The RAM 3500 vs. Toyota Tundra is an interesting comparison, especially because they are so different. With RAM, you have some of the best-performing heavy-duty pickups in the industry, while the Toyota Tundra is a favorite because of its "everyday" look, drive, and price point. Here at Tim's Truck Capital, we want to give you the best possible idea of what the RAM 3500 vs. Toyota Tundra looks like, so please stick around for more.
Overview
If you were to look at the RAM 3500 vs. the Toyota Tundra, you would be met with two very unique pickup trucks. First, the RAM 3500 is a heavy-duty pickup truck that usually costs about $50,000 new and features a 6.4-liter V8 or a 6.7-liter 6-cylinder diesel engine.
The Toyota Tundra is a light-duty pickup truck from the Japanese automaker that costs around $40,000 new and offers three powertrains, all based on a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V-6 engine.
Interior
The inside of the RAM 3500 vs. Toyota Tundra could not be more different, with the RAM being more spacious overall. That said, the Tundra from Toyota is highly rated for its comfort features and tech-forward design, so it gets the job done at a slightly smaller size. In contrast, your RAM 3500 pickup feels heavy-duty from its interior, focused on getting the job done.
Aesthetic: RAM goes heavy-duty with premium materials, while Toyota focuses on comfort and technology integration.
Front Seat Dimensions
- Headroom: Both trucks offer ~41.0 inches
- Legroom: RAM 3500 offers 40.9 inches, while Tundra has 41.2 inches
- Shoulder room: RAM 3500 offers 65.9 inches, while Tundra offers 65.0 inches
- Hip room: RAM 3500 has 62.9 inches, Tundra has 62.6 inches
Rear Seat Dimensions
- Headroom: RAM 3500 offers 40.3 inches; Tundra has 38.5 inches
- Legroom: RAM 3500 has 43.1 inches; Tundra offers 41.6 inches
- Shoulder room: RAM 3500 will have 65.6 inches; Tundra offers 62.4 inches
- Hip room: RAM 3500 sees 62.8 inches; Tundra provides 60.5 inches
Note: In the above comparison, we used the CrewMax cab for the Tundra and the Mega Cab for the RAM 3500.
Exterior
The outside design of the RAM 3500 vs. the Toyota Tundra is also worth mentioning, because these two pickups have different aesthetics. With the Tundra, you see a less work-truck front-to-rear design, focusing on LED accents, an aggressive grille, and a few different wheel sizes. The RAM 3500 has a heavy-duty look to it, focusing on chrome finishes, LED lights, a wider front, and various wheel options.
Here are the exterior dimensions for the RAM 3500 and the Toyota Tundra:
RAM 3500
- Length: ~232–260 inches (varies by cab/bed config)
- Width (without mirrors): ~79.4–79.5 inches
- Height: ~78–80 inches (varies by trim)
- Wheelbase: 140.5–169.5 inches
- Bed Length: 6.4 feet or 8.0 feet
- Ground Clearance: ~8.5–11.1 inches (varies by trim)
Toyota Tundra
- Length: Up to 252.5 inches
- Width: 80.2 inches (81.6 inches for TRD Pro)
- Height: 78.0 inches
- Wheelbase: 145.7 inches
- Bed Length: 5.5 feet, 6.5 feet, and 8.1 feet
- Ground Clearance: 9.3 inches
Engine and Performance
The engine and performance specifications of the RAM 3500 vs. Toyota Tundra are unique, with the RAM 3500 offering a diesel option. We will detail each truck's engine below.
RAM 3500
- Engine: 6.4L HEMI® V8 engine or 6.7L Cummins® Turbo Diesel I6
- Horsepower: 410 (standard), 370-420 (diesel)
- Torque: 429 pound-feet (standard), 850-1,075 (diesel)
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic (standard), 6-speed automatic (for diesel)
- Drivetrain: RWD or 4WD
Toyota Tundra
- Engine: 3.4L Twin-Turbo V6 or 3.4L i-FORCE MAX Hybrid V6
- Horsepower: 389 (standard), 437 (hybrid)
- Torque: 479 pound-feet (standard), 583 (hybrid)
- Transmission: 10-speed automatic for both
- Drivetrain: RWD or 4WD
Towing Capacity
The towing capacity for the RAM 3500 vs. the Toyota Tundra is where the RAM shines brightest. As mentioned, the RAM 3500 is a heavy-duty pickup, while the Tundra is a light-duty model. This means you might notice better performance from the RAM 3500, thanks to how it's built.
- RAM 3500 towing: up to 18,210 pounds (standard engine), 22,660 pounds (diesel standard), and 37,090 pounds (High-Output diesel)
- Toyota Tundra towing: up to 12,000 pounds
Fuel Economy and MPG
The fuel economy of the RAM 3500 and the Toyota Tundra differ, especially since the EPA does not rate trucks as big as the 3500. For the Toyota Tundra, you get up to 19 miles per gallon in the city and 23 miles on the highway, making it a decent light-duty option. With the RAM 3500, this pickup truck tests at 14-16 MPG in the city and 19-22 MPG on the highway for its standard 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine. For its Turbo Diesel engine, you get 20-25 MPG on the highway and 15-17 MPG in the city.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Technology
The safety of the Toyota Tundra vs. RAM 3500 is not to be ignored, especially in newer releases. For example, Toyota puts its Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 in more recent Tundra pickups, which will feature driver-assistance technology like Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.
With the RAM 3500, you get impressive safety and driver-assistance technology, with newer generations offering things like Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitoring with Trailer Coverage, and ParkSense Front and Rear Park Assist.
Infotainment and Connectivity
If you want a decent infotainment center and modern user interface, the RAM 3500 and Toyota Tundra check off these boxes. However, Toyota is a leader in tech-forward design, with the Tundra having features you would find in a sedan or SUV from the brand, which is nice. The RAM pickup's infotainment will be centered on Uconnect 5, with newer models getting a standard 8.0-inch display screen. The Tundra also gets a standard 8.0-inch touchscreen with Toyota Audio Multimedia.
Highlights: RAM 3500 has an impressive 12.0-inch portrait-style touchscreen (on Laramie, Limited, etc.) and available Harman Kardon audio system, while Tundra has Voice Assistant, OTA update support, and built-in Head-Up Display on higher trims.
Get the RAM 3500 or the Toyota Tundra at Tim's Truck Capital
At Tim's Truck Capital, our sales team is always ready to help you find the perfect pickup truck. We have the RAM 3500 and the Toyota Tundra for sale at our award-winning dealership, plus we proudly serve the communities of Concord and Manchester, NH. Please let us know how we can help you today, and let's get you a pre-owned pickup!