2015 Toyota Highlander Limited AWD Crossover

On March 29, 2015 By stuwright47In *CROSSOVERS, ToyotaLeave a comment

Toyota, the first company in the world to build ten million vehicles, came out with the Camry-based Highlander in 2001, having announced its anticipated arrival at the New York Auto Show in April of 2000. It has been a sales success, racking up in excess of 1.5 million units sold to date.

For 2015, Toyota’s Highlander carries forward its renewed styling that was rolled out in 2014, and is currently in its third generation iteration. It is a car-based mid-sized SUV with seven-passenger, three row seating. Sales of the Highlander (146,127 in 2014 – a record) places its revenue right in the middle of the Toyota SUV lineup. The Toyota RAV-4 is the only model that produces more sales for the company than the Highlander.

This past week I was able to test a Highlander, a Limited top-of-the-line unit that carried an M.S.R.P. of $47,812.00, including freight. The Limited’s base price was $41,300.00, and had as options a BluRay rear entertainment system ($1,810.00), driver technology package ($1,400.00), tow hitch/wiring harness ($699.00), side running boards ($599.00), remote engine start ($499.00), floor/cargo mat package ($225.00), and paint protection film on the front end ($395.00). The Limited Highlander included a safety technology package, a moonroof, and perforated leather second-row captain’s chairs. The extra technology equipment included radar adaptive cruise control, automatic high beam headlamps, blind spot monitor, lane departure alert, and pre-collision warning.

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Additional Limited model items on my test car included power liftgate with glass hatch, 19” five-spoke alloy wheels, anodized roof rails, three zone climate control, JBL/Entune/navigation with 8” screen (the rear screen was 9″), perforated black leather seats, pushbutton starter, proximity keyless entry, tilt/telescope, heated and air conditioned front bucket seats, backup camera, and nice Optitron instrumentation.

Styling, with the 2014/2015 revision, was great. So was the opulent-looking Predawn Mica gray paint, “Limited” badging, and polished Chromtec finish on the wheels. The tires mounted on the alloys were 245/55R19 Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 mud and snow radials. The running boards on my tester added in both the utility and the styling departments.

Power for the Highlander is supplied by a 3.5 liter V-6 with 270 horsepower and 248 lb. ft. of torque. The transmission is a six-speed automatic with snow mode and full-time four-wheel drive. A unitized body is employed and four-wheel independent suspension and disc brakes are, as well. EPA fuel economy ratings are 18-city and 24-highway, with a combined rating of 20. For the week that I drove the Toyota, my observation was of 24.1 mpg. Weight is 4,508 lbs., towing capacity is 6,000 lbs. and the fuel tank holds 19.2 gallons. Overall length is 191.1”, 3” longer than the second generation Highlander, and cargo volume behind the third-row seat is 13.8 cubic feet. With it folded down, that number increases to 42.3, and with the second- and third-row seats folded flat, total cargo capacity is 83.7 cubic feet.

I enjoyed the styling, interior comfort, visibility, road noise (lack of), and guidance of the Highlander. The ride was satisfactory, and I feel that this year’s Highlander makes a nice family hauler and/or travel vehicle. The U.S. public agrees with me, and great sales numbers are the result for Toyota.

2015 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited Sedan

On March 24, 2015 By stuwright47In *HYBRIDS/ELECTRICS, ToyotaLeave a comment

The 2015 Toyota Avalon, currently available in hybrid and non-hybrid configurations, is now in its fourth-generation iteration. I recently was loaned one of them by Rocky Mountain Redline, and the car delivered was painted Celestial Silver metallic and featured premium black leather seating. With all Avalon production taking place in Georgetown, Kentucky, the first unit rolled off of that assembly line eleven years ago as a 1995 model. They are full-size, front-wheel drive sedans and represent Toyota’s biggest such offering.

