The 2022 Tundra – The Ultimate Review (Detailed)

The Toyota Tundra has been the best-selling full-size pickup for years, but it’s about to get a whole lot better.

It may seem like only yesterday that we were all saying goodbye to the old 2020 model and welcoming in the 2021 one, but you know what they say, time flies when you’re having fun. And boy have we had fun with this truck! But now it’s time to move on and welcome in its replacement, the 2022 Toyota Tundra.

Well, if you thought that last year was exciting then just wait until you see what Toyota has planned for us in 2022! We were barely able to contain our excitement, as we patiently awaited news of exactly when we would be able to drive this new machine, until we finally got our chance. After experiencing the all new Tundra, one thing is for sure; by 2022 there won’t be any other vehicle available that offers quite as much value or capability as this bad boy.

Toyota Tundra History

The Toyota Tundra, also known as a Toyota Truck, was introduced to the U.S. market in 1999 and soon took its place alongside other heavy-duty pickups such as the Ford F-Series, Chevy Silverado and GMC’s Sierra. Toyota has released several updates throughout the Tundra’s history including tweaks to the powertrains, suspension tuning, styling revisions, and a vast range of exterior trim options.

While it hasn’t been significantly updated for quite some time, approximately 15 years, Toyota has added a couple of new packages to spice up the list of available options for the Toyota fans who are looking to get into a 2022 Tundra just like this one we drove recently.

What’s New for the 2022 Tundra

The competition is fierce with heavy-hitting rivals such as the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra on the market. In previous years the Toyota Tundra hasn’t been able to outperform these cars in the sales department as the Tundra just wasn’t up to par in the public eye. This can be attributed to the fact that Toyota only made minor improvements since its launch, with its only major refresh in 2014.

The 2022 Tundra may just change all that with this years model as a plethora of improvements have been made and in our opinion, has just given it that extra bit of desirability that may sway potential buyers into purchasing a 2022 Tundra. Let’s get into what key features of the 2022 Tundra are in its latest offering.

The improvements for the latest year model come in both software and hardware forms. First off with the foundation of it all, the frame of the 2022 Tundra is built with high-strength box steel in a ladder design with the tray in the rear made in aluminum reinforced composite allowing for a 10% weight saving over the 2021 Tundra. The rear tray comes in either a 5.5ft, 6.5ft or an 8.1ft configuration so you’ll have adequate space depending on what your needs are.

In the power department, we drop two cylinders from the previous years model downsizing from a V8 to a V6 engine. Although the lower-trim options still offer more horsepower with 389hp and 479lb-ft of torque, which is more than the 2021 V8 which only produced 381hp and 401lb-ft of torque. An emphasis on the elevated torque figure of 78lb-ft, which as we know regarding load and towing is the more important figure.

These figures are all thanks to a twin-turbo 3.5L V6 engine in the standard 2022 Tundra packages, but there’s an option for even more power in the 2022 Tundra TRD Pro trim level. The TRD Pro comes standard with an even punchier 3.5L V6 with Hybrid Assist that boosts the performance up to 437hp and an impressive 583lb-ft of torque. It is important to note here that the Hybrid engine is also available as an option for the Limited, Platinum and 1794 trim levels. All configurations are available in either a 2WD or 4WD format.

In the handling department, there have been significant improvements as the 2022 Tundra has been engineered with a more modern multi-link coil rear suspension setup which aims to improve stability and comfort, more on that later.

Toyota has also thrown in the option to have a self-levelling rear suspension on various trim’s as well as an adaptive variable suspension.

2022 Tundra Available Trim Levels

The fully American designed and built 2022 Tundra is available in a vast range of trims which can be a little bit tricky to navigate if you’re not familiar with the range. There are a total of six different trim levels you can select from, the range starts from the Tundra SR. The Tundra SR is the base model but still offers a decent range of standard equipment and proves itself as a very capable truck at its entry-level price point.

One grade up from the SR is the 2022 Tundra SR5 which comes with a few more amenities and options. In addition to the base SR, you have the option to choose the 18 inch off-road or 20-inch sport TRD wheels, power-adjustable front seats, trailer backup guide and most importantly the ability to spec either the TRD Off-Road or Sport Package. On top of this and equally as important is the must have 14-inch infotainment screen option.

Although the blind spot monitor comes standard in all trim levels above the SR5, it is an extra here. Lastly, one helpful extra standard feature the SR5 has is the Tow/Haul and Tow+ driving modes.

