The 2020 Toyota Tundra is one the most popular and best-selling pickup trucks to ever hit the U.S market.
It was Toyota’s first Pick-up truck introduced to the world in May 1999, and still soldiers on to this day. The Toyota Tundra is the oldest in its class with the same basic platform of the 2007 model year.
However, the 2020 model is more refined and offers advanced technology and reasonable comfort.
And if that’s not enough for you, the Tundra comes with a variety of trim levels, packages, and endless options from the factory. Before we get into our 2020 Toyota Tundra double cab guide, let’s look at some of the core specs of the 2020 Toyota Tundra.
2020 Toyota Tundra Specs
- The Toyota Tundra has been in sale for an incredibly long time and has stayed true to its design for well over a decade.
- The 2020 model is a full-size pick-up truck light on the luxury side and very heavy on the duty side mated to the legendary dependability Toyota is famous for providing.
- Toyota decided to ditch the old 4.6 – litre from the previous year and replace it with the new powerhouse, a 5.7 – litre V8 available on all trims and models.
- The new power plant produces 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque mated to an automatic six-speed transmission.
- Compared to its rivals, the Tundra is down by few gears.
- But the gears are perfectly tuned to keep the engine right on its power band for acceleration whenever needed.
- Well, with 401 pounds-feet of torque, it is a piece of cake.
- The Tundra comes with a part-time 4-wheel drive system. In other words, you get to choose where the power goes, either to the rear wheels or all four wheels by a push of a button.
Towing and Payload Capacity
Many trucks in this class feature a fully boxed frame, but the Tundra features an open C-channel under the bed, the passenger cab, and sits on boxed frame rails upfront. That means the Tundra is less stiff than its competition.
Yet, it still delivers pretty impressive numbers. The Tundra can haul up to 1,730 pounds in the bed and tow more than 10,000 pounds.
Of course, the payload will vary according to the size of the bed and the trim level you choose.
Tundra’s bed is 50 inches wide, 22 inches deep, and available in three options:
- 5-ft short bed
- 5-ft standard bed
- 1-ft long bed
Unfortunately, the bed sits a bit too high and makes the loading and unloading process more challenging.
Warranties
The Tundra comes with what many likes to call “Toyota care”:
- 3 Years/ 36,000 miles basic warranty
- 5 Years/ 60,000 Miles Drivetrain warranty
- 5 Years/ Unlimited Miles Corrosion warranty
- 2 Years/ Unlimited Miles Roadside Assistance warranty
- 2 Years/ 25,000 Miles Maintenance warranty
Interior
The Tundra’s interior is functional, welcoming, and built with quality materials. It comes with basic niceties:
- 7-inch infotainment touchscreen with large and well-labeled shortcut buttons
- 7-speakers Audio system
- One-touch power windows
- Adjustable leather seats
- Dual-Zone climate control
- Adaptive cruise control
- Power steering
- Rearview camera
- Blind-spot monitoring
Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Alexa, Bluetooth, and USB connection come as standard. It is spacious enough on the inside to seat five or six adults.
The interior is available in Black and Beige colors and comes loaded with optional extras with each trim level.
Forward visibility is good, and the ground clearance is enough to deal with bumpy roads.
However, there are still blind spots over the shoulders that the system sometimes fails to cover, and the rearview is not as good as the front.
In addition, the sheer size of the truck, and the terrible turning radios kills the maneuverability in the parking lots.
The Tundra has other good features to make up for those shortcomings, including:
- 4-wheel brake discs with ABS
- Brake Assist System
- Power Locks
- Voice Activation System
- Level-1 Autonomous Drive
- Keyless entry
- Push – button to start the engine
One of the Tundra’s strong suits is the Safety features it provides. It scored an overall four out of five stars from the NHTSA.
Fun fact: the Toyota Tundra was the first full-size pickup to offer auto emergency braking as standard. Some of the safety features also include:
- Lane Departure Warning Accident Avoidance System
- Pre-Collision Safety System
- Remote Anti-Theft Alarm System
- Child safety locks
Besides the safety standards, the Tundra boasts good off-road capabilities and the iconic Toyota reliability.
Despite the added features, the Tundra is still outdated compared to its class rivals. The glove box is small, the cup holders are poorly placed and too big for smaller drinks, and the door pockets are narrow.
Although the suspension gives the feeling of a creamy and comfy ride, that does not compensate for the numb feeling you get from the steering when driving on curvy roads.
Trim Levels and Packages
There are six different trim levels to choose from when buying a Tundra, and a few configurations for the body.
