The Full Size Pickup Wars....

jaybyrd · August 28, 2007

Class leading acceleration? Is the Tundra now faster then chevy and dodge????

http://autos.msn.com/advice/CRArt.aspx?con...;topart=pickups

The Toyota Tundra and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (Ratings available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers) placed first and second in our comparison of large, half-ton pickups.

The Tundra, formerly a smaller, refined truck with carlike ride and handling, now goes head-to-head with GM and Ford in power, towing, payload capacity, and size. But it lost some refinement and livability in the redesign. Its superior drivetrain also yields class-leading acceleration. Thoughtful accommodations also help the Tundra top this group.

The Silverado (and its GMC Sierra twin) rides on a new platform that replaces one that was getting long in the tooth. It beat the Tundra in ride and access. Its interior, braking, and steering have improved.

The Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram 1500 (Ratings available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers), which are built on older platforms, bring up the rear, getting low marks for ride and seat comfort. While the Ford has remained much the same since its 2004 redesign, recent improvements to the Ram have improved it considerably.

The Chevrolet Avalanche remains our top-rated full-sized pickup. Its unified cab and bed help give it a more comfortable ride than the trucks tested here. The Nissan Titan, freshened for 2008, was unavailable in time to be included in this test.

Prices for our crew-cab trucks equipped with four-wheel drive and popular options ranged from $34,738 for the Tundra to $38,370 for the Ram. We predict above-average reliability for the Tundra based on the earlier models and other Toyotas, so it is recommended. The Ram now scores well enough and has the reliability to be recommended. The Silverado is too new for us to have reliability data, and previous versions have been below average. The F-150's below-average reliability prevents us from recommending it.

FAMILY BUSINESS

Four-door crew-cab models are often seen as alternatives to SUVs. They offer seating for five or six passengers, allowing these trucks to do double duty hauling families and towing a big trailer or lugging home building supplies. But as a class, fuel economy is poor and handling is anything but nimble. Also, most pickups have a very large rear blind zone behind the bumper; only the Tundra and 2008 Fords offer a rear-view camera.

Truck interiors have improved as trucks have moved from being exclusively work vehicles. This is evident by the improved interior materials and seat comfort of General Motors' new trucks. Depending on the trim line, GM now offers two different interiors and dashboards, one more functional and the other more luxurious. And all of these trucks offer lots of interior storage as well as amenities including satellite-radio and navigation systems.

PULLING POWER

In addition to the half-ton trucks, we tested heavy-duty (three-quarter-ton) pickups from Chevrolet, Dodge, and Ford. Exclusively offered by domestic manufacturers, these trucks have higher towing and payload capacities. While they are most often used by contractors and on work sites, some consumers buy these trucks to tow large horse trailers or camping or boat trailers. These three-quarter-ton trucks are often equipped with expensive, optional diesel engines that aid acceleration and fuel economy when towing.

But the trade-off is that the heavy-duty suspensions provide a rougher ride, their higher ride height makes access more difficult, and routine handling is more cumbersome. You also give up the stability control and automatic four-wheel-drive systems found on some half-ton trucks (see Heavy-duty pickups, available to subscribers). Like most consumers, we bought well-equipped diesel crew-cab four-wheel-drive versions of these trucks. Base prices start around $37,000, but options pushed the prices up quickly, and all three of our trucks topped $50,000.

Wingnut · August 28, 2007

Yup. Toyotas are pretty quick...But I think the Titan is even faster.

Not that I give a crap...I wouldn't buy either of them.

hoorders · August 28, 2007

"The Silverado is too new for us to have reliability data, and previous versions have been below average."

I dont get that below average comment on reliability... ................I've had a few silverado's and all have been way above average for reliability.......and probably most here will agree.

-Devil- · August 28, 2007

the best thing i ever learned about those reviews .. is when you get them ... if they are on paper .. put it down for the dog to piss on ...

jhm · August 28, 2007

"The Silverado is too new for us to have reliability data, and previous versions have been below average."

I dont get that below average comment on reliability... ................I've had a few silverado's and all have been way above average for reliability.......and probably most here will agree.

My '01 has been almost totally problem free. You can line the bird cage with that rag.

cmoore74 · August 28, 2007

Note that they based the Tundra reliability on past Toyota experience:

"We predict above-average reliability for the Tundra based on the earlier models and other Toyotas, so it is recommended"

Given that they are already blowing up engines and transmissions in the new Tundras how can they make that statement with a straight face?

