The third and final installment of our 2008 Tundra 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 comparison compares the ride, handling, and comfort of the two trucks. If you haven’t read part one – Mechnicals – or part two – Features and Pricing – then you might want to take a look.

RIDE:

We have to insert our caveats here. Both vehicles were tested empty. Also, it’s important to remember the most subjective judgments concern ride, handling and comfort.

The Ram rides like a car. Indeed, that was Dodge’s goal with the rear suspension re-design. Gone are the rear leaf springs, in come multi-link coils. The goal is to deliver a smooth, even ride empty or loaded – it works. You literally can’t feel the road on civilized city streets.

On the other hand, you can feel the road in the Tundra. That’s not a negative in our view – if you value a good ride, you probably shouldn’t be buying a truck in the first place. Our freelancer conducted “The Murphy Slalom Test,” which resulted in a stiffer feel (which Dan liked). Still, there’s no denying the Ram 1500 rides better than the Tundra (at least empty).

Winner: Credit should be given where credit is due. The Ram’s coil rear suspension results in a great ride.

HANDLING:

You can hardly separate the two in this category. Both have rack and pinion steering and handling/stability software to keep you out of trouble. Both have ample power in reserve and accurate, finely-tuned transmissions. The more defined front corners on the Ram helped maneuvering in tight parking lots. We really didn’t push either far enough to get any tire squeal, rebounds, or hops. The feel in both was solid and precise.

Slalom test data (which is nearly worthless in terms of real-world daily truck use) from Edmunds.com give the Tundra the narrowest edge over the Ram, despite the Ram’s softer rear suspension. The 07′ Tundra finished the slalom at 54.9 mph with a ‘good’ handling rating, the 09′ Ram 1500 finished the slalom at 54.6 mph with an ‘average’ handling rating.

Winner: Tundra. For all but the most extreme driving, the Ram and the Tundra are equal in the handling departments. Ties always go to the older truck.

COMFORT:

We’ll start with what both do well, then see how we can pick them apart. Both are as quiet as little mice, no wind noise, no vibrations or rattles.You are more aware of the engine in the Tundra, but that’s not a bad thing. The seats are great, leg position is comfortable, everything is ergonomically right on. All the basic controls are intuitive, though you may need to study the owner’s manual to figure out all the high-tech gadgetry – especially if you’re trading up from an older vehicle.

The back seat in the new Ram is spectacular – plenty of room. However, aside from leg room (the Tundra has about 6″ more) the Ram Crew Cab matches up to the Tundra in terms of shoulder, hip, and headroom and it feels better too (the stadium seating in the Ram helps a lot with the feel). The back seat comfort level in the Ram is just a bit less than the front buckets, but it should stand up to a road trip test for most adults. The door widths in both front and back alleviate some of the awkwardness of climbing up into either.

The Tundra lacks the level of refinement found in the Ram. The ergonomics in the Tundra are good, but Ram is just a little bit better (our testers, a 5′10″ 200 lbs male, a 6′4″ 250lbs male, and a 5′7″ 110 lbs female) all agreed the Ram was just a little more comfy. Of course, this category is a little subjective. We suggest you sit in both trucks (front and back) and make up your own mind.

Winner: Based on the average family buyer, the Ram is the winner.

OVERALL COMPARISON WINNER:

While it won’t surprise many people that have visited this blog for the first time (after all, it’s called ‘Tundra Headquarters’), we found the Tundra to be a better truck in a few critical ways – engine, transmission, towing, and pricing. However, the Ram won out in terms of ride, comfort, interior and exterior features, and a better frame. The remaining categories – payload, braking, safety, and handling – were basically a tie so they all went to the Tundra (the older design always wins a tie). When you do the math, the Tundra won 8-5, but it was really a much closer competition than the math indicates.

The truth is, you can’t go wrong with either truck. While the Tundra’s marked advantage in terms of towing and pricing will make the decision to buy a Tundra easy for many truck buyers, the Ram’s superior ride, interior, and comfort will also sway many buyers to the Ram.

Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a truck that does everything well – but doesn’t do everything perfectly – than the 2008 Toyota Tundra (a jack of all trades, master of many) is your vehicle. On the other hand, if you don’t need much in terms of towing and price isn’t really a concern, a case can definitely be made for the 2009 Ram 1500 (not quite as capable as the Tundra, but certainly more luxurious).

Let the accusations of bias (and the complaints that our comparison didn’t match some other comparison) begin!!

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