For 2022, Toyota is building an all-new Tundra. This advanced truck offers both conventional and hybrid drivetrains. In addition, Toyota added rear coil springs and off-road driver aids previously limited to the Tacoma. The Fast Lane Truck Youtube channel has not only been testing pre-production 2022 Tundras, but nabbed the first truck off the factory floor.

2022 is the first year of the third-generation Toyota Tundra

The 2000 Toyota Tundra was the first Japanese-engineered full-size truck built in the United States. It won multiple awards and quickly became one of the best selling Toyota products. Toyota redesigned the Tundra in 2007, then gave it a refresh for 2014. But by 2021, the Tundra–with a naturally-aspirated 5.7-liter V8 and six-speed automatic–was beginning to show its age.

For the 2022 model year, Toyota unveiled a dramatically new Tundra. While other truck-makers are going electric, Toyota is doubling down on internal combustion. Every 2022 Tundra is powered by an advanced twin-turbo V6 that makes 389 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque.

In addition, Toyota Tundras with the iFORCE MAX engine have a powerful electric motor sandwiched between the V6 and 10-speed transmission. This drivetrain makes 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque.

The iFORCE MAX electric motor is powerful enough to accelerate the Tundra to 18 MPH, at which point its V6 fires up and adds even more power. The result is a “diesel-like” flat torque curve–according to MotorTrend. With this new engine, Toyota added nearly a ton to the Tundra’s towing capacity.

TFL bought the first 2022 Toyota Tundra available

The Toyota Tundra is the only full-size truck completely manufactured in the state of Texas. Toyota’s San Antonio factory assembles the Tundra. Last week, the San Antonio factory finally began cranking out 2022 Tundra’s.

In some parts of the Unites States, the waitlist for a 2022 Toyota Tundra is already over a year long. But the team at TFL truck must either signed up early or have some connections. They were able to buy the very first customer Tundra off the assembly line. For the truck’s first test, Andre Smirnov roadtripped it back to the Denver headquarters.

Toyota will not build any Tundras with the iFORCE MAX engine until spring 2022. For this reason, the TFL Tundra had to have the standard, twin-turbo engine. The Tundra price starts at $37,645 and the TFL team tried to keep their model optioned as close to base as possible.

TFL Truck found the 2022 Tundra averaged 18.6 MPG on a long road trip

Overall, Andre was very impressed with how the truck handled the roadtrip. He raved about the suspension and steering of the new truck. He said he drove 75 MPH for much of his highway trip and found it glided over potholes and bumps. The vehicle also “dialed in” on two lanes and twisties. Andres was very happy with the new automatic headlight highbeam feature.

After the long, high speed interstate drive, TFL had a good idea for the Tundra’s real world MPG. On the roadtrip, the 2022 Tundra averaged 18.63 MPG. Andre also found the total range, with his 33 gallon fuel tank, was 480 miles. He expects the efficiency to improve as the truck’s engine gets “broken in.” But even the brand-new model is way more efficient than the previous generation Tundra.