The 2018 Toyota Tundra full-size pickup does everything in a big way. Maybe that’s because it’s exclusively assembled in San Antonio, Texas.
The all-V8 Tundra lineup offers two styles for 2018: the four-door Double Cab and the super-sized, four-door CrewMax. Within those configurations are five model grades: the SR, volume-leading SR5, well-equipped Limited, and two premium grades, the luxurious Platinum and unique — and equally luxurious — 1794 Edition.
My tester was the SR5 CrewMax. Man’s best friend, I tell ya.
It was able to accommodate – at various times – my daughter and three friends on a recent birthday outing, golf clubs and push cart (on the floor inside the cabin), and a twin mattress, box springs, frame and headboard between the wheel wells with the tonneau cover down. It also has a towing capacity of up to 10,200 pounds.
CrewMax’s longer cab, larger rear doors, and shorter 5.5-foot bed make for a limo-like 42.3 inches of rear seat legroom. Mine came with an updated gray honeycomb-style grille and halogen headlights with LED daytime running lights and halogen fog lights.
The most significant change for 2018 was the addition of Toyota Safety Sense-P (TSS-P), which includes the pre-collision system with pedestrian detection function, lane-departure alert, dynamic radar cruise control and automatic high beams.
Combine that with all the creature comforts including a navigation system, backup camera, satellite radio, dual-zone climate control, Entune premium audio and an app suite that uses a paired smartphone to provide access to apps including Slacker, iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com, Open Table, Pandora, Yelp and Facebook Places, as well as real-time traffic, weather, fuel prices, sports and stocks, and you might forget you’re driving a truck.
But you are, and here are the nuts and bolts.
The Tundra SR5 is powered by a 5.7-liter engine that generates 381 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 401 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 3,600 rpm. It’s mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The 4×4 models use an on-demand, electronically controlled, 4WDemand part-time 4WD system featuring a six-pinion planetary reduction gear set to deliver 4×2, 4×4 Hi, and 4×4 Lo ranges.
My SR5 received a 14-miles-per-gallon EPA rating in combined city/highway driving and compensates with a 38-gallon fuel tank.
All Tundra beds are 22.2-inches deep and, when properly equipped, offer a payload capacity of up to 1,730 pounds. The lockable easy-lower-and-lift tailgate lowers slowly with no slam and can easily be removed. Carrying larger items is a cinch with the available deck rail system and a spray-in bed liner.
Driving the Tundra, one might be reminded of a luxury vehicle by the smooth ride and quietness. We made a weekend lunchtime jaunt to Aslan Brewing in Bellingham and when the speedometer read 80, it felt more like 50. Nice, but dangerous.
I would be remiss, if I didn’t mention the Tundra also comes with a new TRD (Toyota Racing Development) sport package for those so inclined. Those goodies include color-keyed mirrors, bumpers and hood scoop, 20-inch silver-painted aluminum alloy wheels with black accents, and a TRD Sport chassis with anti-sway bars and sport-tuned Bilstein shocks.
Base Price: $39,570
Price As Driven: $45,168
Base price includes destination charge. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturer. Prices may vary at local dealerships.
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