Video: Did Toyota Really Improve the New 2022 Tundra By Replacing The V8 With a Twin Turbo V6?

We run some 0-60 mph comparisons to find out.

2022 toyota tundra towing old vs new

Any pickup truck is ultimately judged by how much work it can do and how it does the “truck stuff”. This is why we take a new 2022 Toyota Tundra twin-turbo V6 and see how it tows a camping trailer compared to the current generation 2021 Tundra V8.

Both of these trucks are hitched up to sizable camping trailers that are not identical, but they do weigh upwards of 7,600 lbs. The Airstream trailer behind the new 2022 truck can weigh up to 7,600 lbs with a payload inside of it. The older 2021 truck is towing a trailer that weighs slightly less.

Here is how these trucks stack against each other on paper. Note, the lower power numbers for the 2022 Tundra SR base truck. The truck we tested was a Limited model, as such, it had the full 389 horsepower. If you want to learn more about the new Tundra SR base model, there is a separate story about it.

2022 Toyota Tundra2021 Tundra
Powertrain3.5L twin-turbo V65.7L V8
Powerbase 348 hp or 389 hp @ 5,200381 hp @ 5,600
Torquebase 405 lb-ft or 479 lb-ft @ 2,400401 lb-ft @ 3,600
Transmission10-speed Auto6-speed Auto
Rear Axle Ratio3.31 to 14.30 to 1
Efficiency (MPG)4×2: 18/23/20, 4×4: 17/22/194×2: 13/18/15, 4×4: 13/17/14
Wheelbase (in)145.7, 157.7*, 164.6 145.7, 164.6
Max Payload (lbs)1,940 lbs1,730 lbs
Max Towing (lbs)12,000 lbs10,200 lbs
Width (in)80.2 – 81.6**79.9
Height (in)78.075.8 – 77.2
Bed Depth (in)20.922.2
Running G.Clearance (in)10.2 – 11.210.0 – 10.6
Differential G.C. (in)9.3 – 9.4?
*Crew Max with 6.5-ft Bed, **TRD Pro

Towing and Payload

As you can see, the Tundra’s maximum payload capacity is increased by about 12%. The maximum towing capacity increases by nearly 18%. These are not class-leading numbers, but they are very competitive when you consider other extended cab and crew cab trucks in the class.

Fuel Efficiency

As you can see from the table, Toyota significantly improved the efficiency of the new Tundra compared to the previous generation.

However, the 2022 Tundra’s MPG estimates are on par with the current 2021 Ford F-150 3.5L TT V6 rating. Some versions of the F-150 4×4 with the 3.5L EcoBoost get a combined rating of 20 MPG. If you configure an F-150 4×4 with a 2.7L EcoBoost, the combined rating goes up to 21 MPG. The new Tundra does not leapfrog the F-150 or most other full-size pickup trucks on efficiency.

I know that you really want to know the new truck’s pricing. Toyota does not yet have these numbers ready. They are saying, the 2022 Tundra pricing and configurations will be available by the end of October 2021.

Enjoy this Old vs New towing video below and let us know what you think in the comments below.