2019 Toyota Tundra Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byCalvin KimVehicle Test Engineer

　　Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at zzdcar.

　　

What's new

The TRD Pro, back after a year hiatus, has a revised suspension and new BBS wheelsPart of the second Tundra generation introduced for 2007

　　Full-size trucks are more popular than ever, and the race to have the most luxurious, advanced and gadget-filled machine is in full swing. Bringing up the back end of this race, however, is the 2019 Toyota Tundra. Compared with the rest of the segment, the aging Tundra is decidedly behind the times.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Toyota Tundra SR 4dr Double Cab SB (4.6L 8cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$226/mo  for Tundra SR

　　Tundra SR

　　1794 4dr CrewMax SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $47,630 MSRP1794 4dr CrewMax 4WD SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $50,680 MSRPSR 4dr Double Cab SB (4.6L 8cyl 6A) - $31,670 MSRPSR 4dr Double Cab SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $32,940 MSRPSR 4dr Double Cab LB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $33,270 MSRPSR 4dr Double Cab 4WD SB (4.6L 8cyl 6A) - $34,720 MSRPSR 4dr Double Cab 4WD SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $35,990 MSRPSR 4dr Double Cab 4WD LB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $36,320 MSRPSR5 4dr Double Cab SB (4.6L 8cyl 6A) - $33,470 MSRPSR5 4dr Double Cab SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $34,740 MSRPSR5 4dr Double Cab LB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $35,070 MSRPSR5 4dr CrewMax SB (4.6L 8cyl 6A) - $36,075 MSRPSR5 4dr Double Cab 4WD SB (4.6L 8cyl 6A) - $36,520 MSRPSR5 4dr CrewMax SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $37,345 MSRPSR5 4dr Double Cab 4WD SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $37,790 MSRPSR5 4dr Double Cab 4WD LB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $38,120 MSRPSR5 4dr CrewMax 4WD SB (4.6L 8cyl 6A) - $39,125 MSRPSR5 4dr CrewMax 4WD SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $40,395 MSRPSR5 FFV 4dr Double Cab 4WD SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $37,790 MSRPSR5 FFV 4dr CrewMax 4WD SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) (Most Popular) - $40,395 MSRPLimited 4dr Double Cab SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $40,935 MSRPLimited 4dr CrewMax SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $42,800 MSRPLimited 4dr Double Cab 4WD SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $43,985 MSRPLimited 4dr CrewMax 4WD SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $45,850 MSRPPlatinum 4dr CrewMax SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $47,630 MSRPPlatinum 4dr CrewMax 4WD SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $50,680 MSRPTRD PRO 4dr CrewMax 4WD SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A) - $49,895 MSRP

　　vs

　　$233/mo

　　Avg. Large Truck

　　For starters, Tundra's only available engines are V8s — a 4.6-liter engine that produces 310 horsepower and 327 pound-feet of torque or a 5.7-liter engine that produces 381 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque. While we like the 5.7-liter's robust power, other brands are equipping their base trucks with new turbocharged six- and four-cylinder engines. These smaller powerplants provide significantly higher fuel economy and still have enough grunt to get a lot of jobs done.

　　The lack of the latest features is another drawback for the Tundra. You can't get advanced towing-assist technology (such as a remote-mount trailer camera system) or Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration. And, for better or for worse, the Tundra is still very much a truck. Its ride quality and driving characteristics are rougher and less refined than what you'll find elsewhere.

　　Ultimately, if all you need is a truck to haul cargo and tow a trailer without fuss, the 2019 Toyota Tundra should be on your list to consider. The available TRD Pro variant is pretty cool, too. But we advise checking out the Ram 1500 or the Ford F-150 if you demand more civility and capability from your full-size truck.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

6.7 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Toyota Tundra CrewMax 1794 Edition (5.7L V8 | 6-speed automatic | 4WD).

　　NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current Tundra has received some revisions, including an upgraded infotainment system and new driver safety aids. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's Tundra, however.

