Consider Toyota's Stetson hat officially in the ring. After years of "not quite" pickups, Toyota got serious. It built a plant in Texas, strapped on some work boots and hunkered down to build an honest-to-goodness, steak-and-potatoes half-ton. The result is the 2007 Toyota Tundra, a truck with class-leading size, power and towing that is unmistakably Toyota and a shot across the bow of the established three. The Tundra's here and it's here to work.
What We Bought
Starting with a 2007 Tundra SR5 double cab, we had two requirements: four-wheel drive and a V8. The big 5.7-liter V8. It's the most powerful, most capable, and is the closest match to our long-term Chevy Silverado's 6.0-liter mill. What it lacks in displacement, it makes up for in power: 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet at only 3,600 rpm. Compare that to our Silverado, which kicks out 367 hp and only 375 lb-ft at 4,300 rpm.
The big motor is bolted to Toyota's highly touted six-speed automatic transmission, Toyota's 4WDemand four-wheel-drive system and an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case. It's a combination that Engineering Editor Jason Kavanagh dubbed "the most impressive powertrain combination available in any half-ton truck." As equipped, this gives our truck an enviable towing capacity of 10,300 pounds and a payload rating of 1,625 pounds.
An automatic LSD and ABS are standard, as are massive 13.9-inch ventilated rotors up front and 13.6-inch discs in the back.
It may be a truck, but it still has to do daily-driver duties with our team. As such we opted for the SR5 package that adds a bit of convenience, and a few luxuries we've become accustomed to. Like carpeting. The SR5 pack also includes power windows and door locks, cruise control, remote keyless entry and an engine skid plate to protect the truck's vital parts when taking advantage of the 10.8 inches of ground clearance. Leather was an option but we stuck with the SR5-specific cloth on the seats.
As with all pickups, the options add up quick and are hard to resist. Larger 18-inch alloy wheels and 275/65R18 tires added $910. A license plate bracket, to appease the front-plate laws of California, tacked on $79. A $345 bedliner and $210 for a utility rail with four bed cleats made sense as this is a truck, and we plan to work it.
The biggest hit to the wallet is the DVD navigation package: $2,800. Along with the nav, it includes an upgraded JBL sound system, Bluetooth capability, steering-wheel audio controls, an aux jack and a back-up camera. At 228 inches long and 80 inches wide, this truck is huge, and a rearview camera and the $500 front and rear clearance sonar just might keep us from backing it into stuff. Maybe.
Starting as a bare-bones worker, the Tundra can be easily optioned to fit any trucking lifestyle, but it'll cost ya. Ours loaded with features previously only found in luxury cars did: $37,219.
Why We Bought It
Once the Tundra took top honors against the Silverado in last year's truck-off, we knew we had to have one.
Remember, we have a long-term Silverado, and we wanted to know how the Toyota would stack up day after day, for 12 full months. Sure it's bigger, more powerful and has a higher tow rating than the Chevy (and the Dodge and Ford) but does it deliver on its promises 24/7/365?
We have 12 months and 20,000 miles to see if the 2007 Tundra SR5 really does play ball with the big boys. Stick with us over on the Inside Line long-term blog as we explore its limits.
Current Odometer: 1,154
Best Fuel Economy: 17.9 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 11.8 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 14.5 mpg
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.
What We Bought
Starting with a 2007 Tundra SR5 double cab, we had two requirements: four-wheel drive and a V8. The big 5.7-liter V8. It's the most powerful, most capable, and is the closest match to our long-term Chevy Silverado's 6.0-liter mill. What it lacks in displacement, it makes up for in power: 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet at only 3,600 rpm. Compare that to our Silverado, which kicks out 367 hp and only 375 lb-ft at 4,300 rpm.
The big motor is bolted to Toyota's highly touted six-speed automatic transmission, Toyota's 4WDemand four-wheel-drive system and an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case. It's a combination that Engineering Editor Jason Kavanagh dubbed "the most impressive powertrain combination available in any half-ton truck." As equipped, this gives our truck an enviable towing capacity of 10,300 pounds and a payload rating of 1,625 pounds.
An automatic LSD and ABS are standard, as are massive 13.9-inch ventilated rotors up front and 13.6-inch discs in the back.
It may be a truck, but it still has to do daily-driver duties with our team. As such we opted for the SR5 package that adds a bit of convenience, and a few luxuries we've become accustomed to. Like carpeting. The SR5 pack also includes power windows and door locks, cruise control, remote keyless entry and an engine skid plate to protect the truck's vital parts when taking advantage of the 10.8 inches of ground clearance. Leather was an option but we stuck with the SR5-specific cloth on the seats.
As with all pickups, the options add up quick and are hard to resist. Larger 18-inch alloy wheels and 275/65R18 tires added $910. A license plate bracket, to appease the front-plate laws of California, tacked on $79. A $345 bedliner and $210 for a utility rail with four bed cleats made sense as this is a truck, and we plan to work it.
The biggest hit to the wallet is the DVD navigation package: $2,800. Along with the nav, it includes an upgraded JBL sound system, Bluetooth capability, steering-wheel audio controls, an aux jack and a back-up camera. At 228 inches long and 80 inches wide, this truck is huge, and a rearview camera and the $500 front and rear clearance sonar just might keep us from backing it into stuff. Maybe.
Starting as a bare-bones worker, the Tundra can be easily optioned to fit any trucking lifestyle, but it'll cost ya. Ours loaded with features previously only found in luxury cars did: $37,219.
Why We Bought It
Once the Tundra took top honors against the Silverado in last year's truck-off, we knew we had to have one.
Remember, we have a long-term Silverado, and we wanted to know how the Toyota would stack up day after day, for 12 full months. Sure it's bigger, more powerful and has a higher tow rating than the Chevy (and the Dodge and Ford) but does it deliver on its promises 24/7/365?
We have 12 months and 20,000 miles to see if the 2007 Tundra SR5 really does play ball with the big boys. Stick with us over on the Inside Line long-term blog as we explore its limits.
Current Odometer: 1,154
Best Fuel Economy: 17.9 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 11.8 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 14.5 mpg
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.
Add A Comment »