Toyota truck models may not be the most popular vehicle of their kind in North America, but they are not too far behind! The Japanese giant has been making trucks for over half a century, making them a veteran in this space. While Toyota’s first truck was a humble little 86-hp half-ton, things have evolved considerably since then. Being the global giant Toyota is, they took different (and appropriate) directions for each of their markets.
As far as trucks are concerned, North America gets the biggest and baddest ones! This shouldn’t come as a surprise because we love these large multi-purpose vehicles. It’s part of American culture. While electric trucks are slowly becoming a thing, combustion engine-powered ones still offer numerous advantages. And if you are in the market for one that’s wearing a Toyota badge, you have two main options — the Tacoma or the larger Tundra.
That being said, there are many models to choose from, be it the trim level or the production year. Here are the 4 best Toyota truck models to get in 2022.
A Brief History
Before we discuss the best Toyota truck models, let’s take a quick look at the history of both options available today.
Toyota Tacoma
The Tacoma went on sale in 1995. It took the place of the Hilux which was called the Toyota Pickup in the USA. The Toyota Tacoma wasn’t just an updated offering, it took things to the next level. This truck brought big improvements in terms of comfort, quality, safety, and payload capacity. What this meant is that it could be used as a comfortable passenger vehicle while also having the perks a truck would have.
This truck remained on sale in the same first-generation avatar until 2004. Despite being fairly large by international standards, it fell short in the compact truck segment in the USA. Toyota introduced the second-gen Tacoma in 2005. It was bigger and more powerful than before, and it even won Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year for 2005. With many engines and bed sizes to choose from, there were 18 different ways the second-gen Tacoma could be configured. This version was on sale for 10 years.
The third-generation Tacoma was introduced in 2015. This version is still on sale and is responsible for making the Tacoma even more comfortable, not to mention technologically advanced. This version also featured major cosmetic changes along with an updated frame. It’s available with either a 159 hp inline-four or a 278 hp V6. Toyota gave the third-gen Tacoma its mid-life update in 2020 where it got a facelift and the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other new features on the inside included power-adjustable seats and a 360-degree camera.
Toyota Tundra
When it comes to the larger Tundra, it was introduced four years after Tacoma in 1999. The full-size truck was built in the United States for the United States. The first generation featured many similarities with the older Toyota T100 and the Tacoma, including engines. Toyota sold the first-generation Tundra until 2006. This truck was Motor Trend magazine’s Truck of the Year in 2000 (first-gen) and 2008 (second-gen).
The second-generation model went on sale in 2007, and it featured a lot of changes. Firstly, this Tundra came with several cabs, engines, and trim options to choose from, which meant it could be optioned in 31 unique configurations. The second-gen Toyota Tundra also featured design inspiration from its smaller sibling, the Tacoma, and the company’s FTX concept. However, one of the highlights of this truck was its towing capacity of 10,000 lb and payload capacity of over 2,000 LB.
The Japanese giant claimed the second-gen Tundra was also the first in the segment to feature an electronic limited-slip differential and vehicle stability control as standard. In 2021, Toyota introduced the third-gen Tundra. This version featured a long list of improvements to technology, performance, and design. That’s not all, Toyota also released two new engines for this Tundra. While the V8 has been discontinued, the V6 engines are quite the powerhouses with numbers ranging from 348 hp to 437 hp, depending on the spec.
Which Are the Best Toyota Truck Models in 2022?
Now that you have a basic understanding of the Tacoma and Tundra, we move on to the main subject — what are the best Toyota truck models money can buy?
2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro
The Tundra TRD Pro is at the top of the food chain when it comes to Toyota truck models. As mentioned earlier, the third-gen Tundra was only just introduced. Everything about it has been completely redone. While there has been a TRD Pro package since 2015, the latest one is completely different as it’s based on the updated flagship truck. Many old-school truck enthusiasts liked the fact that the Tundra used a V8 engine until recently. However, the third-gen replaced it with a twin-turbo V6.
With modern emission and fuel economy requirements, this change shouldn’t come as a surprise. This is the only Toyota truck model on this list to make use of a hybrid electric powertrain as well. As far as the engine is concerned, it’s a 3.5 V6 that makes 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque while being paired to a 10-speed automatic gearbox. This big truck also makes peak torque at just 2,400 RPM. As you can probably tell by those figures, the TRD Pro is no slouch. It’s only 1 second slower to the quarter mile than the Ford F-150 Raptor.
Cementing its position on the top Toyota truck models list is the fact that it features a host of technology that makes it incredibly capable off-road as well. You will find Fox-branded 2.5-inch internal bypass dampers that will take on some of the unruliest off-road stretches.
These dampers are also paired with a five-link suspension setup at the rear which makes sure the truck remains planted even in the most intense situations. Then there’s the company’s second-gen Crawl Control feature. The ability to select the terrain and electronically locking rear differential are nice touches as well.
