Introduction

Sometimes you want more than muscle. You want style, sophistication. You want power, handling. You want peace and quiet. If these are things you want in a pickup, then you might consider Toyota's full-size Tundra. The Tundra may not be as big and brawny as the Ford F-150, Dodge Ram, Chevrolet Silverado, or GMC Sierra, but it's easier to drive, lighter on its feet, and brilliantly quick and responsive. It's also built to Toyota's high quality standards. So you get unsurpassed quality, durability, and reliability. The Tundra is the one of smoothest, quietest, and most refined pickups we've ever driven. Its 4.7-liter V8 engine is truly exceptional, with more than enough power to run with the big dogs. The V8 Tundra can tow a 7,200-pound trailer or haul nearly 2000 pounds in its eight-foot bed. For 2002, an optional limited-slip differential is available for better traction in slippery conditions. Launched in model-year 2000, Tundra is still a relatively new model. Changes for 2001 and 2002 have been minor.

Walkaround

The Tundra is an attractive pickup. But its styling is bland compared to the boldly retro Dodge Ram and the windswept Ford F-150. Tundra does share a family resemblance with the compact Toyota Tacoma. Curving lines give both Toyotas a sporty look, while bulging fenders look ready to go off-road. Access Cab extended-cab models have four doors. The short rear doors are hinged at the rear and open opposite the front doors. We called these suicide doors in the old days, a label manufacturers avoid. The Access Cab's doors will bang into one another if you close the front door before closing the rear door. Fortunately, the inside of the rear door is padded, so it isn't a big problem. Handles for the rear doors are conveniently located on the outside of the doors, whereas most domestic pickups with extended cabs hind the handles inside the door jams. Still, the Tundra's handle design isn't the most comfortable. The pickup bed measures 8 feet with the regular cab, but only 6-feet, 3-inches with the Access Cab. That's a few inches inches shorter than the short bed of a Ford F-150 or Chevrolet Silverado. Toyota's bed is also a little shallower than Ford's bed.

Interior Features

This is a comfortable truck with a friendly interior. The 60/40 split-bench cloth seats are welcoming and supportive. Accessory switches are concentrated in the center cluster for easy operation. Instruments are straightforward, with a big tachometer on all but base models. A center console box comes with storage space and a pair of good, deep cup holders. The latch on the center console on our truck wouldn't stay latched, however, so the lid would flop open whenever the console was flipped up. Our truck came with double sun visors with extenders. Climbing in is easy, though the two-wheel-drive model seems to sit higher off the ground than other two-wheel-drive pickups. But that means that even the two-wheel-drive Tundra feels tall in the saddle, giving the driver a commanding view over shorter vehicles. Toyota claims the Tundra provides more front legroom than any of the domestic pickups, including the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. Overall, however, the domestic trucks offer more usable room in the front seats. An advanced seatbelt system with pretensioners and force limiters adds to safety, along with dual front airbags and side-impact beams. The passenger-side airbag can be switched off with the key when babies or children occupy the front passenger seat. Access Cab models add interior storage space and the ability to carry two more passengers. If those passengers are adults, however, the rear seat is mostly a short-term affair. The Tundra does not have nearly as much space in the rear compartment of the extended cab as the Chevrolet, GMC, Ford and Dodge pickups. Plus, the Toyota's rear seatback is vertical, causing the occupant to sit bolt upright, which is uncomfortable for traveling any farther than the neighborhood restaurant. A far better use for the extended cab is carrying dry cleaning, groceries, briefcases, outdoor gear, or anything else that should be shielded from the elements. Unfortunately, the rear seat itself takes up a fair amount of room. The seat bottom on the split bench can be flipped up, but the seat doesn't fold completely out of the way, nor can it be easily removed. Some of the domestic pickups are set up better for this.