The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Standard turbo power
- Tech aplenty
- Good crash-test scores
- Confident ride
- Distinctive details
Dislikes
- Potentially polarizing exterior styling
- No full-time 4WD
- Hybrid has too much artificial noise
- Cheap finishes in higher trims
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2025 Toyota Tundra offers speed, comfort, and polish, and should be considered alongside any of its rivals.
What kind of vehicle is the 2025 Toyota Tundra? What does it compare to?
Toyota’s 2025 Tundra holds the full-size truck spot in the brand’s stable. It offers a choice of two turbocharged V-6 powertrains, including a potent hybrid. Though it falls short of the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, and Chevy and GMC cousins in terms of breadth, the Tundra lineup offers enough variation for most shoppers.
Is the 2025 Toyota Tundra a good truck?
Yes. The Tundra boasts plenty of power, a smooth ride, and towing capacity of 12,000 pounds. It can’t match the best competitors for infotainment tech and advanced four-wheel-drive systems, but it’s otherwise solid. The 2025 Tundra is a 6.7 on the TCC scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2025 Toyota Tundra?
For 2025, Toyota offers the Tundra with several new options, but little new standard fare. The SR5 trim, a step up from the base SR, now comes with an 8-way power-adjustable driver seat with power lumbar support.
Digging into the options menu, the Tundra now offers a power tailgate with knee lift assist, front seat massagers, and a Tow Tech Package with an antenna and a wifi trailer camera. This year’s TRD Pro-exclusive color is called Mudbath.
The 2025 Tundra is also available with a new TRD Rally package, which features red, orange, and yellow graphics borrowed from the brand’s historic Baja racers. The color palette is found inside as well as out, adding a punch to the dashboard and the synthetic leather seats. Other features include 18-inch TRD wheels with all-terrain tires and exclusive center caps, skid plates, Bilstein shocks, an electronic locking rear differential, crawl control, and selectable driving modes.
The Tundra’s blocky styling is consistent outside and in, with a chunky dashboard that mirrors the outside angles, and though it’s not pretty, it gets points for being different. TRD Pro models are on another level, highlighting the bold lines with LED running lights. Of the numerous trims, the 1794 Edition is perhaps the most subtle and refined thanks to its distinctive leather upholstery.
The Tundra has three bed options. The 5-foot-6 and 6-foot-6 beds pair with the crew cab, and the 6-foot-6 and 8-foot-1 beds are available with extended cab body styles.
Both powertrains feature a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6. It’s rated for 389 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque in i-Force base form, while the i-Force Max adds hybrid technology for a combined 437 hp and 583 lb-ft. The hybrid is rated for a maximum combined fuel economy of 22 mpg.
The Tundra’s ride is more settled than most competitors, with the exception of Ram’s 1500, thanks to rear coil springs. Higher trims are available with an even more comfortable air suspension, and in TRD Pro form, Fox shocks handle the challenge of any surface.
Regardless of rear- or four-wheel drive configuration, a 10-speed automatic transmission is standard. The TRD Off-Road and Pro models are great at trail driving despite the lack of a full-time transfer case, meaning four-wheel drive needs to be selected when needed.
The Tundra shines in its crew cab configuration, though the extended cab will work just fine for shoppers who don’t regularly carry passengers. The cabin has a thoughtful layout, though its heavy use of plastic trim detracts from its sophistication. The infotainment system can be cumbersome, but the optional 14.0-inch touchscreen looks great, and standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are a nice touch.
The Tundra earns good scores from the NHTSA and the IIHS. Standard safety features include adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking, though Toyota lags Ford and GM in terms of hands-free technology.
How much does the 2025 Toyota Tundra cost?
The Tundra comes in SR, SR5, Limited, Platinum, 1794 Edition, TRD Pro, 1794 Limited Edition, and Capstone trim levels. The SR starts at $42,035, including a $1,945 destination fee, for a base SR trim with rear-wheel drive. With four-wheel drive and a crew cab, the Tundra jumps to $47,085. The top Tundra Capstone starts at $82,670 and even then, some features cost extra.
