Toyota Tundra first drive: big pick-up impresses on open road

Australians are embracing huge American pick-up trucks in record numbers, despite price tags that run into six figures. Now the market leader wants a slice of the action.

Toyota has begun road-testing the Toyota Tundra on local roads. Picture: Supplied.

Barrelling along Route 101 out of Los Angeles, majestic mountains on your right and picture-perfect coastline on your left, it’s easy to see the appeal of a big American pick-up truck.

Six lanes, cheap petrol and a more liberal approach to policing the speed limit all add up to the ideal road trip.

The weapon of choice for the journey is a Toyota Tundra, the full-size pick-up that should hit Australian showrooms next year to compete with Ford’s global bestseller, the F150.

The two are sure to make a dent in the prospects of the RAM 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado, which have been selling up a storm in Australia in the past couple of years.

Big utes are becoming big business in Australia, as outdoorsy types embrace their post-Covid freedom by spending six-figure sums on US pick-ups to tow their boats, caravans and horse floats.

The Toyota Tundra Capstone is fully loaded but likely to be very expensive. Picture: Supplied.

Sales of pick-up trucks costing more than $100,000 doubled in the first six months of this year and the imminent arrival of the F-Series is likely to continue the growth.

Toyota hasn’t announced a local launch date for the Tundra but later this year it plans to deploy 300 vehicles around Australia as part of the final validation stage of its right-hand-drive program.

The trucks won’t be offered for sale but will be monitored “under real world usage conditions”.

In an ominous warning to rivals, the brand, which dominates the ute market with its top-selling HiLux, says “we are looking to lead the way in this segment”.

The Tundra’s point of difference is a hybrid V6 petrol engine that will go head to head with the Ram and Silverado’s hairy chested, but thirsty, V8s.

First impressions suggest the potent power plant, dubbed the i-Force Max, is well equipped for the task.

Those expecting Prius-like fuel efficiency will be disappointed, as this hybrid is more about boosting the performance of Toyota’s 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 than saving the planet.

The Capstone is powered by a hybrid 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6. Picture: Supplied.

A 36kW electric motor sits between the V6 and a traditional 10-speed transmission, boosting performance to a mighty 326kW of power and 790Nm of torque. The motor can move the big truck at low speeds and when coasting, but its main job is to provide extra grunt when needed.

There are no local fuel consumption figures yet but the US label says it uses a combined 20 miles per gallon, which roughly translates to about 12L/100km. We saw 18 to 19MPG during a mix of highway and city driving.

The engine is smooth and refined, delivering effortless performance on the freeway and snappy acceleration off the mark, although we weren’t convinced by the fake exhaust note pumped into the cabin.

Toyota says it can tow between 4700kg and 5000kg, depending on the model.

Our test car was the top of the range Capstone model, which rides on massive 22-inch wheels and is packed with the latest technology.

The Capstone rides on ‘gangsta’ 22-inch wheels. Picture: Supplied.

If Lexus ever made a pick-up truck, it would look a lot like this.

The cabin is lined with soft black and white leather and open-pore walnut woodgrain highlights. It looks fantastic but you do have to wonder how it will survive grubby hands and Aussie bulldust.

The seats are like big comfy armchairs, while the dash is dominated by a huge 14-inch centre touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital driver display. If that’s not enough sensory overload, there’s a 10-inch colour head-up display.

The menus are easy to navigate and the Siri-style voice recognition works well, even when confronted by Aussie accents. Aside from navigation inputs, the system allows you to adjust the audio volume and cabin temperature.

The cabin is also impressively quiet thanks to acoustic glass and extensive sound deadening.

Rear legroom is limousine-like, there are plenty of ports for electronic devices and the 12-speaker JBL sound system is a cracker.

The fit and finish of the interior rivals luxury cars. Picture: Supplied.

The Capstone’s ride can bit a little jiggly and sharp over road joins but the steering provides a surprising amount of feel and feedback for such a big vehicle.

In its element at speed on the freeway, the Tundra can be intimidating in the traffic.

A trip to an underground carpark nearly ended in a panic attack and there was another unpleasant surprise – some operators charge double to park a pick-up truck.

In Australian cities, where lanes are narrower, backroads are tighter and carspots are smaller, the Tundra would be tough to live with day to day.

But rural buyers are likely to be wooed by its effortless performance, luxurious interior and formidable towing capacity.

They’ll need deep pockets, though.

The Tundra Capstone costs $US77,645 plus on-roads, which translates to more than $115,000 at the current exchange rate. That’s before it’s shipped here and converted to right-hand-drive.

QUICK GLANCE

Toyota Tundra

PRICE $US76,645 plus on roads

SAFETY Eight airbags, auto emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, radar cruise, high-beam assist

ENGINE 3.5-litre hybrid twin-turbo V6, 326kW and 790Nm

THIRST About 12L/100km

PAYLOAD/TOW CAPACITY 790kg/4700kg

Originally published as Toyota Tundra first drive: big pick-up impresses on open road