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Thanks: American Auto 2025 Toyota Tundra $–$ est HIGHS: Strong and refined powertrains, brash styling, smoother coil-spring suspension. LOWS: Some cheap interior materials, middling highway fuel economy, behind the towing and hauling curve. VERDICT: The best Tundra yet still doesn't have what it takes to be truly competitive with the domestic trucks. Overview The Toyota Tundra takes a different approach to the full-size truck segment than its American rivals. The old V-8 is out, replaced by a twin-turbo V-6 available in two states of tune, including a hybrid version that we cover separately. Toyota offers two different four-door cabs—medium and large, essentially—and everything is wrapped in chiseled sheetmetal. Instead of going for the biggest towing and hauling ratings, the Tundra is seemingly content with more moderate numbers that should still satisfy most light-duty truck buyers. A coil-spring rear suspension lends the Tundra a measure of civility, and a passel of off-road trims and packages provides good capability when you leave the pavement. The Tundra's latest cabin is much nicer than before, especially in the swanky upper trims, but it's still not up to the standards set by Ram and Ford. Engine, Transmission, and Performance The Tundra offers three powertrains, all of which are based on a twin-turbocharged V-6. In the base SR model, the engine is tuned for 348 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque; otherwise, it makes 389 horses and 479 pound-feet. The third option is a 473-horsepower hybrid, which we review separately. All use a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission. Tundras equipped with four-wheel drive get a part-time setup; there's no full-time system like those offered in rival trucks. Like the Ram 1500, the Tundra utilizes a coil-spring rear suspension that results in a suppler ride in day-to-day operation. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo Though the current Tundra is much better in terms of material quality and design than the previous generation, it fails to bring anything new or revolutionary to the full-size truck segment. The base interior is a bit drab and has some hard plastics here and there. Moving up the trim hierarchy brings the usual material and feature upgrades culminating with the top-of-the-line Capstone’s semi-aniline leather upholstery, American walnut interior trim, acoustically laminated side windows, and head-up display. The dashboard design is chunky yet purposeful-looking, and a wide center console houses the shift lever along with plenty of storage. Analog gauges and a small driver-information display are standard, but the top trim levels have a digital instrument cluster. The extended cab (. Double Cab) is available with either a 6.5- or bed while the longer crew cab (. CrewMax) is offered with a 5.5- or box. Opting for the shorter cab won’t affect front-row comfort but reduces rear-seat legroom from 41.6 inches in the crew cab to just 33.3. Read More
