Accessory switches are concentrated in the center cluster for easy operation. The instruments are straightforward, with a big tachometer on all but base models. A new center console with four cup holders, dual map pockets and covered storage is shared with the Toyota Sequoia SUV. Double sun visors with extenders are useful at sunrise and sunset.
Access Cab models add interior storage space and the ability to carry two more passengers. If those passengers are adults, however, the rear seat is mostly a short-term affair. The Tundra does not have nearly as much space in the rear compartment of its extended cab as the other full-size pickups. And the rear seatback is vertical, forcing the occupants to sit bolt upright, uncomfortable for traveling any farther than the neighborhood restaurant. A far better use for the extended cab is carrying dry cleaning, groceries, briefcases, outdoor gear, or anything else that should be shielded from the elements. Unfortunately, the rear seat takes up a fair amount of room. The seat bottom on the split bench can be flipped up, but the seat doesn't fold completely out of the way nor can it be easily removed. Some of the domestic pickups are set up better for this.
The Double Cab provides genuinely useful space for adult passengers. Its 37.5 inches of rear-seat legroom makes for comfortable accommodations for back-seat passengers, though it doesn't have as much space as the new Ford F-150 or Nissan Titan. Tundra's rear seatback reclines at an angle of 24 degrees, adding to comfort. Each rear seating position has a headrest and three-point safety belt. Rear-seat passengers also enjoy their own heating and air conditioning outlets, and optional audio and DVD entertainment systems. Tundra Double Cab also offers the segment's first vertical power-sliding rear window. At 750 square inches, the Double Cab's rear window offers more than four times the open area as the manual sliding rear windows in the Regular Cab and Access Cab models. When the Double Cab's 60/40 split rear seat isn't occupied, it folds and tumbles to provide lockable, weather-tight storage space inside the cab.
Safety features for all Tundra models include seatbelt pre-tensioners and force limiters, along with the required dual front airbags. The passenger-side airbag can be switched off with the key when babies or children occupy the front passenger seat. Next Page