2021 Toyota Tundra Double Cab

 Also, the reliability of the Toyota Tundra is unquestionable as every other vehicle from the brand. It gets no changes in the exterior as well as interior for 2021. The V8 engine on offer is quite strong enough to tow heavy loads. Furthermore, the Toyota Safety Sense driver safety and assist system are included as standard across all the trims. Toyota diversifies the trim range just to satisfy all types of buyers. Some of the bitter American rivals are the Ford F-150, RAM 1500, and Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Let’s find out how well it keeps up with its counterparts.

The classic Japanese pickup truck comes in 4 different trim levels; namely, the SR, Limited, and TRD Pro. Each of these trims is equipped with a 5.7 liter V6 motor. The pricing starts from $34,125 and goes up to $53,500 for the top-tier trim. The base SR trim comes with a good equipment list which includes an integrated trailer brake controller, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 7-inch touchscreen, Six-speaker audio system, automatic high beams, lane departure warning, and so on. All these features will certainly suffice all your requirements. As you opt for higher trims, you will get better features than you would expect from a pickup truck. Let’s have a look at the prominent features in the table below.

Which trim should you buy?

The SR5 trim is the most sensible trim here with a handful of modern and advanced features and we recommend going for it when it comes to buying a Toyota Tundra Double Cab. It offers features like Automatic Limited-Slip Differential, An 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Foglights, Black Heated Power Mirrors, etc which seems to be quite adequate. However, if you are looking for a pickup truck with extreme off-roading capabilities. The TRD Pro trim would be the perfect choice as it comes with all the necessary features to enhance off-roading capabilities. Some of the features include Revised suspension with a 2-inch lift, 18-inch BBS forged aluminum wheels, Fox shocks with remote reservoirs, TRD front skid plate, and Rigid Industries foglights. This looks like a wholesome package for its price.

The 2021 Toyota Tundra Double Cab is offered with a 5.7 Liter V6 that churns out 381 horses and 401 lb.-ft. of peak torque. The motor is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission that powers either the rear wheels or all 4 wheels which are standard across all the trims on offer. The engine is powerful and highly capable. The torquey engine revs enthusiastically and offers a strong powerband right from the lower RPMs.

On the performance front, with a punchy engine, the Tundra is capable of boosting from standstill to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds which is legit quick. It covers a quarter-mile run in 15 seconds flat and goes all the way up to a top speed of 108 mph. The smooth transmission makes sure all the power is sent to wheels seamlessly. There is no shortage of performance in the new Toyota Tundra.

In comparison, with the V6 motor under the hood, the Chevrolet Silverado Double Cab seems the least powerful SUV in the segment, followed by the Ford F-150 SuperCab. Though the figures of the Chevy Silverado are the least in terms of power, it has a more torquey engine than the Ford F-150 and RAM 1500. In terms of performance, the RAM 1500 is the quickest accelerating pickup truck, a bit better and consistent than that of the performance offered by the Toyota Tundra.

How well does the 2021 Toyota Tundra Double Cab handle?

Being the heaviest truck in its division, it is more likely to have relatively sluggish handling. The high ground clearance and huge-body design, let it perform mediocre in terms of handling. Handling may be quite underwhelming, but with its superb power delivery, it makes up for the handling. It will definitely have somebody roll which makes it uneasy to drive while cornering at high speeds.

However, driving the TRD Pro would be much more satisfying. The TRD Pro is the off-roading version of the Toyota Tundra and gets some upgrades like Revised suspension with a 2-inch lift which offers impeccable off-roading capabilities. This suspension is absolutely phenomenal and makes off-road driving much easier and more fun. Fox shocks with remote reservoirs ensure maximum comfort while driving off-road and on-road as well.

2021 Toyota Tundra Double Cab Braking Performance:

Braking performance is a point of concern indeed, especially when it comes to large pickup trucks. The brakes of the Toyota Tundra Double Cab doesn’t comply with the way it should be. It gets a 13.9 inches rotor in the front and a 13.6 inches rotor in the rear. With its 5170 lbs of curb weight, it happens to be the heaviest truck in its class as well. Hence, the braking might not be as good as some other pickup trucks in its class. Nevertheless, the braking performance is not available.

Comparing the competition, the RAM 1500 Crew Cab gets the largest brakes which would definitely offer ample braking performance. There is a serious need for an upgrade in the brakes of the Chevrolet Silverado Double Cab as it comes with one of the smallest brakes in its class. The Ford F-150 SuperCab however takes the sweet spot when it comes to rotor size which measures 13.8 inches rotor in the front and 13.2 inches in the rear.

Pick-up trucks in this class usually come with massive V6 or V8 engines which means they are not so good at delivering impressive fuel figures. Being the most powerful pickup truck in its class, the Toyota Tundra returns 13 mpg in the city, 17 mpg on the highway, and a combined 15 mpg which is the lowest in its class. However, given the fact that it has the most powerful engine, this fuel economy is acceptable. Also, with its large 26.4-gallon fuel tank, it keeps up with some of its rivals in terms of driving range.

Amongst the competition, a huge 26.4-gallon fuel tank has given the Toyota Tundra, a somewhat decent range. However, the fuel economy figures lag behind the rivals. RAM 1500 Crew Cab gets the best-in-class mileage and with a 26-gallon tank, it offers the highest range as well. The Ford F-150 and RAM 1500 are neck and neck in terms of fuel economy with a difference of 1 mpg. This is the front where Toyota Tundra Double Cab clearly falls short when compared to its competition.

