2022 Toyota Tundra vs 2023 Toyota Tacoma

The 2022 Toyota Tundra marked the beginning of the model's third generation, showcasing a complete redesign from its predecessors. Every component, down to the turn signal stalks, was re-engineered, giving the Tundra a more dynamic and expressive exterior. The truck featured a large hexagonal grille with various trim-matched patterns and branding, including chrome, black, dark chrome, and grey-painted finishes. The TRD Pro trim stood out with "TOYOTA" badging in retro letters above an LED strip light, and a technical camo pattern that extended into the cabin. The Tundra's body displayed chiseled and muscular side styling, with pronounced wheel arches and a neatly tucked-in rear, complemented by LED taillamps.

Inside, the Tundra embraced premium materials and amenities, with a 14-inch touchscreen display standard on Limited and Platinum grades, while SR and SR5 models featured an 8-inch screen. The interior design echoed the exterior's shapes, creating a cohesive vehicle design. The Tundra aimed to be a versatile family adventure vehicle, offering a blend of ruggedness and sophistication.

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma, a midsize truck, offered a more compact alternative to full-size pickups like the Tundra. Despite its smaller size, the Tacoma maintained an assertive stance with an upright grille and tall bed, giving it a substantial appearance. Toyota offered the Tacoma in various trim levels, including SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and TRD Pro, with additional options like the Trail Special Edition and Nightshade Edition. The Tacoma provided multiple powertrain options, bed lengths, and cab configurations, resulting in 34 combinations with varying towing and payload capabilities.

The TRD Pro trim, tested in bright Solar Octane paint, featured underbody skid pads, a TRD-tuned suspension, and a locking rear differential. The interior ranged from basic to well-appointed, with Softex leather-trimmed upholstery and heated front seats in the TRD Pro. The Tacoma's off-road-oriented suspension handled city streets well, though it exhibited some wandering on paved roads. While the Tacoma's technology was intuitive, it lagged behind competitors in terms of modern features.

The 2022 Toyota Tundra introduced two new engines, moving away from the previous naturally aspirated 5.7-litre V8. The base engine, the i-Force, was a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 with direct gasoline injection, producing 389 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque (348/405 in SR). The i-Force Max, a hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain, combined the twin-turbo V6 with an electric motor-generator, delivering 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque. Both engines used a 10-speed automatic transmission, with RWD standard on the double-cab SR grade and 4WD available on SR and standard on other trims. Fuel consumption for the RWD Tundra was rated at 11.8 litres per 100 kilometres combined, while the 4WD and hybrid versions consumed 12.2 L/100 km combined.

The Tundra's new chassis and suspension improved handling, with a front independent double-wishbone setup and a rear multi-link suspension with outboard-mounted coil springs. The TRD Off-Road package enhanced the Tundra's off-road capabilities, while the TRD Sport package focused on on-road performance.

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma offered a standard 3.5-litre V6 engine with 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. A six-speed manual was also available. In Canada, the Tacoma came with standard 4WD. Despite the V6's power advantage, the Tacoma wasn't particularly quick, requiring significant throttle input to reach highway speeds. The truck's off-road-oriented suspension handled city streets well but exhibited some wandering on paved roads. Fuel economy was estimated at 13.0 L/100 km in city driving, 10.5 on the highway, and 11.9 combined, with the manual transmission slightly reducing efficiency.

The 2022 Toyota Tundra was available in Double Cab or CrewMax configurations, both offering four-door crew cabs with a five-passenger seating capacity. The Double Cab provided 846 millimetres of rear seat legroom, while the CrewMax offered 1,057 mm. Bed options included a 6.5-foot or 8.1-foot bed for the Double Cab and a 5.5-foot or 6.5-foot bed for the CrewMax. The Tundra featured an aluminum-reinforced composite bed, saving weight while maintaining payload capacity and resisting scratches and dents. Towing capacity reached 5,443 kilograms when properly equipped, with standard trailer sway control and TOW/HAUL mode.

Inside, the Tundra prioritized smart storage solutions, such as a sliding tray in the front centre armrest and a 12-volt power tap positioned for easy access. These thoughtful design elements enhanced the Tundra's practicality and convenience.

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma offered various configuration choices, including the access-cab body style with clamshell-style doors and a 1,872-millimetre bed, or the double cab with a choice between a long bed and a shorter 1,537-millimetre bed. The access cab's rear seats were tight and uncomfortable, while the double cab provided easier entry and egress. The front seats offered ample cubby space and legroom, though the steering wheel's limited extension posed challenges for tall drivers. The Tacoma's bed was large enough to accommodate gear for a ski trip, demonstrating its practicality.

The 2022 Toyota Tundra featured a new infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen standard in SR and SR5 trims and a 14-inch touchscreen in Limited and above. A 12-speaker JBL premium audio system was standard on upper grades, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Toyota Connected services, Safety Connect, Service Connect, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM were standard, with Drive Connect and a Qi-compatible charge pad available on upper trims. The Tundra also offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 10.1-inch head-up display on Platinum models. Off-roaders benefited from the multi-terrain select system with crawl control and downhill assist control.

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma's technology was intuitive but somewhat outdated. It featured a 7-inch touchscreen in base trim and an 8-inch touchscreen in higher trims, with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM. Wireless charging was available on higher trims. The Tacoma's premium JBL audio system and USB-A ports provided adequate tech, but it lagged behind competitors in terms of modern features.

The 2022 Toyota Tundra came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, including a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, lane-departure warning with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. The Star Safety System included enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and smart-stop technology. Eight airbags, LATCH connectors, and child-protector rear door locks were standard. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was available on most SR and SR5 models and standard on other trims.

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma featured Toyota Safety Sense, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and automatic high beams. The TRD Pro added blind-spot monitoring, rear- and side parking distance sensors, and a surround-view camera. However, the Tacoma lacked lane-keeping assist and rear automatic emergency braking. It received four out of five stars in NHTSA crash-test evaluations, with five stars in side-impact tests but lower scores in frontal crash and rollover tests.