2007 Toyota Tundra

It's a watershed year for pickup trucks in general, with significant changes taking place in all the major brands, which means the range of choices has never been better. But for Toyota that also makes the launch of its redesigned Tundra all the more challenging. In years past, the company has done well with its smaller trucks, especially the Tacoma, which consistently captures the highest resale values on the market. But capturing a large share of the full-size segment has proved to be more difficult.

Styling

For hardcore truck enthusiasts, towing capability is clearly a key factor to consider, and Toyota went to considerable lengths to demonstrate just how much grunt is on tap in its redesigned Tundra. So let's cut to the chase: How well does the new Tundra measure up in this essential aspect of pickup performance?


Very well, actually. It's rated to tow as much as 10,800 pounds, said to be the highest in the 1/2-ton class. As proof of its towing power, during our press introduction in Louisville, Kentucky, home of the legendary Louisville Slugger, the Tundra knocked one right out of the park. The company arranged to have us test the new Tundra hauling a trailer loaded with more than four tons of bricks.


Underway, the all-new 5.7-liter iForce V8 moved right out, without us even looking back at the pile of blocks back there. On the highway, we were able to pass other rigs with hardly a hiccup. What gives the iForce engine its stump-pulling torque is more than the 1.0-liter increase in engine displacement—Toyota makes the most of this new engine by working smarter, not harder.


As one example of this approach, the VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with intelligence), adjusts cam timing over 60 degrees of crank angle on the 5.7-liter V8 (slightly less on the 4.7L V8 and 4.0 V6 engine options). Not only that, the 5.7 has a dual VVT-i system. Add to that ACIS (Acoustic Control Induction System) for the intake manifold, which tunes the engine under different driving conditions and improves torque across the powerband; and, altogether, the engine feels almost as if it were turbocharged.