I bet you they were comparing a 5.3L Silverado against the 5.7L Tundra. The 6.0L would definitely give the Tundra 5.7L a run especially with the torque management removed through a tune.

bryanhunt · August 28, 2007

At one time I found consumer reports to be fair and honest. Eventually they became more and more just japanese car shils and all too often gloss over important facts. They're all about counting the power window that doesn't work as a quality problem but they gloss over the steering box that locks up.

The fact is the top three japanese car companies had over a million car recalls a piece before march of this year for major design safety problems.

Consumer reports calling a drivetrain superior because its faster doesn't tell you anything. It doesn't tell you how its going to last, or that 6 months after you buy it you could find out they have a recall because it could fly apart. Its the latent quality problems shouldn't be lumped together with fit and finish quality (though I haven't heard of many fit and finish problems with GMT800s so their comment about previous problems seems a bit dated).

Toyota and Honda did a number on GM and it has been a good thing. The competition has really done a lot for GM.

WilliamsVMAX · August 28, 2007

I have to get Toyota credit, where credit is due. They have come along way with there new Tundra compared to the previous model. They have a big powerful motor and a large Crewcab. The thing alot people don't realize is that a powerful motor don't mean it can pull the most, it will have the biggest payload...things that really matter in a truck. To me a truck is meant for one thing and thats to be a work horse. Honestly who cares how fast it can go. How good is it on rugged roads and pulling a 10000lb trailer. This was the same hyp when the new Honda ridgeline came out and got truck of the year. People compared it to a Avalanche....it might be classiied as a truck but its really only a HD minivan, It's built on a car platform, not to mention it looks ugly.

This is the same thing with the new Tundra. Sure its a big truck with a big motor, but if you looked at the specs you would see that Chev/Sierra can tow more and has a much bigger payload. I work out in the oil patch in Alberta, and You need a rugged truck out here. One thing you don't see out here and you won't see alot out here and thats a Tundra, or a ridgeline. You might see a Titan everynow and then, but they are a good truck...Out here you only see the big 3...Chev/Sierra, Ford & Dodge. Sure Toyota might be selling alot of them but there only gonna be used as city trucks. They don't have the ruggedness that the big 3 have to make it a true work horse.

04z71steve · August 28, 2007

"The Silverado is too new for us to have reliability data, and previous versions have been below average."

I dont get that below average comment on reliability... ................I've had a few silverado's and all have been way above average for reliability.......and probably most here will agree.

yeah i guess our unreliable chevy's that continually keep passing the 150,000 mile marker do it on luck???

jhm · August 28, 2007

I dont care what any magazine says. I wont be buying one. I dont buy a truck based on how fast it can go or how many ways I can fold the seat.

Silverado4x4 · August 28, 2007

I dont care what any magazine says. I wont be buying one. I dont buy a truck based on how fast it can go or how many ways I can fold the seat.

You took the words right out of my mouth, I dont care if chevy is the slowest of the bunch I will always buy american vehicles. I didnt buy my truck based on how fast it is how soft or nice the ride is or how big the rims are it was bought to do work. Some people think just because the toyota or nissan was built in the U.S that its american made, BS the money still goes overseas when those trucks are bought. Makes me shake my head when I see a foreign truck doing work on american soil.

solarjustin · August 28, 2007

But I'm sure next year Consumer Reports will change their mind. They did this back in '98 when my mom was looking for a car. She decided to go with the Ford Contour Sport because it was rated well by consumer reports. It is a nice car now (after 15 safety/performance recalls) but no more than a year after she got the car the Ford Contour was on consumer reports list of cars to avoid. So I guess the point of my story is that Consumer Reports really just prints what they liked at the moment, and they will change their mind when ever they feel like it.

99silverado1500 · August 28, 2007

Yep nobody compares apples to apples. All that sh*t is marketing gimmicks, just like ford had the truth about trucks DVD at the car show near me, i picked one up and died laughing, how the ford is so much better then everyone elses. But I love how they leave out like comfort and cab and all the stuff that matters in the ford video.

Zembonez · August 28, 2007

Consumer Reports is made up of a bunch of left coast sniveling anti-American product tree hugging wacko nutjobs. In the last few years... when given the chance they ALWAYS recommend against American made products in favor of Rising Sunland products... Heaven help us if there is a European product included...

http://www.killyourhybrid.com

heheheh