2003 Toyota Tundra SR5 Stepside 4x4 V8

Time was when pickup trucks were largely utilitarian—functional in design, sparing in creature comforts and rough in the ride. Now that they outsell sedans, however, the lines have blurred. The Toyota Tundra is a prime case in point, a vehicle that's all truck, but not without a sense of style and, dare we say, even some grace. The clearest example of this shift is the new Stepside option, which gives the typically boxy cargo area some curvaceous styling that's so alluring it deserves a design award. The standard slab-sided bed is still available, but for the truck enthusiast who wants an exotic look, here's your pickup.

The new Stepside model with its rounded rear fenders and swept-back taillights is available as a 4x4 in either the SR5 and Limited grades.

The bodylines aren't the only things softer on the Tundra. On the road, you immediately notice several things missing—but in a good way. The noise, vibration and harshness typical of older pickups are distant memories. The ride is so pleasant, it made us wonder whether the 4x4 version was tough enough for off-road duty or just a creampuff poser. To answer that question we immediately bombed down our favorite dirt trail and thrashed this pickup for all it's worth.


The Tundra took this punishment without flinching. This rig must be an iron fist in a velvet glove because the more we pounded it, the stronger it felt. There was very little body roll even on the roughest parts of the trail, the handling was always predictable no matter how bumpy things got and the suspension absorbed nearly everything we threw at it. Then we pulled back onto the asphalt and cruised home without a hiccup, as if we'd just gone to the grocery for some eggs and milk. Go figure—aren't 4x4s supposed to be rawboned and rugged, intentionally hard on your spine so you're constantly reminded that it can take the tough stuff? Not this one. It may feel genteel on the street, but think Vin Diesel on the dirt.


Toyota rolled out this full-size pickup after some initial missteps with its predecessor, the T100. Seems the company learned a lot from the school of hard knocks because the Tundra has earned high marks from all quarters, and continues to show refinements for 2003.

Inside the quiet-as-a-vault cab is a new gray seat fabric and a remarkably versatile center console.

The new Stepside model with its rounded rear fenders and swept-back taillights is available as a 4x4, which comes in either the SR5 and Limited grades. All Tundra models ride on a 128.3-inch wheelbase and feature either a standard or Access (extended) cab, and long or short bed (the longer Access cab does not have a long-bed option). Other changes for 2003 include a more rugged look up front (maybe to offset the pampered feeling of the cab—) with a new, larger grille that extends into the upper section of the bumper. Inside the quiet-as-a-vault cab is a new gray seat fabric and a remarkably versatile center console like the one found in the Toyota Sequoia SUV. Normally we don't get real excited about console design, but this one is very thoughtfully laid out. It has four cupholders, a pair of map pockets (in addition to the ones on the door), an upper-and-lower covered storage compartment, and two power outlets (in addition to the cigarette lighter on the dash).