Did the 2022 Toyota Tundra Copy the Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500?
Toyota fans have been waiting years for a redesigned Tundra. Now that Toyota’s newest full-size truck is here, it has a lot in common with the Ram 1500 and the Ford F-150. Is the 2022 Toyota Tundra an imitator? Or is it just combining the greatest strengths of everything else on the market?
The Toyota Tundra iFORCE MAX vs Ford’s PowerBoost
Ford rolled out the world’s first full-size hybrid pickup truck with its 2021 PowerBoost F-150. The PowerBoost combines the tried-and-true 3.5L EcoBoost V6 with a 47 horsepower electric motor.
The resulting F-150 can reach 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds. The PowerBoost can haul 2,120 pounds and tow 12,700 pounds. The 4WD version gets a 23 mpg combined fuel mileage rating while the 2WD achieves 25 mpg. The Ford F-150 PowerBoost is arguably the most advanced truck powertrain in the world.
Toyota sold the second generation of the Tundra from 2006 through 2021. By 2021, buyers could only get the full-size pickup truck with a 5.7-liter V8. This engine gave up both power and efficiency to Ram’s similarly-sized 5.7L HEMI V8. The Tundra badly needed an upgrade.
For the Tundra’s 2022 redesign, Toyota rolled out the i-FORCE MAX hybrid drivetrain. This top-trim powerplant combines Toyota’s turbocharged “3.5L” V6 (which is actually 3.44-liters) with an electric motor. Its specifications are identical to the PowerStroke, down to a ten-speed automatic.
The i-FORCE MAX has 7 horsepower and 13 lb-ft of torque on the PowerBoost (437 hp and 583 lb-ft). That said, it has a lower tow rating (12,000 pounds) and gives up several MPGs (19 city/22 highway, 21 combined). Finally, upgrading your Tundra to a hybrid currently costs almost $1k more than upgrading your F-150 ($2,500 for the Ford, $3,400 for the Toyota).
The Toyota Tundra’s new coil suspension vs the Ram 1500
Ram introduced the fifth generation of its 1500 in 2019. While the truck passed up a turbocharged V6 in favor of its signature HEMI V8, its suspension leap-frogged ahead of the competition. Consumer Reports raved over the full-size truck’s smooth ride.
The key to the Ram 1500’s comfort? During the pickup’s fourth-generation Ram tossed its rear leaf springs in favor of coils. For the 2019 redesign, Ram cut the truck’s weight down. It also offers the truck with full air-ride suspension. Consumer Reports noted that the truck’s responsive steering and the surprisingly quiet cabin did not hurt either.
For 2022, Toyota fell in step with the Ram. The automaker cut the Tundra’s weight by upgrading to a fully-boxed frame and composite pickup bed. It also did away with rear leaf springs, converting to coils. Finally, Toyota also offers its pickup with full air-ride suspension.
We’ll have to wait for some face-offs to see which truck Reviewers find more comfortable.
Is the 2022 Toyota Tundra the most advanced full-size pickup truck?
It is obvious that Toyota looked at the pickup truck segment leaders before redesigning its Tundra. And who can blame the automaker? If the Tundra only gets a new generation every 16 years, each redesign needs to count.
Just because Toyota emulated stats such as displacement, number of gears, or type of suspension, does not mean it ripped anyone off. It obviously chose a proven powertrain and chassis setup, then set about engineering its own version. And perhaps, as Toyota tweaks the Tundra, its truck will prove better than its F-150 and Ram competitors.
