2020 Ford F-150 vs Toyota Tacoma
To be clear, the 2020 Ford F-150 and Toyota Tacoma belong to different classes. While the F-150 is a full-size pickup, the Tacoma is a compact truck. The fact that you’re reading this means you’re probably considering buying a compact—maybe for the fuel economy, maneuverability, or lower price—but you’re not sure what you’re giving up. This comparison guide should clarify the difference.
Price: 2020 Toyota Tacoma
The first and most obvious reason to buy smaller is for that lower starting price. And it’s true. The 2020 F-150 starts at $28,495 compared to the Tacoma’s starting price of $26,050. What should surprise you about those numbers is how little daylight there is between them. Nothing makes a vehicle more expensive faster than adding inches and feet to its length. But the fact that these two vehicles are close to the same starting price though the F-150 is a foot taller and up to two feet longer says something about affordability. If you want features and affordability, the Tacoma might serve you better. If you want power and dependability, the F-150 is better.
The base F-150 is a dedicated workhorse, coming with a compact list of standard features like AM/FM radio, rearview camera with Dynamic Hitch Assist, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and curve control. The Tacoma offers more, including cloth upholstery, four-way manually adjustable front seats, 4.2-inch instrument cluster display, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, voice recognition, three USB ports, and several standard driver assistance features. Many of the Tacoma’s extra features can be had by stepping up to the F-150 XLT trim level.
Fuel Economy: 2020 Ford F-150
Yes, that’s right. The larger, heavier Ford F-150 has better fuel economy than the lighter, narrower Toyota Tacoma. Surprised? So were we. Because while the 2020 F-150 gets 20 city miles and 26 highway miles per gallon, rare numbers in its class, the 2020 Tacoma gets only 20 city and 24 highway mpg. It’s not a big difference, but considering how much extra weight it carries and the extra power an F-150 delivers, it’s huge. If you were thinking of going smaller to get better gas mileage, think again.
Towing and Hauling: 2020 Ford F-150
This is what you miss the most going with a compact over a half-ton pickup. Work power.
The 2020 Ford F-150 has a payload capacity of 3,270 pounds and a towing capacity of a jaw-dropping 13,200 pounds. By comparison, the 2020 Toyota Tacoma, which does well for its class, still trails with a payload of 1,685 pounds and towing maxing out at 6,800 pounds. About half of what the F-150 in each instance. Going with the Tacoma, you’ll save some money. But you won’t save on gas and you’ll miss out on work potential. Come to LaFayette Ford and see the difference for yourself.