Tundra takes its place with the big boys
MACHO LOOK: Once considered a bit player, revised 2016 model makes a splash in full-sized pickup market
When launched, the Toyota Tundra was panned for being too small and a bit of a one-trick pony.
That’s now a thing of the past. With three cab choices, two engines and a choice of two- and four-wheel-drive models, it’s now large and it has substance. Even the tester’s name — Tundra 4x4 TRD Pro Double Cab SR 5.7L — was big. And the full-sized hat proclaims its status is equally overblown.
The front end of the TRD Pro hearkens back to the Land Cruiser; the Toyota logo hogging the grille is a dead ringer for the one used on the 1979 LC. The imposing facade was enough to send left-lane bandits scurrying out of the way like roaches exposed to light when the grill loomed large in their rear-view mirrors.
It also speaks to the Tundra’s rugged nature. For example, the TRD Pro arrives with a serious suspension that features Bilstein shocks that work with TRD coil overs up front and leaf springs at the back. The setup delivers a taut ride, but is far from uncomfortable. When empty, the ride quality was more civilized than many other off-road-oriented trucks.
To add some authenticity, the TRD setup lifts the body by 50-millimetres, which adds to the macho look, but put a time zone between the pavement and the seating. To protect the underbelly in an off-road situation, there are skid plates.
From a handling perspective, the Tundra proved to be as poised as one can expect, given its ride height and workhorse nature. As is true of all tall-riding vehicles, the amount of roll is more perceived than real. The steering, however, was nicely weighted and delivered a quick response to input in spite of the winter tires.
The base engine is a 4.6-litre V-8 that’s good for 310 horsepower. The better choice is the upsized 5.7-L V-8. It increases the output to 381 h.p. and 401 pound-feet of torque. With the well-sorted six-speed automatic transmission, the Tundra can haul a 645-kilogram payload and tow a 4,490-kg trailer. This is not best in class, but is more brawn than most will ever need. The tester also arrived with both four- and seven-pin hookups and built-in trailer brakes. As a package, it is ready to roll, although the gas mileage is not great, with a test average of 18.1 L/100 km.
There are two things worthy of mention. First, while the Tow/Haul mode is designed to prepare the truck for towing a trailer by changing the driving characteristics, it also worked wonders as a Sport mode when the truck was empty. Unlike the Sport mode accessed through the shifter, Tow/Haul did not force a downshift to fourth gear. Dropping those cogs heading into a fast off-ramp put the truck in the wrong gear! Why the need to shift? It’s not as if the engine is light in power. The other plus was the twin outlet TRD exhaust: it has big rumble.
The tester arrived with four-wheel drive. It is of the part-time variety, so it really should only be engaged on a slippery surface; on dry tarmac, locking the centre differential saw the Tundra crow-hop as it tried to spin off the driveline wind-up.
The exterior’s industrial theme flows neatly into the cabin, where everything from the door handles to the central storage box is large. The layout is also logical and, given the width of the truck, key controls are within easy reach. The instrumentation is clean and uncluttered, the central infotainment screen is large enough to be useful and the format is easy to use.
The bucket seats are worthy of mention, bringing much better support than the typical truck bench. The rear environment has comfortable seating for three adults and some handy under-seat storage bins.
In the end, there really was only one nit to pick: the heated seat buttons were hidden under a lip ahead of the shifter, where they were impossible to see. This mandated fumbling to find them, and good luck seeing if they are on or off.
Finally, the 6-foot-5 bed will carry a 4x8 sheet of drywall between the wheel wells when the damped tailgate is lowered. There was also a comprehensive tie-down system and a bed liner. Sadly, it is not of the sprayed-in variety.
The Toyota Tundra was once a bit player in what has to be viewed as an epic play. With the updates and revisions to the 2016 model, it is destined to make a much bigger splash in the full-sized pickup market.