Taking on these huge sellers (the Ford F-150 is perennially the largest-selling vehicle in America) required Toyota to marshal all its U.S.-based resources. That process yielded not only one superb truck, but a top-notch network of suppliers and a brand-new $1.2 billion assembly facility in Princeton, Indiana. To better accommodate the record numbers of people now choosing pickups as primary personal-use vehicles, the broad-based Tundra lineup includes regular and Access Cab configurations; base, SR5, and Limited trim levels; two- and four-wheel drive; and a choice of V-6 or V-8 engines. Factor in a host of buyer-specific options-from primo sound systems to a TRD-spec off-road package-and you've got the makings of one outstanding pickup. Priced from just under $15,000 for a base regular cab to around $30,000 for a fully loaded 4WD Access Cab Limited, the new Tundra delivers a wide range of choices, as well as a dose of solid value.
Our editors found that the Tundra blends the best people-pampering attributes of a passenger car with the rough-and-ready capabilities of a true work truck. It definitely has talents well beyond those of the previous T100 truck, Toyota's initial foray into the larger-than-compact pickup realm. Although with a 128.3-inch wheelbase, 75.2-inch width (79.3 on limited mod- els) and 217.5-inch length, the Tundra does still give up a smidgen to its full-size counterparts from Chevy, Dodge, and Ford a bit in terms of pure size. But one payback for that modest tradeoff comes in greater maneuverability in traffic and easier parking.
Clean, contemporary sheetmetal gives the Tundra both a tidy aerodynamic profile and a substantial visual presence. That sleek skin conceals myriad sound-attenuation tweaks-including acoustic foam in the A-pillars and doors, generous quantities of sound deadener on the firewall and floor, and rubber-isolated cab mounts, all of which help minimize extraneous noise and vibration. The Tundra's inner sanctum also displays a host of typical Toyota design cues, most prominent being highly legible analog gauges, user-friendly ergonomic detailing, and the kind of fit and finish you'd expect in a Camry.
Whether trimmed in standard cloth or optional leather, there's a quality feel throughout this people-oriented pickup. Even the base model boasts three 12V power points, an AM/FM/cassette sound system, and full carpeting. On the safety front, the Tundra also comes with dual airbags, three-point belts at all outboard seating locations, front belt pretensioners and force limiters, plus side impact beams in the doors.