2011 Toyota Tundra ReviewSee all 2011 Toyota Tundra's for sale |
7.5 out of 10 |
The Basics:
The Toyota Tundra has been a massive--some say failed--experiment in changing American truck buyers' tastes. Toyota spent a billion and a half dollars to reinvent its nearly-full-size Tundra into a true gargantuan truck with more hauling and towing capacity than any other pickup, and moved its production from the Midwest to Texas, the heart of pickup truck territory.
It hasn't worked, and Tundra sales once estimated at 200,000 units a year haven't even met half that goal.
Despite all that, the Tundra still does what Toyota said it would do, when it was redesigned for the 2007 model year. It planted the truck in the heart of the full-size segment; it won, if only briefly, the kudos for the highest towing capacity in the class; and it changed the fundamental assumption that trucks have to look completely boxy to be butch, even if the Tundra's looks don't exactly win us over.
Since truck sales have dropped precipitously in the past few years, the 2011 Tundra is essentially the same as last year's model, with an updated base engine and now, far fewer versions to offer buyers. Once it was a poster child for do-it-yourselfers who needed a custom truck; now Toyota ships only 28 distinct versions to dealers, leaving a raft of accessories to be installed at dealers, much like the company does with its Scion cars.
You'll probably be happier in the long run with a more fuel-efficient Ford F-150, or a better-riding Ram 1500, but there's nothing perfectly wrong with the Tundra, while it does a thing or two perfectly right.
Likes:
- Great V-8 engines and six-speed automatic
- More standard features than many full-sizers
- Lots of storage cubbies inside
- CrewMax has exceptional leg room
Dislikes:
- Even the V-6 isn't great on fuel economy
- Styling is gimmicky, inside and out
- A huge truck that can be hard to maneuver
Other Choices:
Reason Why:
The 2011 Toyota Tundra promises a version for every job, and while that's true for most every other full-size truck, the Tundra does lay claim to some unique hard points.Whatever they may be, we like the style of the slow-selling Nissan Titan a bit better than that of the Tundra.The Titan is oriented more toward personal use, and has a funky-ish style that still works, some seven years after it was introduced. Gas mileage is poor, though we love the NASCAR tinge to its V-8 exhaust. The Chevy Silverado and the nearly identical GMC Sierra continue to have strong appeal because of their very functional interiors (including separate interiors for work and personal trims), and their line of V-8 engines are especially fuel-efficient.The Ram 1500 used to be the Dodge Ram, but aside from the name change, it's still the best-riding full-size truck, and the one with the best interior feel and finishes, though that lead is slipping. It's also a leader in entertainment features.Our pick in the class comes down to the Ram in some cases, but most often to the 2011 Ford F-150. With a new quartet of engines, fuel economy is vastly improved. The F-150 steers exceptionally well, too, and it has some of the same tech features you'd find on the new Focus or Fusion--from voice-controlled navigation to in-car audio streaming.
The Bottom Line:
The interior may be a letdown in quality, but the 2011 Toyota Tundra is every bit as big and tough as the other full-size trucks.
This 2011 Toyota Tundra Review originally appeared at TheCarConnection.com where you can see more photos and news on the Toyota Tundra
All of our reviews come from experts at TheCarConnection.com.
