Fifteen years is an eternity in the automotive industry.

But before the release of the 2022 Toyota Tundra, that’s how long it had been since the brand’s biggest truck had gotten a new look. With as much innovation as its competitors have seen in the years since, this move was long overdue.

Packing some strong tech upgrades, new power plant options including a hybrid offering, and an exciting new look, the 2022 Tundra is sure to bring a spark into Toyota’s efforts to grow in the full-size truck segment as it takes on the Detroit Three’s heavyweight contenders.

I recently spent some time in the redesigned Tundra and I'm back with a full report.

The 2022 Toyota Tundra has been completely revamped. Mike Sweers, the executive chief engineer of trucks for Toyota Motor North America (TMNA), takes drivers through the top 10 things they need to know about the automaker’s newest pickup to hit the road.

1. Global F-Platform: The Tundra now shares the same Toyota New Global Architecture platform as the Land Cruiser, Lexus LX and Toyota compact vehicles.
   
   
2. Towing Capability: A premium towing machine is about more than capacity. Drivers behind the wheel of the new Tundra will feel unparalleled confidence in their tow
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3. Extensive Testing: The new Tundra was tested in a variety of extreme conditions: low altitude, high altitude, heavy snow and more.
   
   
4. Incredible Power Train: Toyota went above and beyond to deliver the most power and performance possible —like adding a drivetrain 140% the size of competitors’ trucks.
   
   
5. More Power + More Torque = More MPG: By supercharging the new Tundra with best-ever torque output, Toyota delivers maximum fuel economy along with the muscle drivers crave.
   
   
6. Exterior Styling: Embracing the spirit of previous Tundra models, designers took the bits of Toyota DNA truck owners love and dialed them up to 11.
   
   
7. Luxury Inspired: By benchmarking against premium luxury vehicles, Toyota embodies the same high level of quality in every new Tundra model.
   
   
8. Innovative Aerodynamics: With the truck having an active air dam that tucks in and out as needed, drivers reap the benefits of better aerodynamics when they need them and elevated off-road capability when they don’t.
   
   
9. Military-Grade Protection: With the skid plate made from ballistic nylon, it can’t be ripped off the truck or dented into the oil pan even if Tundra owners wanted to.
   
   
10. Composite Deck: No denting, no rusting and easy to repair when damaged, the new composite deck makes for a smarter choice than the old steel bed.
    
    To see a video on the 2022 Tundra, visit Youtube or watch below.

— Press release courtesy of Toyota

Trucks are not the first vehicles people think of when Toyota is mentioned, but they have a long-standing place in its history. The mid-size Tacoma truck has been in production since 1995 and remains very popular today. And the full-size Tundra began its run in 1999.

Overall sales numbers for the Tundra are far behind the domestic trio of the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado and RAM 1500, but a loyal fan base keeps the model holding down its spot as the top non-domestic full-size truck with more than 100,000 sold annually.

While the Tundra has not been fully redesigned since 2007 (it got a slight refresh in 2014, and a brand new model is expected for 2022), its longevity comes from a few key factors: Its powerful V8, Toyota reliability, and strong tech features. There were also a couple new editions announced for 2021 with new styling: The Trail and Nightshade models.

The Trail edition gets features including: 18-inch dark gray wheels with Michelin all-terrain tires, lockable bed storage boxes, spray-on bed liner, black exterior badging, chrome front grill, black fabric trim seats with unique tan stitching, and all weather floor liners.

I recently spent some time in a Tundra, and I’m back with a full report.