Dodge Ram MI Auto Times Competitor Takes on Toyota Tundra “May the Best Truck Win”
MI Auto Times presents the second round of in-depth, cross-brand truck comparison featuring domestic and foreign pickup trucks for anyone interested in Michigan Trucks.
May the Best Truck Win: Round Two
Dodge Ram 1500 SLT vs. Toyota Tundra Regular Cab
MI Auto Times selected two more popular trucks for the second round of the “May the Best Truck Win” competition, the Dodge Ram 1500 SLT and the Toyota Tundra Regular Cab.
The first round was tough enough but as our series continues, it’s not getting any easier. We wanted to select models that were close, but we were unprepared for it to be this close. Both the Dodge Ram MI truck and Toyota Tundra again offered many different models and configurations from which to choose. MI Auto Times selected the regular cab option and similar engine size for each truck to reflect the popular choice among buyers.
MI Auto Times rates trucks based on the following categories, each with a possible top score of 4 stars:
Value: What are the current national promotions offered and estimated cost of ownership (including fuel, financing and maintenance).
Power: Payload, towing, horsepower, engine size, torque
Comfort: Interior, safety, and integrated user-friendly technology and entertainment features
Factory Warranty: How do the automotive manufacturers back their vehicles?
Both trucks are affordably priced and it almost came down to the brand of nuts and bolts used by each, but after careful consideration and many sleepless nights, one overall winner was selected by an extremely narrow margin.
Though it didn’t manage to dominate in every category, the overall winner of MI Auto Times May the Best Truck Win Round 2 was the Dodge Ram 1500 SLT.
The complete breakdown of selected specifications for comparison is as follows, and a checkmark appears next to the vehicle with the clear advantage:
**Details compiled by visiting automotive manufacturer websites and viewing specifications for each model. Any error made was unintentional and through no fault of MI Auto Times, as information listed on vehicle specification web pages of auto manufacturers was taken at face value by MI Auto Times.
1Information from www.fueleconomy.gov
Power: Tie
In the power category, it proved impossible for MI Auto Times to give one truck the win over the other with both the Dodge Ram MI truck and the Toyota Tundra earned 3 ½ stars.
With its 4.7-liter V8 engine, the Dodge Ram MI has more displacement capacity and therefore more power to its engine than the 4.6-liter V8 of the Toyota Tundra. Both vehicles kick out the same amount of horsepower at 310, but the Dodge Ram has more torque than the Toyota Tundra.1 At these model levels, the Toyota Tundra was the champion tower with a towing capacity of 7,500 and also had a larger payload capacity of 1,795. The Dodge Ram had a 6,650 towing capacity and 1,340 payload capacity, which comes out to 850 pounds less towing ability and 455 pounds shy of beating the Toyota Tundra.
Both vehicles have various towing upgrades and options but some of the items included in the Toyota Tundra tow package come standard on the Dodge Ram such as a seven-pin connector.
All of these factors made determining a clear winner sketchy at best, hence, the tie awarded.
1Dodge Ram 330 pound-feet torque at 4,000 RPM. Toyota Tundra 327 pound-feet torque at 3,400 RPM.
Value: Toyota Tundra Wins
In the value category the Toyota Tundra’s earned 3 ½ stars against the Dodge Ram’s 3 stars.
Though there are no national offers currently listed for the Toyota Tundra, even with the Dodge Ram’s GMAC bonus cash of $1,000 on all Ram 1500 models it still puts the Dodge Ram at $100 higher than the Toyota Tundra. One hundred bucks is one hundred bucks, but as we said before, this comparison was a squeaker.
Also, the Toyota Tundra lists a better miles-per-gallon rating of 15 city/20 highway against the Dodge Ram’s 14 city/19 highway. That equates to 17 combined mpg for the Toyota Tundra versus 15 combined mpg for the Dodge Ram.2 Furthermore, estimated annual fuel cost of the Toyota Tundra is $323 less than the Dodge Ram.
