The new Toyota Tundra was somewhat of a surprise for many enthusiasts as the brand went a different direction with the powertrain choices by losing the V8 and bringing us a twin-turbo V6 and a hybrid setup with the same turbo V6 for upper-trimmed models. After spending time with the new design and setup, there’s a lot to like about what Toyota has done to their workhorse full-size truck. Moreover, there’s a lot to appreciate in the Tundra TRD Pro version, with welcomed off-roading ruggedness and prowess that doesn’t compromise on its ability to be a versatile truck that you can comfortably drive every day on the road.
As I explained in my very first run-in with the new Toyota Tundra and the TRD Pro trim, the truck has been improved in just about every conceivable way. That includes liking the new powertrain, which comes in the iForce Max hybrid variation in the TRD Pro trim. You can almost think of the new hybrid powertrain to be a robust version of what you find in the new Prius, only a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 tuned to give you a healthy dose of power, 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. That power is sent through a 10-speed automatic transmission that, coupled with the electric motor, is a virtually seamless act for power transitions and management, hardly ever leaving you wanting for more power.
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Acceleration is strong as the torque surges through the midrange, getting up to 60 mph in about 5.7 seconds. The four-wheel-drive system is there with 4-high or 4-low settings reserved for off-roading only, which is the one continued downfall for the Tundra in not having a 4-high-auto setting that can adapt to road surfaces. Instead, the four-wheel-drive settings can only be used off-road, where you can then enable the pre-set terrain drive modes for conquering Mud, Sand, Rock, or an Automatic mode leaving, the computer to sort traction out. There’s also a locking rear differential and a Crawl Control system to automatically modulate the throttle and brakes via five low-speed settings on off-roading terrain.
The Tundra TRD Pro doesn’t skimp on having the proper equipment to tackle off-roading duties, such as suspension that has a front-end lift of about 1.1-inches over other setups, FOX shocks with 2.5-inch internal bypass reservoirs coupled with an aluminum TRD front skid plate, underbody protection, anti-roll bar, and the 18-inch TRD forged aluminum wheels sourced from BBS wrapped with all-terrain tires. Because of the off-roading nature of the Tundra TRD Pro, the lack of side steps is beneficial for navigating serious off-roading terrain but is a pain for entry and exit of the vehicle as some may have to literally jump or climb into the tall-statured truck. If you ever have to tow, you will be pleased with the ability to tow as much as 11,175 pounds and haul as much as 1,600 pounds. Not only do you have the unique sporty looks of the TRD Pro, but you also have serious off-roading chops to match.
The Tundra TRD Pro may be an exact match for vehicles like the new Ford F-150 Raptor in many eyes, but it holds its own and has a few tricks, such as having significantly better fuel efficiency (18 mpg city, 20 mpg highway, 19 mpg combined), a unique eye-popping look from its digital camo-styled wheel well trim, rather unique paint options, and Toyota’s historical reliability that you hope finds its way to the new Tundra.
The large and open interior of the new Tundra TRD Pro is much of what you find in the previous trims that I’ve reviewed of the Tundra, apart from the TRD Pro having unique seat patterns with TRD Pro logos embroidered, accent stitching, a customized steering wheel and shifter with a red stripe, and TRD Pro all-weather floor mats. There’s also a welcoming feel and operation to the simplistic switch gear throughout the dashboard, including the rather simplified 14-inch infotainment system. The large touchscreen infotainment is unique and easy to use, but I find there could have been more integration with features and the ability to display more core functions at once with so much screen real estate. Additionally, the use of a created account is essential for the owner of the Tundra to get the full ability to customizing settings to your liking. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration work seamlessly.
Toyota included all their safety systems grouped in the latest Safety Sense 2.5 collective that features all the expected active safety features. Those include full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist/lane tracing assist, a pre-collision system with emergency collision warning and emergency braking, road sign assist, automatic high beams, rear cross-traffic alert w/emergency braking, and a trick 360-degree camera system that provides additional angles for the truck bed, towing hitch, and off-roading approach angles.
Some may have raised an eyebrow or two at the new Toyota Tundra’s pricing scale. However, with all that you get in the Tundra TRD Pro trim, there’s a value proposition that is seen when you start to compare the Tundra TRD Pro to its competition. However, Toyota hasn’t been shy about raising prices recently, even after the introduction of the new Tundra for the 2022 model year. Now, for the 2024 model year, the Tundra TRD Pro starts quite a bit higher at $72,130, and my test vehicle comes to $74,270 with just one option and a destination charge of $1,850. Still, I think Toyota has a special and somewhat unique vehicle in the new Tundra TRD Pro, a truck that shouldn’t be overlooked in the scheme of picking one of the most reliable brands around.
