Toyota Tundra beats Chevy Silverado in Edmunds comparo
by John Neff on Jan 24th 2007 at 3:01PM 
This is what we're truly all waiting for – someone to get their hands on the best-of-the-best pickups for 2007 and stage a knock down, drag out comparison test with the new 2007 Toyota Tundra. Well, Edmunds has come closest by being the first to compare the new Tundra with a 2007 Chevy Silverado and an '07 Nissan Titan. While we really want to see a Tundra vs. Silverado vs. F-150 vs. Ram match, we'll take what we can get.
Much to our surprise after seeing the Tundra in person at the Detroit Auto Show, Edmunds chose it as the winner of its half-ton comparison test by a slim margin over the Silverado. The Edmunds editors seemed to like the Tundra's styling and love its 381-hp 5.7L V8, but like us were not impressed with the interior. The Silverado, meanwhile, was impressive in all areas except for drivetrain. It's 6.0L V8 was less powerful than the Tundra's motor, and a trip to the dyno revealed a quirky fuel management trick that hampers the Silverado's power delivery for four seconds when the throttle is mashed. Only after four-seconds of full-throttle has elapsed does the Silverado produce its advertised power numbers. As it turns out, the fact that the Tundra's big motor and slick six-speed could haul it to 60 mph in only 6.3 seconds was the ultimate deciding factor. Toyota's big T just brought more power to the table.
The three year-old Titan never stood a chance and brought up the rear.
Do we agree with Edmunds? Having never driven the Tundra, it's hard to say. We're convinced at this point that the Tundra's mechanicals aren't as beefy as the domestics', but its engine is a force to be reckoned with. However, we were so disappointed with the interior design and fit and finish of the Tundra we saw in Detroit, that we'd still probably pick the Silverado in this instance.
Click the read link to review the comparo and also see a video of it produced by Edmunds.
[Source: Edmunds]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
Max 3:08PM (1/24/2007)
It would have been nice if they did more truck specific testing.....such as true off-road capability, payload carrying, bed utility and towing. I'm not saying it would have swayed things any differently, but it seems like a lot to overlook in a truck comparison.
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ROB B 6:00PM (1/25/2007)
Why no F-150, just because the Titan won the last comparo?? Sure don't compare the Tundra to the benchmark and best selling truck that it was designed to compete against.
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tikirob 3:17PM (1/24/2007)
I think the Tundra will be a tough competitor to American Trucks but they have loyalty and the Silverado is much improved and it is not going to give up much ground. Personally it will take a while for me to think "Toyota" when thinking about a work truck.
Rob
http://www.autoshortlist.com
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Nick 3:18PM (1/24/2007)
What a BIG SURPRISE Toyota seems to win everything these days now sales for the Tundra will soar just because the media says its great but personally American made trucks are and will always be the BEST period.....
Ford F-150
Dodge Ram
Chevy Silverado
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JuanTan 3:23PM (1/24/2007)
I wonder if in a future comparisons test some one will add in the Sierra. I always liked it more than the Chevy. Can't explain why though.
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dan spalinger 3:31PM (1/24/2007)
"American" tucks Nick?? Dodge is owned by the Germans and the Toyota trucks are made in San Antonio...So you tell me which one is "American"...and lastly...the Tundra will NOT dethrone any of the three trucks you listed in terms of sales...what it will do is what Toyota has been doing for the past 20 years in terms of truck sales...slowly eroding the sales of the Fords, Chevy's and Dodges, slowly gaining market share for trucks while their cars wipe the floor with the "domestics"...Forget about it Nick...you're stuck in the past....
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Bradley 3:35PM (1/24/2007)
I'm sure the Tundra will be a big seller in the poseur market but for those that need a "real" truck I don't see how the Tundra is really that competitive.
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Nick S 4:40PM (1/24/2007)
I can see comparing the Tundra and the Silverado, but why the Titan? It's not new this year, is it? I heard it had a face lift, but I didn't think that was going to be until next year. So, why only the Titan and not the F-150 and the Ram as well?
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rem83 3:28PM (1/24/2007)
Why judge trucks using the same criteria you use to judge cars? 0-60 times for a full size truck are irrelevant, unless they're towing at least 5000 lbs. Style? Even interior fit and finish? This sort of automotive journalism seems directly linked to the posers who buy trucks because they look cool. Is this the largest demographic within the truck buying market now?
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Alec 3:48PM (1/24/2007)
Tundra wins, so all the apologists come out of the woodwork.
If Silverado won, everyone would be "Hey look its so much better than that Jap truck"
You Domestic people are pathetic. I have no opinion either way about these trucks. Im just an observer. but stop having it both ways. Dont dismiss when you lose, and dont bring it up constantly when you win.
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Vctor Rubiera 3:40PM (1/24/2007)
They said the same about the Nissan Titan and it really isn´t a very good truck so why do we have to belived them
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ohmy 3:41PM (1/24/2007)
If you read Edmunds, you know first hand that they are almost always biased in favor of Japanese...
I bet that somebody at Edmunds must have stock in several Japanese companies...
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dan spalinger 3:47PM (1/24/2007)
You don't have much of an education do you Bradley??
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Fordguy99 3:42PM (1/24/2007)
#7 - a body on frame design like a real truck and a more powerful engine than the Silverado as mentioned? I don't see how it's NOT competitive. Pull your head out.
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MKULTRABLIZZARD 3:44PM (1/24/2007)
i just want that 5.7L stuffed in a 4Runner...
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Tony 3:44PM (1/24/2007)
Nick, tell us why "American made trucks are and will always be the BEST period....."
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Chad 3:47PM (1/24/2007)
WHATEVER!!!!!
I dont give a care about what edmunds says...
Chevy Siverado
Ford F-150
Dodge Ram Are all REAL MENS TRUCKS
Toyota is for young punks who want a little peice of crap that has a muffler big as your head and that is so loud you cant hear the cops behind you ..
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motorman 3:50PM (1/24/2007)
the 4 second delay in power is the "torque management" that GM puts in most all his vehicles to protect the drive line on quick starts. it is nice that you now can get the 6.0 liter engine in a 1/2 ton. i wish they would put the 8.1 in there also as a option. i loved my old chevy 1/2 ton pickup with the 454 engine.
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Derek 3:53PM (1/24/2007)
I think the Tundra will finally wake FORD and DODGE up to make quality decent trucks. The Silverado will do fine. The F-150 and Ram will get hurt big time.
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Tony 3:50PM (1/24/2007)
#8 the Nissan Titan has had very few changes from when it was first introduced. As the Edmund's article says it isn't a bad truck but everything else has gotten much better.
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