Ram 1500 vs Toyota Tacoma: Which Used Buy Wins?
As used buys (July 2026), the Ram 1500 typically lists for $43,784 against $39,996 for the Toyota Tacoma (same model years — 2024–2026 — national medians from live listings). the Ram 1500 leads on NCAP safety (4.4★ vs 4.0★ average). Overall medians mix very different trims — at the cheapest common trims it's the SLT at $29,900 vs the SR at $32,488; see the trim-by-trim tables for a fair match. Every figure below is live market data, not book values.
Head to head
Trim-by-trim prices (last 4 model years)
A fair comparison matches equivalent trims, not overall medians. Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, the Ram 1500 SLT ($29,900) faces the Toyota Tacoma SR ($32,488); the most common trims on the market are the LARAMIE (25.4% of Ram 1500 listings) and the SR5 (74.2% of Toyota Tacoma listings); at the top of the market, the LIMITED ($53,864) faces the TRD OFF-ROAD ($42,785). Share = portion of the model's trim-labeled used listings (a supply-side popularity signal: what the market actually stocks and sells most). “Cheapest”/“Priciest” mark the ends of the quotable trim range — trim ladders don't map one-to-one across brands, so this is not a factory base-model claim.
| Ram 1500 | Toyota Tacoma | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trim | Typical price | Share | Trim | Typical price | Share |
| SLTCheapest | $29,900 | 3.5% | SR XTRACAB | $29,725 | 2.0% |
| TRADESMAN | $34,097 | 8.1% | SRCheapest | $32,488 | 5.0% |
| BIG HORN | $36,036 | 15.5% | SR5Most popular | $38,995 | 74.2% |
| BIG HORN/LONESTAR | $43,146 | 24.6% | TRD SPORT | $40,354 | 0.6% |
| LARAMIEMost popular | $44,100 | 25.4% | LIMITED | $41,650 | 1.3% |
| REBEL | $49,385 | 10.2% | TRD OFF-ROADPriciest | $42,785 | 17.0% |
| LIMITEDPriciest | $53,864 | 6.3% | — | ||
| RHO | $72,486 | 2.1% | — | ||
Rows are aligned by price position (both sides sorted cheapest-first), not by equivalent equipment — trim names never map one-to-one across brands. Full per-trim detail (price ranges, mileage) is on each model's price page: Ram 1500 prices · Toyota Tacoma prices.
Used price by model year
| Year | Ram 1500 typical | Toyota Tacoma typical | Difference | Ram 1500 MPG | Toyota Tacoma MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $54,768 | $45,575 | Ram 1500 +$9,193 | 12–22 MPG | 20–23 MPG |
| 2025 | $43,784 | $39,996 | Ram 1500 +$3,788 | 15–23 MPG | 20–23 MPG |
| 2024 | $34,980 | $39,202 | Toyota Tacoma +$4,222 | 12–23 MPG | 20–24 MPG |
| 2023 | $37,687 | $37,500 | Ram 1500 +$187 | 12–24 MPG | 18–21 MPG |
| 2022 | $34,578 | $34,443 | Ram 1500 +$135 | 12–26 MPG | 18–21 MPG |
| 2021 | $31,606 | $33,488 | Toyota Tacoma +$1,882 | 12–26 MPG | 18–21 MPG |
| 2020 | $29,004 | $32,173 | Toyota Tacoma +$3,169 | 17–26 MPG | 18–21 MPG |
| 2019 | $25,235 | $29,998 | Toyota Tacoma +$4,763 | 17–23 MPG | 18–21 MPG |
| 2018 | $20,869 | $28,568 | Toyota Tacoma +$7,699 | 14–23 MPG | 18–21 MPG |
| 2017 | $19,795 | $26,970 | Toyota Tacoma +$7,175 | 15–23 MPG | 18–21 MPG |
| 2016 | $17,995 | $24,722 | Toyota Tacoma +$6,727 | 15–24 MPG | 18–21 MPG |
| 2015 | $15,995 | $20,995 | Toyota Tacoma +$5,000 | 15–24 MPG | 17–22 MPG |
| 2014 | $14,990 | $19,395 | Toyota Tacoma +$4,405 | 15–23 MPG | 17–22 MPG |
| 2013 | $13,995 | $17,568 | Toyota Tacoma +$3,573 | 15–21 MPG | 17–23 MPG |
Typical price = national median asking price of live listings for that model year (July 2026); MPG = EPA combined range across rated versions.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to buy used — Ram 1500 or Toyota Tacoma?
Comparing the same model years (2024–2026), the Toyota Tacoma is cheaper: it typically lists for $39,996 versus $43,784 for the Ram 1500 (national medians, July 2026).
Which is safer — Ram 1500 or Toyota Tacoma?
By NCAP overall crash-test rating the Ram 1500 averages 4.4 of 5 stars across rated years versus 4.0 for the Toyota Tacoma. Always check the specific model year's rating in the table above.
Which is more reliable — Ram 1500 or Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA lists an average of 13.4 recalls per model year for the Ram 1500 and 5.8 for the Toyota Tacoma — an edge for the Toyota Tacoma. Recall and complaint counts scale with sales volume, so treat them as context and check any specific car's VIN history.
Which trims should I actually compare?
Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, a Ram 1500 SLT typically lists for $29,900 vs $32,488 for a Toyota Tacoma SR; the most common trims on the market are the LARAMIE ($44,100, 25.4% of Ram 1500 listings) and the SR5 ($38,995, 74.2% of Toyota Tacoma listings); at the top of the market, the LIMITED ($53,864) faces the TRD OFF-ROAD ($42,785). Overall medians hide this trim mix — use the trim tables above for a fair match. Trim names never map one-to-one across brands, so "cheapest" means the least expensive trim with a real market share, not the factory base.
https://vehisales.com/research/compare/ram/1500/vs/toyota/tacoma.
Dig deeper
Ram 1500 — live listings & specs Toyota Tacoma — live listings & specs Ram 1500 prices by year Toyota Tacoma prices by year Ram 1500 MPG by year Toyota Tacoma MPG by year
See also: All model comparisons · Best used cars by budget · Used car prices by model.