2021 Toyota Tundra

The price of the Toyota Tundra depends on the drivetrain and body variations you choose; the SR, in its standard double cab guise and with the 2WD system, comes in at an MSRP of $34,025. The 4WD will cost $3,050 extra and the long bed will add just $330 to the base price. The SR5 carries a sticker price of $35,715 in double cab form while the CrewMax starts at $38,320. Springing for the Limited comes with base prices of $42,740 and $44,605 respectively for the two cab styles in 4x2 form. The Platinum and 1794 Edition trucks are exclusively sold as a CrewMax with a starting price of $49,245 each in 4x2 guise. The TRD Pro carries a price of $49,125 in double cab form with the CrewMax charging the most at $53,400. These prices exclude a $1,595 destination, handling, and delivery cost for the Toyota Tundra in the USA.

Unsurprisingly, the Tundra's ride isn't particularly refined as the suspension is tuned for heavy hauling and rough terrain rather than smooth cruising. Rough roads and bumps are transmitted, although far from jarring bones, through the excellent and roomy seats. The TRD Pro's suspension brings a softer ride quality, which smooths out dirt tracks beautifully while reducing body roll on a twisting paved road. The unbeaten path is undoubtedly the TRD Pro's natural element, but the suspension upgrade also makes it the most refined Tundra model on-road.

On the pavement, the brakes inspire confidence, even when fully laden, to bring the truck to a stop smoothly, and quickly if need be. The overly light steering isn't ideal for on-road driving, but the payoff is when you need to turn the Tundra around in tight spots or pull off some intricate trailer maneuvering.

Getting the TRD Pro off the paved road, the slow spooling engine pays off with gobs of torque available to get the hefty truck up significant inclines. The long-wheelbase doesn't make the Tundra TRD Pro the ideal off-roader, but it can take a big payload into challenging and unwelcoming territory. You can put grippy tires on any truck, but it's the Tundra's TRD suspension setup and all-wheel-drive system that makes sure those tires can do their jobs.

The Toyota Tundra is an ideal workhorse, delivering on capability, a good deal of versatility, and industry-leading dependability. It's also nowhere near as expensive as some rivals can be when you start piling on the options. In TRD Pro guise, it's a really poised off-roader boasting robust bodywork and a slew of worthwhile updates to its mechanicals that not only make it capable off the beaten track but better on the tarmac, too. The cabin is spacious - but then again, no one really builds a cramped interior in this corner of the market - but it's dated, littered with buttons, and lacks the ergonomic finesse of newer trucks. Tundras are for those Toyota-truck die-hards that are looking for something practical and unyielding and are uninterested in the extravagance of modern tech and luxury. Sure, the infotainment is of a decent standard and Toyota saw fit to include a whole host of advanced safety features, but when you look at what rivals are doing, it's clear the Tundra is part of a bygone era. Competitors, such as the Ford F150 or Ram 1500, are a lot newer and offer plenty more overall. They're more sophisticated trucks in a similar price bracket and are signs that next year's Tundra overhaul can't come soon enough.

The TRD Pro is the obvious choice for those looking for an off-road-capable truck, and, as it's also one of the more comfortable of the Tundra's on the road it's probably one of the strongest options in the lineup. But it is expensive, and if you're looking for a beefy utilitarian workhorse, the SR5 makes the most sense. It's offered with the best selection of cabin and bed variations at a relatively low price. It also comes standard with the larger infotainment touchscreen and a variety of additional in-cabin storage solutions. If you're looking for luxury and comfort, we'd to the competition instead, as those aren't strong suits of the Tundra.

If you require a more compact utility vehicle and are a Toyota devotee, then the Tacoma is a suitable alternative to consider. Similar in style, this midsize truck downsizes the capability with either a 2.7L four-cylinder or a 3.5L V6, both with far less power than the 5.7L V8 in the Tundra. That's why the Tacoma can only tow up to 6,800 lbs compared to the more than 10,000 the Tundra tows. However, while it has less power and much less space, it's more adept off-road because of its shorter wheelbase and more compact overall dimensions. Equipment levels are much the same, but the Tacoma is up to $10,00 cheaper on a trim-for-trim basis. Truck shoppers are a very specific type and will likely know their exact needs. Ultimately, if you need to tow large things the Tundra is the better vehicle, but if you need an adventure truck that will get to trickier spots up a mountain, the Tacoma is the better of the two.

The Tundra and the Titan share many similarities, ranging from their performance figures to their outdated characters. Both the full-size trucks feature only a single large capacity V8 engine, though the Titan has an extra 19 hp over the Tundra's 381-hp output. The Titan's nine-speed automatic transmission is newer and quicker than the Tundra's six-speed auto, however, giving it the edge in the way the powertrain behaves on the road. Despite that extra power and more refined transmission, the Tundra is still capable of towing significantly more than the Titan's 9,370-pound cap. The Toyota has more cab and bed configurations, offering versatility and superior hauling capabilities. The Nissan sports a slightly classier cabin but ultimately, the Tundra is the more capable, more dependable truck and gets similar specs in terms of features and safety tech. It's the truck we'd go for, considering how much more the base Titan costs in comparison to the entry-level Tundra.