TheCarConnection.com's editors drove the Toyota Tundra to help you decide which reviews to trust and where opinions differ. We provide you with the best information, impressions, and details. The truck experts at TheCarConnection.com also studied other road tests of the 2009 Toyota Tundra to put together this conclusive review.
Likes
Plenty of backseat space in the CrewMax
Sets a new mark for standard features
Safety features are a top priority
Excellent combo of V-8 and six-speed auto
Plenty of storage spaces inside
Dislikes
Unduly complicated instrument panel
Embarrassingly low mpg with the V-8
Ride height is too tall to be practical for most
Just too honkin' huge
Completely redesigned for 2007, the Toyota Tundra is now just as big and burly as the perennial class best-sellers, the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado.
The 2009 Toyota Tundra continues with its especially imposing outward appearance, with a prominent, upright grille, detailed headlamps, flared wheel wells, and just a few equipment changes for this year.
The interior of all 2009 Toyota Tundra models feature a tilt/telescope steering wheel, big, supportive seats, controls designed to be used with gloves, and a huge center console capable of holding a laptop.
Although the Tundra isn't available in quite as many models as its full-size competitors from Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, and Dodge, the Tundra still bewilders with sheer equipment possibilities; whatever the purpose, there's a Tundra for it. To better compete with Detroit, the Tundra is available in a wide range of body configurations: Regular, Double Cab, and CrewMax cabs with three different bed lengths. The Double Cab has small rear doors and enough seating space for children, with a folding seat bottom when it's not in use, but the CrewMax has full-size back doors and enough space in the backseat to compare with the second row of full-size SUVs.
Engine configurations vary from a 4.0-liter V-6 with 236 horsepower up to the 381-horsepower, 5.7-liter iForce V-8. In between is a 4.7-liter V-8 making 271 horsepower. The iForce comes with a six-speed automatic transmission, but other engines get a five-speed auto. When properly equipped, the Tundra can tow up to 10,800 pounds. In select regions, 2009 Tundra 5.7-liter 4x4 models carry flex-fuel capability at no extra charge.
In driving Double Cab and CrewMax models--both with V-8s--TheCarConnection.com finds plenty of power and torque in either the 4.7- or 5.7-liter engines. With the 5.7-liter and six-speed automatic (the 4.7 comes with a five-speed auto), the powertrain is especially responsive and smooth, with the combination offering both the mammoth torque off the line good for towing and the higher-rev pep that's necessary for quick passes on the highway. Fuel economy is a low point for the Tundra, even when compared to its full-size peers; the EPA estimates with the 5.7-liter and 4WD stand at just 13 mpg city, 17 mpg highway, ranging up to 15 mpg city, 19 mpg highway with the base V-6 and 2WD.
A new TRD Sport Package, available on the 2009 Toyota Tundra 4x2 Regular Cab and Double Cab standard bed models, is optimized for an aggressive street appearance, while a new TRD Rock Warrior Package is specially tuned and ready (in appearance as well) for hard-core off-roading.
The 2009 Toyota Tundra certainly has more standard safety features than most of its competitors. Front-seat side airbags and roll-sensing side-curtain airbags are standard across the line, along with anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes and electronic stability control. The Tundra garners four stars in federal government frontal and side-impact crash tests, but it earns the top "good" rating in all of the insurance industry tests and a 2009 Top Safety Pick by the IIHS.
The Bottom Line: The 2009 Tundra beats the Big Three in safety and matches them in capability.
Other Choices
If you like the 2009 Toyota Tundra, also consider:
- Chevrolet Silverado
- Dodge Ram
- Ford F-150
- Nissan Titan
Reason Why:
Competition is especially hot among full-size pickups, at a time when sales also happen to be way down. The Nissan Titan soldiers on as a truck aimed at personal use, with some still-innovative cargo solutions and good performance. The Chevy Silverado and its nearly identical sibling, the GMC Sierra, have made waves for their very attractive, functional interiors and new standards of ride and handling, and they have an especially efficient line of V-8 engines. Both the best-selling Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram have been redesigned for 2009; the F-150 gets a new interior and improved refinement, while the Ram has some segment-leading tech and entertainment features inside, along with vastly improved ride and handling.
Buying Tip
If you miss the size of the Tundra or its predecessor, the T100, you might want to look at the smaller Tacoma. Toyota's compact truck has also grown larger over the years.
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Review was originally published at TheCarConnection.com
© 2009 TheCarConnection.com