Trucking Into 2023 with the Toyota Tundra

Trucking Into 2023 with the Toyota Tundra

The Toyota Tundra is prepared to storm into 2023 after getting a full redesign for 2022, which added two all-new powertrains: a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6, and an i-FORCE MAX hybrid model that paired that V6 with an EV motor for a whopping 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, four-wheel-drive, and the ability to tow up to 12,000 pounds (5,067 kg).

For 2023, the traditional gas trucks come with that twin-turbo V6 in two states of tune: one is good for 348 hp and 405 lb-ft, while the more powerful motor – available on Double Cab SR5 models and up – makes 389 hp and 479 lb-ft. The Tundra can be had with in either 4 x 4 or RWD 4 x 2 configurations, but every model gets a 10-speed automatic transmission and solid axle rear suspension with coil springs.

Three bed sizes and two cab sizes are available, depending on which of the 21 trims you opt for. Gas trucks can be had with either a 5.5-, 6.5- or 8.1-foot bed, while the hybrid version comes with a choice of either the 5.5 or 6.5-footer.

That changes, however, if you opt for the off-road champion of the group, the TRD Pro. Available only with the i-FORCE MAX powertrain, it can only be had with the 5.5-foot bed. Indeed, when it comes time to put the TRD Pro and all its off-road hardware – Fox internal bypass coilovers, remote-reservoir rear shocks, TRD skidplates, higher ride height – to the test on narrow forestry roads, the longer wheelbase required for the longer bed may not be ideal.

The TRD Pro isn’t the only model that comes only with the hybrid powertrain; the top-spec Capstone model is in the same boat. If you want a luxurious non-hybrid Tundra, however, both the Platinum and 1794 edition – so named for the founding year of a ranch in Texas where the Tundra factory now sits – are available with either gas or hybrid powertrains.

Inside, we find standard Toyota Interface multimedia tech which provides either an 8-inch or 14” touchscreen display. If you’d rather not have to take your eyes off the road to navigate the system, the “Hey, Toyota” voice command can cover a lot of ground, from guiding you to the nearest sushi restaurant to letting you how far away the next gas station is.

With the 2023 Tundra, there’s a truck for everyone.