From a distance, although, the Tundra TRD Pro would not precisely scream subtlety. In truth, it screams extra like a youngster who’s had one too many cans of birthday-cake-flavored Bang. My tester’s $425 shade of Solar Octane paint ensures you possibly can see this truck from throughout a dense car parking zone, or even perhaps from area. Throw a billion chunky design parts into the combo, together with some slick digital camouflage trim and matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, and the TRD Pro appears to be like prepared to begin an argument when you take a look at it the unsuitable method. There’s a variety of character right here.Two-c thicc design parts make their method inside, as effectively. The chunky-funky dashboard appears to be like sufficiently truckish, and lots of the controls have a pleasant, cumbersome tactility to them. Being the second costliest trim, the TRD Pro does add leather-based in a couple of key spots, however by and enormous, it is principally the identical inside you may get on different Tundras, in addition to its platform-mate, the Sequoia SUV. It’s good, however it’s arduous to gel the TRD Pro’s $67,000 beginning value with the amount of arduous, scratchy plastic throughout many contact factors, particularly the middle armrest’s sliding elements.
2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Gets All the Attention in Orange
See all images It ought to come as no shock that one thing this massive would carry a great quantity of daily-driving practicality. Clutterbugs will love simply what number of locations you possibly can throw junk within the Tundra TRD Pro’s cabin. The entrance doorways have two tiers of pockets, which is nice for the reason that cup holders have hassle holding bigger Nalgenes. Ahead of the cup holders, there is a stand for upright wi-fi machine charging (a pleasant contact), together with a large cubby. The middle armrest opens historically, however there’s additionally a sliding tray within the center for faster entry to the cubby beneath, which is giant sufficient to carry a small animal. (Don’t do this, although.) In the TRD Pro’s sole CrewMax configuration, the again half of the cabin is spacious as all get-out, with ample area to splay out. Put a small mattress on the ground and bam, now it is an Airbnb.The Tundra TRD Pro is just obtainable with Toyota’s top-shelf powertrain, comprising a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 and a single electrical motor between the engine and its 10-speed computerized transmission. Its output of 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque makes this Tundra ever so spicier than the Ford F-150 Hybrid. The hybrid system is not designed for effectivity a lot as it’s for making a diesel-like torque curve, and it feels each bit as sturdy as you’d assume when tooling round city. You can preserve it in electric-only operation for small bits of time, however most throttle functions from a cease will get the gasoline engine to kick in fairly shortly. The faux sound piped by way of the audio system provides it a extra V8-like angle, even when it is principally smoke and mirrors.
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This V6 places in some critical work. Andrew Krok/CNETI had a neater time residing with the Tundra TRD Pro than I did the Sequoia, arguably the extra family-friendly of the 2 autos that share this body and powertrain. The shudders from activating and deactivating the gasoline engine are far much less pronounced within the Tundra, which is nice. Fuel economic system, then again, takes a plunge within the TRD Pro. The EPA charges this four-wheel-drive truck at simply 18 mpg metropolis and 20 mpg freeway, numbers I discover a bit of troublesome to realize. Stick with a two-wheel-drive hybrid when you’re actually making an attempt to stretch out these journeys to the gasoline station. Thankfully, my tester’s 32.2-gallon gasoline tank helps alleviate some vary issues.The Tundra TRD Pro additionally provides me a significantly better trip high quality than the Sequoia did. The TRD Pro rides 1.1 inches larger, and its 2.5-inch Fox internal-bypass coilover shocks with rear distant reservoirs do a formidable job of consuming up dangerous roads and returning little perturbation to the cabin. The 285/65R18 Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires love filth, however fortunately, they’re additionally fairly chill on pavement, with a comparatively low quantity of tire noise and nearly no lateral monitoring. Those chunky sidewalls possible bolster the trip high quality a bit, too.
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Toyota’s distinctive tackle digital camouflage appears to be like wonderful on the Tundra TRD Pro. Andrew Krok/CNETThe TRD Pro would not quit a lot, if any of its truck-stuff functionality, both. This Tundra variant can tow 11,175 kilos, probably the most of any 4×4 CrewMax configuration, and it is bested solely by 4×2 CrewMax fashions. Its 1,600-pound payload capability can be close to the highest of the Tundra lineup, once more solely bested by two-wheel-drive vans.Toyota’s infotainment tech was scorching rubbish till the US workforce wrestled management of the telematics away from the mothership. What began as Lexus Interface has now made its solution to Toyota’s autos, and the advance is dramatic. A typical 14-inch touchscreen rises from the dashboard, and it is a lot simpler to make use of than earlier than, with brisker graphics, higher response instances and Google-based navigation mapping. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, and the also-standard 12-speaker JBL sound system gives some damned first rate bumpage. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster retains the related info on the forefront, even when I feel the aesthetics are a bit of dated.
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Getting used to the Tundra’s new infotainment system will not take lengthy. Andrew Krok/CNETGiven the large Toyota badges in all places, completely no person needs to be stunned that the Tundra TRD Pro carries some stable security methods. Every Tundra, not simply this model, comes normal with a set of energetic and passive driver aids, which incorporates computerized emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise management, lane-departure warning, lane-keep help, computerized excessive beams and traffic-sign recognition. These hands-on methods are good and easy of their operation.Like each different full-size pickup truck in 2022, the Tundra TRD Pro just isn’t low-cost. Available in a single 4×4 CrewMax configuration with a 5.5-foot mattress, this hybrid pickup rings in at $69,300, together with $1,795 in vacation spot fees. Throw within the paint job and that brings the whole to $69,725. It’s not the most cost effective hybrid Tundra you will get — that honor goes to the $62,885 Platinum 4×2, about the identical as a Ford F-150 King Ranch hybrid — however it occupies a singular spot as the one hybrid pickup truck billed as being off-road-friendly.It’s good to see the 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro holding its personal in opposition to the Americans. The truck’s aesthetics and functionality are up there, the pricing is comparatively aggressive and its on-road demeanor is simply nearly as good as its Stateside counterparts. Whether or not the hybrid is what brings you within the door, there’s lots to love that ought to preserve you there.