Unfortunately, faults cleave deeper into the earth than what appears at their surface. It takes time to appreciate the F-150; the more days and weeks you spend with it, the more tools appear in its Leatherman arsenal. Easier to read instruments. The flat rear floor. The integrated trailer controller with sway mitigation. The cool tailgate step.
Yes, yes, yes, you say, but those Tundra dragstrip numbers are hard to ignore. Reality check: Although test numbers are a major factor in our ruminations, and they certainly make for convincing advertisement bullet points, it's important to remember that we very, very rarely visit these realms in the real world. What we do experience are all those slippery sublimit subtleties such as ride quality and interior noise, throttle response and ergonomics, seat comfort, and relaxed, on-center steering. And when these trucks' beds are loaded or they're boat-towing, the Ford is capable enough while simultaneously possessing that certain something it's hard to put a number on.
Certain what? Behind the wheel of the Ford, you simply feel truck-building history. An engineering wisdom earned over decades that lurks in the Ford's well-oiled moves, sense of solidity, and aura of unruffledness regardless of the chore before it. Periodically, it reflects all its generations of the F-150's predecessors.
It's simply the more three-dimensional truck. Yep, the plates have moved in the Tundra's favor, but its slow creep hasn't quite yet caught up to the category's perennial leader.
FIRST PLACE: FORD F-150
Practice makes perfect, and Ford's been practicing its truck-building skills for decades. There's simply more design maturity here.
SECOND PLACE: TOYOTA TUNDRA
Faster and more fun to drive, but the new world order of trucks is likely to emphasize practical details over driving grins.