Her + His Car Reviews
2018 Toyota Tundra 4x4 SR5 Crewmax
Our car reviews are innovative and interesting as we provide insightful and expert reviews from both Her + His perspectives.
Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate, women-drivers.com
His: Don Hammonds, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com
| HER | HIS |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| $48,543 | $48,543 |
| Performance | |
| The 2018 Toyota Tundra with its Four Wheel Drive is a hauler. This 5,000-pound truck has a maximum load capacity of 9,800 pounds and is propelled by a powerful V8, 5.7-liter engine that generates 381 horsepower. The 6 speed transmission shifts fairly smoothly. Responsiveness was clear and acceleration we found to be enthusiastic. The Double Wishbone Front Suspension made riding relatively smooth. The TRD exhaust provides some boost, in the exhaust. | Thanks to its lusty 381 horsepower, 5.7 liter V8, the Tundra is responsive, really easy to get used to on the road with strong handling, and the combination of the strong acceleration and the handling suggest you will get a sportier feel. And of course, those dual exhausts with their throaty, rich sound add to the experience. |
| Fuel Economy | |
| 13 city miles/17 highway miles/14 overall - one of the worst in its class. | On the low side of fuel economy. 14 miles per gallon overall, 13 city and 17 highway. The Tundra lags behind some of its competitors in this regard. But remember, a tank of gasoline on the Tundra will get you almost 500 miles of driving! When comparing fuel mileage, you have to think of the relationship between the rating and the capacity of the tank. The SR5 version, if you order the SR5 Upgrade Package, provides you with a huge 38 gallon. |
| The Vehicle | |
| The 2018 Toyota Tundra has a universal look and with plenty of muscle and good qualities and tech in the vehicle. It is eclipsed in most areas by others in the 2018 competitive truck line up. It still gets a "Consumer Report Recommend" because of Toyota's dependability. Though not the brawniest version, it will last and can be relied upon; that is worth something. Maximum towing capacity is 9800 pounds. Roomy cabin, and while we liked the easy-to-use knobs, we did feel they were hard to reach. Also materials used look dated. The infotainment system is smaller also, compared to the line up in the truck category. We did like the fact that it had a running board to make it easy to get in and out of. The back of the truck though has no such stepping device, so getting into the bed is another matter. Roominess is a plus. Both for the driver and front passenger as well as those in the back seats. However, this model has cloth and there is no heating these seats - unfortunate that a buyer doesn't have the option for that in 2018. |
Quiet, rugged, and stable, with predictable handling and a seating position behind the wheel which felt somewhat lower than other trucks, the Tundra would be my first choice for someone who is buying their first truck. It makes a great transition between car and truck, I think. The interior, well...eh...., it's not bad but it's not particularly attractive with the mono color gray trim and materials, and the fabric on the seats was plain ugly. Spring for one of the up-level models instead!
For 2018, the changes for the Tundra are minimal. This Tundra that we tested had a new TRD Sport package for the SR5 version of the truck, which includes alloy wheels with black accents, larger tires, a sport-tuned Bilstein shock absorbers--which, by the way, really transform how the Tundra SR5 feels on the road. Other new aspects for this year include the fact that the Toyota Safety Sense package of advanced driver safety aids is now standard equipment. Also, you can no longer order a standard cab Tundra. One of the other plusses -- a 10,000 pound towing capacity; pretty exceptional. |
| Safety | |
| Driver Airbags, Passenger Airbags, Rear Head Airbags, Front Side Airbag, 4 Wheel ABS, 4 Wheel Disc Brakes, Electronic Stability Control, Trailer Brake Control, LATCH Child Safety Locks, Blind Spot Monitor, Pre-Collision Warning, Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Integrated Turn Signals on Side Mirrors. Sway Warning System. The Back-up Camera is smaller - I think it's 7 inches. Also worth noting is that the 2018 Toyota Tundra is not compatible with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. |
The Tundra comes with a rear backup camera, trailer brake control and trailer sway control, the Toyota Star Safety System of Anti lock brakes, stability control and other features, the usual airbags and seat belts, Toyota Safety Sense with Pre-Collision warning system and pedestrian detection system, lane departure alert, sway warning system, and other features. |
| Technology | |
| The Tundra has a nice suite of technology on this model. Entertainment includes AM/FM Stereo, CD Player, Mp3 Player, Satellite Sirius XM Radio with a 3-month trial, HD Predictive Traffic, HD Radio. Entune Audio with Integrated Navigation and App-Suite includes Split Screen display - screen is 7". Back-Up Camera, Cruise Control, Anti-Theft System, Keyless Entry, Auto-Headlights, Universal Garage Door Opener, Intermittent Wipers and Variable Speed Wipers, Rear parking Aid, and a Trip Computer.
Two (2) USB Port with iPod connectivity and control, Advanced Voice Recognition, Hands free phone capability, Phone book access and Music streaming via Bluetooth, Siri®, Eyes free, Entune app suite. |
Standard equipment include heated mirrors, a windshield wiper de-icer, a damped tailgate, a rearview camera, an integrated trailer brake controller, a tilt-only steering wheel, Bluetooth, a 6.1-inch touchscreen interface, and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player and a USB port. Also included is forward collision warning and mitigation (with automatic braking), lane departure warning, automatic high beams and adaptive cruise control.
You will fare better on standard features if you go with the SR5. You get foglights, variable intermittent windshield wipers and an upgraded tech interface that includes a 7-inch touchscreen, HD and satellite radio, traffic information and a navigation app. The crew cab adds a power-opening rear window and an overhead console. The SR5's Upgrade package adds front bucket seats with a power-adjustable driver seat, a center console (with storage and console shifter), a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a larger 38-gallon gas tank when equipped with the 5.7-liter V8. There's also a TRD Sport package that adds 20-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, a hood scoop, body-colored mirrors and bumpers, LED headlights and foglights, TRD shift knob, floor mats and graphics. |
| Aesthetics & Styling | |
| The Tundra is over a decade old and it's been a while since its been refreshed. Actually, an entire redesign is in order. As stated above, the Tundra has a universal appeal but it is not a frontrunner in terms of aesthetic or technology. The running boards are appreciated as almost one in every 5 truck buyers are women. Do you know how many trucks in this price range don't even sport running boards? Please! While Toyota boasts of the 20" spoke sport alloy wheels they don't quite stand out - a slightly larger wheel would put the vehicle in a bolder setting. Sport-tuned Bilstein shock absorbers and TRD front and rear anti-sway bar, LED mirror caps, front and rear bumpers are all on tap. The grill and hood scoop are distinctive, but feel dated compared to the grill design of todays trucks. TRD shift knob, and sport floor mats, and a bedside TRD sport decal. The gray/charcoal monochromatic interior could use some spicing up. Nothing here offends, its just the playing field is making terrific strides in the truck category to match the interior designs and material useage of the SUV and sedan luxury class. |
Okay. This is where Tundra falls flat. The sporty SR5 looks plain and basic compared to sports truck models offered elsewhere, and the truck itself looks so big and imposing, again, compared to competitors, that the Tundra looks more intimidating to drive than it is in reality. The interior was drab and nondescript with a really boring gray theme throughout.
You can do better, Toyota. Time for a design and styling redo. |
| Warranty | |
| 3 Year/36,000 mile Basic Warranty. 5 Year/60,000 mile Powertrain Warranty. | Three years, 36,000 mile warranty |
