Toyota has been making pickup trucks for decades now, and they've all been very popular in global markets, due to their capability and their proven reliability. The most popular pickup truck from the Japanese automaker is undoubtedly the Hilux, which enjoyed a decent stint in North America, simply retitled as the Toyota Pickup. To this day, it's very popular for camper conversions.
However, that truck soon went away, and Toyota started putting together a slightly different full-size pickup that would appeal more to American tastes. That truck was the Tundra, which further improved on the proven capability of Toyota's trucks, while making it bigger and even more capable. The Tundra languished with no redesign in Toyota's lineup for a while, but for 2022, they totally redid it. Now, for 2023, the Tundra gets some interesting new features.
2022 Toyota Tundra
- Available hybrid power
- Up to 24 MPG
- Now available with a lift kit
- Make: Array
- Model: Tundra, Tundra Hybrid
- Segment: Array
- Engine/Motor: 3.4-Liter Twin-Turbo V6 / 3.4-Liter Twin-Turbo Hybrid V6
- Horsepower: 348-437 hp
- Torque: 405-583 lb-ft
- Drivetrain: RWD / AWD
- Transmission: 10-speed automatic
- MSRP: $37,865 (base)
- Relatively frugal hybrid powertrain
- Awesome design
- Capable and packed with features
- Not the best in class towing capacity
- Below par payload capacity
- Interior room isn't that good
2023 Tundra Overview
The 2023 Toyota Tundra marks the second model year of the fully redesigned third generation Toyota Tundra, which Toyota introduced for the 2022 model year. The new Tundra is better than ever at just about every category, from styling, to technology, to powertrain, to capability. 2023 doesn't bring any massive changes, except the option of a new TRD lift kit. Off-roader versions of full-size pickup trucks, both performance and regular, are very popular nowadays. Toyota's contribution to this trend is the introduction of a three-inch lift kit for the Tundra, through their in-house tuning department TRD. Also new for 2023 is the SX Package, which is available on the lower trim levels. It blacks out various trim pieces on the outside and also includes black wheels.
This should give the Tundra better composure and capability on the rough stuff, particularly on the off-road-focused TRD Pro model. Other than that, the 2023 Tundra is the same as the previous one. The new styling was definitely controversial at first, but it's certainly a distinctive-looking truck. The front end features a truly massive grille, with relatively small headlights flanking it on either side. The side profile is pretty boxy and simple, while the rear features the TUNDRA script stamped out on the rear tailgate.
For 2023, the Tundra keeps the same trim levels as before, being the SR, SR5, Limited, Platinum, 1794 Edition, TRD Pro, and the luxurious Capstone. Toyota also offers a few different cab and bed sizes to suit every pickup truck buyer's needs. The Tundra continues its battle with the leaders of the full-size pickup segment, including the best-selling Ford F-150, the Chevrolet Silverado, which is full of cool features, the GMC Sierra, and the Nissan Titan, even though that one is kind of a flop.
2023 Tundra Powertrains
A slight point of controversy with the 2022 Tundra, at first, were the powertrains. The old one had the tried and true 5.7-liter V8, but the new generation drops that in favor of two V6 units, one conventional, and the other a hybrid. In both iterations, it's a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6. In the regular Tundra, it produces 389 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque, while in the hybrid, which Toyota calls the i-FORCE MAX, it puts out a considerable 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque.
Both of these powertrains are plenty powerful to get the Tundra moving, and they're not as bad on gas mileage as you might expect. The EPA estimates the regular Tundra can top 18 MPG in the city, whereas the Hybrid can do up to 20 in the city, and both versions get a 24 MPG highway estimate, which isn't too bad considering the size and weight of this vehicle. The maximum payload capacity is 1,940 lbs, whereas the maximum towing capacity, while slightly down from the rivals, is still pretty good at 12,000 lbs.
2023 Tundra Interior And Features
The 2023 Tundra's interior is also a massive improvement on the previous generation. It's available with a fully digital gauge cluster for the first time, whereas the center infotainment screen, which runs Toyota's latest software, can be up to 14" in diameter. The infotainment system includes everything you might expect, including smartphone connectivity, voice commands, and built-in navigation.
Some of the highlights on the options list include a JBL sound system, a power sunroof, Toyota's Crawl Control system, and power adjustable seats. The Tundra also gets the latest and greatest safety and driver assist technology, including forward collision warning, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. The Tundra is available with either a double cab, or a quad cab, known as the CrewMax in Toyota parlance. There are also three bed lengths, 5.5-ft, 6.5-ft, and 8.1-ft. The TRD Pro and Capstone models are only available with the 5.5-ft bed and the CrewMax cab configuration.
2023 Tundra Pricing
The 2023 Toyota Tundra starts at $37,865 for a base SR trim level, with the standard non-hybrid V6. You can either have the SR as a double cab with a 6.5-ft or an 8.1-ft bed, or as a CrewMax with a 5.5-ft bed. The crown jewel of the Tundra lineup is the luxurious Capstone, which starts at $76,145, and is only available with one bed and cab combo, and exclusively the hybrid powertrain.
While it might be slightly below its rivals in some aspects, the 2023 Toyota Tundra is still a fantastic entrant into the full-size pickup segment, and it certainly has the potential of outlasting all of its competitors, thanks to that legendary dependability.