The automatic transmission is smooth and responsive, communicating well with the engine, and always choosing the appropriate gear.
Starting from a dead stop, a two-wheel-drive Tundra Limited easily accelerated up a long steep grade while pulling a 3,000-pound trailer. This rig was stable going around sweeping turns, and when braking from high speeds on steep downhill sections. There were none of the up and down motions when bouncing at low speed over a rough, lava-covered dirt road that some trucks exhibit when their front suspensions aren't up to balancing weight on the rear tongue. Transmission and engine oil coolers are standard.
Ride quality is excellent. On rough pavement and bumpy dirt roads, the Tundra's suspension really shines. It damps out unwanted vibration and harshness and controls the movement of the wheels precisely, keeping the tires in contact with the road surface for excellent grip and handling. The 4WD suspension performed amazingly well and was easy to control when bouncing up a steep mountain trail. Bounding over harsh dips and humps, the suspension offered impressive travel and damping. It never hit the bump stops in spite of our efforts to beat it up. While bouncing over moguls, we noticed that neither the cowl nor the front hood shook. The Tundra's chassis is highly rigid with boxed front frame rails. Toyota also claims this truck offers class-leading ground clearance, and that everything underneath is tucked above the frame rails.
Both the two- and four-wheel-drive models offer exceptional handling, even with the standard suspension. The 2WD SR5 we drove was incredibly responsive. Everything about it felt exceptionally tight.
The Sport Suspension Package promises better handling on paved roads. And for those who prefer fast travel off-road, Toyota offers the TRD Off-Road Package, developed with Toyota off-road-racing legend Ivan "Ironman" Stewart. Using Bilstein shocks and special progressive-rate springs, this suspension is designed for performance in extreme off-road conditions; and it reportedly rides better on rough road surfaces than the standard suspension.
The brakes felt great even when pulling a trailer. Next Page