2021 Toyota Tundra Performance

The 2021 Toyota Tundra comes with a burly V8 engine, but it also has sloppy handling, poor fuel economy ratings, and a disappointing ride quality.

• "While it isn't terrible to drive, the last Tundra we tested felt archaic and a bit off the pace compared with lighter and more powerful competitors. Due to the Tundra's firm suspension, every bump is transmitted into the cabin, which makes for a lumpy ride when driving over rough surfaces." -- Car and Driver (2020)
• "A strong optional V8 gives the Tundra some life, but a dated platform numbs overall performance significantly." -- Edmunds (2019)
• "The all-wheel-drive TRD Pro can also tackle challenging off-road conditions such as steep hills, fast-moving creeks and generally rough terrain, despite the unavailability of a mechanical locking rear differential. Yet the Tundra can also be quiet and pleasant on the tarmac." -- Kelley Blue Book (2019)

Engine Options, Horsepower, and Acceleration

• Engine: 5.7-liter V8 with 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque
• Drivetrain: standard rear-wheel drive; available four-wheel drive
• Transmission: six-speed automatic

The V8 powering the Tundra feels brawny and capable. It's not the most energetic engine in the class, but it makes the Tundra quick off the line, and it never feels underpowered. The transmission shifts smoothly.

However, while competing trucks offer multiple engine options, including base V6s, multiple V8s, turbocharged V6s, or even turbodiesels, the Tundra offers no such variety.

When properly equipped, the Tundra can tow up to 10,200 pounds, and it can haul up to 1,730 pounds.

• "The Tundra's engine is reasonably peppy but emits an unsatisfyingly weak exhaust note, and its six-speed automatic shifts rather slowly." -- Car and Driver
• "The 5.7-liter V8 is the best thing about the 2020 Tundra. It pulls strongly off the line and there's a burbly exhaust note trailing in your wake. The six-speed automatic shifts smoothly, and always seems to be in exactly the gear I want." -- CNET (2020)
• "The Tundra's … 5.7-liter V8 has plenty of thrust off the line and enough power to merge or pass on the highway. It isn't exciting like some of the other powertrains in the segment, but it feels robust. … The throttle delivery can be abrupt if you aren't careful with pedal pressure, but you can adjust pretty quickly. Otherwise, driving in the city and on the highway is easy, even with the old-school six-speed automatic transmission and the tow-friendly gearing." -- Edmunds (2019)

MPG Estimates

According to the EPA, both rear- and four-wheel-drive Tundras are rated at 13 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway. Those ratings are well behind rivals that have smaller engines, but they're also poor compared to V8-powered rivals.

Handling and Braking

The Tundra is a big vehicle, and it handles accordingly. It's not agile on winding roads, and it's tough to maneuver on crowded streets. The ride quality disappoints as well; you're sure to notice most bumps in the road, especially if they're sizable. As is the case with almost every truck, the Tundra comes standard with rear-wheel drive, and it's available with four-wheel drive.

• "The Tundra is firm and jittery when the bed is empty. Its handling and overall driving experience just aren't as refined either, a sign that the Tundra has gone a decade without a complete redesign while its competitors were all fully redesigned within the last few years." -- Autotrader (2020)
• "The Tundra's light, numb steering isolates the driver from the road and requires constant corrections at highway speeds. The Tundra's brakes are adequate and can haul the truck down from 70 mph in a so-so 190 feet, but the brake pedal returns little feedback and has inconsistent travel." -- Car and Driver (2020)
• "It's too bad the powerplant is stymied by rough-and-tumble handling. No, I don't expect a full-size truck to cruise with the same composure as a Rolls-Royce, but I don't expect it to ride quite so ponderously, either. The ride is stiff and harsh over broken pavement, and this thing turns with all the grace of a large ship." -- CNET (2020)