At my age (the Beatles hit U. S. shores while I was in high school), the Avalon represented a nice car to be seen in, and drive around in, for the period of my evaluation. The ride on its 111″ wheelbase is superb do to the MacPherson strut front suspension with offset coil springs and stabilizer bar and dual-link independent MacPherson strut rear suspension with offset coil springs and another stabilizer bar. The room inside is ample for big, American motorists with 0ver 42″ of legroom is up front and over 39″ in the back seat area. The same holds true for shoulder room in the car at nearly five feet of it, front and rear. Overall length is 195.3″, six inches shorter than a Chevrolet Impala and 4.8″ longer than a Mazda 6. The Avalon weighs 3,638 lbs., the same as the Chevy despite the fact it has a big hybrid battery on board.

The efficient power supply for the Avalon consisted of a 2.5 liter, 4 cylinder hybrid gas/electric engine with 200 hybrid system net horsepower (149 kW) and an electronically-controlled continuously variable (CVT) transmission. The EPA estimates for the Avalon is 40 mpg – combined and city. Highway mileage rating is 39 mpg – my experience for the week driving the car was 38.9 mpg. The fuel tank holds 17 gallons of regular unleaded gasoline. It’s impossible for the Avalon styling to offend anyone, young or old. There exists up front the Toyota-specific big chrome mustache grill with black background, high intensity discharge (HID) quadrabeam headlights with auto on/off feature, and LED daytime running lights (DRL) with on/off feature. The fifteen-spoke painted aluminum alloy wheels are fitted with P215/55R17 Bridgestone Turanza EL400 mud and snow radials. No tailpipes are visible at the rear of the car (hybrid-style), but ample chrome is and a spoiler is almost molded into the trunk lid where underneath there is 14 cubic feet of cargo space available to the five passengers.

As you might expect, the inside the Avalon Hybrid Limited is sumptuous with its premium perforated leather-trimmed multi-stage heated and ventilated front seats, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support and power cushion extension, and 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat. On hand are premium JBL stereo, navigation system, 7″ touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, power rear window sunshade, ten airbags, tilt/telescope, pushbutton starter, backup camera, smoked chrome accents, and power mirrors/windows/locks.

M.S.R.P. of the Avalon tester came in at $44,475.00, including $825.00 for freight and $1,950.00 for the technology package which included radar cruise control, automatic high beam, pre-collision safety system, and wireless charging platform for smartphones. It’s a considerable investment, but a sound one given the comfort, beauty, and economy that the buyer gets in the bargain.

2015 Toyota Venza Limited AWD

On February 22, 2015July 21, 2015 By stuwright47In *CROSSOVERS, ToyotaLeave a comment

A test car that was delivered to me recently was a 2015 Barcelona Red metallic five-door Toyota Venza with all-wheel drive and a V-6 engine. Since the Venza was introduced into the Toyota line six years ago as a 2009 Camry derivative (one of many), the company has chosen to dress the car out with lots of equipment. And the one that I was loaned had enough in the line of options to bring M.S.R.P. to $42,193.00. Included was the Limited package of options were leather seats/shift knob/steering wheel, twin power heated front buckets, smart key system, pushbutton and remote starter, power liftgate, backup camera, navigation system, 13-speaker JBL stereo, XM radio, automatic high beam headlights, panoramic glass moon roof, IPod connector, Bluetooth, and rear bumper protector. The car also had chrome door handles, puddle lamps, fog lights, four-season floor mats, paint protection film, and mudguards. On balance, it was quite a number of upgrades.

First off, I departed for Denver out on I-25 on a winter morning. I wanted to meet my family for lunch at Zadie’s Restaurant near Cherry Creek. The Venza has a 268hp V-6 (@ 6,200 rpm) with 3.5 liters, dual overhead cams, 24 valves and dual variable valve timing. Torque is 246 lb. ft. (@ 4,700 rpm) and the the transmission attached to it is a 6-speed electronically controlled model with with sequential shift mode. All of this drivetrain spec provided ample passing power and I was satisfied with the Venza’s ride, guidance, and handling. Dual climate control kept both the wife and I comfortable and the tilt/telescope kept the wheel in a proper attitude for the driver. This upgraded Toyota had carbon fiber-looking trim in quite a few locations in the car and it was very attractive. So was the dashboard material and gauges. And the cargo space behind the second-row seating is 36.6 cubic feet. Fold the middle row of seats down and the total cargo space comes to 70.2 cubic feet. Weight/wheelbase/length of the Venza is 4,045 lbs., 109.3″, and 189″, respectively.