Keep in mind that configurations with the hybrid engine start at $59,950.
Where is the 2025 Toyota Tundra made?
Toyota builds the Tundra in San Antonio, Texas.
2025 Toyota Tundra Styling
With brash, busy styling, the 2025 Toyota Tundra stands out from the crowd.
Is the Toyota Tundra a good-looking truck?
The 2025 Tundra’s design is on the brash, masculine side but has enough original styling elements to differentiate itself from the masses. It’s a 6.
The front fascia is wall-like, framed with small yet complex LED lighting. The side profile has a swole look thanks to bold fender flares, cuts, and slits. The busy details wrap around to the rear end, with clamp-shaped taillights and stamped badging.
There’s a distinctive look and feel for each trim level, ascending from unpainted trim to chromed, blacked-out, and color-matched palettes. The TRD packages add lots of extra plastic, heavy on camouflage details.
The Tundra has a low, symmetrical dashboard with high-mounted 8.0- or 14.0-inch touchscreens. The bigger screen is better integrated, but is not as easy to reach from the driver seat. The cabin is durable and comfortable but outclassed by Detroit-bred rivals.
2025 Toyota Tundra Performance
Toyota combines good acceleration with impressive capability in the 2025 Tundra.
Toyota equips the 2025 Tundra with a choice of two turbo V-6 engines, and you won’t go wrong either way. This full-size pickup has impressive strength and confidently tows up to a maximum of 12,000 pounds. The Tundra is a 7 here, for its capability and power.
Is the Toyota Tundra 4WD?
Yes, it can be. The Tundra comes standard with rear-wheel drive and is available with part-time four-wheel drive with a 2-speed transfer case. That’s a notable difference from most competitors, which offer four-wheel drive with a dry pavement-capable automatic mode.
The Tundra’s optional TRD Off-Road package adds a locking rear differential and Bilstein shocks, enabling more serious trail driving. The TRD Pro version adds skid plates for underbody protection, bigger tires, and Fox shocks.Â
Traction control is managed through selectable drive modes.
How fast is the Toyota Tundra?
The 2025 Tundra’s standard powertrain is a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 rated at 369 hp and 479 lb-ft, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. That’s plenty of power for most shoppers, delivered smoothly and quickly. The Tundra’s hybrid system is optional starting with the Limited trim, and standard with the Tundra TRD Pro. It can move on electric power alone at lower speeds and upgrades system output to 437 hp and a beefy 583 lb-ft. There are few drawbacks with the Tundra hybrid, except that in TRD Pro form, Toyota goes overboard with the artificial engine noise.
The Tundra features an independent front suspension and a coil-sprung solid rear axle. This setup yields a smooth ride for a pickup, without as much rear-end bounce when the bed is unladen. Toyota offers an air suspension for the rear that doesn’t much improve ride quality, but levels out the bed and its cargo. Some versions are available with adaptive dampers, which help neutralize the harshness caused by low-profile rubber on tall wheels.
Though the Tundra has well-weighted steering, there’s not much feedback. It’s agile enough through city traffic, though not nimble, and makes for comfortable highway cruising. It’s too big to handle well or to maneuver well in tight spots, and is subject to the predictable body lean of such a tall, heavy vehicle.
2025 Toyota Tundra Comfort & Quality
The 2025 Toyota Tundra is comfortable and spacious inside, though many competitors offer more finesse in top trims.
The Toyota Tundra’s massive cabin has plush and supportive seats in both rows, and three available bed lengths depending on cab choice and trim level. These attributes rack up three points here for an 8.
Both cab types have supportive and well-padded front seats. Extended cab versions have an upright bench that’s fine for short rides, but is better used for storage. The crew cab, though, has a big and spacious second row with seats that fold up, yielding tons of cargo space.
