After 14 seemingly eternal years, Toyota finally refreshed the Tundra for the 2022 model year, completely renewing the full-sized pickup truck from the inside out. Just like with the Toyota’s other outgoing lineups, the Tundra now comes with an optional hybrid powertrain that delivers plenty of power and reasonable efficiency considering its size and weight.
With immensely competent all-American rivals such as the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 - which both have hybrid variants, the 2022 Tundra, which arrives for the 2023 model year unchanged except for a few extra options, actually manages to hold its own both in terms of performance and fuel economy.
Despite the 2023 Toyota Tundra’s peppy twin-turbo V6, adding electric assistance to the mix definitely makes a noticeable improvement. But is it worth the extra cash? Here’s everything you should know before buying a Toyota Tundra Hybrid.
The Tundra’s Hybrid Powertrain Isn’t Available On All Trims
Unlike other hybrid trucks out there, the 2023 Toyota Tundra only offers hybrid versions of certain select trims. Unfortunately, the powertrain isn’t available on the entry level SR and SR5 trims, which come solely with a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 that produces 358 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque in the SR, and 389 horsepower along with 479 pound-feet in the SR5. From there, every single trim comes with an optional or mandatory hybrid version. More specifically, the Limited and Platinum trims come with both hybrid and petrol-only variants, while the range-topping TRD Pro and Capstone versions are only available as hybrids.
The 2023 Hybrid Toyota Tundra Is Fast
The Toyota Tundra’s Hybrid powertrain consists of the same aforementioned 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6, combined with a parallel hybrid system with a single permanent magnet synchronous motor that produces 48 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque of its own. In unison, they produce a maximum output of 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. Along with a 10-speed ECT automatic transmission that can send power to either the front or all four wheels, the Hybrid Tundra can accelerate from 0-60 mph in as little as 5.7 seconds, making it surprisingly agile for a full-sized pickup.
The Tundra Hybrid Prioritizes Performance Over Efficiency
In many cases, hybrid vehicles tend to make use of electronic assistance to deliver a significantly improved fuel economy, but that isn’t exactly the case with the 2023 Toyota Tundra Hybrid. We’ve already seen what it’s capable in the performance department, but what about fuel economy? Well, it delivers an EPA-estimated return of 20 mpg in the city and 24 mph on the highway, for a combined rating of 22 mpg. That isn’t actually too bad, since rivals such as the Ford F-150 Hybrid deliver the exact same fuel economy. Additionally, Toyota’s inclusion of a hybrid powertrain is mostly to make up for the fact that it doesn’t offer a powerful V8, and impressive fuel economy isn’t really the point.
Is The Toyota Tundra Hybrid Worth It?
Depending on the selected 2023 Toyota Tundra trim, the hybrid option alone costs between $3,500 and 4,000 extra, which is a hefty sum. But is it worth it? Well, that’s ultimately up to you, but you should definitely consider the fact that petrol-powered variants deliver decreased fuel economy than hybrid ones - 2 less mpg combined to be exact, as well as reduced performance.
However, it’s also worth mentioning that the upgraded petrol-only V6 is pretty capable in its own right. It can blast the 2023 Toyota Tundra from 0-60 mph in a respectable time of 6.1 seconds when equipped with 4-wheel-drive, making it just 4-tenths of a second slower than the hybrid.
If you were to opt for a hybrid version of the Tundra, we’d recommend going for the Limited Hybrid. At a starting price of $54,915, it’s significantly cheaper than the $63,000 Platinum Hybrid trim, which is the option above it. Performance and fuel economy is the same, and the Limited delivers plenty of useful amenities and reasonable cabin quality. If that isn’t enough, then you’d be better off going straight for the TRD Pro.
That sums up everything there is to know about the 2023 Toyota Tundra’s Hybrid powertrain option, which is undoubtedly a worthy option in its extremely versatile lineup. In the future, we might also see a different hybrid variation that focuses more on efficiency than outright performance, but for now, the Tundra’s sole hybrid powertrain delivers enough added performance to justify its more expensive asking price.
Source: Toyota