There has been a noticeable drought regarding North American pickups in Australia, but that's set to change. Customers of local showrooms will be spoiled with so many choices next year and beyond.
A few months ago, car yards around Australia started partnering with carmakers to develop and assess their options for domestic trucks, both crew cab and double cab. While Chevrolet and Ram have most of the market, Ford and Toyota are set to take some of that market share away.
The History and Hope for Aussie Drivers
Hopefully, the Toyota Tundra will make it into Australian showrooms so that it can join the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, and Ram 1500/3500/2500. If so, it will be the sixth pickup truck on local roads and will hail from one of the four largest brands in the United States.
The Ford F-150 is already set to arrive sometime next year. Plus, RMA, a Thai firm, will be re-manufacturing the hand drive, which has never been done so far. This is necessary because of the difference in how Aussies and Americans drive.
However, RAM 1500, 3500, 2500, and Chevrolet Silverado are readily available to Australian customers. There's a special factory that makes those right-hand-drive conversions on Silverado and Ram ranges.
The Chevrolet Silverado brand is sold through GMSV (General Motors Specialty Vehicles), which is the Australian outpost of General Motors. However, Ram models must get imported through its specific network of Ram Australia dealers and are typically sold by Ateco.
Both the Toyota Tundra and Ford F-150 should become part of the existing car company showrooms in Australia.
Base Engine
Ford has yet to confirm its outputs for the Australian-delivered F-150, though it will get powered by a twin-turbo V6 petrol engine (3.5-litre turbocharged). However, US engines produce 678Nm and 294kW and come with 265 pound-feet of torque and 290 horsepower.
Likewise, there are two variations of the Toyota Tundra which should arrive in Australia. Both of them should have a twin-turbo V6 petrol engine (3.5-litre turbocharged). The hybridized version produces 650Nm and 290kW within the United States and features 348 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque.
Most of the RAM 1500 lineup for Australia is powered by a V8 petrol engine (5.7-litre), so it's a full-size pickup truck and also comes in double cab varieties. Still, the RAM 1500 comes in between Toyota and Ford for power outputs, but it features less torque than the competitors, with 556Nm and 291kW.
Then, you have the Chevrolet Silverado, which is fitted with the most powerful and biggest engine of the four options. You get a V8 petrol engine (6.2-litre) with even more torque outputs. Still, we think it might fall shy of those turbocharged V6s, but it develops 624Nm and 313kW.
As with the 2022 Toyota Tundra and other models, four-wheel drive comes standard on these trucks. Automatic transmissions are also the norm, with the Ram 1500 getting an eight-speed and Toyota, Chevrolet, and Ford featuring 10-speeds.
Hybrid Powertrain
It's important to note that the new Tundra features a twin-turbo V6 hybrid engine. The F-150 also uses a full-hybrid powertrain, but the Ram 1500 E-Torque is slightly less capable and utilises an electric starter generator. This technology comes standard for Ram in the V6 3.6-litre and as an upgrade with the V8 5.7-litre engine.
Diesel Engine Specs
There's been a resurgence for diesel trucks lately. In the past, they were only offered on heavy-duty trucks, but now they're found in midsize and half-ton offerings. However, the 2022 Toyota Tundra will not have diesel, but the Silverado, F-150, and Ram 1500 do.
Towing Capacity and Payload Capacity
Payload capacity across all the pickups ranges from 880kg (2022 Toyota Tundra) to 701kg (Ram 1500 Express Australian-spec). Ford hasn't yet confirmed how much its F-150 could carry for the Australian market. However, Ford's marketing materials show that it will have a towing capacity of about 4,500kg.
The Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have identical towing capacities of 4,500kg for a 70mm ball. However, if you switch to a 50mm ball, the towing capacity decreases to 3,500kg for both options.
Within the United States, the Toyota Tundra's towing capacity ranges from 3,600kg to 5,400kg, placing it as the strongest truck in Australia. However, that is only if companies choose to import them and convert them to the high-spec variants we've been noticing.
Price
It's time to compare the price for each vehicle. Unfortunately, Ford hasn't confirmed the cost of its F-150 for the Australian market yet. However, the two variants of the Ford F-150 that are set up to be sold in Australia - Lariat and XLT - both use the largest body style, which Americans call the SuperCrew.
In the United States, the XLT is priced at $AU64,950 before taxes, but the Lariat is $AU74,550 because it has better features.
Likewise, Toyota hasn't confirmed its plans for selling the Tundra in Australia. However, the United States has seven model options available, and each one features different body combinations.
Overall, the Toyota Tundra SR is priced at $AU58,900 before taxes and features bed lengths of 1.68m and a CrewMax body style, though the cost can go all the way to $AU107,500 for the Capestone variant. Pricing should be similar for the TRD Pro, though there isn't a whole lot of information about that pickup truck yet.
In Australia, the Ram 1500 has six variants, and they were all hit with a significant price increase, so they're starting at $AU85,950. If you want the DS Express Quad Cab, you'll pay more. However, the cost tops out with the Ram 1500 TRX off-roader, which starts at $AU219,950 (plus any on-road costs).
Then, you have the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. From mid-2023, the lineup should be reduced to:
- LTZ Premium with a price starting at $AU121,000 (and on-road costs)
- Silverado ZR2 with a price starting at $AU124,000 plus any on-road costs (this replaces the LT Trail Boss)
Fuel Economy
Fuel economy is generally a concern for all Australians. It's crucial to know how far you can get before filling up the tank with petrol. Here are the specs for the base engine:
- Toyota Tundra - 18/23/20 MPG (city/highway/combined)
- Chevy Silverado - Unknown at this time
- Ram 1500 - 20/25/22 MPG (city/highway/combined)
- Ford F-150 - 20/24/21 MPG (city/highway/combined)
However, the amounts are lower when you change the engine style of the vehicle. Let's compare them now:
On midlevel engines, the fuel economy numbers stay the same for the Tundra, Silverado, and Ram. However, it becomes 20/26/22 MPG on the Ford.
If you get an upper-level engine, which doesn't apply to the Tundra, you see fuel economies change to:
- Silverado - TBD
- Ram 1500 - 15/22/17 MPG
- Ford F-150 - 18/24/20 MPG
Likewise, the fuel economies for diesel engines, which isn't available on the Tundra, include:
- Silverado - TBD
- Ram - 22/32/26 MPG
- F-150 - 20/27/23 MPG
When choosing a hybrid motor, you get these fuel economies:
- Tundra - TBD
- Chevy Silverado - Not applicable
- Ram - 20/25/22 OR 17/23/19 MPG
- F-150 - 25/26/25 MPG
The Interior
Toyota's interior has always been small, and the company kept that going. However, the Silverado wins for legroom and headroom, but if you want the largest rear seating, the F-150 is the way to go!
Conclusion
With the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado, there is no question. These trucks are ready to be sold in the coming months. However, Toyota is still unsure what it's doing, though Ram seems to be settling into the Australian market easily.