As we move into the next three models the 2022 Tundra Limited, Platinum and 1794, we now have the option to upgrade to the i-Force Max Hybrid engine.

The main difference with these three models from the previous two is there’s a whole bunch of standard options such as 20-inch wheels, power seats, LED Headlights/Daytime running lights, leather steering wheel and a standard 14-inch infotainment screen with some models including the premium 12 speaker JBL system.

Depending on the specific model you choose, the TRD off-road package can be selected. The TRD Off-road package gives you the rear locking differential, crawl control and MTS/DAC. On top of this you can add the skid plate to any model of the 2022 Tundra, making the only differences to the top level TRD Pro trim is the Hybrid engine and front Fox Shocks.

The 2022 Tundra TRD Pro sitting at the top of the lineup comes with Fox Shocks, BBS wheels and All Terrain Tires. There’s a massive grill on the front unique to the TRD Pro with the Tundra branding clearly stamped on the front bumper with a full light bar as standard.

There’s plenty of TRD Pro branding, even on the orange marker lights that adorn the top of the front grill, even the bonnet, tailgate and center caps on the wheels. The other unique feature that visually defines a TRD Pro from the other trims is the dark plastic elements decorated with a camo style print on it, this theme is carried across almost all of the black plastic components on the exterior such as the front and rear bumper as well as the wheel arches.

This theme continues into the 2022 Tundra interior even on the seats. The interior also has plenty of elements to never let you and your passengers forget that you’re in a 2022 Tundra TRD Pro. Important to mention that the upgraded Fox shocks, provide a 1.1 inch lift from the standard suspension, boosting ground clearance by a half-inch to 9 inches overall. The TRD Pro package also comes standard with a unique front stabilizer and aluminum front skid plate underneath.

The 2022 Tundra Engine, Transmission and Performance

The 2022 Tundra isn’t designed to be a ‘fast’ truck. The official figures aren’t going to win you any races, but that’s not the purpose of the Tundra, the main focus is comfort, moderate performance and hauling heavy loads. 

As previously mentioned, the 2022 Toyota Tundra engine is either the i-Force motor for the SR and SR5 which is a twin-turbo 3.5L V6 or the more powerful i-Force MAX which is available as standard in the 2022 Tundra TRD Pro model and an option for the Limited, Platinum and 1794 models.

The performance that accompanies the 2022 Tundra TRD Pro as standard is slightly better with the 3.5L V6 engine with Hybrid Assist that boosts the performance up to 437hp and an impressive 583lb-ft of torque. The extra 48hp and 104lb-ft of torque over the standard i-Force powertrain is thanks to the electric motor accompanying the twin-turbo V6. Interestingly the electric motor is integrated directly between the 2022 Tundra engine and 10-speed transmission.

The electric motor is able to completely power the car at low speeds without intervention from the combustion engine through utilization of a disconnect clutch located between the electric motor and V6 engine, allowing the V6 to turn off completely. The standard i-Force twin turbo V6 produces a respectable 389hp and 479lb-ft of torque, but the i-Force Max is the configuration most people would prefer.

Although it’s not as desirable as a big chunky V8 engine, the hybrid engine comes into its own element at lower speeds. This gives the 2022 Tundra the ability to almost instantaneously provide power much earlier on in the rev range. Most importantly making all 583 lb-ft of torque available at just 2,400 rpm. Although, that’s not all of Toyota’s tricks up their sleeve for the 2022 Tundra, the electric motor also assists the 2022 Tundra engine in providing more responsive feedback when required, all the way up to the maximum rpm.

All in all, the focus is on torque and pulling power rather than a mind-blowing 0-60mph run, the car has enough of a kick to keep you happy when power is needed, especially in the Tundra’s sport mode. The 0-60 mph sprint will occur in just 6.5 seconds, which considering the size and weight of the 2022 Tundra is pretty decent.

In comparison to its counterparts such as the Ford F-150 Raptor can go from 0-60mph in 5.7 seconds, unless we’re taking into account the electric F-150 that will do a blindingly fast 0-60mph of 4.4 seconds. If electric power isn’t your thing there’s also the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX with 702hp coming from a supercharged 6.2L V8 that hits 60mph from a standstill in just 4.5 seconds.

Regardless of the model of Tundra you go for, the 10-speed automatic transmission is the same for all cars. It’s quite a responsive and well-performing component to the car which it has to be as it ties together the whole package. Toyota has said they’ve designed the 10 speed transmission so it’s more durable and lightweight. To transfer all of that power from the 10 speed to the wheels the Tundra utilizes a dual range transfer case which allows you to switch between 2 high, 4 high and 4 low.

