AUTO REVIEW

2022 TOYOTA TUNDRA

The 2022 Toyota Tundra is all-new for this model year. Toyota’s full-size truck was extensively redesigned from top to bottom and sports two new powertrains that deliver much better fuel economy when compared to the last generation’s Tundra. This is a truck aimed squarely at truck buyers who consider Toyota their brand.

The first generation Tundra appeared on American highways back in 1999 and was designed slightly smaller than other fullsize trucks on the market. The second-generation Tundra, introduced in 2006 as a true full-sized pickup, was the first Toyota truck built in Texas at its assembly plant in San Antonio. It was powered by the massive 5.7 liter V8 engine that was awfully thirsty at the gas pump. Although this Tundra experienced several refreshes to update its look, the underpinnings of the truck remained the same. In the highly competitive full-size pickup market, the second generation Tundra was long overdue for a complete makeover.

And now, the third-generation 2022 Toyota Tundra has emerged as an all-new pickup, and it’s a delight to drive. With a base MSRP of $35,950, the Tundra is available with two powertrains, a gas-only engine and a more powerful gas-electric hybrid engine. The base Tundra comes equipped with the gasonly 389 hp, 3.5 liter i-Force aluminum block twin-turbo engine.

For more power, the 437 hp, i-Force MAX hybrid system combines the same 3.5 liter twin-turbo gasoline engine with an electric motor/generator located between the engine and the transmission. Both gas and hybrid engines are paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission. With the base i-Force engine, EPA estimated fuel economy ratings are 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. The i-Force MAX gets slightly better street mileage with 20 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.

The new Tundra’s exterior is distinguished by a massive grill and lots of very bright LED lighting. Only two cab configurations are available, the Double Cab and the roomier CrewMax. The Tundra’s interior features Toyota’s all-new Audio Multimedia system which operates via newly designed touchscreens and an all-new Human Machine Interface that delivers improved interaction through sight, touch and voice activation. The available 14-inch touchscreen impresses with high-quality, crisp visuals including functionality like pinch and zoom that mimic your smartphone.

The all-new Toyota Tundra is a long-overdue upgrade from last year’s model and is sure to win over new truck buyers.