2012 Toyota Tundra Review and Prices

Styling: Aside from some possible new color choices, the 2012 Toyota Tundra will look like the 2011 Tundra, It’ll continue the slight appearance revisions brought on line for model-year 2010. Those minor alterations to the grille and taillamps were the first for this pickup since its model-year 2005 redesign, when Toyota finally introduced a Tundra large enough and powerful enough to challenge the full-size domestics. The 2012 Tundra will again be as big as its Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500, and Ram 1500 rivals. And like those better selling competitors, it’ll again offer three cab styles. With only three available bed lengths, however, Tundra trails the Ford and GM pickups by one. And if Toyota continues dialing back on Tundra cab/bed/powertrain combinations – it killed 10 configurations for model-year 2011 -- it’ll slip further afield. Still, the 2012 Tundra will return with sufficient choices to suit a good range of buyers. Its two-door regular-cab seats three and the 2012 Toyota Tundra Double Cab extended cab will continue with a pair of small rear doors and a rear bench seat. Both these cabs will again come with a choice of a 6.5-foot or 8.1-foot cargo bed. Also returning will be the 2012 Toyota Tundra CrewMax, a crew cab with four full-size side doors and a 5.5-foot box. Like the Double Cab, the CrewMax has a three-passenger rear bench seat for six-passenger capacity.

Mechanical: The 2012 Toyota Tundra is not expected to receive significant mechanical changes compared to the 2011 model. A V-6 and two V-8s will again be offered. The V-6 will retain the meaningful boost it got for model-year 2011, from 236 horsepower to 270 and from 266 pound-feet of torque to 278. But big-pickup buyers universally prefer V-8s. The 2012 Tundra’s base V-8 will again be 4.6-liter and should return with 310 horsepower and 327 pound-feet of torque. (Torque is particularly important in trucks; think of torque as the energy that gets you moving, horsepower as the force that sustains momentum.) Repeating as the top engine choice for the 2012 Tundra will be a 5.7-liter V-8. It should again have 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque, power comparable with any direct rival’s. The 2012 Tundra tow ratings should remain competitive, too, at just under 11,000 pounds with the 5.7 V-8 and around 9,000 with the 4.7 V-8. Expect the 2012 Tundra to again pair its V-6 only with a five-speed automatic transmission and two-wheel drive (2wd). The V-8s will continue with a six-speed automatic and with a choice of two- or four-wheel drive (4wd). The 2012 Tundra’s 4wd system will again have low-range gearing but will not be intended for use on dry pavement. For 2012, only the Ram and the GM pickups are expected to offer 4wd that can be left engaged on all surfaces. Tundra’s role in Toyota’s sudden-acceleration controversy included recalls of model-year 2007-2008 versions to replace potentially sticking gas pedals, and a recall of 2010 models to replace the driver-side floormat. All Tundras built for model-year 2011 and beyond will have an electronic brake-override that reduces engine power if the brake and accelerator are applied simultaneously.

Features: With a basic design that dates to model-year 2007, the 2012 Tundra will continue to show its age against the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500, both of which were redesigned for model-year 2009. GM’s full-size pickups were last redesigned for model-year 2007 and all-new versions are due for model-year 2013 -- one year ahead of Tundra’s next scheduled redesign. Still, despite pruning the lineup to clear out low-volume models, Toyota’s kept its big pickup reasonably fresh in terms of features. Electronic trailer-sway control was added last year, for example, bringing Tundra abreast of top rivals with an important adjunct to towing safety. And Tundra was the first pickup to offer a power tilt/telescope steering wheel and was an early adopter of infotainment features such as USB linking for iPods and other MP3 devices, Bluetooth cell phone connectivity, a navigation system with backup camera, and rear DVD video. All these will be again available on the 2012 Tundra as standard or optional depending on model. Leather upholstery and front and rear parking assist will return, as well, probably continuing as options exclusive to the Double Cab and CrewMax. The 2012 Tundra CrewMax will again include a power sunroof among its options. Every 2012 Tundraw will have knee airbags for the driver and front passenger and head-protecting curtain side airbags that cover both seating rows and incorporate rollover sensors. Antilock four-wheel disc brakes, an antiskid system, traction control, and a limited slip differential will also return as standard to help Tundra accelerate, stop, and turn with more control.