New for the Tundra is Toyota’s MTS system that has been implemented on other Toyota models previously. This enables the driver to select how the car behaves regarding its traction control. MTS, which is Multi-Terrain Select, adjusts the Tundra’s setup according to the type of terrain you’re on. The modes available are Deep Snow, Mud, Sand, Dirt or Auto which fully optimizes itself according to what surface it’s going over. More on this in the video below, I’ll let the experts who actually built the 2022 Tundra go into further technical detail:

By this point, it’s apparent that the 2022 Tundra is packed with a whole bunch of new and elaborate features. In which we generally think add a ton of value to the truck. This brings me to the last but not least feature I want to mention under performance, the Crawl Control.

As expected, it manages acceleration and braking in tricky off-road scenarios and when tested, we were happy with how well the system did. The MTS system activated with crawl control was definitely a lot smoother than previous years and the loud mechanical noises the system made whilst navigating over terrain is now a thing of the past.

The 2022 Tundra Interior and Cargo

As we delve into the cabin of the 2022 Tundra interior we’re greeted with some nice updates. It’s a real upgrade from the previous years model with what seems like more premium materials and a welcomed modern aesthetic. The leather front seats are extremely comfortable with everything in reach giving a more upmarket and premium feel than expected.

The usability of the 2022 Tundra interior cabin is second to none, with a ton of space in the front and the rear leaving ample room for adults to feel comfortable sitting in the rear. With a decent amount of storage in the center arm rest area, when you push back the lid or fully open up the top section there’s a bunch of USB and other plugs for your devices.

The feeling here is a little less premium than that of other touchpoints around the driver as my only complaint is the plastic flimsy feeling you get with the sliding portion of the center storage compartment.

There’s also hidden a compartment under the rear seats that gives you a sizeable amount of cargo storage as well. A great little feature to add to the usability aspects of the 2022 Tundra interior.

Now into the rear tray, we are greeted by a soft opening tray door that will open with either the center tray latch or on the hidden driver side button that is integrated into the rear tail light. The bed, as expected has ample space and a very convenient AC outlet that could prove useful in off road situations.

There are options to either have a double cab or crewmax configuration, with the respective bed sizes in either a 5.5ft, 6.5ft or an 8.1ft configuration so you’ll be able to adjust the layout of your Tundra according to what you want.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The infotainment is a big part of every car and in the 2022 Tundra we mean that both metaphorically and physically. The integrated screen takes up a whole 8 inches of the center dash in its standard configuration. Also standard or as an option depending on trim level, you can also upgrade to a sizeable 14 inch touchscreen, which makes the screen a bit of a statement piece in the middle of the car.

I know what you’re all thinking, what about the functionality of the infotainment in the 2022 Tundra. Not to worry, as Toyota have ensured that it is compatible with the two major phone brands with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Once you connect the car to either Android Auto or Apple CarPlay the familiar associated interface will pop up and allow you to easily navigate your phone.

Conveniently, there’s a nice little charging pad just underneath the infotainment screen that will allow you to wirelessly charge your phone. A nice touch for the Tundra.

An interesting point to note, there is a subscription required to utilize the more “advanced” features of the infotainment. In short, there’s two separate packages, one which enables Amazon and Apple Music to be streamed directly from the system and a Wi-Fi hotspot integrated as well. The other package is more focused around assistance, as it provides cloud navigation, destination assistance as well as an intelligent assistant. These don’t come cheap at $16 per month for the assistance/navigation package and $10 per month to enable your 2022 Tundra as a Wi-Fi hotspot.

We have to say, these features really feel quite obsolete if you’re using one of the more modern Apple or Android smartphones, which most of us have. All of these features can be used through your phone and connected to the Tundra via Bluetooth or even better yet, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for full integration. We can’t really find a proper use case to justify spending the $16 or $10 a month.

2022 Tundra Easter Eggs

This isn’t really a selling point or something that will excite people but it’s something that caught my attention which was seems like a cool little touch. I noticed a few ‘Easter eggs’ throughout the 2022 Tundra, inside the center console arm rest area, there are cut outs and other little elements outlining trucks and SUVs.

Not so much of an easter egg, but it wasn’t something that was obvious to me but there is a button located in the rear driver side tail light to open the tray door.

