Being all things to all people is not an easy task. However, some businesses try to take this approach, similar to the concept of one size fits all. If it works out, the business can make a great profit by selling a product that doesn’t need to be modified to suit different needs. This is the approach Toyota takes with its Tundra, which has several standardized features across most of its trim levels. However, people who drive full-size trucks may not always like this approach, which is why Chevy has gone in a different direction with the Silverado 1500, its flagship pickup truck model. So, in comparing the 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 vs 2023 Toyota Tundra, you see two very different approaches to the same kind of vehicle, with Chevy offering more options and choices than Toyota.
Of course, there are some similarities between the two models. For example, both automakers offer a choice of rear-wheel and four-wheel drive on their trucks, which is common for full-size trucks. In addition, both automakers equip their full-size truck model with a standard infotainment system, allowing you to connect your smartphone to your truck via Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Finally, both automakers are to be commended for equipping their trucks with standard driver assistance features, improving passenger safety in both models. Let’s take a closer look at both models and identify their similarities and differences to determine if one model truly is all things to all people.
Trim levels
The clearest way to see the number of options a certain vehicle offers is to look at the number of different trim levels in their lineup. Chevy gives drivers the choice of nine different trim levels on the 2023 Silverado 1500. This starts with the WT or Work Truck, which is the entry-level model. This continues to the Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, and LTZ, with each successive trim providing additional comfort, performance, and technology features, such as larger wheels and leather seating materials. This culminates in two top trims, the High Country and the ZR2. The High Country is a luxury full-size truck with specialized heated leather seats and an infotainment system featuring a 13.4-inch touchscreen. The ZR2 is a version of the Silverado 1500 designed for off-roading.
Toyota is similar in providing increasing features as you go up the trim level. However, the 2023 Toyota Tundra has only seven trim levels, starting with the base model SR. The next levels range from the SR5, Limited, and Platinum up to the 1794 Edition. Just like Chevy, Toyota has chosen two top trims. The Capstone is a luxury version of the Tundra, much like the High Country, while the TRD Pro is Toyota’s version of a full-size off-road truck, with TRD standing for Toyota Racing Division. While similar, Toyota does offer two fewer choices of trim than Chevy.
Engine Options
Your truck’s performance depends on its powertrain. This combination of engine and transmission will help determine its acceleration, fuel economy, towing capability, and cargo-hauling capacity. Not every engine excels at all tasks, which is why many automakers like Chevrolet offer drivers an array of different engine options to choose from.
Interestingly enough, Toyota has given its 2023 Tundra just two engine options, two fewer than the 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500. The first engine is a 3.4-liter i-FORCE Turbo V6 with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This features a dual overhead cam (DOHC) configuration, with 24 valves feeding the engine’s six cylinders. It uses a combination of direct and port fuel injection to deliver 358 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque for rear-wheel drive models. Adding four-wheel drive boosts this output slightly to 389 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. This is the standard engine on all Tundra models except the TRD-Pro and Capstone.
The 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD-Pro and Capstone come equipped with a 3.4-liter i-FORCE MAX Turbo V6 Hybrid with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This also has a DOHC configuration with 24 valves for its six cylinders. The addition of an AC motor powered by a nickel-metal hybrid battery pack increases the engine output to 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque. Each of these two models is four-wheel drive only.
Chevy has taken a completely different approach with the Silverado 1500, equipping each trim level with one of two standard engines while making another pair of engines available as optional equipment on most trim levels. The first base engine is a 2.7-liter Turbo High Output I-4 with an 8-speed automatic transmission that comes on most trim levels except the RST crew cab, LTZ, and High Country. It can deliver up to 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. The second base engine is a 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 with a 10-speed automatic transmission, which is the standard engine on the RST crew cab, LTZ, and High Country. It is also available as an option on the other trim levels and provides 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque.
You can also get two other engines on the 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500. The 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 gas engine with the 10-speed automatic transmission provides 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, while the 3.0-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel I-6 comes with a 10-speed automatic transmission, giving you 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque.
If you choose a Toyota Tundra, you will get the engine assigned to that trim level, with no opportunity to choose the hybrid. So, if you want the hybrid performance, you have to get a TRD-Pro or Capstone. This is not the case with the Chevy Silverado 1500, as you can get the engine you like best of the four offered on almost any trim level.
Performance
If you are looking to use your truck for towing or hauling, then you need to know the capabilities of the truck you are buying. The 2023 Toyota Tundra has a maximum towing capability of 12,000 lbs. This is the same regardless of which engine is equipped to the trim level you choose. With the 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500, the towing capacity depends on the engine you pick.
The Silverado 1500 with the 2.7-liter I-4 can tow up to 9,500 lbs, while one with a 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 can tow 11,200 lbs. However, to maximize your towing capacity, you can pick either the 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 or the 3.0-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel I-6, either of which will give you 13,300 lbs of towing capability, over 1,000 pounds more than the Tundra. The same goes for payload. While both trucks offer three different trailer bed sizes, the Chevy can carry more freight. The Tundra has a maximum cargo capacity of 1,940 lbs, less than the 2,260 lbs that a Chevy Silverado 1500 can carry.
Finally, fuel economy is becoming an increasingly important issue. Both of the engines offered on the 2023 Toyota Tundra provide solid fuel economy, with the Hybrid engine delivering an impressive 20 MPG combined on four-wheel drive models. However, this cannot compete with a 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 with an available Turbo-Diesel, which will give you a very impressive 24 MPG combined with four-wheel drive.
Cab styles
The final key difference between the Chevy Silverado 1500 and the Toyota Tundra is the number of cab styles offered. Both trucks are available with a double or crew cab, with Toyota calling its crew cab the Crew Max. If you want more legroom for the rear row of seats, choose a crew cab. If you prefer slightly more towing capacity, then you opt for a double cab. However, only Chevy offers its full-size truck with a regular cab. This has one row of seats and two doors, which results in better towing and hauling capability. The regular cab is ideal for folks who want to use their truck primarily for work purposes, but Toyota doesn’t give you this option.
If Options Are What You Want in a Truck, Chevy Is the Clear Winner
When choosing a truck, you need to know that the one you buy has the features you want and the performance you need. Sometimes, this involves picking and choosing between trim levels, cab styles, and engines. The 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 gives you this ability, while the 2023 Toyota Tundra has fewer cab styles and trim levels that come with standard engines. If options are what you’re looking for in a reliable truck, the Silverado is the clear winner, with its array of features and performance levels.
