Toyota Tundra

The Toyota Tundra is a full-size pickup truck sold by Toyota, replacing the T100. The Tundra was nominated for the North American Truck of the Year award and was Motor Trend magazine's Truck of the Year for 2000.

See Wikicars' comprehensive Toyota Tundra Review.

Recent Changes

 * For MY2010, both the Tundra and its SUV sister, the Sequoia receives a facelift. Besides the aesthetic changes, more important is the introduction of the new 4.6 litre V8 developing 310 hp and 327 lb-ft of peak torque matched to a six-speed automatic transmission. The new powerplant squeezes out 34 more hp compared to the old engine while utilizing .1 litre less displacement. Fuel economy is now rated by the EPA at 15 mpg city and 20 mpg highway on the Tundra 4x2 models and 14 mpg city and 19 mpg highway on the Sequoia.


 * The Toyota Tundra was completely redesigned for the 2007 model year. The new Tundra answered many critics of the first generation model - specifically, the new Tundra offered a large displacement V8 (5.7L), and the new 2007 Tundra was also substantially larger than than the previous model.


 * For 2008, the Tundra has not changed substantially. Toyota now offers a spartan "Tundra Grade" trim package that is expected to appeal to fleet and commercial users, and Toyota has continued to improve the number and variety of packages available in an effort to match their domestic competitors "mix and match" equipment choices.


 * In 2009 or 2010, Toyota is expected to release a diesel version of their truck. Details are still sketchy - some anticipate the new Tundra diesel will remain a 1/2 ton truck, others believe the new diesel will be a 3/4 ton - 1 ton. There is evidence to support both positions - Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe confirmed that "a new clean-diesel V8 engine will be offered in both the Tundra and the Sequoia in the near future," indicating the engine will be for a light duty application. However, Toyota also showed a dual rear wheel concept truck with an 8.0L diesel at the 2007 SEMA car show.


 * One model that isn't expected is a hybrid Toyota Tundra. Jim Lentz, President of Toyota Motor Sales USA, stated that "different models require different types of fuel saving technology…there may be a few [models] where hybrid technology doesn’t make sense" later stating that the Tundra would not be featuring a hybrid power train in the immediate future.

Styles and Major Options
The 2006 Tundra comes in 3 major trims: the Tundra Regular Cab, Tundra Access Cab, and Tundra Double Cab. Each one of these is available in a choice of 2WD or 4WD, manual or automatic transmission, and either a V6 or V8 engine. There is also a special Darrell Waltrip edition of the Tundra, only 2000 of which were produced and sold.

Pricing
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Gas Mileage
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As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:

Engine and Transmission
Specifications, details, graphs, pictures and other information regarding the powertrain is placed in this section.

Performance
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If using information gathered from Road Test articles from a reputable automotive source, then please make sure to cite the quote.

Reliability
Automotive Information Systems reports that the Tundra experienced significant engine problems up until 2003, when improvements were made. At that point, although the Tundra still experienced moderate engine problems, Automotive Information Systems awarded the Tundra its overall Green rating. At the same time, the Tundra is scheduled for a redesign for the 2007 model year, so reliability information will have to be compiled again for that model.

RECALL ALERT: On December 14th, 2007, Toyota issued a recall affecting 15,600 trucks equipped with 4WD. The recall stems from a faulty rear propeller shaft which could separate at a joint because it was improperly heat treated by Toyota's supplier. This latest recall stands as the most recent in a growing list that has been plaguing the embattled truck since its debut. 


 * Toyota Tundra Reliability Issues

RECALL ALERT: On January 25th, 2008, Toyota announced a recall for the Toyota Tundra entailing 15,616 MY 2007 Tundra 4-wheel drive pickup trucks. The issue is due to the improper heat treatment of the slip yokes in the manufacturing process which may break causing the propeller shaft to separate at the joint and come into contact with the road surface or the fuel tank resulting in a loss of vehicle control or even a fuel leak. 

Safety
Though it has only received 3/5 stars on its rollover tests, the Toyota Tundra has consistently received 4/5 and 5/5 star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for its frontal and side impact tests. For comprehensive crash test information see CarsDirect or the NHTSA website.