Fuel mileage for the Venza is 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. I observed an average of 22.4 during my week with the car. I mentioned the acceleration – reportedly the Venza V-6 goes 0-60 in 6.9 seconds, without a great deal of fuss. The car rides on big 20” five-spoke silver allow wheels that look great, shod with P245/50R20 Goodyear Eagle RS-A all-season steel belted radials. And the drive system is all-wheel with Active Torque Control and the suspension is 4-wheel independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bars.

I left Zadies less satisfied with the lunch (breakfast, actually – I don’t care for the pancake syrup) than the car, and noticed a lot of looks from shoppers in the Cherry Creek district. The Toyota Camry has produced a lot of offspring, and the Venza is the best-looking one of the bunch.

2015 Toyota Sienna FWD SE Premium Minivan

On January 12, 2015January 14, 2015 By stuwright47In *MINIVANS, ToyotaLeave a comment

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BRRRRR! It’s cold and wintery as I conduct this mid-January test of the Toyota Sienna minivan from the Rocky Mountain Redline press fleet. The front-wheel drive system works well getting my wife and I around Northern Colorado, and thankfully, no blizzards took place this month; just a couple of nice snowfalls. Front and rear heat is on hand in the Sienna so that I can warm up the vehicle pretty fast with zero degree temperatures to contend with. That system includes air conditioning and is a three-zone setup with separate temperature controls for driver and passengers, both front and rear. A digital control panel is ceiling-mounted in the rear of the Sienna.

My test Sienna was the SE Premium model with several upgrades such as backup camera, audio/navigation with 7″ screen, SiriusXM radio, Bluetooth connectivity, Toyota’s Entune app suite, Blu-ray 16.4″ rear entertainment center with headphones, perforated black leather seating for eight, 40/20/40 middle row seating with stowable center seat, stowable third row seat, cruise control, tilt/telescope, Smart Key system with remote/pushbutton starter, triple 12v power outlets, blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert, and ten cup holders.

Toyota’s Sienna SE Premium comes in five different colors and the one I drove was painted Salsa red pearl metallic. Of course the vehicle was equipped with power sliding side doors (they have roll-down windows) and a power rear lift gate. The length of the Sienna was 200.2″ set on a 119.3″ wheelbase; weight was 4,560 lbs. Getting in and out of the minivan is easier than a sedan and not quite at a crossover SUV level of convenience. Visibility is great, as is ride and guidance on the road. Handling is, well, as you would expect for such a vehicle, that being OK.

Minivan styling is not an attraction to such a vehicle, although I personally like the looks of all of them. This Sienna had bold-looking six-spoke gunmetal-finished gray 19″ alloy wheels with P235/50R19 steel all-season radials. Luggage rail cross bars were up top and round fog- and backup-lights dressed up the fascia, front and rear. The color was particularly attractive on the Sienna, a selection I would make if purchasing one.

Power for the Toyota minivan is produced by a 3.5 liter V-6 with 266 horsepower and 245 lb. ft. of torque. A six-speed automatic is coupled to it with the shift tower mounted on the dashboard to the right of the steering wheel. Thus, the driver (or front passenger) can slide over to the other armrest-equipped bucket seat, if desired. Fuel economy for the Sienna is 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. The combined rating is 21 mpg. I found the performance of my test Toyota to be suitable, and the company also offers an all-wheel drive setup on the Sienna.

