Is The Refresh Worth All the Hype?
Words and Photos By: Jason Stilgebouer
The all-new 2022 Toyota Tundra has finally received a long-awaited refresh. The Tundra has solidified its place in history as a truck with no-frills but excellence and reliability to stand the test of time. Toyota has said goodbye to the days of the V8 drivetrain, and a twin-turbo V6 is standard under the hood with the option to go hybrid. When we got a call from Toyota to come to check it out for ourselves at Phoenix Raceway, we had to see if this new truck would stand up to the legendary cult-like status of the second-gen Tundra. This good-looking truck gives you a little bit of everything to hold its own in line with offerings from the big three.
The second-generation Tundra was introduced in 2007 and built to take on American full size pickup trucks on all levels. Its mission was accomplished; the Tundra became THE workhorse in the Toyota lineup. As years went on, it remained largely unchanged and started to fall behind the competition. This third-generation truck exceeds our expectations, but it may not be for everyone.
The looks seem to be of great debate, but it has grown on us tremendously and now appears exquisite in our eyes. Truly the designers were ahead of their time on this one. The biggest change for the 2022 Tundra is the loss of the beloved V8. Instead, the new model sports a twin-turbo 3.5L V6 making 389 horsepower or an optional I-Force Max hybrid putting out 437 horsepower and 583 pound-per-foot of torque. With the new drivetrains this 3rd gen truck achieves estimated MPG figures of 24 on highway and 20 in city driving. I-Force Max hybrid drivetrains are standard on TRD Pro and ultra-luxury Capstone models, but optional on Limited, Platinum, and 1794 Edition trims. Unfortunately, the hybrid is not available on basic SR and SR5 trims.
Toyota has been making hybrids for over 20 years, but this system differs a bit from their prior offerings. Instead of a parallel system where electric motors power planetary gears, the I-Force Max is a series system. A 48-horsepower electric motor is slotted between the twin-turbo V6 and 10-speed automatic transmission, this allows the engine and electric motor to work together and deliver maximum torque to the wheels. The new Tundra can tow up to 12,000lbs when properly equipped with optional rear airbags; an impressive figure for any size truck.
We felt configurations were somewhat limited in previous years, but in addition to different trims, the Tundra is now available in a Crew Max with a 6.5 ft bed or 5.5 ft bed to give buyers the exact truck they want. For trims, Toyota has kept their 1794, Limited, Platinum, Sr5, and TRD Pro options in the lineup, and added the new Capstone edition this year.
A never before seen flagship truck, the Capstone is top-tier ultra-luxury. With a black and white leather interior copped from Lexus and rolling on 22-inch chrome accented, the Capstone stands apart. In addition to the leather, the cabin is fully loaded with all the latest luxury tech features. On the dash is a 14 inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 12.3 inch digital gauge cluster, 10 inch color heads-up display, and a JBL sound system.
Although great features like this come at a price; the Tundra Capstone starts at $75,225 or $6725 more than the TRD Pro. It is several thousand dollars more expensive than the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado 1500, and Ram 1500’s luxury trim levels; they all start under $70,000. If you have the cash to swing it and luxury is your vice, then the Capstone is the truck for you.
Driving the luxury Capstone model was nice and felt engaging, but what about the TRD Pro? Well, Toyota gave us the keys to their prototype 2022 Tundra TRD Pro and let us take it for a spin. The hybrid drivetrain comes standard on the TRD Pro, and operates seamlessly. I couldn’t detect any clunky switching between the motor and engine; its integration provides a driving experience that makes the electric motor almost unnoticeable. What you do notice is the immediate power and torque delivery to the wheels. This truck is an excellent driving experience.
A major interior upgrade for this truck is the scale; compared to the previous generation, Toyota slightly scaled things down and made everything more user-friendly. No longer do you have to take off your seatbelt in order to access the glove box or radio. While the all-red interior certainly isn’t for everyone, the design is beautiful and modern. Living with this truck every day wouldn’t be so bad.
The TRD Pro comes standard with a rear locking differential, BBS Forged wheels, skid plate, and upgraded Fox 2.5 inch Internal Bypass shocks. Standard across all Tundras is the new 5-link coil rear suspension, which allows for a massive improvement in ride quality over leaf springs. The TRD Pro paired with aggressive off-road styling, integrated LED lights, and a suspension lift, makes for a great off-road package. But that is it; the TRD Pro is no more than an appearance package with upgraded shocks and skid plates. Even though this truly is a nice vehicle to drive on and off-road, at $66,805 we would be hard-pressed to justify the purchase when comparing off-road performance to a base model Ford Raptor at $69,525. The Raptor was developed to do one thing only, go off-road, and the TRD Pro was developed to be a truck you can still tow with, live with, and take off-road. Depending on what you want to do, they may suit your lifestyle differently.
At the end of the day, the new Tundra models are great trucks. After years of desperately needing an upgrade, it was well worth the wait. From the leading class design to the V6 hybrid drivetrain technology, the Tundra certainly won’t disappoint.