Toughness, power, and utility define what makes a good full-size pickup truck, but figuring out which has the best properties can be difficult. Here, we’ll take a look at the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2019 Toyota Tundra to see how they stack up in terms of towing, hauling, performance, design, features, and safety. You may be surprised at what we discovered.
Towing and Hauling
Towing and hauling capabilities are often what set trucks apart from each other. Most people want a truck to make their lives easier, whether at work or when they’re off on an adventure or maintaining their houses. How much a truck can tow and haul can make a big difference in a buyer’s ultimate decision. Both the 2019 Toyota Tundra and the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 are capable of towing and hauling good amounts. But the Sierra blows away the Tundra in towing capability.
The 2019 GMC Sierra is available in three bed lengths: 8-foot, 6-foot-6-inch, and 5-foot-8-inch. These beds are wide and deep for extra carrying room and are available with extra convenience features like in-bed lighting and a tailgate that can open in different configurations in the example of the Multi-Pro Tailgate. A properly equipped Sierra is capable of hauling more than 2,000 pounds and tow more than 12,000 pounds! That means Sierra owners can bring their large boat or trailer with them as they see fit.
They 2019 Toyota Tundra can tow and haul a significant amount as well, but not nearly as much as the 2019 GMC Sierra. 2019 Toyota Tundra CrewMax trucks are built with a 5-foot-6-inch bed. Double Cab models come with either a 6-foot-6-inch bed or an 8-foot-1-inch bed which is fairly standard for the industry. There aren’t a whole lot of cargo bed upgrades, however. When properly equipped, the 2019 Toyota Tundra is capable of towing up to 10,200 pounds and hauling around 2,000.
Performance
Besides towing and hauling capabilities, truck performance is measured in engine power and efficiency. Generally, you want to have plenty of powerful engine options to choose from so that you can customize your new truck to fit your individual needs Otherwise, you may be stuck with a truck that guzzles gas you don’t need for extra power or a truck that can’t help you adequately at the job site. Both the Sierra and the Tundra are available in the base RWD drivetrain or the available 4WD drivetrain.
The 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 is available with a choice of five engine options. These range from 285-horsepower V6, a 310-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder, 355- and 420-horsepower V8s, and a turbodiesel that will be debuted later in 2019. For daily driving, the V6 engines will more than suffice, but for added power, upgrade to one of the V8s. You can expect to get between 15 – 20 miles per gallon in the city and 19 – 23 miles per gallon when driving on the highway.
Unlike the Sierra, the Tundra only comes with 2 engine options, though they’re known for being brisk and powerful. On the flip side, they get below-average fuel economy ratings compared with other full-size pickups. Your engine options with a new Tundra include a standard 4.6-liter V8 engine has a 310-horsepower rating or the upgraded 5.7-liter V8 that creates 381-horsepower. Depending on the engine and drivetrain equipped, you can expect to get an EPA estimated 13 – 15 miles per gallon driving in the city and 17 – 19 miles per gallon on the highway.
Design
Both the 2019 Toyota Tundra and the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 are capable of eating 5 – 6 people. This is pretty standard for the full-size truck market which is dominated by truck with cavernous cabins. Both have comfortable seats with lots of legroom for adult passengers. Neither would be classified as a luxury vehicle, but the Sierra makes use of some nice materials after being completely redesigned for 2019. With the Tundra, you can opt for a pair of cushier front bucket seats to make driving more comfortable.
Each of these full-size pickup trucks come in a variety of customizable trims. The Tundra has a base trim, then upgraded trims including the Toyota Tundra SR5 CrewMax, the Toyota Tundra Limited Double Cab, and the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro CrewMax. With these higher level trims you can get perforated leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. The 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 also has a number of trims available with upgradable options. Trims for the Sierra include the base, SLE, Elevation, SLT, AT4, and Denali, a name commonly used synonymously with luxury.
Features
Some people don’t associate full-size pickup trucks with technology features, but neither Toyota or GMC got that memo. Both of these trucks know how to work hard, but they also know how to keep their drivers and passengers connected and entertained no matter where they go.
The 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 is equipped with one of the industry’s highest rated infotainment systems and is touted to be highly user-friendly and intuitive. It has a 7-inch touch screen standard and the Tundra also comes with a six-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, a USB port, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Apply CarPlay and Android Auto are extra treats, as many vehicles on the market today don’t yet offer these smartphone integrations. For extra fun and convenience, you can get a sunroof, wireless device charging, an 8-inch touch screen, a seven-speaker Bose audio system, satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hot spot, three additional USB ports, and navigation in your new GMC Sierra 1500.
Like the Sierra, the Tundra is also jam-packed with features to make driving it more enjoyable and convenient. Every new Tundra comes installed with an Entune infotainment system and a touchscreen display. You’ll also find voice commands come standard with the Tundra as an added bonus. Unfortunately, the 2019 model of the Toyota Tundra isn’t available with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, something that sets it apart from other trucks like the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500. If you want to pay a little extra, it is possible to get some limited smartphone integration with the Tundra through the Entune App Suite.
Safety
You may be surprised to find that the Toyota Tundra only received an overall score of 4 out of 5-stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) while the GMC Sierra received a 5-stars overall. The Tundra comes with a vast suite of safety features, but even that couldn’t boost their rating. The Tundra’s roof strength rating drop to the second-place Acceptable score for CrewMax models, which is an issue for many truck buyers. You will find every new Tundra comes with a rearview camera and Toyota’s “Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P)” a set of advanced safety systems.
The 2019 GMC Sierra performs better in terms of safety to receive that 5-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA. Every 2019 Sierra comes standard with Teen Driver, a program that lets owners set limits on speed and audio for secondary drivers, a feature useful for families. There are also available driver assistance features like automatic high beams, a safety alert seat, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, lane change alert, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, forward collision warning, low-speed forward automatic braking, pedestrian detection, a surround-view camera, a Rear Camera Mirror, and a head-up display to name a few!
