First Runner-Up: Toyota Tundra Limited Access Cab TRD
While the T100 could be considered Toyota's first shot at gaining a slice of the fullsize pickup pie, without a V-8, it was a tough sell. Fullsize pickup buyers demand strong motors. And with the new 245hp, 32-valve I-Force V-8, the Toyota Tundra is poised to steal some of that pie.
Plainly speaking, this is a fast truck. It (quite literally) smoked the competition at the track with the best 0-60 and quarter-mile times of the bunch. And with its wide powerband and flat torque curve, nearly every tester rated this pickup at the top of the passing-power category. It had a smooth linear power thrust that felt like the best of the truck and luxury car V-8s in one engine. This was not surprising, since the 4.7L DOHC mill came directly (albeit modified for more torque) from Toyota's flagship Land Cruiser. Yet the icing on the cake was that this remarkable underhood prowess produced the best mileage number of the test at 16.0 mpg. We all agreed that the four-speed automatic could be an even smoother and more precise shifter than the 4L60E in Chevy's Silverado, our fullsize tranny favorite. In fact, the powertrain was so good that the Tundra won our Mechanical scoring section outright.
Reviews were more critical when it came to the highway section. While the steering was very precise and nicely weighted, two testers found the handling to be a bit on the mushy side, and the truck had a tendency to wag its tail in the tight twisties. On-road ride quality, though, scored at the top of nearly every test book, with one tester commenting, "Close your eyes on the freeway and it's a 'Cruiser." While we don't necessarily recommend this blind-driving evaluation, we can say the Tundra is probably one of--if not the--quietest and smoothest trucks available.
On the trail, the Tundra was a bit of a surprise. Many testers were expecting our TRD-equipped unit to have Toyota's wonderful rear diff lock. Unfortunately, market research determined that this low-volume option was not necessary for the Tundra. Suspension tuning was good for rocky trails, and it scored well here with several testers. However, we experienced some rear-end hop in the sand that one tester described as "jiggly."
The Toyota soaked the desert whoops driven at 5-10 mph with ease, but as the speed increased to, say, 15 mph, we felt the frontend unload--much like the Ram--most likely due to street-biased suspension tuning. The transfer case was another sticky point for testers, because the Tundra requires a specific order for the buttons to be pressed to engage and disengage low range. Once learned, this became second nature, but overall our testers preferred the simplicity of a lever.
Inside, comparisons to the Land Cruiser filled test books. From overall fit and finish to the quality of the materials and the feel of the switchgear and seats, the Tundra Limited's interior was probably the finest available in any pickup. The driving position and way the steering wheel fell into hand made this truck the MVP for long-stretch highway. Also, while not usually a major selling point for our staff, the premium stereo rivaled any factory system we've heard.
Overall, this was a very competent fullsize pickup. In many ways, it takes the breed to new levels of comfort, performance, quality, and luxury. Its strengths are benchmark and should give Toyota the healthy slice of the fullsize pie it deserves. Yet, the fact that this impressive truck did not take the gold in our test this year makes our winner just that much more impressive.
Stuff We Liked
Toyota Door Handles
It doesn't take a nuclear physicist to know door handles belong outside the vehicle. However, Toyota is the only manufacturer to incorporate outside door handles for an extended-cab pickup.
Toyota Sound System
It's not too often that we make a fuss about truck stereos, but the optional Premium three-in-one audio system in our Tundra was one of the best factory units we've heard in any vehicle.