The Toyota Tundra enters its third generation with an all-new model for 2022. The change was sorely needed, and so welcomed, that the Tundra maintains its status as an ‘everyday truck’ for those not tied to the Detroit brand.
overview
- The biggest change is the abandonment of the V8 powerplant in favor of the superior Turbo 6.
- Adding a hybrid option improves fuel economy
- Fuel consumption not as high as expected
- New infotainment now rivals rivals in usability
- Comes standard with a composite bed
When talking about pickup trucks, many people cite the Ford F-150 as a benchmark. It is the best-selling car in North America and has been a trendsetter for years. A few years ago, Ford bet on a turbocharged V6 as its flagship engine option, pairing it with more and more gears to smooth out the power transfer from the bouncing high-pressure turbo. It worked and is now being followed by other truck makers, including Toyota, which is mostly known for its very conservative approach to automotive engineering.
Aaron Turpen/New Atlas
The big changes for the 2022 Tundra start with engine options. In his two weeks driving two versions of the new truck, he found the 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine to be a solid replacement for the previous generation’s standard V8 engine. Several trim levels of the Tundra (starting with Limited and moving up the trim package) have an optional hybrid-electric version of the V6, offering more power and better fuel economy.
Toyota’s turbocharged V6 (aka “i-Force”) produces 389 horsepower (290 kW) and 479 lb-ft (649.5 Nm) of torque. It’s mated to a well-designed 10-speed automatic transmission that matches the power of the V6 well. This is a smooth and powerful combination of truck engines. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and four-wheel drive, including low gear, is available as an option on most trim levels of the new Tundra.
The 2022 Tundra’s hybrid option (called ‘i-Force Max’) combines the same engine with a hybrid system, increasing power to 437 hp (326 kW) and 583 lb-ft (790.5 Nm) of torque. While this is a significant improvement in power output, it does not translate into increased towing ability.
Towing ratings for the 2022 Toyota Tundra, like most pickup trucks, vary wildly and depend entirely on the truck’s package. The Tundra’s maximum towing rating is his 12,000 lbs (5,443 kg), but only his one model in his SR5 low-end trim can achieve that figure. The 2022 Tundra model has a towing capacity of approximately 8,000 to 11,500 pounds (3,6295,216 kg). For example, the well-equipped Limited model had a towing weight of 11,120 lbs, while the top-of-the-range Capstone model had a towing weight of 10,340 lbs (4,690 kg).
However, the real limit for towing is the cargo capacity, not the trailer. Most “bumper pull” (rear mounted ball hitch) trailers carry at least 10% of their gross weight on the rear axle of the truck, so cargo capacity determines how much can actually be safely hitched to the truck. On the Limited model, cargo capacity he was rated at 1,740 lbs (789 kg), while the Capstone added more content and was rated at just 1,485 lbs (673.5 kg). But no one tows a full capacity trailer without at least having a driver and some gear on the truck itself. Payload capacity is the entire truck, not just the bed. Therefore, it is easy to see how the maximum towing capacity drops off quickly in a real-world scenario. In this comparison, both he’s a 4×4 equipped he’s a crew he’s a cab he’s a truck with a 5.5 ft (167.5 cm) bed, so he’s using apples and apples.
This complaint about payload and towing capacity is not unique to the Tundra. All pickup trucks face this same problem. Most trucks on the road can’t really tow their maximum towing capacity unless the pickup itself is essentially empty. That’s why “best in class” and “maximum capacity” advertisements by truck manufacturers deserve a lot of attention.
The EPA has high hopes for the 2022 Tundra compared to previous generation trucks. The Limited model we drove was EPA rated for 17 mpg (13.8 l/100km) city and 22 mpg (10.7 l/100km) highway. Gas mileage for the Capstone model was 19 mpg (12.4 l/100 km) in city and 22 mpg on the highway. In the real world, both models returned the same number on a 42-mile (67.6 km) highway loop, resulting in 20.5 mpg (11.5 l/100 km) each.
Aaron Turpen/New Atlas
Inside the Tundra, too, there are a huge number of changes. A new body style means that visibility is significantly different. Visibility from the sides and rear is very high, with plenty of glazing providing plenty of visibility. However, the high bonnet and sloping edges make finding and manipulating truck corners unintuitive. The visual edge of the track is about a foot (30.5 cm) away from the actual edge, so it’s definitely easier to swipe corners past another vehicle or obstacle. Otherwise, we love the Tundra’s new body design.
The big improvement in this new generation Tundra is the infotainment. We’ve seen new user interfaces and bigger screens rolling out to Toyota’s lineup, with the Highlander and Sienna leading the way, and the Tundra has been given the same treatment, which is a welcome improvement. The screen is crisp, responsive, and the touchscreen UI is much easier to use. Screen size varies by model, but most likely will have a 14-inch wide screen for the interface. And wireless his Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are available on its touchscreen, further improving interface tech.
Likewise, the driver’s instrument and information screens (now with a 12.3-inch digital spread) have been improved with better-looking menus, quicker responses and upgraded configurations. The instruments are easy to read and are even easier to read with the optional color head-up display.
With all these improvements, the Tundra is also seeing an increase in price. The base model remains low at US$39,695 and shipping, but most buyers fall in the middle where the limited model rides, with a suggested retail price at US$52,600 plus options and shipping. Capstone starts at $74,250 plus shipping. Toyota includes two years (or 25,000 miles) of maintenance and roadside assistance with these purchases, but this makes the deal a little sweeter.
Overall, our experience with both models of the 2022 Toyota Tundra has been a positive one. As the Tundra has always been, this is a solid do-it-all truck. It doesn’t specialize in one thing, but it does everything well. The pros far outweigh the cons.
Product Page: 2022 Toyota Tundra
