The 2022 Toyota Tundra is a full-size pickup truck that’s been completely redesigned for the 2022 Toyota Tundra model year. The new Tundra is longer, wider and taller than the previous generation, and it has a significantly larger cargo bed. It’s also available with a new V8 engine that produces more power and torque than the outgoing model.
2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Review
The all-new 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro is an engineering marvel and a game-changer.
While the phrase “no substitutes” used to be a true forced induction, it completely changed the face of acting. When using a turbocharger (other things being equal) the vehicle can now deliver the same performance (or even more) at less than half the displacement.
This is The Toyota Tundra has consistently outsold most trucks aided by a big-displacement 5.7-liter V8, but that’s about to change.
Introducing the all-new 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, powered by a 3.5-liter V6 twin-turbo hybrid engine. Thanks to Toyota, we have access to The Tundra TRD Pro is one week in pre-production. Here we’ll detail what we love about this 2022 full-size pickup truck, how much we hate about how it drives compared to its predecessor and how capable it is off-road.
Over the years I’ve reviewed a ton of prototypes. Most of the time manufacturers fix some assembly and finish problem software glitches and usually clean up ECU tweaks when the production version is released.
It’s worth noting that Toyota is likely to fix some of the issues Among the issues we found in a prototype 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro before production we’ll tell you about them anyway.
Toyota’s 5.7L V8 Vs 3.5L V6 Twin Turbo Hybrid
If you’ve read our recent review of the 2022 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro then you know how much we love the 5.7-liter V8 engine. As Toyota ends it and begins a whole new era of forced induction we have to ask: is this the right move?
After driving Tundra’s i-Force Max engine We’ll end the V8 farewell party early for a twin-turbo welcome bash.
According to Toyota while the V8 makes 381 horsepower at 5600 RPM and 401 lb-ft of torque at 3600 RPM the 3.5-liter V6 hybrid makes 437 horsepower at 5200 RPM and 437 horsepower at 2400 RPM. Produces 583 lb-ft of torque.
That means the Tundra has nearly 15% more power and 45% more torque in a year While delivering power and torque faster in the RPM range. The twin turbos aren’t the only upgrades that lead to a performance boost. There was a lot of engineering that allowed this engine to completely dominate its predecessor.
2022 Tundra TRD Pro i-Force Max Engine Specifications
The i-Force Max engine starts with an aluminum block. It has a displacement of 3445cc a bore of 85.5 mm and a stroke of 100 mm. It has dual overhead cams with 24 valves and a dual VVTi system. To avoid any heat from the two turbos Toyota uses a water-cooled intercooler.
However the real engineering goes into the cylinder head. It’s all about the cooling of these heads thanks to the two-layer water jacket construction and the intersecting channels machined into the heads. The valve seat is a low-profile laser-applied powder metal intake valve. this can help With cooling and efficiency.
The exhaust manifold and cylinder head designs use the same water jacket to cool the exhaust gas temperature before entering the turbocharger. This is another cooling line of defense that helps the intercooler.
Combine this marvel of engineering with Toyota’s hybrid powertrain and you have one of the most powerful trucks in this segment today. Hybrid systems assist the internal combustion engine in several ways. During towing the system provides additional power and torque to the engine. while driving In the city the hybrid system usually takes over at lower speeds giving you a quiet and efficient ride.
The hybrid system continues to support the engine on the highway for quicker response and allows for very low RPM torque during off-road. Impressive engineering for Toyota/Lexus and the rest The 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro is guaranteed to continue to impress in its design and functionality.
It’s worth noting that Toyota offers another non-hybrid engine option that’s identical to this one just without the electric motor.
2022 Tundra TRD Pro Chassis and Suspension
Engineering doesn’t stop at the engine bay. This year Tundra is moving to a full box frame for improved chassis stiffness. The rear has wider frame members designed to improve stability especially during towing.
Rigidity is a major concern for Toyota engineers High-strength steel is incorporated throughout the chassis while aluminum is used in areas where reinforcement is not required. This allowed them to significantly increase chassis stiffness while reducing weight.
The new chassis features a new suspension system. Tundra will now use coil springs instead of the old leaf springs. TRD Pro trim will feature Fox shocks to improve damping on various surfaces and lift the front by 1.1 inches.
This trim level will also get a front stabilizer bar Red suspension parts (yes you can easily see them) TRD aluminum skid plates and more off-road underbody protection. On paper this truck doesn’t lack features or functionality.
2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro exterior redesign
It’s no secret that the Toyota Tundra hasn’t changed much since 2008. Even though it’s one of the most popular trucks in America a change was necessary. That’s exactly what Toyota has done. For this complete redesign the theme is solidity.
Starting at the front the massive grille creates an eerie look with sharper and more aggressive headlights flanking it. Sharper curves run throughout the truck with fewer curves and rougher edges to blend in with the rugged theme.
The TRD Pro comes with a short 5.5-foot bed that visually looks like the perfect size for an image. Pressing a button will automatically open the tailgate an exciting feature for construction workers around the world.