　　

Scorecard

Overall	6.7 / 10
Driving	6.5
Comfort	6.0
Interior	7.0
Utility	7.0
Technology	6.5

　　

Driving

6.5

　　A strong optional V8 gives the Tundra some life, but a dated platform numbs overall performance significantly. The Tundra has better off-road capability than a few competitors, but its sheer size may give you pause on tight trails.

　　

Acceleration

7.0

　　The Tundra's optional 5.7-liter V8 has plenty of thrust off the line and enough power to merge or pass on the highway. It isn't exciting like some of the other powertrains in the segment, but it feels robust. In zzdcar testing, our test Tundra did the 0-60 mph sprint in 7.1 seconds, which is an average time for a V8-powered truck.

　　

Braking

6.0

　　The brake pedal is numb and the truck is heavy. The combination provides little confidence during emergency braking situations. On mountain roads, the brakes can get overworked since they're an active part of the stability control system. In our brake test, the Tundra came to a stop from 60 mph in 134 feet — average for the segment.

　　

Steering

6.0

　　While driving the Tundra, you're constantly reminded of its sheer size. Nowhere is this more true than when you're gripping the steering wheel when going around a corner. You can place the tires well enough, but the steering wheel doesn't return to center well and the steering wheel diameter is massive.

　　

Handling

5.5

　　Handling feels ponderous and unsettled at times, especially on tight roads. By every modern pickup truck standard, this thing feels a generation old. Nearly every full-size truck around is more agile and maneuverable, both on curvy roads and in heavy traffic.

　　

Drivability

7.0

　　The throttle delivery can be abrupt if you aren't careful with pedal pressure, but you can adjust pretty quickly. Otherwise, driving in the city and on the highway is easy, even with the old-school six-speed automatic transmission and the tow-friendly gearing.

　　

Off-road

7.5

　　With genuine ground clearance and several available off-road read options, the Tundra is one of the most dirt-friendly full-sizes you can buy. Our test vehicle had the TRD Sport package, which is more aimed at on-road handling. But serious off-roaders should check out the TRD Off-Road package or the TRD Pro.

　　

Comfort

6.0

　　When you go with the 5.7-liter V8, the Tundra comes with heavy-duty springs and an upgraded axle. This means a stiff ride on the highway and around town. Also, it's been quite some time since Toyota addressed the stiff, poorly bolstered seats.

　　

Seat comfort

5.0

　　These are some of the worst seats in a full-size truck today. They're stiff and poorly supported and they lack lumbar adjustment. They also don't go low enough, so even average-height drivers will always have fitment issues. They're barely passable on road trips, likely causing discomfort after just a few hours on the road.

　　

Ride comfort

5.0

　　The Tundra does fine driving over small ruts. But over larger imperfections, it bobbles a lot. The ride is stiff and unforgiving. We imagine that would settle down with a significant payload in the bed, but unladen, it's hard to live with on a daily basis. This is the downside of a making 10,000-pound tow rating standard, not optional. It's possibly been made worse by our test truck's optional TRD Sport handling package.

　　

Noise & vibration

7.0

　　A decent amount of wind and road noise makes it into the cabin, even if it can be reasonably drowned out by music. Engine noise is nicely silenced at cruise, and it rises to a good V8 rumble (that's actually nice to hear) under full acceleration.

　　

Climate control

7.0

　　Our relatively basic SR5 test vehicle didn't have as many creature comforts as other trim levels. Here you get manual, single-zone climate control, but it is easy to use because of its logical layout and big, easy-to-grasp knobs. No heated steering wheel and no heated seats at this level. The small vents mean you have to crank up the air conditioning to cool the cabin down in a hurry.

　　

Interior

7.0

　　The Tundra's interior is functional but dated by segment standards. It's roomy as all get-out. But because of the high step-up, even higher driving position and limited visibility over the large hood, this is a tough truck to live with.

　　

Ease of use

8.5

　　The controls are large and well labeled with clear fonts. There are six main buttons next to the touchscreen and three main climate-control knobs. The Tundra may not have an upscale interior, but it is certainly easy to understand and use right away.

