After nearly two decades of not changing all that much, Toyota has crammed 15 years’ worth of overdue updates into the last year. First, the 2022 Toyota Tundra is getting a massive update, and now Toyota is dropping weirdly cryptic teasers like Jeep was doing about diesel engines on its official YouTube account. Does this mean a diesel Toyota Tundra, Tacoma, or 4Runner? 

What’s so weird about Toyota posting a diesel video? 

Of course, in other markets in the world, Toyota makes plenty of diesel-powered trucks and SUVs. However, in the U.S. market, Toyota doesn’t offer a single one. Does this mean it is about to? Why else would Toyota post a video called “Engines 101: How does a diesel engine work?” 

As noted by Gear Patrol, most of the speculation as of now centers around the Toyota Tundra as the most likely recipient of the diesel transplant. The 2022 Toyota Tundra is set to launch really soon, and with it comes a whole host of upgrades, additions, and updates. This new version of the old pickup-truck-shaped dinosaur is meant to change the pickup truck market just like it did all those years ago when the Tundra debuted. 

Is the 2022 Toyota Tundra going to get a diesel engine? 

Toyota has been releasing a lot of teasers surrounding the launch of the 2022 Toyota Tundra. This weird diesel video is only potentially one of many other teasers. All the hype surrounding the 2022 Tundra paired with the fact that it’s Toyota’s biggest truck makes it a perfect candidate for a diesel powertrain. 

Full-size pickup trucks have the most to gain from getting diesel power. Diesel makes more low-end power for bigger mpg figures. Given the working nature of full-size trucks, many Tundra owners would likely benefit from added towing capacity and fuel economy than a diesel power plant would offer. 

Toyota also needs to address the competition in this arena. GM and Dodge both have long been producing big diesel pickups. Ford has always offered one until just recently. For Toyota to go on ignoring this segment would be foolish. But seeing as how the new Land Cruiser also just launched with a new diesel makes the case that Toyota is definitely interested in bringing diesel to the American market. 

But what if Toyota doesn’t give us a diesel? 

This is still very possible. Sure, the video is odd and seems to point toward an American Toyota diesel pickup truck, but what if it isn’t. As previously mentioned, Ford recently cut the 3.0-liter Power Stroke diesel from the Ford F-150 lineup. The progression of hybrid power has made a strong argument for the lack of need for diesel pickup trucks. 

Toyota has used other teasers to more clearly point to a hybrid Toyota Tundra for the 2022 model year. This makes much more sense than an oil burner. The winds of change are blowing across the automotive world, and Toyota may be using this time to get involved. 

For years the Toyota Tundra only came in a very fuel-heavy 5.7-liter V8. Many have criticized Toyota more recently for using such a non-environmentally friendly engine. While a diesel would make some sense for American Toyotas, a very torquey hybrid powerplant feels a little more “in touch” with the current market trends. 

The 2022 Toyota Tundra debut should hold all the answers 

As with all teasers and “what ifs,” we are simply going to have to wait until Toyota releases the new Tundra for us to get any real answers. Speculation is fun, but at the end of the day, nothing is certain until the truck goes into production.