Third Place: Toyota Tundra Double Cab
What's New
While the new Tundra Double Cab might appear to be simply a Tundra with a cab that's been stretched to accommodate four fullsize doors, it is actually built on a different platform than the regular Tundra, and uses sheetmetal that's almost completely new. First, the Double Cab rides on a 140.5-inch-long wheelbase, compared to the 128.3-inch wheelbase of the regular Tundra. The longer wheelbase allows for a 74.3-inch bed, making it only 11/42 inch shorter than a normal Tundra bed. Another unique feature to the Double Cab's bed is it is nearly 4 inches deeper than those of the other Tundra models. Finally, the Double Cab Tundra is also 3 inches higher and more than 4 inches wider than a conventional Tundra. All this extra girth makes the Tundra, finally and at last, a true fullsize pickup.
The additional length and width of the Double Cab allows for a new rear seat, pulled from the Sequoia parts bin, in which adults can now sit in comfort. Access is through large doors that allow for easy entry. Under the hood is found the familiar 4.7L i-Force V-8 that puts out 240 hp and 315 lb-ft of torque. Likewise, the rest of the drivetrain and components remain unchanged from those found under the Tundra last year.
What We Liked
Every judge appreciated the refined nature of the Tundra Double Cab. On the highway, it was very quiet and the ride was plush, but well controlled. The upscale leather interior makes for a very comfortable place to spend time. The build quality and the fit and finish of our Tundra Double Cab also were excellent.
On the trail, the soft nature of the Tundra's suspension afforded a comfy ride while poking along in low range. Even as speeds picked up on desert washboard roads, the Tundra still sucked up the bumps like a champ. Plus, the Tundra also sits up nice and high like a good pickup, which gives it clearance on the trail.
What We Didn't Like
At the top of our judge's gripe list is the Tundra's power. For normal cruising the 4.7L does just fine. However, in situations where the engine was taxed, such as mountain grades and in sand, the i-Force V-8's relatively small capacity and resulting relative lack of horsepower was apparent. It isn't horrible, mind you, but the Toyota could use some more ponies under the hood-and trust us, they're on the way, down the road a year or two, in the form of a much larger engine.
The Toyota's steering was also a sore spot for the judges. It was simply too light in effort, and it provided very poor feedback. This made it hard to push the Tundra through mountain roads, as there was zero feel.
Another gripe could be found in the interior of the Toyota. While very comfortable, instead of folding up and back, or flat and out of the way, the rear seats tumble forward, up against the front seats. This odd configuration, a legacy of the Sequoia origins of those seats, made it difficult to load bigger items into the rear cab as the seats tended to partially block access.
Final Verdict
Overall, the new Tundra Double Cab is a solid, well-built truck that makes for a comfortable everyday truck. The fact that it finished third in our test should not scare you off from buying one. If you are a fan of the original Tundra, you will like the new Double Cab as this new configuration adds to the versatility of a great truck. However, we think with some more horsepower under the hood, the Tundra would be able to handle an even wider range of tasks with greater ease.
Check It Out If:
You are looking for an extremely versatile truck that you can drive every day.
Avoid It If:
You are planning to tow or haul heavy loads on a normal basis.
The Short Version
Rather like a Silverado, it's comfortable, car-like. Tight, well built, refined; beautifully finished.