When the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor meets the 2017 Toyota Tundra, you better believe that a battle will take place. You are probably thinking why an underdog such as the 2017 Toyota Tundra would challenge America's number one pickup truck, the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor and that is perfectly fine. Here's why the 2017 Toyota Tundra is going up against the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor and here's how the battle went.
2017 Ford F-150 Raptor vs 2017 Toyota Tundra: A Reason For Battle
Being the top dog in the pickup truck segment, the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor should be going up against the likes of Chevrolet Silverado, Ram 1500 and GMC Sierra right? The truth of the matter is, the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor is running out of competition in the top levels and it is basically giving the underdogs like the 2017 Toyota Tundra a chance to move up in the ranks. According to report, the 2017 Toyota Tundra has earned four out of five stars from J.D. Power & Associates' Vehicle Dependability Study and that makes it worthy enough to go up against the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor that only earned three last year.
2017 Ford F-150 Raptor vs 2017 Toyota Tundra: The Powertrain
According to US News, the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor starts off with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that is good for 282 horsepower. This is followed by a 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that cranks out 325 horsepower and a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that is good for 375 horsepower. If you are not satisfied with these numbers, you can go for a more powerful configuration in the 5.0-liter V8 option that can put out 385 horsepower. Finally, the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor has an ultimate weapon in its 3.5-liter V6 that dishes out an amazing 450 horsepower. The standard transmission is a six-speed automatic but most of the other powertrains are matted with Ford's new 10-speed automatic.
In comparison, the 2017 Toyota Tundra only offers two choices for its powertrain. The standard engine is a 4.6-liter V8 capable of 310 horsepower. The second engine offers a more powerful configuration in a 5.7-liter V8 that delivers 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. These powertrains are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. You probably saw it coming from miles away but the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor bags this power category.
2017 Ford F-150 Raptor vs 2017 Toyota Tundra: Driving Dynamics
As for the driving dynamics, the 2017 Ford F-150 is paired with front wheel drive (FWD) as standard but you also have an option for an all-wheel drive configuration. It is graceful in the pavement and it is a beast off road. In contrast, the 2017 Toyota Tundra tends to give a bumpy ride but it makes up with its precise steering, which makes things easier for you when driving in the city, particularly when it comes to parking.
2017 Ford F-150 Raptor vs 2017 Toyota Tundra: Reliability
It is already clear that the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor dominates all points of comparison. However, there is one aspect where the 2017 Toyota Tundra outshines it and that would be reliability. In fact, the 2017 Toyota Tundra actually measures up better against most of its rivals in the segment based on the Vehicle Dependability Study conducted by J.D. Power & Associates. That being said, the 2017 Toyota Tundra may be an underdog but it proves that when push comes to shove, it can withstand the force.
2017 Ford F-150 Raptor vs 2017 Toyota Tundra: The Conclusion
The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor has clearly demolished the 2017 Toyota Tundra in all aspects except for reliability. Of course, this was to be expected from the champion in the pickup truck segment. The 2017 Toyota Tundra may not have fared well against the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor but the fact that the former was able to score against the latter at all is actually quite impressive. That being said, we tip our hat off to the 2017 Toyota Tundra for its valiant effort to challenge the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor.
