-liter High-Output Supercharged V-8 |
700 |
640 |
But with the Tacoma, you only have the 2.7-liter four-cylinder and the 3.5-liter V-6 to choose from, with respective engine sizes and torque of 159 hp, 180 lb-ft, and 278 hp, 265 lb-ft. To add icing to the cake, there’s also a Ford F-150 model, the Lightning version, that acts as a power source, thus proving a handy vehicle for off-grid drives and campings.
Therefore, in terms of performance, the F-150 is undoubtedly head and shoulders above the Tacoma. The former can tow even greater weights of up to 14,000 pounds, while the Tacoma is only limited to 6,800 pounds, a measly amount compared to the Ford vehicle.

Interior and Exterior: Toyota Tacoma vs Ford F-150
Outwardly, the F-150 is a relatively larger car, as it has all the features of a typical full-size light-duty pickup truck. Conversely, the Tacoma, although quite big in exterior appeal, is simply a mid-size truck fit for jobs that don’t necessitate immense space.
Inside, you’ll be wowed by the extensive bed size of the F-150, which means you can fit more goods inside, especially when you’re looking to carry a lot of stuff. Also interesting is that the F-150 matches up its massive size and space with a more robust engine, ensuring that it can take up a task that requires power with more ease.
Range and Charging Time: Toyota Tacoma vs Ford F-150
You'd undoubtedly expect out-of-the-world consumption for a robust engine like the F-150 options we’ve highlighted above. But this power machine is far from conventional guzzlers, with a manageable range of 25 MPG on the highway and the exact miles per gallon in the city. These stats are for the lowly trim of the two-wheel drive engine with a Powerboost, so you’d expect other versions to consume more, but everything is within manageable limits.
With a relatively smaller engine, you’d expect the Tacoma to get better MPG, but is this the case? This is far from it because the 3.5 liter V-6 gives you a city MPG of 19 and 24 on the highway.
Also noteworthy is that the 2024 Toyota Tacoma is an all-electric car, and it is expected to be a like-for-like match for the fully electric Ford F-150 Lightning. The latter car has a unique battery positioning that ensures that the manufacturer packs up a relatively high-capacity battery without taking up massive space.

Being electric, you’d expect to have compatible charging appliances to power them up. We recommend having your portable charter for the ultimate convenience. We also advocate for at-home charging, as this allows the pickup truck to charge at full capacity over the night.
Pricing: Toyota Tacoma vs Ford F-150
So, how much does it cost to own a brand new car of either of the models? Earlier, we highlighted that the Tacoma is the budget option for US customers with an MSRP of $33,700. However, the F-150, for all its extensive range of features, is not overpriced, as you can take your new pickup truck home for $43,620.
If these prices seem high, you can buy them on hire purchase terms. However, overall prices will be higher than the provided MSRPs, so ideally, the best method is to buy on full cash terms.
Advantages and Disadvantages: Toyota Tacoma vs Ford F-150
Now it is decision time. Which of the two cars is the best option for you? We don’t have a particular favorite as either of the vehicles is excellent, but you should decide which to buy based on the prevailing conditions.
If you’re interested in power and torque, we recommend the Ford F-150, but if you’re looking for an effective mid-size pickup truck, the Tacoma is the perfect fit. Also, the F-150 can carry more people (six) and goods than the Tacoma, which can only accommodate five passengers.
The Tacoma is also a perfectly lifted car that gives you the ultimate elevated feel while driving, but parking it in tight spaces is particularly difficult. However, you’ll still experience the same problem with the F-150, as it’s equally huge. So, on this, there’s no real winner.
So, which of the two cars makes the ideal pickup truck? Well, it all depends on your needs. The F-150 will be a worthwhile investment for an all-powerful full-size pickup truck. But if you’re looking for a relatively mid-version truck that still possesses the features of a full-size pickup, the F-150 is ideal.
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