The lineup starts with the base SR trim that paves the way to the upgraded SR5 trim. The Limited trim sits one step up the ladder. The Platinum and the 1794 Edition sit on the podium with the TRD Pro, which stands as the HALO model.
Here are more details about each trim level and its specs.
Toyota Tundra SR
The SR trim is the entry-level in range with a $35,000 price tag. Yet for a base model, it comes with decent features.
It features the 5.7 litre V8 and six-speed automatic transmission combination across the whole lineup.
This trim is available with four body configurations:
- Double cab with 6.5’ bed and rear-wheel drive.
- Double cab with 8.1’ bed and rear-wheel drive.
- Double cab with 6.5’ bed and four-wheel drive.
- Double cab with 8.1’ bed and four-wheel drive.
The SR comes fitted with an 18-inch wheel and a full-size spare tire as well as Rack-Pinion steering.
There are four standard exterior colors:
- Barcelona Red Metallic
- Midnight Black Metallic
- Silver Sky Metallic
- Super White
However, you get more colors options as you go up the range. On the other hand, the interior is limited to Graphite Fabric Seat Trim or the Graphite Heavy Duty Vinyl Seat Trim. It includes:
- Cloth Seats
- Leather Seats
- Premium Synthetic Seats
- Vinyl Seats
The SR also comes with a simple easy to use infotainment system. As standard, you get smart device integration, WiFi Hotspot, and Auxiliary Audio Input.
You also get:
- Power Mirror
- A/C
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Keyless Entry
- Steering Wheel Audio Controls
Just to make driving easier and life more enjoyable.
Last but not least, the Tundra has access to “Toyota Care” and the Safety Sense-P that include a pre-collision system, auto braking, and pedestrian detection. In addition to a backup camera and stability control.
The safety feature is available as standard with all trim levels.
- The SR work truck package is available for this model and it includes vinyl seats and floors, keyless entry delete, deck rail system with adjustable tie-down cleats.
Tundra SR5
Next on the list is the SR5. This trim level is easier to live with on daily basis as standard but opens up new options for customization. The retail price starts at $38,000; it accommodates the same drivetrain and engine as the base model plus the bed sizes.
However, the SR5 is also available in the CrewMax variant with a 5.5’ short bed, four-wheel, or rear-wheel drive.
Just like the SR trim, the SR5 comes with18-inch wheels and the same body configurations:
- Double cab with 6.5’ bed and rear-wheel drive.
- Double cab with 8.1’ bed and rear-wheel drive.
- Double cab with 6.5’ bed and four-wheel drive.
- Double cab with 8.1’ bed and four-wheel drive.
Nevertheless, the SR5 comes with a wider range of materials and colors for the interior and exterior unlike the base model.
Exterior paint colors include:
- Barcelona Red Metallic
- Cavalry Blue
- Cement
- Magnetic Grey Metallic
- Midnight Black Metallic
- Quicksand
- Silver Sky Metallic
- Super White
- Voodoo Blue
As for the interior, the options are:
- Black Fabric Seat Trim with TRD Off-Road and Sport Packages
- Graphite Fabric Seat Trim with TRD Off-Road and Sport Packages
- Sand Beige Fabric Seat Trim with TRD Off-Road and Sport Packages
Optional extras such as a navigation system, electric seats, bucket seats, leather steering wheel, and remote engine start are available for the SR5. It features the standard Toyota Safety Sense-P, airbags all around, and Cross-Traffic alert, rear-parking Aid, blind spot monitor as optional extras.
The real fun treat about the SR5 is the packages that come along.
- $970 SR5 Convenience Package. This package covers blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert, body-colored rear Bumper, front and rear Clearance Sonar, and lane change assist.
- $945 SR5 Upgrade Package. It consists of an anti-theft alarm and immobilizer, 3 cup holders, a centre console, bucket seats alongside a 38-gallon fuel tank, and a telescopic steering wheel.
- $4,005 TRD Off-Road Package. This package adds LED headlights and fog lights, Black sport trim, TRD decal on the bedside, floor mats. It also accommodates Bilstein shock absorbers, 5 spoke 18-inch alloys, skid plates, a push starting-button, and remote keyless entry.
Tundra Limited
This model drifts away from being used as a workhorse and focuses on towing and hauling. It features a comfy interior, chrome accents, and a $45,000 price tag.
