2023 Toyota Tundra

Domestic manufacturers dominate the full-size truck market in the USA, but the excellent new Toyota Tundra was the only truck to register a sales increase last year. It is built in San Antonio, Texas, alongside the Sequoia full-size SUV with which it shares a platform. Two power units are on offer in the new Tundra, of which one is a hybrid, and that model is covered in a separate review. The non-hybrid Tundra's 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 is tuned to produce 348 horsepower in SR trim, going up to 389 hp in higher trims. The only transmission is a ten-speed automatic, and it sends the torque to either the rear wheels or to all four wheels by way of an on-demand, electronically controlled 4WD system.

Two cab styles are available, a CrewMax and a full Double Cab, and the cargo box can be had in one of three lengths. There are various permutations of these variables, depending on the trim. This kind of flexibility in its configuration is a must when the Toyota Tundra has fierce competitors like the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ram 1500, so it's pleasing to know that Toyota tries to cater to as wide an audience as possible.

Toyota Tundra prices start with the SR Double Cab's MSRP of $37,865. The SR5 trim's added features push its base price up to $43,370, with the Limited trim starting at $49,465. Looking at the more-luxurious Tundra trims, the Platinum starts at $60,005, while the 1794 Edition begins at $60,360. These are all 2WD prices and adding 4WD costs $3,000 on all trims except for the Platimum, for which it only costs $2,670. A huge variation of bed-length combinations is possible, and all trims except for the SR are also available with the longer CrewMax body. Each combination comes with a slightly different price.

These Toyota Tundra MSRPs exclude dealer mark-ups, options, and destination charges. In the case of the Toyota Tundra, the destination charge amounts to $1,795 for all derivatives.

The latest Toyota Tundra features a coil-spring rear suspension, which improves both handling and ride comfort in comparison to traditional leaf springs. It doesn't turn the Tundra into a sports car, mind you, but the rear coil springs mean that suspension control is much improved, and wallowing in sudden direction changes is reduced too.

Performance-wise, the 2023 Toyota Tundra is class-competitive and it's doubtful that buyers will lament the absence of a V8. The 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 produces 389 hp and 479 lb-ft in most trim levels, and the ten-speed automatic to which it is matched smoothly keeps the engine in its optimum power band. For the entry-level SR trim, the engine is detuned to produce 348 hp and 405 lb-ft, likely to entice more buyers into the more expensive SR5 trim. Expect a non-hybrid Tundra with the 389-hp engine to run a 0-60-mph sprint in the mid-six-second range.

Towing performance is good, but down on its domestic rivals. The highest listed towing capacity in Toyota's data sheet is 12,000 lbs with a 4x4 Double Cab SR5, which is down about 2,000 lbs on that of a Ford F-150 and around 1,500 lbs less than a Chevy Silverado can manage.

The new Toyota Tundra is as good as anything else in its class, and its blend of attributes means that it is a good all-rounder as well. Appropriately specified, the Tundra has a comfortable cabin, good ride quality, plenty of performance, a dizzying array of cabin and load-bed combinations, and whatever equipment level you desire. The IIHS safety review of the Toyota Tundra also revealed top-notch crash-test results as well. Yes, the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado can tow heavier loads and may be quicker, but they won't ride as comfortably, which is more important to general users than ultimate towing capacity. Thousands of buyers agreed with this assessment in 2022, otherwise the Tundra never would have experienced such a sharp climb in sales in a very competitive market.

Sensible shoppers will most likely be drawn to the SR5 trim, due to its enhanced power output and slightly less spartan interior, and then add the Premium Package with options for $2,440 for improved occupant comfort. Loading an SR5 with $9,095 worth of TRD Sport Premium Package is another worthwhile approach because it will bring an SR5 close to the equipment levels of a Platinum trim (minus the leather trim but with the TRD goodies), but still realize a saving of almost $8,000 over the higher trim.

The only downside will come when it's time to trade it in, because you won't get much back of the option packs' extra outlay. If you're not interested in adding extras, the Limited trim strikes the best balance between cost and features in standard form.