The Used 2021 Toyota Car You Should Avoid Buying If You Want To Save Money

A used 2021 Toyota Tundra will typically run you between $31,300 and $49,039, depending on cab style, trim, and mileage, per Kelley Blue Book. At first glance, this looks like a great deal because it carries Toyota's durable 5.7-liter V-8 and the brand's badge of long-term reliability, so confidence comes baked in. Peek a little closer, though, and cracks appear. Reviewers at U.S. News and World Report advise against buying it as a used truck option. Why? First, the decor. Step inside the Tundra and you're back in 2015. The plastics look tired, the infotainment screen is outdated, and driver-assist tech is limited.

Muscle matters on a truck and here the Tundra trails. Its 10,200-pound max tow rating falls short of rivals like the 2021 Ram 1500 that can pull 12,750 pounds and the 2021 Ford F-150, which can pull 14,000 pounds. But it does have some redeeming features. Cars quickly depreciate in value, still, the Tundra retains its value better than its rivals made in the same year. The car's value depreciates only by 30% in three years, and it can still be worth $28,989. This is impressive when you compare it with the 2021 Ford F-150, with a resale value of $19,433 in three years or the 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500, with a resale value of $22,156 after that same period.

Under the hood, 2021 Toyota Tundra's 5.7‑liter V‑8 with 4WD is rated at 13 mpg city and 17 mpg highway (up to 15 mpg combined), according to Car and Driver. By comparison, gasoline‑powered 2021 Ford F‑150s hit up to 24 to 25mpg combined, going by data from Fuel Economy, while the 2021 Ram 1500s reach an average of 20 to 26 mpg combined on their 3.6 L V‑6 models. That mpg gap can easily cost you hundreds of dollars more a year at today's pump prices.

Even at a healthy 15 mpg combined (13 city/17 highway), putting 15,000 miles on the Tundra burns about 1,000 gallons a year versus 750 gallons for a 20-mpg truck. At $3.50 per gallon, that's roughly $875 extra each year and $4,375 over five years. Obviously, the 2021 Toyota Tundra is not the biggest representative of Toyota's low cost, which ranks the brand among the cheapest to own long-term. All these flaws can turn the Tundra's bargain price that starts at $24,461 for a used 2021 Toyota Tundra SR, into a money pit, and there's still the not-so-comfortable backseat that makes for a stiff ride.

The interior of the Tundra's cabin as earlier stated feels outdated. The U.S. News and World Report article refers to it as "cheap-feeling and outdated." There's also the old-school infotainment system with the 8-inch screen, which is half the size of Ford's base 12-inch display. For a vehicle that falls behind on strength and utility, missing modern features like wireless smartphone integration means the Tundra lags far behind as a modern choice when paired with its rivals.

Yet, if you still believe in Toyota vehicles because of the brand's reliability, there are better options. The 2022-and-newer Tundra swaps out its old V-8 for a turbocharged V-6 (with an optional hybrid) that can hit up to 20 MPG combined, all wrapped in a tech-rich cabin and backed by Toyota's reputation for toughness. It costs $37,745 to $60,515.

If you'd rather stick to that same $30,000 to $37,000 used-truck budget, consider the 2021 Ford F-150 with a Turbocharged V-6, and up to 22 MPG highway and 14,000 lb. of towing. Price starts at $30,985. There is also the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT, which gives you a choice between a 5.3 L V-8 or a 3.0 L Duramax diesel. You also get 23 MPG highway, 13,300 lb. towing, plus an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Its price starts at $28,995.