If you’re in the market for a new pickup truck, you probably have some pretty specific qualities and characteristics in mind as you move towards a final decision. You don’t need to be told that this is a big decision, as you understand that it will affect the next several years of your driving experience. If you’re like most auto buyers, you probably started by searching for some of those different characteristics before narrowing your choice down to a handful. If you’re like a lot of people out there, you may be down to one final analysis: the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2019 Toyota Tundra. Each of these vehicles has earned a strongly positive reputation in their relatively short times on the market, but and each has already started serving a large number of owners well.
However, there are some differentiating qualities that need to be pointed out as you move through the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2019 Toyota Tundra analysis. We’re going to run through some of them below so that you can move closer to a final decision. The more you know now, the more time you’ll save at the dealership searching for your particular model. At the conclusion, we’ll give you our opinion based on the factors that are presented.
MSRP
Generally, the biggest factor in moving towards a decision on any vehicle is its cost. That’s why we’re going to start with the MSRP for each of these new models. While the MSRP for these vehicles are relatively similar, that seemingly small difference may be bigger than many think. The 2019 GMC Sierra’s MSRP starts at $33,500. The 2019 Toyota Tundra starts at $31,420.
Overall Performance
One of the most common characteristics that auto buyers look for next when comparing two vehicles is overall performance. With regards to the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2019 Toyota Tundra analysis, it seems to us that the advantage clearly lies with the 2019 GMC Sierra. See some of the specs below and decide for yourself:
2019 GMC Sierra
- 10-speed automatic
- 15 miles per gallon, city
- 20 miles per gallon, highway
- 8 cylinders
2019 Toyota Tundra
- 6-speed automatic
- 13 miles per gallon, city
- 18 miles per gallon, highway
- 8 cylinders
As you can see, the 2019 GMC Sierra offers 10 speeds as compared to six and better fuel efficiency on both the highway and in the city. Given that both of these engines come standard with eight cylinders, earning 20 miles per gallon on the highway is actually quite impressive. 18 miles per gallon is also very efficient, but those extra couple of miles per gallon are going to make an enormous difference over the life of a vehicle. As such, we give the overall performance edge to the 2019 GMC Sierra.
Safety
It’s hardly profound to state that safety is perhaps the most important factor to consider when purchasing any vehicle. If you’re not safe when driving or riding in any model, it really doesn’t matter how well it performs or how it does in terms of gas mileage. Fortunately, the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2019 Toyota Tundra analysis reveals, based on the information that is available, that both of these vehicles are relatively safe.
To that point, each of these models comes standard with the following safety-driven features:
- ABS brakes
- Driver airbag
- Passenger airbag
- Front side airbags
- Curtain airbags
Each of these vehicles comes standard with airbags all over the passenger compartment, which is important when you consider that these critical safety features could be needed at almost any point at any time. You can’t have too much coverage when it comes to cushioning the blow of a collision, and both of these models take this properly into account.
Unfortunately, the 2019 GMC Sierra has yet to go through a crash test by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, or NHTSA. However, we can provide the data available for the 2019 Toyota Tundra, and that information is as follows:
- Overall – 4 stars
- Front crash overall – 4 stars
- Front crash driver – 4 stars
- Front crash passenger – 4 stars
- Side crash overall – 5 stars
- Side barrier driver – 5 stars
- Side barrier passenger – 5 stars
- Side pole driver – 5 stars
The 2018 GMC Sierra earned a 5-star crash test rating from the NHTSA, and it’s a relatively safe assumption that it will earn high marks again given that not much has changed in terms of the model specifics between 2018 and 2019. A 4-star rating is still positive, but we’re always slightly troubled by vehicles that don’t earn the best crash test score possible.
Added Conveniences
While these factors are usually not those that push anyone towards or away from a particular decision on a vehicle, it can make a difference with regards to comparing one vehicle to another. Looking at general conveniences, it seems that the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2019 Toyota Tundra leads to basically a wash. Each model comes standard with the following features:
- Air conditioning
- Radio
- Power windows
- Power door locks
- Driver power seats
- Passenger power seats
The Toyota Tundra also comes standard with a CD player and the Sierra does not. This may have been a big deal 10 – 15 years ago, but these days most drivers rely on some other source for their in-cabin audio entertainment. That’s likely why GMC didn’t see fit to offer a CD player as a standard part of its package. Those who want a CD player can add it to the 2019 GMC Sierra as an option.
Utility
Of course, one of the main reasons that people drive pickup trucks is because they want to be able to haul and tow things. That’s an important part of any pickup truck ownership experience because even if you won’t be doing much hauling or towing, chances are your friends and family will start looking to you when that need arises. Once again, the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2019 Toyota Tundra analysis shows that both vehicles perform well, but as has been the case pretty much throughout this exercise, we give the slight edge to the 2019 GMC Sierra. See below:
- Measurement 2019 GMC Sierra 2019 Toyota Tundra
- Maximum payload 1,720 pounds 1,620 pounds
- Standard towing capacity 9,400 pounds 9,400 pounds
- Maximum towing capacity 9,400 pounds 9,400 pounds
2019 GMC Sierra
- Maximum payload 1,720 pounds
- Standard towing capacity 9,400 pounds
- Maximum towing capacity 9,400 pounds
2019 Toyota Tundra
- Maximum payload 1,620 pounds
- Standard towing capacity 9,400 pounds
- Maximum towing capacity 9,400 pounds
These measurements are quite close, but the 2019 GMC Sierra can haul 100 pounds more than the 2019 Toyota Tundra. While that’s not a huge gap, it can make a difference when it comes to making one trip or two, or two trips or three on any given project. Over time, that extra 100 pounds of capability can come in quite handy for many drivers. Therefore, we’d once again give the slight edge to the 2019 GMC Sierra in this category.
Our Final Decision
As we stated earlier, the entire 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2019 Toyota Tundra analysis does not necessarily lead to an easy, clear-cut decision. Both of these vehicles present a lot of positives to drivers in terms of quality, dependability, performance and style and comfort. It’s not an accident that GMC and Toyota are two of the leading pickup truck manufacturers in the world, as their models have been serving drivers quite well for decades. Put bluntly, it’s difficult to go wrong with either of these models, but assuming you’re like most people and you’re only going to be buying one new pickup truck, there’s really only one choice to make.
That choice, in our opinion, is the 2019 GMC Sierra. It offers more in terms of fuel economy, transmission and hauling capabilities and is at least the Tundra’s equal if not better in just about every other measurement. We always recommend that people who are thinking about any vehicle go and see them for themselves, as what we may think in terms of how one model feels versus another may be different than someone else’s perspective. That said, the tangible measures that are available show us that the 2019 GMC Sierra is the better option. As an added bonus, it also costs less on average, so go check it out for yourself soon, and good luck with your search.