M.S.R.P. for the van totaled $41,293.00 – base price was $39,680.00 and freight plus odds and ends made up the difference. I enjoyed testing the Sienna and it seems to me to represent a pretty good value in its segment.

2015 Toyota Camry SE Hybrid Sedan

On January 8, 2015 By stuwright47In *HYBRIDS/ELECTRICS, ToyotaLeave a comment

Toyota has been building Camrys since 1982, and the car was originally a compact sedan. Now it has evolved into a midsize automobile, and year after year the company sells over 400,000 of them. I drove a new 2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid during the past few days, all over Northern Colorado as well as to Denver, and I found out that I like this new 2015 more than the 2014.5 that I had in the fall. It was the styling that won me over, as this new sedan has virtually all new body parts (everything but the roof), and is quieter, roomier, and even a little sportier. I was more of a fan of the 2007 (through 2011) Camry styling than I was of last year’s, and now this 2015 gets me back as a big booster.

The Camry Hybrid has a power train consisting of a CVT delivering power to the front wheels from its hybrid system. I have grown pretty accustomed to the CVT transmission setup in the Camrys; that includes both this one and the 2014.5 that I tested in the fall. CVT stands for continuously variable transmission (no shifts), and it is coupled to a gasoline 4 cylinder, 2.5 liter motor with 156 horsepower (@ 5,700 rpm) and 156 lb. ft. of torque (@4,500 rpm). Two electric motor/generators are on board to add in 141 more horsepower and 199 lb. ft. of torque. Combined power rating is 200 horsepower, and as I mentioned, it was pretty suitable for driving the midsize sedan. I liked the ride and handling better than last Camry I had, and styling (as I have mentioned) is great from all angles.

The Toyota Camry Hybrid mid-size FWD sedan has been available for eight years, and over the winter has been available in showrooms in its third generation configuration. My test Camry was equipped to the tune of $32,233.00, M.S.R.P. The base price of $27,995.00 for the SE model had as additions the blue illuminated door sills ($299.00) remote start ($499.00) four season floor mat package ($325.00), premium navigation/audio package ($1,300.00), moon roof ($915), and wireless charging system ($75.00). Freight charges came to $825.00. The car came in “blue crush metallic” paint and the cloth seating was a light gray in color. It’s a five passenger sedan with a decent sized rear passenger compartment and a 15.4 cubic foot trunk. It comfortably seats five adults. Miles-per-gallon fuel economy ratings for the car I drove were 40 City, 38 Highway, and 40 Combined. The fuel tank holds 17 gallons of at least 87-octane regular unleaded gasoline.

My test automobile was equipped as an above-average midsize sedan. On hand were such items as a good JBL stereo, 6.1″ touchscreen for nav and backup, fancier dash materials for 2015, sport cloth SofTex seating, satellite radio, 17″ alloys, and Bluetooth. Wheelbase of the Camry is 109.3″, length is 190.9″, and weight of the SE is 3,565 lbs.

There is a reason the Camry is America’s best selling car (almost 30,000 sold in November of 2014), and I experienced it firsthand this week with the SE Hybrid.

2015 Toyota Yaris SE 5-Door Sedan

On December 14, 2014 By stuwright47In *PASSENGER CARS, ToyotaLeave a comment

The most recent car brought to me for review earlier this week was the new 2015 Toyota Yaris . The model was the 5-door SE Liftback in Blue Streak metallic paint. And I like blue, particularly this shade – it was coupled with nice, black fabric seats, and black and silver-colored, 16″ alloy five-spoke wheels.

The Yaris, which has been around since 2007, was substantially updated for the 2015 model and marketing of it started late last summer. A big change to the car involved production of it in France instead of in Japan. Styling is new in many respects, but drive train components are much like the 2014. The styling, by the way, is an improvement in my mind.

The name of this car is derived from the word Charis, the Greek goddess of elegance and beauty. And the German expression of affirmation, “ya” is added onto the front of the name. It could just as surely refer to the target market of this car, Young Adults. On balance, it is a suitable name, and the Toyota people probably don’t mind that the word looks like the cultural epicenter of Europe, Paris (in France).

