Although the new 2017 Toyota Tundra has some positive characteristics such as refined feel or a strong engine, it is not enough to beat most of the competition in the market.
The advantage the current Tundra has over some of the rivals is that the customers can choose many trims. Namely, SR, SR5, TRD Pro, Limited, Platinum and 1794 Edition are offered and each of them comes with something specific such as bed length or engine option in order to lure the costumers.
However, it seems that Ford F-150, GMC Sierra or Chevrolet Silverado are much better options in the category of pickup trucks. And they not only better in one or two aspects, they leave the Tundra behind in towing ability, utility features, comfort and the quality of driving, even the fuel economy.
However, Toyota didn’t do much in order to improve the quality of their pickup. So let’s take a look at our new 2017 Toyota Tundra.
2017 Toyota Tundra Design
Some elements such as a grille or stamped tailgate look really good, but unfortunately, the overall look of both exterior and interior is not harmonious, so to say. To be more precise, some of the parts don’t go with some other, making the car look disjointed. The good example of a well-assembled car would be the already mentioned GMC Sierra.
As for the exterior, we could see a new hood, “Tundra” logo on the tailgate, new grille, and a redesigned front when the car was overhauled back for 2014. Also, there were numerous revisions in the cabin as well.
Be that as it may, the details you can find on the car don’t belong there. Even people who are not experts can see that the front end of the car is tall and unwieldy. The sides, on the other hand, look completely fine, whereas the stamped tailgate is understated and rugged.
Speaking of the interior, the Toyota also has problems with size. In other words, every knob or a button is massive and although they are arranged in a sensible manner, it doesn’t leave a good impression. The competition managed to abandon this habit of making everything large and this is another minus to Toyota. However, the materials on the upper trims are more sophisticated and the color of the cabin is compatible with the exterior, so not everything is negative.
2017 Toyota Tundra Performance
The carmaker offers only two engine option, but both are powerful. Furthermore, the suspension provides a pleasurable ride, but the Tundra still falls behind its rivals.
The engine that lies under the hood is a 4.6-liter V8 that produces 310 hp and 327 lb-ft of torque. The second option is a 5.7-liter V8 that delivers 381 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque. Although this looks great on paper, once the car is on the road, it really struggles to reach maximum torque. However, the engine sounds amazing because of the exhaust which is ready for NASCAR.
Both units are combined with six-speed automatic, which works fantastic. However, the problem is with the fewer gears because of which this pickup is not the best when it comes to the fuel economy. Speaking of the trailer capacity, the Tundra is rated at 10,400 pounds, but once you load 8,000 pounds you can see the difference while driving. Also, the car struggles to accelerate when it is towing, which is not the case with Ford or Ram.
However, if you cruise with 2017 Toyota Tundra around the city, the ride is joyous and easy-going with light steering. If you have an empty trailer, the ride can be bumpy, but this is the case with every pickup truck. If you want to go off-road, the TRD Pro is the trim you should pick. Bilstein shock absorbers and beefier front skid plate are some of the benefits you get on this trim.
The 4.6-liter V8 model with RWD is rated at 15mpg in the city, 19mpg on the highway and 16mpg combined, whereas the AWD reduced the numbers slightly to 14/18/16 mpg. The car with a 5.7-liter V8 unit records 13mpg in the city, 18mpg on the highway and 15mpg combined. The AWD variant here only reduces highway mileage from 18mpg to 17mpg.
Features of new Toyota Tundra 2017
The entry-level trim comes with an AM/FM/CD stereo with smartphone connectivity and some voice recognition functions. Furthermore, you will also get a 6.1-inch touchscreen with USB and iPod connectivity and Bluetooth hands-free phone. In addition, you can also find rubber floor coverings and vinyl-covered seats.
The SR comes with a regular cab as standard, but the double cab is something you can acquire. Meanwhile, The SR5 is equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, whereas the metallic details are added to the interior, making it more fashionable. Furthermore, if you decide to buy this trim, you will have to be satisfied with a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
One of the most significant features of the TRD Pro are Bilstein monotone dampers which are specially designed, large skid plate and TRD-tuned shock absorbers.
The Limited model features power front seats and soft-touch interior surface. Furthermore, leather seating material is included together with the dual-zone climate control, which would cool you down during long trips. There is also the Limited Premium Package available and ambient lighting and front and rear parking sensors are included in it. If you purchase this package, you will receive power windows and glass breakage sensor as well.
The top-shelf trims, Platinum and 1794 Edition have heated and ventilated seats and the higher-quality material is used. Also, they come with parking sensors, a power moonroof and for a joyous ride, the car features a 12-speaker JBL audio system.
Tundra Comfort and Quality
The 2017 Toyota Tundra offers a lot of space in the cabin and it is really comfortable, but the details and the quality of the materials are not the best in this car. First of all, you have the choice of three cab lengths – regular, Double Cab and CrewMax. The problem here is that you can mix the body styles and bed lengths. If you opt for the CrewMax, the size of the bed will be 5’ 5”. However, the Regular Cabs come with the 8’5” bed, whereas you can choose between 6’5” and 8’1” bed only if you go for the Double Cab.
Moreover, there is no lockable in-fender storage, stowable loading ramps, or handrails in the tailgate in the bed of the vehicle. If Toyota wants to be at the top in full-size pickup truck segment, the carmaker will have to insert numerous features.
The Regular Cab is a truck for work. The seating is for three passengers with the standard bench seat, but captain’s chairs can be added. The Double Cab version is equipped with a set of flip-up rear seats as well as the rear-hinged doors. The second row of seats is not too spacious, but it is not too small either. There is a weather and theft resistant cargo area where you can store you load.
The CrewMax is equipped with four full-sized doors. You can slide and recline the rear seats, but the bottom cushions are slightly lower, so the passengers would not feel too comfortable with their knees up. Some trims have storage under the seats and the noise in the cabin is reduced to the minimum.
Safety of Toyota Tundra 2017
Toyota has made some improvements regarding the safety of the vehicle, but there is still a long way to go. Out of the three cab options, CrewCab was the best, whereas the other two didn’t quite amaze in NHTSA testing. Some models received four stars, whereas some are still stuck at three out of five in crash tests. According to the IIHS, the Tundra earned “Good” or “Acceptable” depending on a type of crash test.
Eight airbags, anti-lock brakes, and stability control are some of the features you can find in this car. Tundra is also equipped with a backup camera, whereas the top trim models come with rear cross-traffic alert and blind spot monitors. What is interesting is that automatic emergency braking hasn’t been offered yet to the customers.
What you think about new 2017 Toyota Tundra?
