Pickups are the kings of the Big Three; Ford, Chevy, and Ram. In 2021 almost 1.5 million were sold in 2021 combined. But each of those brands is seeing heavy declines in sales so far this year. But only one truck maker is seeing a healthy increase over 2021, and that’s Toyota and the all-new Tundra truck. 

Why has the 2022 Toyota Tundra seen sales increases?

Surprised? There are a number of reasons why this is happening. The main reason is that the Tundra is entirely new. Toyota stuck with the previous generation truck for 14 years, with a couple of minor facelifts. So the Tundra faithful had to wait a long time for an entirely new pickup.

Another reason is that besides the Tundra being all-new, Toyota offers the 437 hp i-Force Max hybrid engine. According to Toyota, almost 20 percent of Tundra sales in July were for the hybrid version. 

And the other reason is the one facing all automakers, supply chain issues. It has definitely affected truck manufacturing, which has resulted in big declines so far in 2022. We’re talking 18 percent for the Ram 1500, 15 percent for the GMC Sierra, 11 percent for the Chevy Silverado, and 10 percent for the Ford F-150. Any way you slice it, these are big declines. 

Is Toyota selling more Tundras than Ford, Chevy, or Ram?

But in the first eight months, it has been on sale, and in spite of the supplier woes the others are experiencing, the Tundra still lags far behind in sales compared to the other three truck makers. From January through August of this year, Toyota has sold 64,702 Tundra trucks. That’s a 15 percent increase over 2021 sales. 

The hybrid system is backed by a 10-speed automatic transmission and comes with four different modes. They optimize performance, towing, economy, or off-roading. The electric motor offers 48 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. Though not of huge significance, nonetheless the hybrid system adds an additional 400 lbs. 

Towing capacity is now 12,000 lbs. There’s also a rear air-suspension system along with the new multi-link rear suspension design. A leveling system is also a big suspension improvement. 

How much is a 2022 Tundra?

For off-road excursions, a locking rear differential and multi-terrain select functions help minimize wheel spin. These features are standard with the TRD package. Rearview and hitch view cameras help whether towing or going off-road. 

A base 2022 Tundra starts at $42,470. That gets you a rear-wheel drive SR5 Double Cab truck with a 6.5-foot bed and twin-turbo V6. At the other end at $66,135 is the 1794 Edition which gives you four-wheel drive, a 6.5-foot bed, and an i-Force Max hybrid system. 

New for 2023 is the SX trim package for SR5 models. It adds dark-gray metallic 18-inch alloy rims, black trim on the body instead of body color, and deletes the Tundra badges on the doors. Brushed silver accents inside the cabin are replaced with black trim.

RELATED: The Redesigned Toyota Tundra Is the Most Improved Car of 2022 Says U.S. News

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