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2007 Reviewed by Thomas R. Fletcher I don’t know the ins and outs of deciding on a truck’s name, but the 2007 Toyota Tundra could easily have been called Toyota Thunder. It would have been no misnomer. This truck rumbles, roars, hauls and pulls. It is one rocking truck. The redesign of the Tundra model has brought many changes. The size was increased making it equal to and surpassing some other full-size models. In fact, my wife nick-named the truck we tried “Big Blue.” The 18 inch aluminum alloy wheels give it an extra lift. The ride is as smooth as many cars I’ve ridden in. Definitely, it is the easiest riding truck I have driven. Not only is it a smooth ride, it’s also fast, with the speed and pick-up one might expect in a sports car. The V-8 5.7 liter iForce engine pumps out 381 horsepower and 401 foot pounds of torque. I guess some aggressive speed is to be expected. The six speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and flawlessly. The sequential shift mode allows the driver precise control of shift timing. It is also useful when hauling a load and you want to maintain a specific transmission ratio, or hold the truck back when going down a steep incline. Power assist 4 wheel disc ABS provides surprisingly quick stopping power on this beast. I was totally blown away by the power and comfort of the SR5 Double Cab version we tested. There’s plenty of interior space, even in the backseat, which features 37.5 inches of leg room.
The Tundra is one rugged, tough piece of equipment.
We know, we put it through the paces on our
This is truly a truck fit for country living, adventure seeking, real working folks; whether hauling a load of hay, firewood, or towing the boat to the lake—the Tundra gets the job done in comfort and style. This is a real truck for truck people who really use, and maybe sometimes abuse their vehicles. There is a place to store everything in this truck. The center console features a massive storage space; there are sunglass holders in the ceiling, along with a business card holder. There are even storage spaces on the armrests in the doors. The center console is essentially the size of a small filing cabinet. It easily accommodates a lap top and a serious stack of file folders or hanging file system. We averaged 14.5 miles per gallon under city driving conditions, and 17.9 mpg highway. Overall gas mileage averaged 16.25 mpg during the week long test period.
As for hauling capacity, I cut and split a load of firewood equal to what I normally haul on my Ford F-250. Firewood is hauled by volume, not weight. I haul what I can pile on the bed without the wood falling off. The Tundra handled my load of wood with the nearly the same handling as with an empty bed. I tried the Tundra in real working conditions. I ran it and worked it hard. It more than met my expectations. Here’s a truck that can truly “run with the big dogs,” actually leaving some behind. It is a truck any true truck lover will appreciate, and one I would heartily recommend.
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