Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road vs Ford F-250 Super Duty Lariat

The 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty was a behemoth of a truck, showcasing its full-size capabilities with a massive dual-bar grille and bulky, squared-off headlights. It came in six trims, each with its own unique personality, from the no-frills XL with its 17-inch steel wheels to the luxurious Limited with a dual-panel panoramic moonroof. The interior was spacious, loaded with bins and cupholders, and featured a second row that seemed to stretch on forever. The Lariat trim, which we tested, offered a blend of sensible and upscale features, including dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, and supremely comfortable seats.

In contrast, the 2019 Toyota Tacoma had a ruggedly handsome exterior, characterized by solid blocks of metal, flared fenders, and a protruding nose. Inside, it favored function over form with hard, durable plastics and simple analog gauges. The Tacoma was available in extended-cab (Access Cab) and crew-cab (Double Cab) styles, with a choice of short or long cargo beds. The Limited trim, which we tested, came with a V6 engine, 4WD, and a base price of $40,865. Despite its functional interior, the Tacoma's backseat felt cramped, and the front seats, while wide and flat, lacked ventilation options.

The 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty was powered by a choice of V8 engines. The standard 6.2-liter V8 produced 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Our test truck featured the optional 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8, delivering an impressive 450 horsepower and a staggering 935 pound-feet of torque. Despite its power, the truck's acceleration was just adequate, and it felt top-heavy and chatty over bumps when not loaded. The F-250 had a maximum towing capacity of 18,000 pounds and could haul 4,270 pounds in the bed. Fuel economy averaged just over 17 miles per gallon during our tests.

The 2019 Toyota Tacoma, on the other hand, was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, and the truck featured a part-time, shift-on-the-fly 4WD system. The Tacoma's maximum tow rating was 6,800 pounds. On pavement, the Tacoma's acceleration was strong enough, but the transmission felt sluggish unless in Sport mode. Fuel economy was decent, averaging 20.1 miles per gallon during our week of testing. The Tacoma's ride quality was less refined, with a bouncy and skittery feel, and the brakes showed signs of wear under prolonged use.

The 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered various cab and bed configurations, including a regular cab with an 8-foot bed, a Super Cab with either a long or standard bed, and a Crew Cab with both bed options. Our Lariat test truck featured a standard bed with an optional spray-in bed liner, bed LED lights, bed-mounted power outlets, and an adjustable tie-down system. The truck's interior was spacious, with plenty of storage options and comfortable seating, especially in the Lariat trim.

The 2019 Toyota Tacoma, while sitting high off the ground, had a surprisingly squat cab, making entry easy for tall individuals but challenging for shorter ones. The front seats were wide and flat, with manual adjustments and lumbar support for the driver. Storage was abundant, but the backseat felt cramped, with limited space for boot-wearing passengers and no air-conditioning vents or USB charging ports. The Tacoma's short 5-foot bed featured a plastic liner, an LED light, and a 120-volt/400-watt power outlet, with a maximum payload capacity of 1,540 pounds.

The 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty came with the SYNC infotainment system across all trims, but the features varied. The XL and XLT trims had a basic version with a 4.2-inch LCD screen, while higher trims featured SYNC 3 with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Lariat trim and above included a B&O premium audio system with 10 speakers and a subwoofer. However, the lack of a consistent home button in the SYNC system was a minor inconvenience.

The 2019 Toyota Tacoma's infotainment system was less advanced, with a 7-inch display and stubby knobs that were difficult to use with gloves. The navigation system struggled with specific addresses, and the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a drawback. However, the available 6-speaker JBL sound system provided a decent audio experience. For 2020, Toyota planned to add Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility, along with a larger 8-inch screen.

The 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty came equipped with a full array of front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and trailer-sway control. Higher trims added features like automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking. Our test truck also included a 360-degree camera system, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring, which were essential for maneuvering the large truck.

The 2019 Toyota Tacoma came standard with Toyota Safety Sense, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, sway warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was available for most trims. In crash testing, the Tacoma received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and an Acceptable rating for small overlap, frontal-impact, front passenger protection from the IIHS. However, the Access Cab had not been tested for this latter category.