Introduction

The Toyota Tundra is a full-size pickup, but it's more agile and more refined than the domestic trucks. The Tundra is not 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 standard of quality. So you get unsurpassed durability and reliability. The Tundra is one of the 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 7,100-pound trailer or haul 1,800 pounds in its eight-foot bed. For 2003, a new step-side model joins the lineup. Combine its sporty look with the new Sport Suspension Package, and you have a full-size truck that even a driving enthusiast could (almost) love. Toyota launched the Tundra as a 2000 model and there have been only minor changes since.

Walkaround

The Tundra is an attractive pickup, made bolder for 2003 by a larger grille opening that extends down into the bumper. Heavy-looking chrome grille bars faintly suggest the 1947 GMC design, a model now popular with collectors. But Tundra's styling is still bland compared to the boldly retro Dodge Ram and the windswept Ford F-150. Instead, the Tundra shares a family resemblance with the compact Toyota Tacoma. Curving lines give both Toyota trucks a sporty appearance, while bulging fenders look ready to go off road. Access 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 (and rightly so, as modern locks and body structure have eliminated the danger of such a door flying open in the wind). 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 this isn't a big problem. Handles for the rear doors are conveniently located on the outside, whereas most domestic pickups with extended cabs hide the handles inside the door jams. Still, the Tundra's handle design isn't the most comfortable to use. 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.

Interior Features

The Tundra 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 new center console with four cup holders, dual map pockets and covered storage is shared with the Toyota Sequoia SUV. Our truck also 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 seat area. An advanced seatbelt system with pre-tensioners 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 its extended cab as do the Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet and GMC pickups. Plus, the Toyota's rear seatback is vertical, forcing the occupants 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.