Most crew cab configurations pair with the 5-foot-6-inch bed, though the 6-foot-6-inch bed is available. Extended cab models are available with an 8-foot-1-inch bed. The beds feature a dent- and rustproof resin composite surface, and higher trims are available with a switch to open the tailgate.
Even top trims aren’t particularly lavish inside, with the exception of the pricey Capstone, which pairs soft premium leather and matte woodgrain paneling. Even then, there are lots of hard plastic panels throughout the cabin.
2025 Toyota Tundra Safety
Toyota fares well in crash testing with the 2025 Tundra.
How safe is the Toyota Tundra?
The Tundra does well in most crash tests and has plenty of standard driver-assistance features. The 2025 Toyota Tundra earns a 9 on our 10-point scale thanks to an IIHS Top Safety Pick rating, a NHTSA five-star overall rating, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and useful options such as side-mirror cameras and a surround-view camera system.Â
The Top Safety Pick award was for the 2024 model; the 2025 version hasn’t been tested yet, and we will update this score when results come in.
Toyota also supplies the Tundra with standard adaptive cruise control, active lane control, and automatic high beams. Other options include blind-spot monitors with rear cross-traffic alerts, and front and rear parking sensors. However, Toyota doesn’t yet have a hands-off driving system like GM’s Super Cruise or Ford’s BlueCruise.
2025 Toyota Tundra Features
The 2025 Toyota Tundra offers a ton of configurations.
Toyota offers the Tundra in eight trim levels, starting at $42,035 including the hefty $1,945 destination fee and ranging to nearly twice that. Equipment and features are good throughout the lineup, though configurations like the crew cab body style and four-wheel drive add up quickly. It’s an 8 here, with points earned for its good standard fare, big infotainment displays, and diverse options.
The Tundra SR features cloth upholstery, an infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen display, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, keyless start, a power-operating tailgate, and 18-inch steel wheels. Warranty coverage, at 3-years/36,000-miles, is just average, but Toyota throws in a year’s worth of free scheduled maintenance.
Which Toyota Tundra should I buy?
Most Tundra buyers will pair a crew cab with four-wheel drive. In SR5 trim, the Tundra gets alloy wheels, tow and haul modes, a power rear window, and a trailer hitch, along with a newly standard 8-way power-adjustable driver seat with power lumbar support. It’s also the lowest trim level available with certain off-road features. That’ll be $52,995 for a SR5 with the crew cab, short bed, and 4WD.Â
For about $2,000 more, we’d add parking sensors, blind-spot monitors, and the bigger 32.2-gallon gas tank. Another $2,500 or so adds a heated steering wheel, heated leather seats, and the TRD Off-Road package, which adds a locking differential, Bilstein shocks, and more selectable driving modes. That’s a decently equipped Tundra for a competitively priced $57,455.
The most affordable hybrid configuration is a Limited crew cab, which comes in at $59,950 for a rear-wheel drive version or $62,950 for one with four-wheel drive.
How much is a fully loaded Toyota Tundra?
The Tundra Capstone costs $82,670 and is available only as a hybrid. It features premium semi-aniline leather upholstery, genuine walnut trim, a 10.0-inch head-up display, a 14.0-inch touchscreen, 22-inch alloy wheels, adaptive dampers, and power running boards. Options include an air suspension system with a load-leveling feature, towing mirrors, and a surround-view camera system.
2025 Toyota Tundra Fuel Economy
Toyota squeezes better fuel economy ratings from the Tundra than you might expect.
Is the Toyota Tundra good on gas?
You won’t find frugal fuel efficiency here, but the 2025 Tundra offers some reasonably efficient powertrains. There’s a lot of variation based on factors like trim level, cab style, bed size, and drive wheels, but all versions yield between 19 and 22 mpg in combined driving. That’s a 2 here.
For ratings up to 20 mpg city, 24 highway, 22 combined, stick with hybrid models with rear-wheel drive. With four-wheel drive, that combined rating drops to 20. That said, even non-hybrid, four-wheel drive models get 19 mpg.
The 2025 Tundra uses regular-grade fuel.