Colors
The Toyota Tundra is available in the following colors:
 * Natural White
 * Silver Sky Metallic
 * Phantom Gray Pearl
 * Desert Sand Mica
 * Salsa Red Pearl
 * Spectra Blue Mica
 * Timberland Mica
 * Bluesteel Mica
 * Black

Main Competitors

 * Nissan Titan
 * Ford F150
 * Chevrolet Silverado
 * GMC Sierra
 * Dodge Ram

Hybrid Models
In 2003, Toyota committed to producing a "hybrid version of every model by 2012." By January 2008, Toyota backed off this commitment, stating that a "hybrid isn't the best technology" for the Tundra and Sequoia at this time. Toyota did re-commit to producing a hybrid version of each model in their lineup by 2020, but this has been viewed as more of a public relations move than a true commitment.

Interior
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Resale Values
Kelley Blue Book estimates that the Tundra should hold 65-67% of its original value after 24 months and 50-52% of its value after 48 months. They report that this is better than the Ford F150 and Nissan Titan, and far better than the Dodge Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

Criticisms

 * No 3/4-ton model
 * No diesel model

Third Generation (2007-present)
A much larger Tundra was introduced at the Chicago Auto Show for 2007. It is larger than the competing Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado (and Avalanche), Dodge Ram, and Nissan Titan and sports styling like the Toyota FTX concept shown at the North American International Auto Show in 2004. The Tundra is built in San Antonio, Texas and Gibson County, Indiana for the North American market.

Engine choices include:
 * 4.0 L V6
 * 4.7 L V8
 * 5.7 L V8

The 2007+ Tundra has a maximum towing capacity of 10,800 lb (4,536 kg) in the 2wd Regular Cab configuration with the 5.7L V8, but many configurations featuring the 5.7L now offer 10,000 lbs + towing capacity.

Second Generation (2004-2006)
The exterior was updated for 2004, and new engines were introduced in 2005: a 4.0 L V6 and 4.7 L V8 with VVT-i. The door handles were updated this time, matching that of the Toyota Sequoia.

First Generation (1999-2003)
Publicly introduced in 1998 as a 1999 model, the Tundra was initially to be called the T150. However, the Ford Motor Company and automotive pundits felt that this name was too close to the market-leading Ford F150, and following a lawsuit by Ford, the truck was quickly renamed to Tundra.

Toyota countersued, and forced Ford to change the name of their Lincoln LS6 and LS8, introduced around the same time as the Tundra, as Toyota felt that it was too close to that of its iconic Lexus LS sedan.

The Tundra was larger than the T100; featuring a 4.7 liter 2UZ-FE V8 with 245 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque, but still suffered as being too small and carlike to pose a serious threat to the domestic pickup trucks. Although sales were double the dismal rate of the T100, and though it arguably ate some sales from Dodge, the 100,000 Tundras sold each year failed to dent the surging Ford and GM trucks.

Toyota T100 (1993-1998)
This is the predecessor to the Tundra and was how toyota started with the full-size pickups. It was criticized for being too small and still using similar engines to a compact truck. Engine choices included either a 2.7 liter 4-cylinder or 3.4 liter V6, both supercharged to make up for the lack of a V8.

Toyota Stout (1954-1986)
The Tundra's history dates back to the Toyota Stout. Engine choices were the same as the smaller Hilux. Engine displacements ranged from 1.5 liters, (1954-1960) 1.9 liters, (1960-1972) 2.2 liters (1972-1979) and in its last generation (1979-1986) 2.4 liters, all of the 4-cylinder variety.

Trivia
Some prototypes of the Tundra were given to racing legends Ivan "Ironman" Stewart and Rod Millen.

A Toyota Tundra was featured in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, and in 2003 the truck was also available in a special edition inspired by this movie and called Tundra T3.

A Double Cab version of Tundra was unveiled at the 2003 Chicago Auto Show and joined the Regular and Access Cab models in the 2004 lineup.

In 2004, the Tundra became part of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.