Being such a recent introduction also automatically makes the interior among the best when it comes to technology. The TRD Pro uses the largest infotainment display which comes packed with many features. The 12-speaker JBL audio system this model gets as standard is quite impressive as well. Let’s not forget that the 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro has a towing capacity of up to 12,000 pounds, making it a serious contender in its segment.
2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 Edition
Next on the list of best Toyota truck models is the 2014 Tundra 1794 Edition. The 1794 Edition went on sale in 2014 and was around until the second-gen Tundra was discontinued. Toyota’s factory was set up on a cattle ranch in Texas that was established in 1794. This model’s designation pays homage to that famous cattle ranch. While the second-gen Tundra had been around for 6 years, the Japanese giant needed a rival to the luxury-oriented versions its competition had.
The 1794 Edition is exactly that — a Western-themed package that includes Lexus-grade features. While the second-gen Tundra was a comfortable truck, it wasn’t exactly luxurious. This was addressed with a leather interior, heated and cooled front seats, and wood trim on the steering and dashboard. Other features included a sunroof, JBL audio system, 20-inch wheel, and blind-spot monitoring. Toyota also paid special attention to the details which can be seen from the saddle brown-colored interior that contrasted well with the wood accents.
While the interior is quite sweet, it’s not the main reason why the 1794 Edition makes the list of the best Toyota truck models. The second-gen 1794 Edition is the last Toyota truck to be powered by a naturally-aspirated V8 engine, making it a crowd favorite. This version essentially features the same engine choices as any of the second-gen Tundra, including the 5.7 V8, 4.0 V6, and smaller 4.6 V8. That being said, the engine we are most interested in is the big 5.7 which makes a respectable 381 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque.
This engine isn’t as powerful as the hybrid, twin-turbo V6 available with the third-gen Tundra, but it’s got that V8 charm. Don’t let that lead you to believe it isn’t quick as the engine can get this 5899 LB behemoth to 60 mph in just 6.7 seconds. It’s also not that far behind in terms of its towing capacity of 10,400 lb.
2005 Toyota Tacoma X-Runner
The Tacoma X-Runner is one of those Toyota truck models may haven’t heard of before. It made its debut in 2005 and was based on the second-gen Tacoma. Being the sporty offering it is, it got everything the standard Tacoma got and then some. While the engine was the same 4.0 V6 that made 236 hp and 266 lb-ft as standard, it could be optioned with the company’s supercharger that took those figures to 304 hp and 332 lb-ft. These boosted numbers brought about an increase in performance, and it is said that it did 60 mph in 6 seconds.
The X-Runner was a truly special vehicle, it featured a unique 6-speed short-throw manual gearbox as opposed to the 5-speed unit the standard offering got. As you’d expect from a multi-purpose truck, the standard Tacoma had the option of AWD, but the sporty X-Runner was only available in RWD. This sporty engine and gearbox combination sent power to the rear wheels via a limited-slip differential.
What made the Tacoma X-Runner unique was that it wasn’t just designed to be quick in a straight line. Toyota made changes to the chassis and suspension to ensure it could handle them. Tweaks came in the form of a lowered ride height (by 2 inches), Bilstein shock absorbers, anti-roll bars, and a double wishbone suspension at the front.
The X-Runner also came equipped with larger wheels with stickier rubber. A big brake kit was available as an optional extra. These mechanical changes were also complicated by sporty design elements like a hood scoop and side skirts.
2021 Toyota Tacoma SR5
We round off our list of the best Toyota truck models with the 2021 Toyota Tacoma SR5. The SR5 is a mid-level trim and one of the highest-selling ones. With the top-spec Tacoma TRD Pro, you are getting into the price territory of the Tundra which is a larger and more capable offering, whereas the SR5 continues to be good value.
In terms of the interior, the 2021 Tacoma SR5 is well-equipped when you consider its attainable price point. That being said, you can’t expect the features and luxuries of some of the Toyota truck models listed above. What you get is a comfortable passenger cabin and a decently-sized infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Things are quite similar under the hood as well.
The 2021 Toyota Tacoma SR5 makes use of the company’s 3.5 V6 that’s capable of 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. While that might not sound like a lot, keep in mind that the Tacoma is the smaller truck offering in Toyota’s portfolio. This engine comes paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. It has a towing capacity of 6,500 lb, which isn’t incredible, but it’s good enough considering this truck’s size and price point
Don’t expect the quickest acceleration with this truck model while towing. Overtakes will require a certain amount of calculation especially when towing close to its maximum capacity. That said, the truck does come equipped with features like trailer-specific stability and sway control that make sure you don’t lose confidence in its towing abilities. The facelift in 2020 also added a power-adjustable driver’s seat on the SR5 model and higher.
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