The Limited comes with the CrewMax variant as well as the double cab, which only comes with the 6.5’ bed and rear/ four-wheel drive. It comes with the standard V8 and powertrain, and seats for five instead of six like in the lower trims.
It comes with bigger 20-inch alloy wheels, and 38 gallons gas tank. Infotainment and comfort options come as standard with this model, but they come as optional extras with lower models.
Besides that, interior trims and exterior colors are the same as the SR and the SR5 models.
The Limited comes with two additional packages:
- $1,015 Limited Premium Package. It consists of a rear cross-traffic alert, clearance sonar, power windows, anti-theft kit, lane change assist, blind-spot monitor, and colored rear bumper.
- $155 TRD Off-Road Package. It offers 18-inch Split 5-Spoke TRD Off-Road alloy wheels with off-road tires. It also features Skid Plates, LED headlights, TRD decal, TRD off-road floor mats, Bilstein Shock Absorbers, and black trim.
Tundra Platinum, The 1794 Edition, The TRD Pro.
The Platinum trim level price starts at $51,000 and it comes with all bells and whistles including unique badging and chrome accents everywhere. LED daytime running lights, heated and cooled seats, 12-speaker JBL sound system are some of its key features. It comes with only one package that includes a power slide roof and shades at the cost of $800.
In homage to the Spanish colonialist Juan Ignacio de Casanova that was established in 1794. comes fully equipped with high-end materials and optional extras but with few tweaks to stand apart. It features a brown interior with wooden accents and comes with the TRD off-road package.
The TRD Pro is built to stand apart from the rest of the pack since it is more focused on off-roading.
Unfortunately, the TRD Pro, The Limited, and The Platinum come as CrewMax only.
Accessories
The Tundra comes with many accessories some of which are part of packages and might be too pricy. To name a few:
- All-weather floor liners $169
- Versatile cargo tote $50
- Fade-resistant carpet floor mats $169
- Centre console tray $80
- Console safe $359
- Door sill protectors 70$
- Emergency assistance kit $59
Exterior accessories include alloy wheel locks $80, bed extender $320, bed rug bed liner $499, and black chrome exhaust tips $104.
Fuel Economy
One of the major concerns of any car or truck owner is the fuel economy, which begs the question: is the Toyota Tundra fuel-efficient?
Well, when it comes to fuel consumption the Tundra barely scratches the surface of decent gas mileage, even by the standards of a full-size pickup truck.
The combination of a six-speed transmission and two-wheel drive puts the Tundra in the back of the pack of its competitors.
Here are the EPA rates for the Tundra’s fuel economy:
- Two-wheel drive: 13 mpg in the city limits 15 mpg on the highway, and 18 combined.
- Four-wheel drive: 13 mpg in the city limits 14 mpg on the highway, and 17 combined.
That is not very nice to your wallet in the long run.
The Tundra comes with a 26.4-gallon gas tank as standard, and an optional 38-gallon tank giving you about 500 miles of range. Depending on how you drive, what you haul, and the trim you opt for.
It is worth noting that the V8-powered competitors offer a variety of displacements, turbocharged, and diesel options. In addition to hybrid powertrains to achieve greater fuel economy.
FAQs
Question: How Many Miles is too Much for the Tundra?
Answer: According to iSeeCars, the Toyota Tundra can do 300,000 miles before the repair bills pile up. But with proper maintenance, it may be used for well over 15 years.
Question: What is the Difference Between a Tundra CrewMax and a Tundra Double Cab?
Answer: The differences between the CrewMax and the Double Cab are: The Double Cab is an extended-cab version of the regular cab model, although it has four doors. The CrewMax Tundra is larger and has more engine options.
Question: Why is the 2020 Tundra the Worst Truck?
Answer: The Tundra was ranked poorly due to its bad fuel consumption of 14 mpg on average where its competitor can do at least 24 miles per gallon.
Question: Which Tundra Model is Best?
Answer: TRD Pro model is the best Tundra for off-roading and on the road. It comes standard with four-wheel drive, tow hooks, a front skid plate, and Fox rear shocks.
Verdict
There is a common saying that goes like this: you can’t teach n old dog new tricks. The Tundra has been around long enough to learn more than just the tricks in the books with its new tech, slick black chrome treatment.
And we have to admit, the sound of the V8 coming out from the dual exhaust and Army green gives the Tundra a very menacing look and massive presence on the road.
It is a great truck for heavy-duty work and good enough to be driven daily and was made to outlast anything on and off the road. However compared to its class competitors, the Tundra really trails behind the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, and the Chevy Silverado in all aspects.
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