Is the Toyota Tundra a Good Pickup Truck?
- The Tundra’s full redesign for the 2022 model year made it much more competitive, and a handful of welcome new features for 2025 add to its appeal.
How Does the Toyota Tundra Compare With Other Pickup Trucks?
- The Tundra doesn’t offer the maximum towing or payload capacities of rival domestic full-size pickups — or the same kind of novel convenience features — but it’s still a nicely balanced, well-built truck. When equipped with the new-for-2025 TRD Rally Package, the Tundra SR5’s natural rivals are the mid-line off-road versions of rival domestic pickups.
After receiving a long-overdue, ground-up redesign for the 2022 model year, the Toyota Tundra full-size pickup rolls into 2025 with a handful of newly available features and a new off-road/appearance option group called the TRD Rally Package. Offered on the Tundra’s SR5 trim level, the TRD Rally Package adds a fairly lengthy list of hardware along with distinctive trim touches inside and out. I recently tested a 2025 Tundra SR5 crew cab equipped with the TRD Rally Package to evaluate both the new package and the Tundra’s handy new Knee Lift Assist power-closing tailgate function.
Related: What’s New for the 2025 Toyota Tundra?
What’s Included in the 2025 Tundra’s New TRD Rally Package?
The TRD Rally Package isn’t the only off-road-oriented option group the Tundra offers, but it is the most extensive (and the priciest). The package’s terrain-focused gear consists of 18-inch TRD Off-Road alloy wheels fitted with all-terrain tires, Bilstein shock absorbers, skid plates, mud guards and a locking rear differential, as well as Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select drive modes, Crawl Control (essentially an off-road cruise-control system) and Downhill Assist Control (hill descent control).
Also included are noteworthy interior upgrades: eight-way power-adjustable heated front seats with power lumbar, a TRD leather-wrapped shift knob, a TRD leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminum sport pedals, dual-zone automatic climate control and a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen (replacing the standard 8-inch touchscreen). Topping things off are tricolor accent stripes on the grille, tailgate, front doors, wheel center caps and passenger side of the dashboard, along with matching accents and stitching on the synthetic leather-trimmed seats. These distinctive yellow, orange and red accents are a tip of the cap to classic Toyota racing liveries.
The tricolor exterior and interior accents are tasteful to my eyes; they add a sporty flair without being over the top. The cabin upgrades are welcome, too, especially the upsized infotainment screen. The quality and resolution of the 360-degree camera views are particularly commendable; nighttime legibility is among the best I’ve seen. I just wish the 360-degree view didn’t turn off immediately upon shifting out of Reverse. I’d prefer if the camera views lingered for, say, 10 seconds or so when exiting a tight parking spot or what have you.
The new Knee Lift Assist power tailgate is not exclusive to the TRD Rally Package (all Tundras with the power tailgate include the function), but it’s another welcome feature. Simply nudging the lowered tailgate upward with your knee activates the power-closing function. The feature worked flawlessly for me, and it’s wonderfully convenient when your hands are full after retrieving cargo from the pickup bed.
What’s the Toyota Tundra Like to Drive on the Street?
Thankfully, the TRD Rally Package’s off-road-focused add-ons don’t significantly compromise the Tundra’s on-road composure and tractability. Handling is on par with most comparable class rivals’ and is highlighted by a direct, communicative steering feel. The all-terrain tires don’t cause noticeably higher levels of road noise, and the ride is respectably comfortable on most highways and city streets — though sharp bumps and potholes often induce the juddery feel typical of body-on-frame pickups.
Acceleration with the 389-horsepower, twin-turbo 3.4-liter V-6 engine is respectably strong, though the 10-speed automatic transmission is occasionally frustratingly slow to kick down to provide passing or merging power. And if you want more power, you’re out of luck: Since the TRD Rally Package is based on the SR5 trim, the Tundra’s 437-hp hybrid V-6 is not available. That available powertrain is restricted to the Limited and higher trim levels.
What’s the Difference Between the Tundra’s SR5 and Limited Trims?
Positioned a rung above the entry-level SR trim, the SR5 comes standard with amenities such as alloy wheels, LED foglights, an active aero front spoiler, and a 60/40-split folding rear seatback with a center armrest and cupholders. The Limited slots directly above the SR5; it steps things up by making the Tundra’s hybrid powertrain optionally available and adding a host of features, including upgraded interior materials, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, heated and ventilated front seats, and 20-inch alloy wheels, to name a few.
Naturally, there’s a price difference, as well — to the tune of at least $8,345. The SR5 starts at $47,905, and the Limited, which comes standard with a larger CrewMax cab and a shorter 5.5-foot bed, starts at $56,250 with the base engine and $59,950 with the hybrid powertrain (all prices include $1,945 destination). These prices are all with rear-wheel drive; choosing four-wheel drive adds $3,000 to the models where it’s not already standard.
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Is the Tundra’s TRD Rally Package Worth the Money?
That depends on how much value you place on the TRD Rally’s specific cosmetic flourishes and the upgraded infotainment system. The TRD Rally Package’s $8,660 price tag is a lot to swallow, but it comes with a substantial amount of stuff. The as-tested sticker price of our test truck was $60,497, which included about $800 of accessory-type options such as carpet floormats and a pickup-bed mat. That as-tested price is on par with similarly equipped off-road-fortified versions of rival domestic full-size pickups like the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Trail Boss and the Ford F-150 XLT with the FX4 Off-Road Package.
It’s possible to get the core off-road hardware of the TRD Rally Package for less money by choosing the TRD Off-Road Package ($2,125) or TRD Off-Road Premium Package ($3,910). The latter adds the upgraded front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control of the TRD Rally Package, but it doesn’t include the 14-inch touchscreen, leather-wrapped steering wheel or the distinctive cosmetic touches.
And, of course, it’s possible to spend more money, too. The Limited and ritzier 1794 Edition trims offer TRD Off-Road Packages of their own with the same core off-road hardware, and the top-dog TRD Pro (starting price: $74,455) boasts a number of exclusive features as the Tundra’s flagship off-road trim.
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