Ruth and I jumped into the Yaris and drove to Cracker Barrel to get something to eat. Getting in the car wasn’t particularly difficult, and the highway manners were fine for a subcompact. The base price of the Yaris SE is 17,620.00, and the total M.S.R.P. is 18,625.00, including freight ($825.00) and carpeted floor and trunk mats ($180.00). Standard equipment on the Yaris included 4-speed automatic, front-wheel drive, real hand brake, electric power steering/windows/locks, color-keyed power mirrors, anti-lock braking system, air conditioning, remote keyless entry, CD/stereo with USB and aux. jack, tire pressure monitor, tilt wheel, and a 60/40 fold-down rear seat. Behind that last item is a 15.6 cu. ft. luggage compartment, with an articulating package tray above it.

Dimensions associated with the Yaris SE are overall length of 154.7″, wheelbase of 98.8″, and curb weight of 2,315 lbs. The fuel tank holds 11.1 gallons of regular unleaded gasoline and the car seats five people.

Yaris power is provided by a 1.5 liter, 4-cylinder, 106 hp (6,000 rpm) engine with variable valve timing. Torque is 103 lb. ft. (4,200 rpm), and acceleration is OK (zero to 60 in perhaps a touch under ten seconds.) Gas mileage ratings are 30 in town and 36 on the highway (an increase in highway mileage for 2015). I observed a reading of 32.5 overall. The car rides on P195/50R16 Bridgstone Turanza EL400 mud and snow radials. Turning circle of the Yaris is 36.1 feet.

On this day the food in Loveland was good, and the ride back was a pleasure and I was proud to be seen in the Yaris. I guess I looked a little old, but Ruth didn’t. Would I let one of our three daughters drive, buy, ride in, lease, or borrow a Yaris? I sure would.

2014.5 Toyota Camry Hybrid SE

On November 4, 2014 By stuwright47In *HYBRIDS/ELECTRICS, ToyotaLeave a comment

The Toyota Camry Hybrid mid-size FWD sedan was introduced in May of 2006 as a 2007 model. The current unit is in its second generation iteration. A 2014.5 Toyota Camry SE Hybrid was brought to me last week for testing, and it was equipped as such to arrive at an M.S.R.P. of $30,970.00. The base price of $27,945.00 for the SE model had as additions the navigation system ($1,200.00) and power tilt/slide moon roof ($915.00). The car came in “Barcelona Red” paint, which was fun to photograph, and the cloth seating was black. It’s a five passenger sedan with a suitably sized rear passenger compartment and a 13.1 cubic foot trunk. Curb weight was 3,545 lbs., wheelbase was 109.3”, and overall length came in at 189.2”.

I drove the Camry quite a bit this last week, both to Ft. Collins, Boulder and to Denver, and gradually grew pretty accustomed to the CVT transmission setup in the car. CVT stands for continuously variable transmission (no shifts), and it is coupled to a gasoline 4 cylinder, 2.5 liter motor with 156 horsepower and 156 lb. ft. of torque. Two electric motor/generators are on board to add in 141 more horsepower and 199 lb. ft. of torque. Combined power rating is 200 horsepower, and as I mentioned, it was pretty acceptable for driving the somewhat big sedan. The ride, handling, and guidance were all good, and the styling suits me, as well (particularly front and rear).

Fuel economy for the hybrid has been improved for the last two years, and for the time I drove it the reading was 39.5 mpg. EPA ratings for the car I drove were 40 mpg city and 38 mpg highway – 40 mpg combined. The fuel tank held 17 gallons of regular gasoline. The current mileage compilation for the car is displayed on a dial; not digitally.

I mentioned earlier the options on board with this Camry – it was equipped with a moderate amount of equipment, including an 8 speaker JBL stereo, 7″ touchscreen for navigation and backup view, SoftTex-trimmed seating, satellite radio, 17″ five-spoke alloys, Bridgestone Turanza EL400 P215/55R17 all- season radials, tilt/telescope, pushbutton starter, cruise control, keyless entry, power windows/locks/mirrors, and Bluetooth connectivity.

