It’s not like drivers keep what they want to themselves. In fact, truck owners are incredibly vocal about what they like and hate. They prefer V8 engines over V6 turbos. However, one full-size truck is paying the price for ignoring them. 

Only 1 full-size truck doesn’t have a V8 engine 

Recently, two full-size trucks didn’t have a V8 engine. However, fans were so upset about Ram dropping the V8 HEMI that they turned their backs on the brand until it returned for the 2026 model year. 

However, the Toyota Tundra still doesn’t have a V8 engine and could be paying the price. But Ram 1500 sales have been improving since the HEMI returned. 

Currently, the Tundra has a standard turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine with 389 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the i-FORCE Max engine, which pairs the engine with a hybrid system to generate 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque. 

The Tundra managed to sell about 133,967 trucks in 2025. Meanwhile, the Ford F-150 sold 749,481 units, the Chevy Silverado 1500 sold 430,882 models, and the Ram 1500 finished the year with 313,423 trucks. 

These figures may change as more end of the year data comes in. But I’m willing to bet that the Tundra will still lag behind rivals. 

However, the Toyota Tundra has been plagued by engine recalls. The non-hybrid engines may have leftover debris from the manufacturing process, leading to total failure. 

As ICE engines are viewed as being more reliable than hybrid ones, this could be giving drivers cold feet. But the lack of V8 power certainly doesn’t help.