What is New?
The 2018 Toyota Tundra is refreshed, and it now comes with a slightly different and improved front fascia that features a new grille. In addition, there is a new TRD Sport trim that is equipped with a hood scoop, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a mesh grille. What is specific to this model is a shift knob, Sport floor mats, front and rear anti-roll bars all TRD sourced, plus it has Bilstein shocks.
Good news for the fans and especially future owners of the new Tundra is that Toyota decided to add its Safety Sense-P package full of active safety features to all the trims and no matter which one you choose, this add-on comes as standard.
Engine Specifications and Fuel Economy
The Japanese company offers two engine options for the 2018 Tundra model. The first one is a 4.6-liter V8 unit that delivers 310 horsepower and 327 lb-ft of torque, while the second one is more powerful 5.7-liter V8 powerplant good for 381 ponies and 401 lb-ft of torque. Unlike the engines, only one transmission choice is available, and it is a six-speed automatic.
Even though we do not have official fuel economy figures by EPA, this vehicle is expected to be one of the worst in the segment, just like its predecessor. Hopefully, there are going to be some signs of improvements at least considering that the 2017 model is rated at 15 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway for RWD truck and 14 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway for the base AWD 4.6-liter V8 version. The fuel economy ratings of the more potent 5.7-liter unit reached 13/18 mpg city/highway and 13/17 mpg city/highway for rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models respectively.
Towing Capacity
Depending on which Tundra model you opt for, you will be able to haul between 1,440 and 2,080 pounds of payload with your truck. The towing capacity of the properly equipped Tundra goes from 6,400 to 10,500 pounds, and it once again depends on the trim, bed length, engine, and drivetrain. If you need a truck for towing or transporting your load, the 2018 Toyota Tundra will definitely be at your service.
2018 Toyota Tundra Features
Here, we are not going to talk about every feature there is on the new pickup, so we will just mention the basic ones. For example, this model is equipped with LED taillights, Bluetooth connectivity, 20-inch alloy wheels and a rearview camera. If you decide to purchase the 2018 Toyota Tundra, you will get company’s Entune infotainment system, a multi-information display that is located between the gauges and leather upholstery.
Safety
The 2018 Toyota Tundra still hasn’t undergone the tests NHTSA and IIHS conduct so we cannot tell you how safe the new vehicle is. What we can do is take a look at the current model and based on that, predict the safety of the upgraded version. NHTSA gave the 2017 version four stars for the overall safety score out of possible five stars. The IIHS also tested this vehicle, and the extended cab version did pretty well since it earned a “Good” score on every possible crash test with the exception of the front small overlap test where it got a “Marginal” score. This is more than satisfactory result considering the fact that “Good” is the best possible score.
We have already mentioned that the new truck will come with Toyota Safety Sense-P package. What we didn’t state is that the package includes pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams and lane departure alert. We expect that the new model will be as good as its predecessor, or perhaps even better when it comes to safety.
Competition and Positives/Negatives
The key rivals of the 2018 Toyota Tundra will be Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Ram 1500, and Nissan Titan. The full-size truck from Toyota will sit above the midsize Tacoma, and it will be available in three cab styles, two bed lengths and even both RWD and 4WD configurations will be offered.
The positive sides of this model are spacious interior and comfortable ride for a truck, while the TRD Pro model is a really good off-road vehicle. On the other hand, the front seats lack comfort, and the noise penetrates into the cabin with ease, while fuel economy is really poor.
What do you think about the 2018 Toyota Tundra?
