The Toyota Tundra has changed a lot over the past two-plus decades. We pit the first generation, against the new 2022 model!
Many believe that the true genesis of the Toyota Tundra started way back in 1992 with the Toyota T100. That truck was Toyota’s first attempt at taking on popular full-size pickup trucks from the “Big Three.” Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite up to par in terms of power and capability. While it was a stout pickup truck, it wasn’t a smashing success.
Regrouping, after killing off the T100 in 1998, Toyota got serious and built the Tundra. Debuting in 1999, the Toyota Tundra was the first Toyota vehicle to be solely built in the United States. At first, production was based in Princeton, Indiana, but it later moved to San Antonio, Texas. Toyota used the same 3.4-liter V6 that was formally used in the T100, and the Tacoma, as a base engine. The big news was the 4.7-liter V8, which was the first for a Toyota truck in the U.S.
The first-generation Tundra was a huge success.
The first generation Toyota Tundra came in a regular cab, extra “Access” cab, double cab and it even had a (terribly ugly) step-side version. Four-wheel-drive was an option, and you could get a manual transmission paired only with the V6. There were a variety of different packages, but Toyota opted to never build a heavy-duty version of the Tundra. Although there are a lot of rumors floating around that the automaker seriously considered it.
Many, including some of the TFL Studio’s staff, still consider the first generation Toyota Tundra to be the best of the bunch. Sure, it wasn’t that efficient. but it has one of the best reputations for rugged reliability. There’s a ton of testimony that clearly shows these old trucks with an eye-watering amount of mileage. Many Tundra owners have stayed with the brand for years.
Our friend James recently bought a 2006 Double Cab Tundra, and we thought it would be fun to match it up against the newest Tundra. In this video, Roman and James talk about the numbers and the mysticism of the old Tundra. Enjoy!
