I drove the all-new 2022 Toyota Tundra at the launch event last fall, and loved it. (The truck is so good, we featured in our GP100 for 2021.) But it’s essential to test vehicles in real-life conditions. That’s particularly true with full-size trucks, which can feel far more massive when you’re not cruising empty farm-to-market roads in rural Texas.
Toyota loaned me a Limited trim Tundra with the base twin-turbo V6 to daily drive for a week in my home in southeastern Michigan. My initial impression held firm: The new Tundra is a damn good, all-around truck. It may even be the one I would buy if I were in the market for one.
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Driving the new Tundra is a night-and-day difference from the old one
Tyler Duffy
I had a soft spot for the last-gen Tundra. It was a reliable, unapologetic and old-school truck. But it was getting ancient — it entered production when I was still wearing puka shell necklaces in 2006 — and the new version is a comprehensive upgrade.
The twin-turbo V6, paired with the 10-speed automatic setup, makes the truck far smoother, dramatically quicker and more powerful. The stiffer chassis and coil-sprung suspension improved the handling and ride quality. The Tundra once felt ogreish driving around town. Now it feels lithe, athletic and nearly effortless.
When discussing the Big Three full-size trucks, I generally preface whatever I say with the fact that they're all excellent and impressive. Distinguishing between them can feel like splitting hairs. Toyota can't go quite as nuts with the Tundra, but this truck deserves to be considered a competitor on that level.
The new Toyota Tundra enjoys the dirt
Tyler Duffy
There aren't any mountains to climb in southeastern Michigan, but I put the Tundra through some regular-use-case off-roading: carting the family off to visit my mother-in-law's horses at her barn.
The trip included a long trek over a rutted dirt road, muddy after recent rain. The Ford Edge I was traveling with slowed to a crawl and darted to avoid bigger ruts, but with the TRD Off-Road package including Bilstein shocks and all-terrain tires, my Tundra just steamed right through it with ease — and without the cabin getting rattled.
The Limited-trim Tundra would likely be my pick
Tyler Duffy
If I were to buy a Tundra, I would settle on the Limited trim. Though I haven't experienced the new Capstone trim, I would argue that Toyota probably isn't matching Ford and Ram on the luxury front. And while I love the TRD Pro, it's pricey and will have a long waitlist.
The Limited trim keeps the price reasonable and offers compelling features. You can add the TRD Off-Road package ($3,085), and also opt for the twin-turbo V6 hybrid that brings 583 lb-ft of torque. And you get at least a taste of luxury you don't get with the SR5, with a leather-trimmed steering wheel and (crucial) ventilated front seats.
Good luck getting the Tundra's EPA fuel economy in real driving
Tyler Duffy
The new Tundra is much more efficient with the V6 engine. But that just means it improved from one of the least efficient vehicles on the road with the 5.7-liter V8 to more or less on par with other full-size trucks. The EPA rates my test vehicle for 18 mpg city and 23 mpg highway; I haven't been able to even approach that.
I averaged about 14–15 mpg city in everyday driving. I got the Tundra up to 18 mpg on a trip with a long highway stint. Those were about the same results I earned with the Tundra on the Texas launch. I'm not particularly leadfooted, so I'm at something of a loss.
