Few things tug at the heartstrings like an insatiable gas tank. Have you ever stared at the cost of refueling your vehicle with total disbelief at the gas pump? Americans are commiserating over the gas prices of yesteryear. A strange and historic chain of events has resulted in gas prices reaching astronomical heights. Full-size pickup trucks can be the most expensive vehicles to refuel. Here’s one Toyota Tundra to avoid if you want to visit the gas station less.

The 2021 Toyota Tundra with 4WD is utterly parched

The 2021 Toyota Tundra is one thirsty truck. Imagine a 10-mile jog on a beach in the middle of the summer, and you can begin to understand how quickly this thing chugs gasoline. The Tundra never was the most fuel-efficient pickup, but recent gas prices and the effort to reduce carbon emissions have accentuated its poor fuel economy.

Most consumers don’t buy full-size pickup trucks to save money on gas, but the vehicle segment has come a long way. Automakers are aware that consumers are beginning to look for more sustainable options for reasons both monetary and moral. There’s an industry-wide push to go green, and recent Tundra model years have been anything but green.

According to Car and Driver, the 2021 Toyota Tundra with four-wheel drive gets 14 miles per gallon combined (jeepers). The 2021 Toyota Tundra has a 26.4-gallon gas tank. According to CNN, a gallon of Regular grade gas stands at 4.25 per gallon as of March 2022. This means it could cost over $110 to fill up the 2021 Toyota Tundra in some states.

The 2021 Toyota Tundra with four-wheel drive only gets 369 miles of driving range before needing to refuel. The average driver travels about 1,125 miles a month. If a 2021 Toyota Tundra owner drives that many miles a month, they could be paying over $330 a month to refuel the thirsty truck. The 2021 Toyota Tundra may come with a powerful V8 engine, but is it worth paying thousands of dollars for fuel every year?

Toyota is working on the Tundra’s fuel economy

Refueling older Toyota Tundra models can be costly with the rising price of gas, but Japanese automaker Toyota is addressing the issue. After over a decade of making little to no changes to the nameplate, Toyota is redesigning its large pickup truck.

The 2022 Toyota Tundra includes major changes. Toyota got rid of the Tundra’s V8 in favor of a mightier V6 powertrain setup. It’s even offering a more powerful hybrid option. If older Tundra gas prices are making you weep, it may be time to trade up. The 2022 Toyota Tundra gets 18 miles per gallon in the city and 24 miles per gallon on the highway. Though its fuel economy isn’t stellar by today’s standards, it’s a huge step up for the Tundra.

Should you buy a 2022 Toyota Tundra?

Many fans of the Tundra have been practically begging for progress, and that’s what they got with the 2022 Toyota Tundra. Is it perfect? Not by a long shot. However, Toyota has seriously improved the truck’s cabin, exterior styling, fuel economy, and standard features. It’s a better truck than the 2021 model year in every way. The new Tundra starts at $35,950.

The 2022 Toyota Tundra is a huge improvement, but there are better options on the market. The Tundra is still outclassed by the Ram 1500 and Ford F-150. It can’t take on the champs yet, but this definitely isn’t the gas-guzzling Tundra from previous years.