The Toyota Tundra gets a minimalistic interior with some modern elements. The center console and dashboard are well-appointed and curated with some premium materials. The steering wheel is chunky and gets a leather treatment which makes it quite grippy to hold. Moreover, the base trim gets fabric seat trims. However, when you opt for the higher trims, it gets plush leather upholstered seats.

Also, it comes with a roomy cabin that is on par with the other trucks in its class. Coming to the dimensions part, the headroom measures 39.7 inches in the front and 38.7 inches in the rear. The legroom, on the other hand, measures 42.5 inches in the front and 42.3 inches in the rear. Also, it offers a cargo space of 62 cubic feet. Unlike the regular cab, the double cab offers seating for 6 people.

The interior dimension figures clearly show that the Toyota Tundra Double Cab is the smallest in terms of interior space in its class. However, these figures are close enough to the American competitors, which practically feels the same when you sit inside the cabin. The Chevy Silverado seems to be the most spacious in the segment. Some other standout interior features include:

• Metal-Look Gear Shifter Material
• Manual Adjustable Front Head Restraints and Manual Foldable Rear Head Restraints
• Simulated Wood/Metal-Look Instrument Panel Insert
• Leather Seat Trim
• Compass
• Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning
• Urethane Gear Shifter Material
• Day-Night Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror

What’s there to keep you entertained?

 The infotainment unit on the Toyota Tundra Double Cab boasts some modern features to the standard features list. The base trim gets a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system and it gets an upgrade to an 8-inch touchscreen in the SR5 trim. The interface is enough to attract tech lovers. However, it is not as intuitive as the ones you see in its counterparts like Ford and RAM. Even the base trim gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and gets connected to a Six-speaker audio system. Some other standout infotainment features include:

• Seven-speaker (Double Cab) 
• USB media
• Turn-By-Turn Navigation Directions
• Amazon Alexa compatible
• Bluetooth hands-free phone capability
• HD Traffic Real-Time Traffic Display
• SiriusXM Radio

Although, it had a few facelifts over the years. It still retains the old-school design. However, it is still loved by its fans. The bold and boxy design looks give significant muscular appeal at very first glance. The large front grille upfront and sleek headlights and fog lights beneath are well-placed and good-looking. The front bumper is high enough to make off-roading a piece of cake, especially in the ones that come with the TRD logo.

As for the exterior dimensions, the Toyota Tundra Double Cab measures a length of 228.9 inches which is considerably smaller than the other trucks here and so is the width which measures 79.9 inches which makes it easier to dart through the traffic comparatively. Also, the ground clearance is quite high at 10.4 inches. In a nutshell, it has the ideal proportions to serve as a perfect pickup truck for everyday use and chores.

Well, The RAM 1500 Crew Cab is the longest pickup truck here. However, the largest wheelbase is offered by the Chevrolet Silverado, while the RAM 1500 Crew Cab has the shortest wheelbase which makes it better to handle in the corners when compared to other trucks. With a weight of 4345 lbs, the Ford F-150 SuperCab occurs to be the lightest SUV in its segment. Some other significant and available exterior features include:

• 20-inch wheels
• LED headlights and foglights
• Color changes to grille, bumpers, and mirror caps
• Black honeycomb-style grille
• Special Toyota logo grille for TRD Pro
• 18-inch BBS forged aluminum wheels
• TRD Pro decals and badges
• Moonroof

We all know that the vehicles that roll out of Toyota’s Factory are very reliable and one of the safest vehicles in the affordable segment and it is not the same in this case. It performs mediocre in the crash tests conducted by the NHTSA. It earns a four-star rating from the NHTSA. However, the IIHS gives mixed ratings on most fronts. However, to make up for it, the Tundra comes with a suite of modern safety technology and features. Some of the prominent and optional safety features are listed below:

• Lane departure warning 
• Forward collision mitigation
• Adaptive cruise control 
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert
• Tire Pressure Monitor System 
• Front Collision system
• Back-Up Camera

2021 Toyota Tundra Double Cab Vs Ford F-150 SuperCab:

The Ford F-150 SuperCab is another great pickup truck in its class. Although the F-150 is low on power, it comes with a really fuel-efficient V6 engine. Also, it flaunts an athletic exterior design and a premium interior with incredible fit and finish levels. Moreover, the Ford is way lighter than the Tundra. As a result, it would deliver better braking performance and handling.

2021 Toyota Tundra Double Cab Vs RAM 1500 Crew Cab:

What sets the RAM 1500 Crew Cab apart from the Toyota Tundra is the instantaneous performance that is on par with the Toyota Tundra despite having an underpowered engine. Moreover, the RAM 1500 is more fuel-efficient and good at handling owing to its lightweight. Also, with the largest brakes in its class. It is expected to offer better braking performance than the Toyota Tundra. However, the Toyota is more affordable than the RAM.

2021 Toyota Tundra Double Cab Vs Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Double Cab:

The Chevrolet Silverado is nowhere near the Toyota Tundra in terms of power. Also, there is no dedicated off-road version in the Silverado. On the flip side, it offers better fuel efficiency and a more roomy cabin to accommodate 6 passengers comfortably. When it comes to brake performance, the Silverado is expected to fall behind the Toyota Tundra as it comes with the smallest rotors in its class. Out of the two, the Tundra seems to be the better pick.

Albeit having a strong rivalry from the American pick-up trucks, the Toyota Tundra Double Cab somehow manages to make a strong statement for itself and that is one of the reasons, it still sustains in the American market. For a price that is relatively cheaper than the other trucks, it is the most affordable way to enter the pickup truck segment. Also, it offers best-in-class performance and practicality as well. With the TRD Pro version, things get heavy on action. In a nutshell, it is really a good pickup truck. However, there are also better options in this class when it comes to buying.