2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro: A Cost-Effective Ford Raptor
The 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro is the top trim Tundra. This full-size truck merges Japanese engineering and American manufacturing. It is an offroad beast, competitive with the Ford Raptor and Ram TRX. Best of all, the new Tundra TRD Pro may cost nearly $15,000 less than the Ford Raptor and $20,000 less than the Ram TRX.
The 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro makes 437 horsepower
Toyota engineered the new i-FORCE MAX engine to set the 2022 Tundra TRD Pro apart.
The base engine for the third-generation Tundra is a twin-turbo V6. This new engine is the flagship of Toyota’s Dynamic Force engine family. It utilizes VVT-i and a long stroke to achieve a maximum compression ratio of 10.5:1. This next-generation engine’s displacement is 3,444 cubic centimeters (3.44 liters), but Toyota advertises it as a 3.5-liter.
Toyota has tuned its 3.5L twin-turbo V6 for low-end torque. In the Tundra it makes 389 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque.
The top trim Tundra engine is the 3.5L V6 mated to a powerful electric motor. Toyota engineered this hybrid powertrain for peak performance. This i-FORCE MAX engine makes 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. The 2022 Toyota Tundra will make hybrids cool. The i-FORCE MAX, in 2WD Tundras can tow 12,000 pounds. In the TRD Pro, it will probably be able to tow 11,000 pounds.
The Ford Raptor’s twin-turbo V6 makes slightly more horsepower (450), but with just 510 lb-ft of torque, it gives up 73 lb-ft to the TRD Pro.
The 2022 Tundra TRD Pro: for high-speed offroading
Toyota engineered its 2022 Tundra TRD Pro to offroad and to do so at higher speeds than the competition. To this end, the company re-engineered every aspect of the new Tundra.
Toyota built the all-new on the Toyota New Global Architecture full-frame chassis (TNGAF). Its frame is fully-boxed construction to save weight. It also features aluminum door panels and hood. Finally, the Tundra has a composite bed Toyota claims is stronger than steel and corrosion resistant.
The 2022 Tundra rides on four-corner coil suspension and adaptive air suspension. In addition, the TRD Pro adds 2.5-inch FOX Racing shocks with piggyback reservoirs.
The driver of the 2022 Tundra TRD Pro has precise control over its considerable technology. Toyota equipped the truck with many driving modes split into four categories: Drive Mode, Tow and Haul, Multi-Terrain Select, and DAC/Crawl. Crawl uses regenerative braking to stop the truck while offroading so the driver can keep their foot on the throttle. But the TRD Pro does not have a “smart” transfer case with an automatic 2WD/4WD option, like some of the competition.
A 14″ infotainment screen allows the driver to scan through these modes. The 2022 Tundra also features voice recognition. But the system offers tactile feedback with a knob to control the infotainment center and hard buttons for the climate system.
A Ford Raptor lookalike
Many truck enthusiasts have noticed that the 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro even looks a bit like the Ford Raptor, with three amber lights set into its grille. The fact of the matter is that both trucks are more than 80-inches wide; in the U.S. market, they need marker lights on the fenders and top of the grill–similar to tractor-trailers.
The Toyota Tundra TRD Pro has a unique style. To make room for the oversized shock absorbers, Toyota mounted the TRD Pro’s wheels on spacers. In addition, the company mottled the TRD Pro’s fender flares with a camouflage pattern. The camo pattern is subtly repeated beneath the ventilation holes of the truck’s seats.
Like the Ford Raptor, the new Tundra TRD Pro is only available as a four-door with a 5.5-foot bed. It comes with a power rear window, but the panoramic sunroof is optional.
The 2022 Tundra TRD Pro is a bargain
The third-generation Tundra’s TRD Pro does not have every feature of its Detroit competitors. The TRD Pro does not have long-travel suspension like the Ford Raptor or Ram TRX. None of the TRD Pro prototypes feature 35-inch wheels but ride on 33-inch all-terrain wheels instead. Finally, its wider wheels are covered by plastic fender flares, not a full widebody kit.
That said, the 2022 Tundra TRD Pro will likely beat its competitors on price.
The 2022 Ford Raptor starts at $64,145 while the Raptor R is expected to fetch $70,000. The 2022 Ram TRX starts at a staggering $72,390. The 2021 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro started at $49,225. Car and Driver predicts the 2022 Tundra TRD Pro will only cost $51,000.
The 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro is a full-size truck designed for high-speed offroading and backed by decades of Toyota Racing Development experience. Better yet, it will likely cost a fraction of what its nearest competitor costs.