2Information from www.fueleconomy.gov
Comfort: Dodge Ram Makes a Comeback
In the comfort category the Dodge Ram MI truck earned 3 ¼ stars against the Toyota Tundra’s 3 stars.
The Dodge Ram has more standard comfort features than the Toyota Tundra and they include: power door looks, power mirrors, power windows, power sliding rear window, cruise control and heated mirrors.
Also the Dodge Ram MI truck comes with a folding center armrest/business console, which requires an option addition in the Toyota Tundra.
As far as sound system and audio, you’ll get two additional speakers standard with the Dodge Ram as opposed to the four of the Toyota Tundra. Both have standard MP3 capability but only the Dodge Ram offers one year of SIRIUS satellite radio service for free; the Toyota Tundra requires a monthly fee for satellite radio and $449 cost.3
Both trucks require the purchase of a tow hitch, but the Toyota Tundra hitch costs $585 more than the Dodge Ram.3
3Manufacturer’s suggested retail price. Actual dealer prices may vary.
Factory Warranty: Dodge for the KO
In the warranty category the Dodge Ram MI truck earned 3 ½ stars against the Toyota Tundra’s 3 stars.
The Dodge Ram is now backing its trucks with a new 5-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, plus a 3-year/36,000-mile basic limited warranty which provides bumper-to-bumper coverage from the body to the electric system.
The Toyota Tundra also shares a 3-year/36,000-mile basic limited warranty but only has a 60-month/60,000 mile Powertrain warranty. Corrosion coverage on the Toyota Tundra is for unlimited miles but ends after 60 months compared to the Dodge Ram, which has corrosion coverage for 5 years/100,000 miles.
The second round winner is: Dodge Ram 1500 SLT, The most awarded Ram truck ever.
Readers who disagree with the MI Auto Times decision are welcome to comment and voice their opinions.
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23 Responses to “Dodge Ram MI Auto Times Competitor Takes on Toyota Tundra “May the Best Truck Win””
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Yes the ram beat the Tundra, but…. I’ll bet in the first two years you will spend enough money in repairs to the Ram, you could easily upgrade to all the options you could want and still have a running tundra. The ram you will HAVE TO REPLCE every single front end componant just to keep it on the rd. I know i bought DODGE ram 1500 . Myself being on a very limited income wanted a vehical that i not only could afford but would not have to constantly repair. I spent 10 years in the army so i havent made allot of money, nore do i get retirement like the president or other political officers who serve our country.
I MEAN IF I GOT 400000 A YEAR FOR 4 YEARS OF SERVICIE, like Those other public offices. THEN SHOULD’NT I BE GETTING SOME WHERE CLOSE TO A MILLON? IF I DID I COULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE RAM 15OO I HAVE BECAUSE IT TAKES EVERY DIME I HAVE TO KEEP IT ON THE RD. SO SOME ONE TELL ME WHAT WILL DODGE DO TO FIX THE TROUBLES WITH MY RAM 1500 THAT I STILL OLE ON FOR ANOUTHER 5 YEARS ON ? why not fiix the problems with the models you have already sold before marketing NEW ones that come with new problems. IS IT ONCE THE SALE IS MADE THAT GOOD OLE BOY LOYAL BUYER DOESNT MEAN CRAP. SO I POST THIS CHALLANGE TO YOU DODGE STEP UP AND FIX THE 1000′S OF US TO LOYAL CUSTOMERES WHO BOUGHT YOUR PRODUCT BUT DONT HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP PUTTING INTO THERE RAM TRUCKS. IF I DONT HEAR FROM YOU MY NEXT CHALLANGE WILL BE YOU VISTA U- TUBE FORM ,THEN SO ON AND SO ON, I WASNT TRAINED BY THE ARMY TO SIT BACK AND GIVE JUST UP, BECAUSE YOUR WALLET IS LARGER THAN US LITTLE GUYS.
I WILL FIGHT BY ALL MEANS AVAILABLE TO ME, UNTILL I CAN FIGHT NO LONGER. JOHN SAULMON