The Toyota Tundra has entered a new era with its first full redesign in 15 years, marking a significant update to compete in the fiercely contested full-size pickup truck market. For years, the Tundra lagged behind domestic rivals like Ford, General Motors, and Ram in key areas such as technology, capability, and overall innovation. This new generation aimed to bridge that gap, bringing the Tundra into modern truck territory. After thorough testing, here’s a detailed toyota tundra review to see if it truly measures up.
Powertrain Performance: A Standout Feature
Toyota has undoubtedly engineered a remarkable powertrain for the latest Tundra. The previous V8 engine is gone, replaced by a potent 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 producing 389 horsepower. This new engine is a powerhouse, delivering immense power across the RPM range and enabling rapid acceleration. With a substantial 479 lb.-ft. of torque, the Tundra boasts impressive low-end pulling power, making it feel incredibly responsive in various driving situations.
The paired 10-speed automatic transmission further enhances the driving experience. Gear shifts are exceptionally smooth, often imperceptible, rivaling the refinement found in luxury vehicles. While downshifts are slightly more noticeable, this is typical for trucks in this class. On the test track, the Tundra demonstrated its performance prowess, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.3 seconds, making it the quickest full-sized pickup in its segment during testing. This powertrain is a significant highlight in Toyota Tundra Reviews, showcasing Toyota’s engineering capabilities.
Fuel Economy: Lagging Behind the Competition
Despite its impressive power, the Tundra’s fuel economy is not a strong point. Achieving 17 mpg overall in testing, it falls short when compared to competitors like the Ford F-150, which achieves 19 mpg overall with its 2.7-liter turbo V6 engine. In today’s market, fuel efficiency is a critical consideration for truck buyers, and this is an area where the Tundra could improve.
Another point to note is the absence of automatic 4WD in most Tundra models. Drivers need to manually engage 4WD in slippery conditions and then switch back to rear-wheel drive when traction improves. While not a major drawback, it is a feature commonly found in competing trucks that enhances convenience and safety in varying driving conditions.
Hybrid iForce Max: Performance-Focused Hybrid Option
Toyota offers a hybrid version of the Tundra, named the iForce Max. However, unlike some hybrids designed primarily for fuel efficiency, the Tundra hybrid focuses on enhanced performance. It utilizes the same twin-turbocharged V6 engine as the standard iForce variant but adds an electric motor positioned between the engine and transmission. This combination boosts the total output to 437 horsepower and a massive 583 lb.-ft. of torque. While specific fuel economy figures for the hybrid are not detailed in the original article, it’s positioned as a performance upgrade rather than a significant fuel saver, which is an important aspect for potential buyers considering toyota tundra reviews hybrid models.
Ride and Handling: Just Tolerable
One of the most significant changes in the redesigned Tundra is the shift to coil spring rear suspension, replacing the traditional leaf springs used in most full-size pickups. While a similar change in the Ram 1500 significantly improved ride comfort years ago, the Tundra’s ride is described as merely tolerable. It still exhibits the typical rear-end bounce on uneven roads common to pickups.
Handling also remains a point of concern. The steering is slow and overly light, giving the front end a somewhat ponderous feel, particularly in corners. Despite this, the Tundra performed securely in handling tests, achieving similar avoidance maneuver speeds to other full-size pickups. However, braking distances were disappointingly long, even compared to other trucks in this class. Ride and handling aspects are crucial for daily driving comfort and are often highlighted in toyota tundra reviews.
Interior Design and Comfort
The Tundra’s cabin design is described as robust and rugged, featuring large, user-friendly buttons, rocker switches, and a substantial volume knob. The interior quality, however, varies significantly depending on the trim level. While the high-end 1794 Edition boasts impressive interior furnishings, the more mainstream SR5 model, often the focus of toyota tundra reviews for average consumers, has a more basic, work-truck feel. The SR5 features plasticky materials, budget-feeling steering wheel stalks, and rough edges on trim panels.
The large touchscreen infotainment system is easy to use, but its placement requires a long reach for the driver to access the right side of the display. Additionally, the system can be slow to boot up when starting the vehicle.
In terms of space, the crew cab Tundra is exceptionally roomy. Front seats are wide and reasonably comfortable, accommodating various body types, although they lack lateral support in corners. Ample headroom, a well-placed footrest, padded armrests, and good knee space are notable positives. The rear seat is also spacious, offering generous knee room, headroom, and decent leg support. While the seatback is somewhat upright, it provides sufficient rake for comfort on longer journeys. A unique and practical feature is the power retractable rear window.
Truck Capabilities: Towing and Payload
The Tundra holds its own in terms of traditional truck duties. It boasts a maximum towing capacity of 12,000 pounds (though more common trims are rated slightly over 11,000 pounds) and a maximum payload of 1,940 pounds. The spray-on bedliner is made from a durable composite material resistant to dents and corrosion. The tailgate is easy to operate and includes a convenient button on the key fob for remote opening. Handy bed features like tie-downs, power outlets, and lights add to its practicality. These capabilities are vital for truck owners and are often a key focus in toyota tundra reviews related to work and utility.
Safety Features: Standard and Available
Toyota prioritizes safety, equipping every Tundra with standard forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and a rear-seat reminder system. Blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning are optional on the SR5 trim and standard on Limited and higher trims. These comprehensive safety features enhance driver confidence and are important considerations when reading toyota tundra reviews.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the redesigned Toyota Tundra represents a significant step forward for Toyota in the full-size truck segment. It boasts a class-leading powertrain with exceptional power and refinement. However, it only manages to reach parity with its main competitors rather than surpass them. Areas like fuel economy, ride comfort, and interior quality in lower trims are not class-leading. While the Tundra is a capable and powerful truck, potential buyers should weigh its strengths, particularly its powertrain and reliability reputation, against its shortcomings when considering toyota tundra reviews and making their purchase decision in the competitive truck market.