Let’s hope the 2022 Tundra TRD Pro misses its evasion for pre-production reasons because getting in and out of this truck is a huge hassle. We believe that a side step that matches the wheel enhances its appearance in addition to its function.
The bright orange paint color is a huge statement especially the camouflage trim around the bumper and trim pieces. Walk into a drive-thru restaurant at a fast food restaurant where teens line up by the restaurant window to take pictures of the truck (true story).
However this raises a question. Why is Toyota trying to lure teens with their most expensive truck? Paint colors get as much love as they hate so it will come down to your personal preference. Either way you’ll grab all the attention. All in all the look is aggressively wild and better than last generation.
2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro interior and technology
The cabin of the 2022 Tundra TRD Pro has been completely redesigned. The red accents on the shift steering wheel seat and even the red starter button give the TRD Pro a truly unique look. Once inside you can’t see the oversized impressive 14-inch touchscreen.
Feel like yours iPad features seamless and responsive wireless Apple CarPlay and access to cameras showing every corner of the truck.
You will never be intimidated to park this big truck thanks to the perfect alignment of the front camera rear camera top view camera and cameras showing the front and rear wheels for parking jobs. Pressing the View button in the park will reveal the rotating camera Around the truck; the perfect way to check your surroundings before taking off.
A solid theme runs throughout the truck interior with buttons and gauges. We found most of the faults and glitches in the cabin especially in the infotainment system. The system randomly changes the brightness without changing the natural light. Fault Continue to freeze speech lag during calls and clearly display “Prototype”.
The same applies to fit and finish like the passenger door. Many times you need to close the door to get it to close properly. Again we’re not going to let Toyota fix these issues because they obviously Communicate that this is a prototype car and that the production version will have improvements to fit and finish.
2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro First Drive
If you thought driving the previous-generation Tundra was fun, wait until you hear those two turbos whirling. Once you start the Tundra, you’ll hear a raspy screeching sound from the TRD exhaust. The exhaust makes this car sound incredible at all times.
Some may find this annoying especially how exhaust sounds are amplified through the speakers, but true car enthusiasts will rock those notes all day long even knowing most of them are fake.
At low speeds you’ll find it fascinating to drive an all-electric-sounding Tundra until the engine kicks in. Sport mode utilizes an electric motor that produces instant torque transfer. Tundra TRD Pro can go from one stop to 60 mph in no time for such a large truck more than seven seconds.
The 3.5-liter V6 twin-turbo engine works in tandem with a very smooth 10-speed transmission. The transmission rolls easily through the gears without any laziness. You can feel the transition from all-electric to petrol but it’s not a major inconvenience.
Direct torque response and an extremely smooth power curve are evident and appreciated with every step of the throttle. Overall, the whole driving experience is aggressive thanks to the driving position overseeing the two air vents on the hood from the small tank-like windshield.
The suspension and new chassis are great on the open road. They make for an extremely smooth ride. We were able to get up to 15 mpg on the combined city and highway but less than a tad.
All in all we are very pleased with the smooth feel of Tundra On the road we were very pleased with Toyota’s choice of powertrains. Time to get the party off the road and see if the new Tundra has any tricks up its sleeve.
Off-Roading The New Tundra TRD Pro
It didn’t take long for the Tundra TRD Pro to adapt to such terrain. We tackled everything from gravel to climbs and the tundra shines in it all. The combination of five-link suspension and Fox shocks makes trail riding quite unique. Together they absorb bumpy rocks and road changes while keeping the wheels on the ground at all times.
While we love the look of the Tundra the bumper extends too low defeating the purpose of a durable skid plate. The bumper will definitely scratch before we can get to the skid plate well. The all-terrain Falken tires do an excellent job of traction especially With the help of a locking differential.
All in all the 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro handles the toughest terrain without a hitch allowing you to ride off-road in comfort for hours. The electric motor starts exactly when you need it you don’t have to wait for the torque to kick in. This is an off-road machine with tons of power A function dedicated to this task.
The Bottom Line
Toyota always makes their customers wait but the results are almost always worth the wait. While we’re sad to say goodbye to the V8 era we’re more than happy to welcome the twin-turbo V6.
Whether you’re after the driving experience or what the Tundra will offer. Yes Hopefully Toyota will fix some glitches and if they do this truck will be a direct competitor to the Ford Raptor especially with Toyota’s historical reputation for reliability capable of driving a million miles.
Automakers also need to address flashy colors and camouflage. They were involved in the whole picture but it was a wobble and a miss when it came to targeting the right market audience. While we’re not fans of the colors we like to pay homage to the classic “TOYOTA” Grille and dashboard.
Thanks to some capable and committed engineers the Tundra is better than its predecessors and more capable than ever. With a starting MSRP of $66,805 the Tundra is a great deal. Usually we always advise against buying the first year Major redesign but with a long waiting list you seem to have no choice but to wait.
