Toyota hasn’t redesigned the full-size Tundra pickup truck in a decade.
Previous
Next
MSRP NA NA HORSEPOWER NA NA MPG NA City NA HWY Read Reviews
Toyota hasn’t redesigned the full-size Tundra pickup truck in a decade. It has restyled it, yes. It has added modern convenience and technologies, sure. But under the sheet metal and behind the boundaries of the cabin, the Tundra is the same rig Toyota rolled out for the 2007 model year. Ten years ago, this truck was competitive. Today, it’s not.
Changes for 2016
• Larger fuel tank now holds 38 gallons of gas
• 5.7-liter V8 engine includes a trailer brake controller
• Updated Entune infotainment systems debut
• SR5 and 1794 Edition models get revised front styling
• TRD Pro model gets new seats
2016 Tundra Highlights
Toyota makes a pretty big deal about how the Tundra was designed and engineered in California and Michigan, about how the powertrain components are sourced from Alabama and North Carolina, and how final assembly takes place just outside of San Antonio, Texas. That’s because truck buyers want to buy American trucks, and never you mind that a Ram 1500 is sold by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which houses its global headquarters in London, England.
Not only does the Tundra have a compelling story to tell as far as flag waving is concerned, but now that gas is cheaper than bottled water, the 5.7-liter V8 engine’s guzzling isn’t nearly as consequential to budgets. Plus, for 2016, the fuel tank has grown from 26.4 gallons to 36 gallons, and the Tundra doesn’t inspire its driver to stop at every gas station that appears on the horizon. Still, every other light-duty pickup truck on the market, except for certain versions of the Ram 1500 equipped with a “Hemi” V8, is more efficient than this Toyota.
The Tundra also has trouble competing with newer and stronger competitors that can tow and haul more weight. Until last year, Toyota could claim it was the only company rating its truck according to SAE J2807 standards. Now, everybody does, and the Tundra comes up short at 10,500 pounds. The maximum payload rating is 2,060 pounds, far less than a Ford F-150.