Automaker Toyota’s first attempt to loosen the Big Three’s grip on the U.S. pickup truck market was a dismal failure. The T100 pickup sold from 1993 to 1998 was a good vehicle, but not a sales success. In 2000 Toyota picked up the challenge with the not-quite-full-size Tundra. Although much loved by its owners, selling a mere 120,000 Tundras in 2006, in a market where truck sales neared 2 million, could hardly be called a success.

The introduction of a new full-size Tundra in 2007 is an indication that Toyota has finally awakened to the need for a big, tough and powerful pickup that can go off-road, tow 10,800 pounds and offer the most powerful V-8 engine of any of the Big Three pickup trucks. Penetrating the almost paranoid loyalties of the Ford, Chevy, and Dodge Ram aficionados in the United States will be hard, but this truck appears to have all of the qualifications to do it.

Offered in SR5 and Limited models, with Regular Cab, Double Cab 4 door and Crewmax 4 door configurations and with a total of 31 possible variations, this is a serious project by Toyota to seduce consumers and become one of the big truck guys on the block.

Toyota Tundra

The DOHC 4.0 liter, 236 hp V-6 is standard on the $22,290 regular and $26,105 Double configurations. The DOHC, 4.7 liter, 271 hp V-8 is an option for the Regular and Double configurations and standard for the $29,675 Crewmax. But it is the $1,200 optional DOHC, 5.7 liter, 381 hp V-8 that is the most powerful motor available in any pickup sold in the United States. Offering 401 ft lb of torque, the engine propels this truck to 60 mph in an incredible 6.3 seconds.

The 5.7 liter motor comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission whereas the 4.0 and 4.7 liter engines come with a 5-speed.

Getting into the Tundra requires some effort - the cab is high. Once inside, it feels spacious and appears well laid out. There are lots of instruments for the techie, including voltage, oil pressure, transmission oil temperature, fuel, tachometer and speedometer. The seating is comfortable and even the Double Cab is spacious in the rear.

The driving experience is special for a pickup. It is quiet, smooth, and the ride is like a crossover SUV; a little firm with almost no jiggles. Toyota builds the Tundra in Indiana.

The brakes felt smooth and powerful, well suited to this large 5,400-pound vehicle.

The Tundra comes in rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive configurations, the difference in price between the two is roughly $4,000.

To give the reader an idea of the price ranges without going into all 31 configurations, the lowest price for a 2-wheel drive Regular Cab, with the 6 cyl engine is $22,290 and at the other end of the scale the 4-wheel drive, Crewmax Limited is $41,000. Various combinations of 2-wheel drive, 4-wheel drive, three different engines and two different transmissions are available at prices in between these two limits.

In the world of major options, a navigation system with a back-up monitor is available for $2,810 on the Double Cab and $1,650 on the Crewmax Limited model, a moonroof for $810 and a rear seat DVD entertainment system for $1,670 is available on the Limited Crewmax model. Off road kits and upgraded stereo systems are available for different models at different prices. A front and rear parking sonar system is optional for $500 on all models. We recommend this option to assist in parking this monster truck.

EPA estimated fuel consumption for the 6-cylinder is 17 city/20 highway, for the 4.7 liter V-8 is 15 city/18 highway for either the 2 or 4-wheel drive models and strangely enough the bigger 5.7 liter engine delivers a better 16/20 in the 2-wheel drive configuration, and 14/18 in the 4-wheel drive configuration.

Vehicle Stability Control, traction control, anti-lock brake system with brake force distribution and automatic limited slip differential are standard on all models. Roll sensing side curtain airbags are also standard.

The warranty is 36,000 miles or 3 years with a powertrain warranty of 60 months or 60,000 miles.

Hints have been dropped that a diesel engine option will be available in the next year or so. This would make sense for Toyota, giving the Tundra a level playing field with the competition. The test truck was supplied by Mossy Toyota of Pacific Beach where a large inventory of new Tundras is available for perusing.

Motoring since 1952, Austin Lynas has owned 55 cars and at one time raced mini-sedans in England. An aerospace engineer, he was instrumental in developing the anti-skid systems used in British military aircraft that preceded today’s ABS systems. Lynas can be reached by e-mail at austin@sandiegometro.com.