The All New Rear Suspension for the 2022 Tundra

A big update from the 2022 Tundra’s predecessor comes in the form of the rear suspension. Toyota is out with the old Leaf Spring suspension and in with a more modernized multi-link coil spring setup. This really enhances the driving experience and we definitely noticed a smoother and more compliant drive compared to the traditional leaf spring configuration.

This by no means makes up for the fact that the 2022 Tundra and all other pickup trucks are huge and doesn’t give the Tundra sportscar like handling, but the comfort level has increased. What it gives the all new Tundra is balance to the chassis, allowing it to give SUV like handling, improving its daily drivability, with all the capability that comes from a truck like this.

Ontop of this there’s an optional rear air suspension that’s available on the SR5, Limited, Platinum and 1794 trim levels. This is designed to give flexibility depending on what the task is at hand, whether you’re going off-road or trying to load something heavy in the rear tray, you can manually adjust the height of the rear or just allow the Tundra to automatic adjust itself whilst driving. This is all possible whilst retaining the payload capacity and improved comfort.

There’s also adaptive variable suspension that’s available on the Platinum and 1794 trim levels. The aim here is to have the Tundra adjust itself to the conditions it’s in. If you’re off road it will change the suspension accordingly and then readjust once you’re back onto smooth roads. There’s also the ability to firm up the suspension by toggling on the Sport or Sport+ modes for the desired handling performance. It’s a more advanced feature and adds a bit more freedom to adapt the 2022 Tundra to your own personal driving style.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

Real world MPG has also been improved with Toyota’s two new turbocharged 6-cylinder engines. The figures Toyota gave out state that you can expect 18 mpg for city driving, 24 mpg when cruising down the highway and 20 mpg for combined driving for the 2WD configured 2022 Tundra.

When we jump over to the 4WD variants the fuel economy drops slightly with 17 mpg for city driving and 23 mpg on the highway although retains 20 mpg combined.

These figures are a significant jump from any previous Tundra V8 engine configuration. The previous year model Tundra is the perfect example as the V8 was only able to achieve a mpg of 13 city, 17 highway and 14 combined.

We were able to test out fuel economy ourselves when Toyota gave us a few days alone with the new Tundra. We managed to spend time on highways and through very curvy scenic roads and there were no complaints from us with the mpg figures they claim for the 2022 Tundra.

2022 Tundra Pricing and Which One to Buy

This is always quite a tricky question to answer as it essentially comes down to budget and the features that you’re looking for with your 2022 Tundra. For myself and the team, we would hands down 100% choose to purchase the TRD Pro model as it has all of the best features, including some unique design elements unique to the TRD Pro. We love the aesthetic and this trim level can do it all with the best of the best.

Although the estimated 2022 Tundra TRD Pro price below signifies it’s quite clearly the most expensive option out of all of the different trims, there are five other options to consider. This includes the SR, SR5, Limited, Platinum and the 1794 Edition. The 2022 Tundra price breakdown is as follows:

• Tundra SR: $35,950
• Tundra SR5: $40,755
• Tundra Limited: $51,900
• Tundra Platinum: $56,990
• Tundra 1794 Edition: $61,020
• Tundra TRD Pro: $65,000 (Estimated)

At a minimum, we would recommend going with the 2022 Tundra Limited model in the 4×4 configuration. You get all of the key options such as the larger 14 inch infotainment which comes as standard instead of the 8 inch screen. You also get the option to upgrade to the 12 speaker JBL Premium audio and most importantly the is the lowest trim level that gives you the ability to upgrade to the i-Force Max Hybrid motor. All of these components combined plus anything else you add will give you a better experience and help retain a strong resale value when the time comes for you to sell.

The other fantastic thing about the 2022 Tundra Limited model is that the TRD Off-Road Package is available, giving you the added benefit of all the extra components that improve your off-roading experience with the Tundra. Toyota has done a brilliant job of having a wide 2022 Tundra price range to allow customers to enter in at different points.

Safety and Driver Assistance Features

Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.5 is the newest version of Toyota’s safety component which includes, lane detection, active steering assist, lane centering, adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation, blind spot warning (depending on options, base trims don’t have it), rear camera with surround view and back up alerts.

All of these features seamlessly help keep you in your lane and warns to ensure you stay in control of the car. The voice assist seemingly works quite well, which keeps you primarily focused on the hand at task, driving. Without having to navigate through menu’s and touch the screen removing your eyes from the road. It’s a nice touch and great to see a system like this working smoothly. We didn’t really encounter any problems whilst using voice commands.