There is a reason the Camry is America’s best selling car, and I experienced it this week with the SE Hybrid. This model will hold up well in the hybrid sales parade, although with the recent gas prices dipping under $3.00 per gallon, it will be a walking parade, not a stampede.

2014 Toyota Highlander Limited AWD SUV

On May 29, 2014 By stuwright47In *SPORT UTILITIES, ToyotaLeave a comment

For 2014, Toyota’s Highlander has been updated for the first time since 2008, and is now in its third generation iteration. It is a car-based mid-sized SUV with seven-passenger, three row seating. Sales of the Highlander (127,572 in 2013) places its revenue right in the middle of the Toyota SUV lineup.

This past week I was able to test a Highlander, a Limited top-of-the-line unit that carried an M.S.R.P. of $44,675.00, including freight. The Limited’s base price of $43,590.00 had as an option a set of carpeted floor and cargo mats ($225.00). It was what was called the Platinum Package edition, and that meant inclusion of a technology package, a panoramic moonroof, heated steering wheel, and heated perforated leather second-row captain’s chairs. The extra technology equipment included radar adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, automatic high beam headlamps, and pre-collision warning.

Limited model items on my test car included power liftgate with glass hatch, 19” five-spoke alloy wheels, anodized roof rails, three zone climate control, JBL/Entune navigation with 8” screen, perforated black leather seats, pushbutton starter, proximity keyless entry, tilt/telescope, heated and air conditioned front bucket seats, backup camera, and nice Optitron instrumentation.

Styling, with the 2014 revision, was great. So was the opulent-looking gray paint, “Limited” badging, and polished Chromtec finish on the wheels. The tires mounted on the alloys were 245/55R19 Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 mud and snow radials.

Power for the Highlander is supplied by a 3.5 liter V-6 with 270 horsepower and 248 lb. ft. of torque. The transmission is a six-speed automatic with snow mode and full-time four-wheel drive. A unitized body is employed and four-wheel independent suspension and disc brakes are, as well. EPA fuel economy ratings are 18-city and 24-highway, with a combined rating of 20. For the week that I drove the Toyota, my observation was of 23.5 mpg. Weight is 4,508 lbs., towing capacity is 6,000 lbs. and the fuel tank holds 19.2 gallons. Overall length is 191.1”, 3” longer than a 2013, and cargo volume behind the third-row seat is 13.8 cubic feet, another improvement over the 2013 Highlander.

I enjoyed the styling, interior comfort, visibility, road noise (or lack of), and guidance of the Highlander. The ride was satisfactory, and I feel that this year’s Highlander makes a nice family hauler and/or travel vehicle.

2013 Toyota Camry V-6 XLE FWD Sedan

On January 11, 2014January 11, 2014 By stuwright47In *PASSENGER CARS, ToyotaLeave a comment

The Toyota Camry XLE that I drove around last week was painted silver – Classic Silver metallic. I enjoy the names that this company gives its paint colors, including this one as well as names such as Super white and Attitude black. The Toyota Camry is America’s number one selling car, having been so for eleven straight years. They sell over 300,000 units per year in this country, year after year, and have topped 400,000 sales on several occasions. Such a year was 2012, when 404,886 Camrys were purchased in the United States.

For the 2012 model year, the Toyota Camry was totally redesigned, inside and out, and my 2013 was a carryover of the successful styling and architecture of the 2012. I was happy with the styling of the 2006/2011 Camry, but the last two models have featured a sleeker, chiseled body style, and the fuel efficiency has been enhanced, as well. The test XLE had the 3.5 liter, (268 hp/248 lb.ft.) V-6 and was rated at 21 city/31 highway mpg with a 17 gallon fuel tank. My observation was 23 mpg during my time with the Camry. Attached to the V-6 was a six-speed automatic and the front-wheel drive automobile had electric power steering to improve fuel mileage. It rode on 17”, silver, ten spoke alloy wheels fitted with P215/55R17 Bridgestone Turanza radials. The mid-size Camry is 189.2” long and seats five, weighing 3,420 pounds. Height/width of the car is 57.9” and 71.7”, the wheelbase is 109”. The trunk contains 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space.

