The New Toyota Tundra Platinum Full Size Has More Power and Technology Made in the US

Written by Marco Carvajal

2022 Toyota Tundra Platinum

Toyota has recently made several key changes to the full-size Tundra pickup truck, improving on-road performance, replacing the traditional rear suspension commonly found on full-size trucks due to its durability and toughness, with modern coil springs in the rear, providing a smoother ride but especially more towing and payload power, making it the most powerful Tundra ever created.

Tundra

The Toyota Tundra is a full-size truck manufactured in the United States by the prestigious Japanese manufacturer Toyota since May 1999. The Tundra was the first full-size truck built by a Japanese manufacturer for the North American market. This shows how Japanese car companies become more Americanized and adapted to the needs of US car buyers, competing in all car segments.

The Tundra is the Bulldog of pickup trucks it is tough and powerful, ready for any challenge.

The Tundra is assembled in the United States, in San Antonio, Texas, where production started in 2008. So far the Tundra is the only full-size pickup made in Texas.

After a major facelift a year ago, the Tundra keeps bringing more changes, updating style and safety. The newly redesigned 2022 Toyota Tundra is the third-generation full-size pickup Truck.

2022 Tundra

The new full-size Toyota Tundra is better than the previous Tundra generations thanks to the two new powertrains that are more powerful and more efficient than the previous engine and improved towing and payload capability.

In terms of technology, the all-new multimedia system is designed in the US, and a cabin with creature comforts the entire family will love. The new Tundra is better but is not expensive, it has a great low price for the entry-level Tundra base model priced at only $35K.

The Tundra is produced by the prestigious Japanese brand Toyota, but this child has been designed, engineered, and assembled in the United States. This is the toughest, most capable, and most advanced Tundra ever made. Toyota keeps working on Improvements and enhancements to produce a better Tundra, including its new high-strength boxed, steel-ladder frame, the aluminum-reinforced composite bed, and the advanced fully redesigned multi-link rear suspension.

As a result of Toyota’s efforts to keep improving the new model, the new and brave Tundra pickup truck has an impressive maximum towing capacity of 12,000 pounds and a maximum payload capacity of 1,940 pounds to let you handle the toughest jobs.

The 2022 Tundra has the strength and torque for any difficult task, whether you’re working hard or enjoying traveling with the family. The new Toyota Tundra has been redesigned for 2022, Toyota’s full-size pickup new third generation is a better successor to the long-running second generation built from 2007 through 2021. The expectations for the new Tundra are higher.

Competition

The new Tundra is a well-rounded and reliable truck for the money, but competition is not easy, with three pickup trucks from Detroit, and long contenders, including the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford F-150, and the Ram 1500.

This Tundra outperforms the previous generation and while its reliability is one of its key elements to win the competition, it should continue to fight in a segment dominated by the Detroit brand’s pickup truck competitors.

2022 Toyota Tundra Platinum Highlights

i-FORCE Twin-Turbo V6
24-valve DOHC aluminum cylinder heads with Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i)
3445 c.c. aluminum engine block, 85.5 x 100 (mm.) bore x stroke, 10.4:1 compression ratio
389 horsepower; 479 lb.-ft. torque
CrewMax 5.5-ft. bed or 6.5-ft bed
Stop and Start Engine System (S&S)
10-speed Electronically Controlled automatic Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i)
4×2 or 4×4 available
MSRP $57,690 and up depending on configuration
17 MPG city and 22 MPG Highway, Average 19 MPG
5 Seats
20-in. dark-gray-painted alloy wheels
Power tilt/slide panoramic roof with power sunshade
Leather-trimmed 10-way power-adjustable front seats
12.3-in. digital meter with selectable gauge display screens
Available Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) and load-leveling rear air suspension
Toyota Safety Sense 2.5
Maximum Towing of up to 12,000 Lbs

Tundra Trims

There are seven Tundra trim levels to select for the Tundra 2022, I am test-driving the Tundra Platinum.

The 2022 Tundra has a very low starting price of $35K, which is very affordable compared to most full-size pickup trucks. You can go all-features to the top-of-the-line Tundra Capstone for around $74K or drive a great model in the middle of the lineup like the Platinum trim with an MSRP of $57K.

Besides the seven trim model configurations, each model has a lot of variants and options you can select to configure your Tundra in the best way for you. You can select 2×4 or 4×4, different bed sizes or crew cab, and you also can select a regular fuel engine or go with a hybrid engine and many features according to your needs and budget.

2022 Toyota Tundra SR, MSRP $35,590
2022 Toyota Tundra SR5, MSRP $41,455
2022 Toyota Tundra Limited, MSRP $47,550
2022 Toyota Tundra Platinum, MSRP $57,690
2022 Toyota Tundra 1794 Edition, MSRP $58,390
2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, MSRP $67,505
2022 Toyota Tundra Capstone, MSRP $74,230

There are many luxury and interior options available like a Premium JBL premium audio system, wireless smartphone charger, rear door sunshades, moonroof panoramic seats, home-style power outlets in cab and bed, and trailer backrest guidance system.