　　

Getting in/getting out

6.0

　　A high ride height, no side steps, no grab handle for the driver and a tall seating position make it difficult to get in and out of this truck for drivers of almost any height. The rear doors are extremely long, so at least you won't be squeezing in. Purchase the optional side steps if you can.

　　

Driving position

6.0

　　This truck's seat doesn't go down as much as some drivers would like. If you're of average height, you'll have a difficult time getting the seats or the steering wheel low enough. And if you're tall, the upper edge of the windshield and the folded sun visors can intrude into your field of view more than you'd like.

　　

Roominess

8.0

　　Side to side, front and back, headroom and legroom — you name it, there's lots of it everywhere. Even before all of its competitors were redesigned and made bigger, the Tundra was one of the roomiest trucks in the class. The center console intrudes a bit on lateral driver legroom, but you hardly notice.

　　

Visibility

6.5

　　Forward visibility is good but there's a big blind spot over both shoulders and the blind-spot monitoring system doesn't always see what's back there. Down the sides of the vehicle and at the front corners, you'll have a hard time knowing if you're set in a parking spot well. The side mirrors are sufficient if a bit slim.

　　

Quality

7.0

　　Build quality is OK, but we found issues with small items. The gas door wouldn't close all the way and most knobs and dials felt cheap, no matter how tight the tolerances were. There weren't any noticeable squeaks or rattles, or any large panel gaps, during our test.

　　

Utility

7.0

　　As is the case with any truck this large, the Tundra has a lot of sheer utility, but it loses the battle against more well-packaged and more recently redesigned rivals. Towing numbers are big thanks to a standard 4.30 axle ratio, but they don't match rivals' optional tow packages. Also, the bed is large but very high, and load height is an issue.

　　

Small-item storage

6.0

　　There's a lot of sheer interior volume, but the Tundra makes poor use of the space. The glovebox is small, as are the cupholders, and the center console lid only opens about 70 degrees, so access is tough. The doors have small, slim panels with two far-away can-sized cupholders in each.

　　

Cargo space

7.0

　　Not only does the rear seat have a large hump in the center of the floor, the rear seat bottom is massive and takes up lots of space. The raised platform underneath prevents the loading of flat items. The back seat offers lots of cubic space, but it's not laid out well. Fitting big cargo items is difficult.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

8.5

　　The back seat is massive in this Tundra so you can fit pretty much any child seat back there. And, as is typical on crew-cab full-size trucks, there are four lower LATCH points and three top tethers to attach child seats.

　　

Towing

8.0

　　Yes, the Tundra's maximum average tow rating isn't quite as high as the competition, but there are no asterisks here. Every single 5.7-liter V8-powered Tundra on the dealer's lot can tow about 10,000 pounds. This is not the case with the other full-size trucks, which force you to squint at a complex tow rating chart and buy the right axle ratio and tow package options. Good luck with that. Meanwhile, all 5.7-liter V8 Tundras comes standard with all that's necessary, including an integrated electronic trailer brake controller. Done, finito.

　　

Hauling

6.5

　　The max payload rating for the Tundra is 1,730 pounds, which is competitive for the segment. The load-in height for the bed is very high, as are the sides of the bed and there are only four cargo tie-downs. There's no fold-out step, trick-folding tailgate or bumper step to make loading items easier either.

　　

Technology

6.5

　　Technology is a weak point for the Tundra. Smartphone connectivity is limited, and there's only one USB port. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not available at all. The performance of the base stereo isn't impressive, and the optional driver aids are overzealous.

　　

Audio & navigation

6.0

　　Audio quality is a underwhelming. Yes, it has sound. Yes, it's decent at lower volumes. But the SR5's six-speaker stereo doesn't get very loud, and if you mess with the standard settings, bass get distorted easily.

　　

Smartphone integration

6.0

　　Apple CarPlay and Android Auto aren't available in the Tundra. There are three 12-volt outlets but only one USB port, and there's no options package that'll get you more. Bluetooth and USB audio connect relatively quickly on a consistent basis.

