2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD vs 2020 Toyota Tundra

The 2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD was a behemoth of a truck, prioritizing function over form with its massive scale. Whether in the base trim or the luxurious Denali, the Sierra 2500HD was always ready for serious work. Its enormous grille fed multiple radiators, supporting the hard-working engine and other subsystems. The Denali trim stood out with its extensive use of chrome, including a large chrome grille and chrome wheels, making it one of the flashiest trucks from General Motors. Despite its flashy appearance, the Denali's cabin was somewhat underwhelming, lacking the soft-touch materials found in competitors like the Ram 2500 Limited. However, the Sierra 2500HD's simplicity had its advantages, offering straightforward controls across all trims.

The 2020 Toyota Tundra, built in Texas, offered a range of trims from the basic SR to the plush 1794 Edition. The Tundra TRD Pro CrewMax, the most expensive version, featured a military-grade appearance with its exclusive Army Green color and black 18-inch forged aluminum wheels. Inside, the TRD Pro had black leather with red stitching and embroidery, but the interior was dominated by industrial-grade plastic, which felt out of place at higher price levels. The Tundra's interior was spacious, especially in the CrewMax's rear seating area, but storage options were limited. The Tundra's bed was basic, lacking the innovative features found in some competitors, emphasizing the truck's focus on simplicity.

The 2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD offered two robust V8 engine options: a 6.6-liter gas engine producing 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque, and a 6.6-liter Duramax diesel engine delivering 445 horsepower and an impressive 910 pound-feet of torque. The diesel engine, paired with a 10-speed Allison transmission, provided exceptional power and acceleration, making it feel unstoppable. Despite its size, the Sierra 2500HD could tow up to 18,510 pounds and haul a payload of up to 3,979 pounds. However, its massive size resulted in a poor turning radius, requiring careful planning for maneuvers. The truck averaged 16.5 miles per gallon in combined driving.

The 2020 Toyota Tundra came with a 5.7-liter V8 engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission, producing 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. The Tundra's maximum towing capacity was 10,200 pounds, with a payload capacity of up to 1,730 pounds. The TRD Pro model featured an electronic shift-on-the-fly 4WD system, BBS forged aluminum wheels, and heavy-duty Fox off-road shocks. The TRD-tuned dual exhaust system provided a sensational, albeit loud, sound. The Tundra's turning radius was surprisingly tight, making U-turns easier than expected. However, its fuel economy was unimpressive, averaging 14.3 miles per gallon.

The 2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD was available in various bed and cab configurations, including regular, double, and crew cabs with standard or long beds. The Denali trim was offered only with the crew cab and a choice of bed sizes. The truck featured helpful bed corner steps and an EZ lift-and-lower tailgate with a remote release. The MultiPro tailgate provided six configurations, including a large step into the truck bed. Inside, the Sierra 2500HD offered ample room and numerous storage options, with additional storage under the rear seats in higher trims.

The 2020 Toyota Tundra, built in Texas, had a spacious interior, especially in the CrewMax's rear seating area. The rear bench was low and flat, while the front leather seats were large and supportive. Storage was abundant, except for the small glove compartment and limited backseat storage. The rear seat cushions flipped up for extra floor space, but there was little storage underneath. The Tundra's bed was basic, lacking advanced features like locking storage wells or multifunctional tailgates, emphasizing the truck's simplicity.

The 2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running GMC Infotainment 3, featuring customizable icons and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Higher trims offered an 8-inch screen with navigation options. The Denali trim included an 8-inch color driver-information screen. The infotainment system was user-friendly, providing the right technology in a practical package.

The 2020 Toyota Tundra's infotainment system, though surrounded by hard plastic, was up-to-date. Lower trims had a 7-inch display, while higher trims featured an 8-inch screen. The system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, and USB ports. The TRD Pro model had dynamic navigation, voice recognition, and a 12-speaker JBL sound system. While the system had modern features, the interface relied on small touchscreen buttons, which could be challenging to use in a truck.

The 2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD's size posed safety challenges, but it was equipped with cameras on all sides and two-tier trailering mirrors for better visibility. Standard safety features included airbags, traction control, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Driver Alert Package I added parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert, while the Driver Alert Package II included forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams.

The 2020 Toyota Tundra's safety was not its strong point, despite standard Toyota Safety Sense and available blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Tundra's crash-test performance was lacking, with Marginal and Poor ratings in small-overlap frontal-impact tests from the IIHS. The NHTSA gave the Tundra more favorable ratings, with 5 stars for side-impact protection and 4 stars for frontal-impact protection and rollover resistance with 4WD.