Many features found on the higher models are available on the lower models as options that you can add, including TRD Off-Road, off-road suspension, fenders, skid plates Locking rear diff, multi-terrain driving modes, crawl control (4WD only), rear air suspension with load leveling, tuned suspension shocks and more to let you create the best pickup truck according to your wishlist.

Interior Design

The new Tundra looks great on the inside. Seat comfort and interior sound levels have been improved with a very comfortable interior feel for long distances for front and rear passengers. Tundra’s simple interior design and overall ease of use leave a very good lasting impression.

When equipped with the panoramic moonroof and exclusive full-width power rear window, Tundra feels downright airy and spacious. Even with the Tundra’s big hood, forward visibility is generally good. But the truck’s thick windshield pillars can partially block your view on two-lane roads, this is something where I find room for improvement

The Tundra uses its space well. There’s a large center console big enough for multiple mid-size laptops. The door pockets are large and equipped for large beverage containers. Tundra’s maximum payload capacity, Bed load height, and the interior space allows for plenty of storage options in the rear interior.

As for the interior, the comfort of the seats and the low noise levels make it a pleasant vehicle to cover long distances for front and rear passengers. A large 14-inch touchscreen stands out, which also has sharp graphics and various on-screen menus that are very easy to use.

Driving the Tundra

The Tundra is supercharged by the powerful i-FORCE Twin-Turbo V6 Engine. The turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine makes 389 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque.

The Tundra Platinum model I am driving includes a wonderful 360-degree camera system that gives you an immersive view of the Tundra and its surroundings for tight parking situations where is difficult to maneuver.

The 10-speed automatic transmission gives you excellent shift control by alternating through the 10 different speeds.

The Tundra Platinum is available as rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Personally, I think buyers should go for the four-wheel drive version, which will cost you only around $2,000 dollars more that will be very well invested giving more power and control on off-roads to your Tundra.

Driving the Tundra you can feel that there is always enough power available when you need it, There’s a large amount of torque available. The 10-speed automatic shifts quickly and smoothly. That power makes it easy to merge into traffic and pass on the open road without a second thought.

The brake system on the Tundra feels firm, fast, and powerful. Braking is very important when you drive a large and heavy pickup truck like the Tundra. Toyota definitely produced a great pickup truck that responds fast and well to the brakes whenever you need it.

The new generation Tundra includes several improvements, Toyota made several new changes to the Tundra’s underpinnings that improve on-road performance. It replaced the traditional leaf spring rear suspension, commonly found on full-size trucks due to its durability and toughness, with modern coil springs in the rear for a smoother ride. Light, precise steering makes it easy to steer the truck down tight country lanes, and it can feel like the smallest Tacoma at times. This is a big truck, and its long wheelbase means the underbody can easily snag on seemingly easy obstacles.

12,000 Lbs Towing Capacity

Whether you’re towing your trailer or taking the ATVs out to the desert, Tundra helps you haul with confidence with maximum generous towing power of up to 12,000 Lbs.

The Tundra’s maximum towing and hauling capacity of 12,000 pounds is not the leader in its segment, but it is more than you will need in general.

New Hybrid Electrified i-FORCE MAX Powertrain Optional

The Tundra is also available with the new Electrified i-FORCE MAX Powertrain, the new hybrid system. Tundra’s available i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain generates an electrifying 437 horsepower and 583 lb.-ft. of torque. The hybrid powertrains is available optional on the Limited, Platinum, and 1794 Edition trims, and standard on TRD Pro and Capstone. The hybrid system uses the same engine, but it is paired with a battery-electric hybrid system.

This modern hybrid powertrain has a combined output of 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. With its standard V6 engine and 4WD CrewMax setup, it’s rated to tow 11,120 pounds.

Technology and Safety Systems

You will find generous standard features like anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control, trailer sway control, front knee airbags, front side airbags, and side curtain airbags that cover both rows. The Tundra comes standard with several safety features like adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, and lane departure monitoring. Forward collision warning and mitigation with automatic braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. More safety features like anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control, trailer sway control, front knee airbags, front side airbags, and side curtain airbags that cover both rows.

A rearview camera is standard, while parking sensors, and a blind-spot monitoring system with cross-traffic alert, are optional. The Platinum model’s 360-degree camera system gives you an immersive view of the Tundra and its surroundings for tight parking situations.

The Tundra’s optional 14-inch touchscreen is a very nice fancy feature to add, as it has sharp graphics and its various on-screen menus are easy to use.

The native setup is very good, but you also can use the standard Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connected to your phone.

Advanced features include the TRD Off-Road, off-road suspension, fenders, skid plates, locking rear diff, multi-terrain riding modes, crawl control (4WD only), rear air suspension with load leveling, and tuned suspension shocks.

The Tundra is a very good and competitive full-size pickup truck for drivers who need space and power, but also a nice ride for all the family and friends. Even if is a Japanese brand car is designed and assembled in the US.