The full-size 2024 Toyota Tundra pickup, redesigned for 2022, continues on the same path it took when it debuted in 2000: take on the long-time category leaders with a somewhat different and often eccentric take on the set-in-stone half-ton pickup formula.
For example, the current 2024 Tundra cannot be ordered with a V-8 engine, which would be considered treasonous by many conventional truck buyers.
In its stead is a twin-turbocharged V-6 in two configurations, as well as a third V-6 hybrid option (reviewed separately). It’s also worth noting that it doesn’t have a full-time four-wheel drive option.
In other ways, it follows the standard truck layout, with extended- or crew-cab body types and 5.5-, 6.5-, or 8.1-ft beds. The cab and bed combinations are available in seven trim levels, ranging from the entry-level SR to the top-tier Capstone.
The Tundra also has coil spring rear suspension, which is shared solely with the Ram 1500 and provides a smoother ride but reduces payload capacity.
It has a maximum towing capability of 12,000 pounds, which is more than enough for most regular users, but it falls short of the tow ratings of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford F-150, and Ram 1500.
2024 Toyota Tundra Interior
While being significantly superior in terms of material quality and design than the previous generation, the 2017 Tundra fails to add anything new or groundbreaking to the truck category.
The dashboard is thick, with conspicuous air vents and a large, smooth middle area connecting the door panels.
Going through the trim hierarchy results in the standard material and feature enhancements, culminating in the top-tier Capstone’s semi-aniline leather upholstery, American Walnut inside trim, acoustically laminated side windows, and heads-up display.
Standard features include analog gauges and a tiny driver-information display, while top trim levels have a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel gauge cluster.
The central console is spacious, with enough nooks for storing modern-day clutter. The extended cab (also known as the Double Cab) comes with a 6.5- or 8.1-foot bed, while the crew cab (also known as the CrewMax) comes with a 5.5- or 6.5-foot bed.
The shorter cab has little effect on front-row comfort, but it decreases back-seat legroom from 41.6 inches in the crew cab to 33.3 inches in the extended cab.
The usual 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen is standard on the SR and SR5 Tundras, while a 14-inch screen is optional on the SR and standard on the rest of the lineup.
It occupies the center of the dash and has a respectable volume knob, but no tuning knob, and the controls on the steering wheel have little utility.
The audio system comes with a six-speaker (extended cab) or nine-speaker (crew cab) layout as standard, while a 12-speaker JBL Premium Audio system is standard on the Limited and above; wireless charging is standard on the Platinum and higher. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and a Wi-Fi hotspot with a subscription is also available.
2024 Toyota Tundra Exterior
The TRD Off-Road edition comes with all-terrain tires placed on black 18-inch wheels, a raised suspension with Bilstein dampers, a rear locker, skid plates, mudguards, aluminum pedals, a leather-wrapped shift knob, and a heated leather steering wheel.
The TRD Pro (note: the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro are two different packages) with a 1.1-inch front lift, 2.5-inch FOX Internal Bypass coil-overs, and rear remote-reservoir shocks, and a TRD PRO front stabilizer bar is ideal for those looking for optimum off-road capability.
In quest of a sportier appearance and sharper on-road behavior, the TRD Sport package goes in the opposite way, giving a half-inch lowered suspension and 20-inch wheels.
2024 Toyota Tundra Performance
The 2024 Tundra comes in three power levels, all based on a turbocharged 3.4-liter V-6 engine. The engine is adjusted for 348 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque in the base SR model; otherwise, it produces 389 horses and 479 pound-feet.
(The third vehicle is a 473-horsepower hybrid, which we will discuss separately.) All of them have a 10-speed automatic gearbox.
Our Limited test truck, powered by a 389-hp twin-turbo V6, reached 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The Tundra, like the Ram 1500, has coil-spring rear suspension for a smoother ride on a daily basis.
With a maximum tow rating of 12,000 pounds, the 2024 Tundra is not lightweight in terms of towing and payload, but it is the least competent in the half-ton class.
The Ford F-150 has the highest rating at 14,000 pounds, followed by the Chevrolet Silverado at 13,300 pounds and the Ram 1500 at 12,750 pounds.
When compared to Ford’s 3250-pound payload limit, the Peak payload is 1940 pounds, leaving almost 1300 pounds on the table.
The two-wheel drive 2024 Tundra is EPA-rated for up to 20 mpg city and 24 mpg highway in basic, non-hybrid configuration; four-wheel drive drops those values by 1 mpg apiece.
Nevertheless, the Tundra only got 19 mpg on our 75-mph interstate route as part of our rigorous testing. Additionally, while in our possession, that same truck averaged only 14 mpg overall.