Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."
Sacramento, California -- Digging into my files early this year, I was stunned to find that I had not stepped behind the wheel of a Toyota Tundra full-size pickup in nearly six years.
But then again, as Motor Trend magazine accurately pointed out, the basic architecture of the truck had not changed since 2008 -- an amazing development given the brutal competition in a segment that includes such heavyweights as the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Ram 1500.
Toyota responded in 2022 with an all-new Tundra, which Motor Trend said "looks to put up a far stiffer fight" against the competition.
Generously equipped, exquisitely engineered and sporting fit and finish at the head of the class in the full-size pickup segment, the Tundra is once again a major player.
While my tester was
decidedly dressed up, the entry-level price for the revised Tundra is a reasonable $35,950. From there, for the right price, you can equip your Tundra up to royal palace levels.
If the goal in the contemporary truck game is to get one's attention with an over-the-top grille, the 2022 Tundra is now firmly entrenched in the club. The massive, muscular-looking front end looks capable of knocking down a brick wall with ease.
The big-brute appearance is not an indication of highway discomfort. I found the Tundra to be a smooth-riding -- and relatively quiet -- pickup. That's a rarity in this class.
The basic power plant is the i-FORCE 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V-6 rated at 389 horsepower.
Need more? Opt for the i-FORCE MAX powertrain that generates 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and a whopping 583 foot-pounds of torque at only 2,400 rpm. Those are the kind of numbers that get serious attention from pickup devotees.
From the driver's cockpit, an extensive layout of safety, security, comfort and convenience features is within easy reach. The Tundra competes nicely now in a pickup segment that spoils its buyers with four-star features inside a rugged exterior. This Tundra also features an available audio multimedia system and 14-inch touchscreen.
Simply put, the Tundra now checks all the boxes that full-size pickup buyers want. No longer an also-ran, it ranks right up there with the American-made big boys.
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