When I first drove a
Toyota Tundra a few years ago, I was pleasantly surprised. I'm not sure what I expected, but when I got behind the wheel of the Tundra, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. That first Tundra went on an epic camping trip and was, perhaps, one of the better camping vehicles I've ever had. Perhaps that swayed my opinion of the truck just a bit, but it proved what a practical pickup it was.
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| The look of the Toyota Tundra is one that's slightly more refined than that of other pickups on the road. (Photo: Miranda Lightsone/Auto123.com) |
This time around, my bright red Toyota Tundra SR5 had a much more urban adventure, but still performed better than I expected. And by the end of the week, I'll admit I think I had a bit of a crush on the Tundra.
For starters, the look of the Toyota Tundra is one that's slightly more refined than that of other pickups on the road. When I look at it, I get the sense that it would show up at a work site in a polo shirt and khakis. Not that it wouldn't get the job done, just that it's going to look prettier than anyone else at the job. But don't be fooled by the fanciness of the Tundra's exterior design.
Beneath the sculpted hood and feline-like headlights (another slightly feminine touch for a pickup) lies a brutish 4.6L i-FORCE 8-cylinder engine. As soon as you turn that key in the ignition, the roar of the engine reminds you that you're in a vehicle built to work and tow. With 310 hp and 327 lb-ft of torque, the Tundra might look prissy to some, but it's definitely built to work. The 6-speed Super Electronically Controlled Transmission (yup, super) is coupled perfectly with the engine and this truck can really pull when asked.
What struck me most about the Toyota Tundra was its likeness to a car on the road. Now, hear me out: it's not that it was quiet (far from it), low to the ground (um, no, it was a public spectacle every time I tried to get behind the wheel), or weak (you did see the V8 up there, right?). What this truck is, however, is manoeuvrable. Often times, driving a pickup outside the country and off larger, more open roads, feels a bit like trying to manoeuvre an elephant across Nicole Ritchie's collar bone; there ain't a whole lotta room and someone's going to get dinged.
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| Beneath the sculpted hood and feline-like headlights (another slightly feminine touch for a pickup) lies a brutish 4.6L i-FORCE 8-cylinder engine. (Photo: Toyota) |
