2024 TOYOTA TUNDRA HYBRID
Toyota’s Tundra hybrid is a stout, full-size pickup, one both competent and comfortable, and, overall, almost on a par with Ford’s best-in-class F-150 hybrid. It is also notably superior to the relatively basic Ram hybrid, which does boast excellent ride quality.
Yes, it can tow…
In some ways, the Tundra may be a better choice than the F-150 with its fancy aluminum body panels, sophisticated hybrid system and spellbinding performance numbers.
Let’s dig in.
We’ll start with the F-150 hybrid’s numbers – payload, towing, etc. They are better than the Tundra Hybrid’s. But not by much.
But there isn’t much room between them on price. And while Ford offers a mind-boggling array of choices within the F-150 range, the Tundra is no slouch, either. The Tundra is sold in two cab styles, with two engines, various bed lengths, several trim levels and there is even an amazing off-road-tuned package.
However, if I am just shopping hybrid pickup to hybrid pickup, I might lean towards the Tundra for one reason: the battery pack. Or, to be more general, simplicity.
Nice cabin.
What?
The Tundra uses a nickel metal hydride battery, located on the aft half of the chassis. Battery nerds will say that this is old stuff, not as modern as the latest lithium-ion battery pack in the F-150.
Yeah, but…
Yeah, but nickel metal hydride batteries have better cold-weather performance than lithium ion, and we live in Canada.
Yeah, but nickel metal hydride batteries are not as energy dense as lithium ion. Well, true. But the difference between Toyota and Ford’s pickup battery performance is not that great.
And the nickel metal hydride battery is air-cooled, not liquid cooled as in the F-150. The Toyota battery here is less expensive than Ford’s. It’s also less complex and lighter because there is less plumbing and such for cooling. And nickel metal hydride batteries tend to be a bit less likely to catch on fire, too.
My point is this: Toyota as a company subscribes to Occam’s Razor or the principle of parsimony. Another way to put this: simpler is better. Toyota has gone with a hybrid approach which provide for the simplest battery pack elements possible. I like that.
Good seating.
That does not mean the Tundra hybrid is a simple piece of machinery. It has an electric motor in the middle of the drivetrain, a high-voltage control system, a powerful twin-turbo V-6, a torque converter, a 10-speed gearbox, a four-wheel-drive transfer case in 4WD models and more.
Now a warning: the hybrid adds a couple of hundred kilos to the Tundra. Thus, there is only a modest fuel economy bump in city driving. The turbocharged 3.5-litre V-6 runs on a regular auto cycle, not the more fuel-efficient Atkinson cycle in other Toyota hybrids. There are no aerodynamic or rolling resistance advantages in a pickup of this size, so you will not save small fortunes at the pump.
Speaking of small fortunes, my tester was a tricked-out Tundra Hybrid CrewMax Platinum whose sticker said $86,303.50, including options, PDI and freight. Wow!
But it’s Blueprint paint, black leather interior, adaptive air suspension, LED lighting, panoramic view monitor, towing mirrors, sharp touchscreen and more all spoke to the premium nature of the thing. Fancy, fancy, fancy.
The Tundra Hybrid jumps off the line and can do 0-100 km/hour in less than seven seconds. Power is rated at 437 horsepower/583 lb-ft of torque. Wow. Brake performance is strong, too.
Ride comfort is just short of the Ram, the seats are excellent, and though we are looking at a big box on wheels, road and wind noise is minimal. The cabin is huge, instruments are clear and the big control dials for the climate control are just the ticket for user-friendliness. The big windshield pillars are not great for visibility. And there are loads of driver aids to keep you safe and under control.
The Tundra, you should know, is a massive rig that is far, far too overbearing for city living. But if you are a suburbanite or a rancher or a trades person working on an expansive job site, then the Tundra is certainly an excellent AND very fancy work truck.
