Toyota Tundra has tools for the job, and much more

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo auto reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- I am sure other SUV/passenger car owners have shared my periodic lament ... Man, I wish I had a truck right now.

It happens.  That bulky piece of furniture just purchased is not going to fit in the back of a compact SUV, and you cringe at the $150 delivery fee.  Or maybe you're going to help your buddy move into new digs, and well, your little passenger car might be able to transport a lamp and a floor fan.

What I needed recently was a full-size pickup, with plentiful tie-downs and a roomy, rugged bed.  Lo and behold, a 2023 Toyota Tundra Capstone CrewMax pickup rolls up to my driveway.  Good timing as I have a desk and chairs to transport some 50 miles.  My prayers are answered.

The tested Tundra turned out to be perfect for the job at hand.  Nicely placed options to secure cargo against the rear passenger cabin, a convenient side step to hoist my aging legs into the bed and the additional bonus of power running boards.  Loading and unloading was a snap.

It's a far cry from the ancient pickup my maternal grandfather had on the old family farm in Kentucky.  Loading and unloading that beast typically resulted in injuries.  My, how pickup trucks have evolved over the years!

And to fully appreciate that, an hour drive through the Northern California countryside in the tester brought the reality home in full force.

First off, the tester's twin-turbo i-FORCE MAX V-6 hybrid powertrain is a force of nature -- 437 horsepower and 583 foot-pounds of torque at a mere 2,400 rpm.  This is power plus, and I reveled in repeatedly mashing the accelerator to dust off pokes and lean the big brute hard into corners.  Try as I might to escape adhesion, the truck was rock-solid, with virtually no body sway.  Five-star suspension on this baby.

The modified hybrid system does not buy you enormous fuel savings -- 19 miles per gallon in the city and 22 mpg on the highway -- but the power at your fingertips tends to trump fuel consumption concerns.

Like other contemporary pickup models, this Tundra is entirely civilized with luxury level features, including heated/ventilated front and rear seats.  And the tester was equipped with a full boat of state-of-the-art safety/convenience features. Given all this and the current state of full-size pickups, it was no shock to see $78,460 on the bottom line of the tester's sticker.

This being a Capstone model, my ride was dressed up with special exterior and interior touches, and the monster-size grille looked like it was capable of knocking over a trio of brick walls.

Big, rugged, roomy and a cargo king.  Just what I needed.