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The fully boxed frame, rear suspension (which is new to Toyota for a full size truck), and of course the twin-turbo V6 are excellent upgrades to the outgoing platform, even if their not 100% beloved.
The event I was invited to centered on two Tundra options (and of course the all new Sequoia): The iForce MAX Hybrid, and the Tundra Capstone Edition. Our press briefing started with an in-depth discussion of the iForce MAX powertrain, which is setup to lead the segment for years to come. If you want to go by just the numbers, the upgraded 437hp and 583 lb ft of torque on the Hybrid blows away the 'old' 5.7 V8, and even edges out the F-150 Hybrid, which is a similar but not identical system. The 1 Motor Hybrid Vehicle (1MHV) design not only includes the 47hp Hybrid motor in-line before the transmission, it uses a common torque converter for both motors (ICE + E-Motor) for a fully mechanical connection.
That means that all of the power from the Electric system is stacked on to the Twin Turbo power, which means a much more powerful driving experience.
Unlike other trucks... THIS. IS. NOT. MARKETING.
It's true, all of it...
The power and performance from the additive hybrid system is recognized immediately for anyone that's driven the old 5.7 V8. It drives very nice, handles well, and is more economical. The reported EPA MPG of 24 highway, 22 combined is a nice bump, but will not be turning heads just for efficiency. This is not a Prius Hybrid, and doesn't even identify as one. No one should expect 'car' hybrid performance out of any truck, so for me a modest MPG boost is acceptable. Also, this is not a diesel. Even though Toyota Engineers in the US REALLY wanted to drop a diesel in this truck, it was never in the cards (at least not yet). As it turns out, this power train gives you the performance, power, and efficiency of a big gas truck while pushing MPG toward the diesel range. It really is the best of both worlds, in a gorgeous modern package.
I had the opportunity to drive three trucks during the event: The Capstone (which I towed with), the 1794 for a street test, and the TRD Pro for the off road course. All of these are the iForce MAX Hybrid, we did not test any non-hybrid vehicles.
Models Tested
All new Tundra Grade: Capstone
It's quite accurate to describe this truck as the Lexus of Toyota Tundras. It is meant to be the absolute top of the line truck, for those that use their trucks on streets, occasional towing, and for a powerful comfortable ride to dinner. It is not built to be a work truck, although it would still function perfectly fine as one.
The comforts of the capstone are undeniable. Semi-Aniline leather, heated steering wheel, dark American walnut inlay, and an illuminated interior make sitting in the truck more comfortable than my couch. The hydraulic mounted cab, powerful hybrid with multiple drive modes, and acoustic glass set this truck apart from any other in the segment.
For the towing test, Toyota sourced a lovely Airstream Travel Trailer, weighing in at about 5,500lb. Pulling out of the driveway, it's clear that there is plenty of power, and the handling is excellent. The auto leveling airbags keep the truck where it needs to be (yet another previous upgrade that's now available from the factory), and the new suspension handles the corners very well.
1794 Edition
I was excited to get the 1794 Edition on the street for a quick MPG test, and to open up the truck for some great power impressions. During my drive, after resetting the MPGs I did 10 miles in eco mode, and it topped out at just over 21MPG, pretty decent for the new truck in a very non-scientific test. For the drive back, I chose to open it up a little more, and test the new Safety Sense system.
When you get on the gas in this Twin Turbo V6 + Hybrid, you know it. It is quite peppy for a heavy truck and the power will not disappoint.
We really enjoyed the radar cruise feature on our 2018 Tundra, so when I learned about the lane keeping feature of the new Safety Sense system, I couldn't wait to try it. As you can see in the video on our page, the system will actually assist you in steering back into your lane when it can detect the lane lines. While it's a long way from self-driving, this type of safety feature will be very beneficial for keeping your precious cargo safe on the road.
TRD Pro
Of course my favorite test drive was the Off Road course.
For some events, Toyota simply drops a few rocks down and makes some holes to drive through. For this one though, they sourced a driving course that's used to test some of the top brands in the off-road and overland world. This would be a good way to experience the 2022 TRD Pro Tundra.
Not only did this course have hills, rocks, and mud, but it was TIGHT. I mean, 6" clearance between two trees tight. Toyota wasn't even sure I could get a drone flight in, that's how tight it was. As a fairly old-school off road enthusiast, I generally like to keep all the gadgets turned off. After this experience though, I definitely understand how using all the modern capabilities can make for a more enjoyable, and safe, off highway experience.
The truck drops into Low Range electronically, which also enables crawl control and the other Multi-Terrain select features. The course started simple with a tight uphill obstacle that also included a nice wheel stand. Of course the TRD Pro pushed through with barely a note of A-Trac kicking in. The all new for Tundra electronic locker is an excellent addition, and could be the new favorite feature for most of our readers.
In the old days we really loved the Manual trans in the FJ Cruiser specifically for descending steep hills. The lower gear ratio allowed us to truly crawl down rocks. It's one of the defining capabilities of an off-road vehicle. As such, I've never thought too much of Crawl Control as an option on trucks. However, now that I've experience the latest version of this - it's truly remarkable. This was not a simple rocky hill to ease down, it was a very steep, muddy, grassy hill. It is unlikely that a human in this heavy of a truck could work the brakes quick enough to crawl down without sliding. For the new TRD Pro though, it was effortless. Select your mode, steer the truck, and enjoy the ride.
Let's talk about availability. In order to keep both the Capstone and TRD Pro exclusive, and due to the ongoing chip shortage, Toyota expects those two grades to be only single digit percentages of total production numbers. That means that even when Tundra's are back to full production, the TRD Pro and the Capstone will be hard to come by. The exact availability date has not been released, but we expect to see these on the lots during the summer of 2022.
In his 2022 Tundra First Drive article, Jim illustrated how Toyota has checked all the boxes. Design, power, tech, drivetrain, massively updated all the way around. When you add the enhancements and capabilities of the iForce MAX along with the TRD Pro (or TRD Off Road) options, Toyota's legendary reliability (once the first year bugs are sorted out) the result is an amazing truck.
I truly believe this is the best option for a full size truck on the market.
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