　　

Driver aids

7.5

　　On the plus side, and it is a big plus, the Tundra comes standard with adaptive cruise control (ACC), automated emergency braking (AEB), lane departure monitoring, drowsiness monitoring and automatic high-beam control. Blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alerts are easy to get. On the minus side, the ACC and AEB systems can overreact to neighboring vehicles with a lack of subtlety that can be annoying.

　　

Voice control

6.0

　　Voice controls for music and phone calls work well but only under a very specific menu structure. After some time you can learn the structure and train the system to your style of speech, but it doesn't respond to casual language. iPhone users can use Siri Eyes Free to make calls, select music from their phone, and control certain other phone functions.

　　

Which Tundra does zzdcar recommend?

　　Trucks are all about utility, so our pick is the SR5 with the TRD Off-Road package and options. This aptly named package includes the SR5's Upgrade package giving the truck functional off-road parts without compromising on towing or hauling. It's the balance between work and play.

　　

2019 Toyota Tundra models

　　The 2019 Toyota Tundra is a full-size pickup that is available in one of five trim levels: the base SR, the value-conscious SR5, the flexible Limited, the upmarket Platinum and the specialized 1794 Edition and TRD Pro. Two engines are available, both V8s: a 4.6-liter (310 hp, 327 lb-ft) and a 5.7-liter (381 hp, 401 lb-ft). From there, you'll pick a body style (the regular Double Cab crew cab or extra large CrewMax) and one of three bed lengths. Note that Toyota limits certain combinations of the above, and feature availability can vary depending on where you live in the U.S.

　　Highlights for the base SR include 18-inch steel wheels, heated mirrors, a windshield wiper de-icer, a damped tailgate, a rearview camera, an integrated trailer brake controller, a tilt-only steering wheel, Bluetooth, a 6.1-inch touchscreen interface, and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player and a USB port. It also includes forward collision warning and mitigation with automatic braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams and adaptive cruise control.

　　Going with the SR5 gets you foglights, variable intermittent windshield wipers, and an upgraded tech interface that includes a 7-inch touchscreen, HD and satellite radio, traffic information and a navigation app. The crew cab adds a power-opening rear window and an overhead console.

　　The SR5's Upgrade package adds front bucket seats with a power-adjustable driver seat, a center console (with storage and console shifter), a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a larger 38-gallon gas tank when equipped with the 5.7-liter V8. There's also a TRD Sport package that adds 20-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, a hood scoop, body-colored mirrors and bumpers, LED headlights and foglights, TRD shift knob, floor mats and graphics.

　　The Limited builds on the Upgrade options package with 20-inch wheels, automatic headlights, movable tie-down cleats, automatic dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, an upgraded power driver's seat and a power-adjustable passenger seat, a power horizontal-sliding rear window (extended cab), a navigation system and additional stereo speakers.

　　At the top of the heap, the Platinum trim level comes with distinctive styling elements, LED daytime running lights, power-folding and auto-dimming mirrors, a sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, driver-seat memory functions and a 12-speaker JBL sound system.

　　The 1794 Edition really only differs from the Platinum in terms of its exclusive exterior and interior styling elements.

　　A TRD Off-Road package can be added to the SR5, Limited and 1794 Edition. It includes 18-inch TRD wheels, off-road tires, LED headlights, trail-tuned shock absorbers, skid plates and tow hooks.

　　For better off-road performance, the TRD Pro trim features larger aluminum Fox shocks for better heat dissipation and damping control, a 2-inch front lift for more clearance, lighter BBS forged wheels, and LED headlights and foglights to help light up the trail at night. A shiny black exhaust tip and TRD Pro exhaust change the exhaust note, while a front skid plate prominently features the TRD logo in red. Visually, a unique grille, TRD Pro stamping on the rear quarter panels, and a hood scoop separate it from the rest of the line. On the inside, TRD Pro logos are pretty much everywhere.

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2019 Tundra Highlights

Type: CrewMaxDouble CabCrewMax

　　Trim: SR5SR5 FFVLimitedPlatinum1794TRD PROSR5

　　

Base MSRP	$36,075
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	16 MPG
Cost to Drive	$226/month
Seating	6 seats
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Max Towing Capacity	6,700 lbs.
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles