The second part of our Tundra vs Sierra Silverado comparison will evaluate the relative cost of the two trucks and compare the features of both. (Read part one if you missed it.) We’re only going to highlight the features that are unique and non-commercial. In other words, something the “common man” would want and buy.

Tundra vs GMC Sierra Chevy Silverado Features and Pricing

INTERIOR:

Plastic. Love it or hate it, it’s a big part of every modern vehicle interior. GM’s reputation for using cheap plastics in their interiors (even in the lofty Corvette), isn’t going to be dispelled by their half-ton truck offerings. It’s OK, but nothing special. We’re pretty sure Ford has the best interiors in the truck business. If you’re interested in hauling people in the backseat of your truck, the GM product will probably disappoint you their too. The GM rear seats are cramped and uncomfortable, even in the crew cab. While the rear seats in the extended cab GM are pretty close to the doublecab Tundra in terms of numbers, and to a lesser extent “feel”, the CrewMax Tundra has substantially more legroom than the Crew GMs (about 6″) and feels substantially bigger. The Tundra’s optional telescoping steering wheel (not available on Sierra-Silverado) and standard power seats on the SR5 (as compared to optional equipment on LT1/SLE1) surpass as well.

The Tundra’s interior matches up well against the GM Sierra-Silverado, with both offering simple controls and average to above-average materials. While the GM trucks offer dual glove boxes, just like the Tundra, they aren’t as big. Truth be told, just about everything is bigger in the Tundra’s interior. It’s roomier and it feels more open. The seats feel a little more comfortable in the Tundra, but that might be the Tundra’s better door armrests talking. Our elbows weren’t very comfortable on the GM doors. The two trucks are both pretty quiet – we didn’t get out a decibel meter, but the Edmunds.com tests showed these trucks are all about equal in terms of noise.

WINNER: Tundra. Similar quality, features, and comfort usually result in a tie, but the Tundra’s bigger interior edges out the Sierra-Silverado.

EXTERIOR:

If only Toyota understood the value of picking and choosing every option as well as the domestic truck makers…GM trucks offer more configurations than Toyota, and for some people this is a big feature. Tundra’s biggest advantage on the standard equipment list (excluding all the safety features, covered later) is the standard limited slip differential. Both trucks offer cargo management, easy to open and close tailgates (only standard on the Tundra), towing mirrors, and a multitude of color/chrome options. The Tundra’s parking assist is better, offered both front and rear, and the back-up camera isn’t available on the GM trucks. The Sierra-Silverado feature OnStar, adjustable pedals, rain-sensing wipers, and heated washer fluid not available on the Tundra. GM has always done a good job of offering lots of cool features on their trucks, especially on the GMC.

The GM trucks offer three different suspension systems too – smooth ride, handling & trailering, and high performance, but we’d like to note that the standard suspension is the “smooth ride”, leading us to conclude that is the cheapest configuration. Perhaps they’re just labeling their less capable suspension as “smooth”, so we’re reluctant to give them too much credit here. One other key difference – the GM trucks come with 17″ wheels standard, the Tundra 18’s. In this world of ever-increasing wheel size, the Tundra’s stock wheels look better under the standard truck than the GM trucks with 17’s. Looking at the two trucks side by side, the Tundra definitely seems beefier. It’s taller, has more ground clearance, and the larger wheels “fill out” the Tundra’s wheel wells better. Of course, that might just be that the GM trucks fender flares are over exaggerated. Since looks are so subjective, we won’t tell you which one looks better (cough *Tundra*) because it’s all in the eye of the beholder.

WINNER: This is tough. The GM and Tundra both offer unique features, the GM is easier to customize, but the Tundra has a slight advantage in standard equipment. Since the easiest thing to quantify is the Tundra’s standard limited slip differential, tailgate assist, and 18″ wheels, the Tundra is the winner…but it’s very close.

SAFETY

The Tundra is the run-away winner here. Standard traction control (not even available on the GM trucks), standard brake assist (also not available on Sierra-Silverado), and standard stability control (available, but not standard on the GMs), and finally the Tundra’s standard side airbags (not available either) and side-curtain airbags (available but not standard) are all tremendous advantages for the Tundra. Crash test ratings for the two trucks differ – the GM products score 5 stars in government crash tests, where the Tundra only scored 4 stars. The latest generation of GM trucks has not been tested by the IIHS. The 00-06 GM models scored “marginal” in their last IIHS tests, while the 00-06 and 07-08 Tundra models all scored “good”. Regardless of which test you place your faith in, it’s safe to assume the Tundra is safe in a crash and less likely to get in an accident in the first place. At the very least, it’s common sense that the Tundra is substantially safer in a side impact.

WINNER: Tundra by a mile. The Tundra’s more advanced safety systems combined with standard side airbags make up for any ground lost to the NHTSA 4-star rating (especially considering the great IIHS test results). Just like their push-rod engines and 4-speed transmissions, GM seems to be behind the curve in terms of safety technology. But hey, what about those rain-sensing wipers?

PRICING

If we compare a 2008 SR5 Doublecab 5.7L Tundra 4×4 with option A, tow hitch, auto-dim mirror, and floor mats (MSRP $33,215) to a 2008 Extended Cab 6.0L Silverado SLT1 4×4 with ez-lift tailgate, side curtain airbags, power driver’s seat, and the heavy-duty tow package (MSRP $34,980), we come up with fairly equivalent trucks. They’re not exactly the same, but close. The comparable 2008 GMC Extended Cab 6.0L Sierra SLE1 4×4 with ez-lift tailgate, side curtain airbags, power driver’s seat, and heavy duty tow package has an MSRP of $35,690. The Tundra has an MSRP to MSRP advantage of about $1,800 – $2,500, but that doesn’t take any incentive differences into account.

As of Feb. 2008, GMC and Chevy are both offering $3000 cash back on the Sierra and Silverado, and Toyota is offering $2200 cash back on the Tundra. That reduces the Tundra’s price advantage to $1,000 – $1,700 when compared to 6.0L GM trucks with the max tow package. Of course, without the 6.0L the GM trucks are less expensive, but they won’t tow or haul as much and they won’t compare to the Tundra in terms of power.

WINNER: Tundra. Not only are the GM trucks more expensive on the sticker, they’re also more expensive after incentives. The Tundra also offers some equipment that’s simply not available on the GM trucks.

Next up, the final installment of Tundra vs Sierra-Silverado Part Three: Ride, Handling, and Comfort.

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