Adaptive cruise control does a fantastic job of mirroring the cars in front of you especially when in traffic, it takes you down to a relative speed as cars are slowing down and then gradually increases speed as the traffic begins to flow again. We weren’t in a scenario where we needed to come to a complete stop with this system activated but surely the 2022 Tundra would be more than capable of stopping the car if required, especially in an emergency with the standard forward collision warning feature coupled with the automated emergency braking.

This is made possible through Toyota’s integrated radar and camera. For further detail on the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 that’s integrated in the 2022 Tundra check out the video below:

2022 Tundra Towing and Load capacity

The 2022 Toyota Tundra can tow up to a total of 12,000 pounds. Out of all trucks in this segment, the Toyota has a decently high payload capacity with 1,950 pounds. This is just shy from the Ford F-150 and its tow rating of 12,700 pounds and 2,120 pounds for the payload.

Regardless, what we need to take note of here is an improvement on last year’s Tundra which was a maximum of 10,200 pounds and a 1,730 pound payload capacity.

To compliment the mighty towing and load capacities of the 2022 Tundra they’ve also integrated a Tow/Haul mode into the truck. This enables the driver to easily manage heavy loads by the system automatically selecting the appropriate gear and increasing throttle response whilst maintaining a sufficient rpm to ensure the load is transported as efficiently as possible without causing any extra work for the driver. For a further in-depth breakdown, feel free to watch the video below:

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

As expected with all new car purchases these days, there is a warranty that accompanies all new 2022 Tundra purchases. Toyota is offering a limited 3 year warranty or till you hit 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Although the warranty for the powertrain itself is separate to this and is covered for 5 years or up to 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.

This re-enforces the brand standing by their product and as usual with Toyota, they’re always going to make sure customers are buying something this is durable enough to deal with what the Tundra is designed to do and last as well.

On top of this, they’ve also included maintenance coverage till the 2022 Tundra is 2 years old, taking it to 2024 or till you reach 25,000 miles.

Big Conclusion for a Big Truck

All in all, we think the 2022 Toyota Tundra is a fantastic pickup truck with a great design that maintains a lot of presence on the road, especially in its TRD Pro form. Toyota has redesigned the entire 2022 Tundra, making it more modern-looking than ever before with a number of very welcomed improvements. Toyota has knocked this one out of the park for the 2022 Tundra year model, making a big half ton pickup truck easily accessible to the masses by giving it SUV like amenities.

With its integrated technology throughout, such as the front facing camera to allow drivers to see what’s in front of the Tundra, especially when Off-roading makes it more friendly to use and less intimidating to people that might be new to the big sized pickup truck world.

With great size also comes great responsibility and we think that it is absolutely paramount these days to ensure the latest safety technology is integrated. With fantastic detection systems and aided systems to prevent collisions or anything that might put the occupants of the 2022 Tundra in danger, people can rest assured that they are at the forefront of driving safety.

What was unexpected, yet put a smile on our faces was the capability of the new downsized twin turbo V6 hybrid engine. It provides more than enough power for everything that you’d need to do with the 2022 Tundra whether it’s on or off road. This just goes to show bigger isn’t always better, but there is still something about the allure of a big American V8 sitting at the front of a pickup truck. To be fair, we weren’t disappointed, the V6 did have quite a throaty exhaust note and enough of a kick to tear up the tarmac when required.

Though, nothing is ever perfect. Onto a few little things we discovered during our test that made us raise an eye brow. There is no front mounting point for a recovery hook if you ever found yourself in a tricky situation where you’d need to receive a tow to get out of. Toyota says this isn’t an oversight, it was intentionally designed this way for ‘aerodynamics’ which really doesn’t seem logical considering the boxy nature of the design and purpose of a truck. We’re almost certain owners would rather have this vital further capability than efficiency in a wind tunnel.

But all the little good things add up and far outweigh any negatives here. We love the fact there’s an AC outlet in the rear tray and that the tray itself is soft opening. Also, how could we forget the trademark of a Tundra, the rear opening window, you’re not going to hear a V8 Ferrari exhaust note from the rear, but it’s still cool to have.

Overall, the 2022 Tundra is an amazing proposition and after our brief encounter with it, I’m sitting here, writing this article considering getting myself into the 2022 Tundra TRD Pro model. That concludes our in depth review of the 2022 Tundra, now with all this knowledge and insight you’ll know everything there is to about the 2022 Tundra and can determine if this marvellous Toyota will make its way into your garage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about the all new 2022 Tundra:

Alfio Capicollo