New Car Review of the 2006 Toyota Tundra Full-Size Pickup Truck
Base MSRP Range: $16,155 - $33,575
Base Invoice Range: $14,619 - $30,383
MSRP As Tested: $26,620
Versions: Regular cab, Access Cab, Double Cab
Vehicle Category: Full-Size Pickup Truck
Engine Location: Front Engine
Drive Wheels: Four-Wheel Drive, > Rear-Wheel Drive.
Standard Engine: 4.0-liter, Dual Overhead Cam, 24-valves,
V-6,
236 -horsepower at 5200 rpm and 266 lb-ft torque at 4000 rpm.
Optional Engine:
4.7-liter, Dual Overhead Cam, 24-valves,
V-8, 271 -
horsepower at 5400
rpm and 313 lb-ft
torque at 3400 rpm.
Transmission: Five-speed
automatic, Five-speed manual, Six-speed manual.
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): Five-speed automatic V-6 18/22, Five-speed automatic V-8 16/19, Six-speed manual 16/20.
Standard Safety Features: Dual front airbags, ">Antilock brakes, Tire-pressure monitor.
Competition: Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Dodge Ram 1500, Ford F-150, Nissan Titan.
Pictures don't do this truck justice.
While it's about the same size as four-door versions of the Nissan Titan,
Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado -- trucks intentionally designed to look
tough and scary -- the Toyota Tundra Double Cab looks like a child's toy
when you see it in photographs.
Blame it on the gently sloping front end or car-like bumper and
headlights, but it just doesn't look like the tough, brawny,
testosterone-soaked truck that it is.
In actuality, the four-door Tundra is a beast of a pickup. It's about four
inches longer than the F-150 SuperCrew, mainly because Toyota didn't
sacrifice the bed size to squeeze in a larger cabin like Ford did. The
Toyota's bed is about seven inches longer than both the Ford and Nissan,
and it definitely looks like a real, hard-working truck when you walk up
to one in person.
It also feels like a real truck when you climb inside the cabin. The
Double Cab is four inches wider and three inches taller than other Tundra
models, giving it plenty of space for stretching out your legs and riding
comfortably for hours, even in the back seat.
Despite its truck-like roominess, the fit and finish of the cabin is very
much like a car. The curvy, sweeping, well-designed dash and instrument
panels look like they belong in a Camry, not a tough work truck.
Performance wise, the Tundra can be good or bad depending on how you want
to use it.
If you're looking to do serious, heavy-duty towing, you're bound to be
disappointed that it can pull an absolute max of 7,100 pounds when
properly equipped. That's significantly less than its competitors, which
offer bigger V8 engines with more torque and horsepower.
On the other hand, if you only need a truck for everyday driving and
run-of-the-mill towing and hauling -- the things most people really use
their truck for -- then the Tundra is a dream come true.
Available with either a 4.0-liter V6 or 4.7-liter V8, it offers a good mix
of efficiency and power. The smaller engine makes 236 horsepower and 266
pound-feet of torque while getting up to 22 miles per gallon on the
highway, while the V8 makes 271 horsepower and 313 pound-feet of torque
and gets up to 19 mpg.
Best of all, both engines are extremely refined and a pleasure to drive.
Coupled with a softly tuned suspension and a smooth-shifting, five-speed
automatic transmission, the Tundra is probably the best truck anybody
could buy for commuting. It's just quiet and comfortable.
Back-seat passengers would agree, especially if you spring for the DVD
player with wireless headphones and remote control.
Like with most pickups, prices run the gamut from bare-bones work trucks
to fancy luxury models. A basic, rear-wheel-drive, V6 regular-cab model
starts at a paltry $16,155, while a Double Cab 4x4 Limited will run
$33,575. There are plenty of different Tundra variations in between, so
you shouldn't have any trouble finding the right combination of price and
equipment.
Whatever you do, don't base your opinion of the Tundra on how it looks in
photos.
See it in person. It'll be a whole lot bigger than you thought.
Pros: If you only need a truck for basic towing and hauling -- nothing too
heavy-duty -- this is probably the best truck you can buy. It's perfect
for everyday driving, offering a soft suspension, quiet cabin and smooth
engine/transmission combo that makes commuting a pleasure.
Cons: It doesn't offer heavy-duty performance like some truck owners need.
Towing capacity is limited to 7,100 pounds, and its biggest engine is 4.7
liters.
Ratings (1-10)
- Style: 6
- Performance: 6
- Price: 9
- Handling: 7
- Ride: 10
- Comfort: 9
- Quality: 10
- Overall: 7
More Data
Where Built: USA
Major Options: Leather Package, Convenience Package, SR5 Package, Sport Package, Preferred Accessory Package, Towing Package, TRD Sports Package. Curtain side airbags, Limited-slip differential, Dual exhaust system, Antiskid system, Air conditioning, Navigation system, Power sunroof, Tilt steering wheel, Rear-seat DVD entertainment system, Remote keyless entry, Tow hitch receiver, Styled steel wheels, 17-inch alloy wheels. Postproduction options also available.
Seating: 3 - 6
Number of Rows: 1 - 2
Length in Inches: 218.3 - 230.1
Warranties: 3 years/36,000 miles Bumper to bumper, 5 years/60,000 miles Extended powertrain, 5 years/unlimited miles Corrosion protection, 3 years / 36,000 miles Free roadside assistance.
Weight in Pounds: 3935 lbs - 4675 lbs.
Cargo Capacity in Pounds: 2025 lbs - 1835 lbs.
Gross Maximum Vehicle Weight in Pounds: Not available.
Towing Capacity in Pounds: 4800 lbs - 7100 lbs..
Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 26.4
Destination Charge: $565