The interior of the XLE features leather-trimmed heated sport buckets up front and matching two-toned (black/gray) fold-down 60/40 rear bench with armrest and cup holders. Toyota’s EnTune system and Bluetooth connectivity are present, as well as moon roof and hard-disk drive navigation/backup camera with a 7” touch-screen. The JBL Green Edge stereo has ten speakers in eight locations, and the Toyota cruise control is behind the steering wheel at 4 o’clock. The Camry has excellent acceleration and handling, and guidance and ride are acceptable.

Total M.S.R.P. for the XLE was $34,135.00, and that included the $1,620.00 navigation package, $500.00 for a blind spot monitor, $515.00 for Safety Connect arrangement, as well $225.00 for carpet/trunk mat set. The base price was $30,465.00, and freight charge was $810.00. That total is actually a couple of thousand dollars less than what Toyota charged for such a model two years earlier, making the new 2013 Camry a pretty good deal.

2013 Toyota Tundra CrewMax 4WD Pickup

On September 27, 2013 By stuwright47In *PICKUPS, ToyotaLeave a comment

The Toyota Tundra full-size pickup, available since model year 2000, is a capable replacement to the old Toyota T100, and is available with three engine choices. They are the 4 liter V-6 and two V-8s, with the largest one putting out 381 horsepower and 401 lb. ft. of torque. It’s what’s called the iForce 5.7 liter DOHC aluminum V-8 with (i)ntelligent variable valve timing and flex fuel capability. It is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with console-mounted shifter, and such were the drive train specifications of my test vehicle this past week.

The Tundra that I drove was the Limited CrewMax with an M.S.R.P. of $46,518, including options and freight. Base price of this model is $43,895, and options on it were the TRD off-road package, running boards, bedliner, full width power sliding rear glass, and remote start. It was part-time four wheel drive with electric control and trailering equipment. The interior was leather and seated five, a JBL stereo with satellite radio was on hand, and Bluetooth connectivity was present. No touchscreen for the radio was in the pickup and a navigation system was not installed.

The “standard” bed that comes with this CrewMax is 78.7” long, wheelbase is 145.7”, length is 228.9”, width is 79.9”, height is 75.8”, and the truck weighs 5,375 lbs. Towing capacity is 10,200 lbs., but apparently that is a lowball figure because Toyota towed the space shuttle Endeavour across the #405 freeway in California last year with the Tundra – weight of the space orbiter, 292,000 lbs. My wife Ruth and I flew to Florida to watch that Endeavour launch from Cape Kennedy in February of 2010. The mission was STS-130 to the International Space Station and of course it was quite a thrill.

Styling of the Limited was upgraded to include chrome door handles, chrome outside mirrors, TRD and Limited badging, five-spoke brushed finish alloy wheels, BF Goodrich Rugged Trail T/A 275/65R18 white letter tires, and the running boards. All the full-size pickups from GM, Dodge, Nissan, and Ford are good-looking, as is the Tundra.

Ride, cab noise, guidance, and visibility were all acceptable in this vehicle. The gas tank holds 26.4 gallons, and the EPA ratings on the previously described engine was 13 city, 18 highway, and 15 overall. I observed 15 miles per gallons during my time with the Toyota.

Toyota sold over 100,000 Tundras last year, a 22% increase for them over 2011 sales. The big American manufacturers sold substantially more than that, with total pickup sales in the U.S. (all sizes) at 2 million. Nonetheless, when shopping for a full-sized pickup, I see no reason to rule out a Toyota Tundra.

Stu's Reviews

Category: Toyota