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Toyota fully redesigned its Tundra pickup truck for 2022. Every new Tundra is powered by a twin-turbocharged V6; the premium engine option incorporates a powerful electric motor/generator to improve output and save fuel. Here’s how to configure a 2022 Toyota Tundra hybrid to be as cheap as possible.

How powerful is the Tundra i-FORCE MAX hybrid?

The hybrid version of Toyota’s new twin-turbocharged V6 is a truly premium engine. With the help of its electric motor/generator it makes 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque. It also bumps the truck’s fuel economy by about 2 mpg in stop/go traffic.

A white Toyota Tundra TRD Pro driving over rocks while navigating an off-road trail in the woods.
2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro (hybrid) | Toyota

The i-FORCE MAX’s electric motor/generator makes 48 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Toyota has sandwiched this unit between the Tundra’s V6 and ten-speed transmission. The electric motor can launch the truck from a standstill, smooth out shifts, and adds power until the turbochargers kick in. The resulting drivetrain makes more torque than an F-150 Raptor.

Toyota includes the i-FORCE MAX powertrain standard on the new Tundra’s TRD Pro and Capstone trims. The hybrid engine is not an option on the SR or SR5 trims and costs an extra $3,400 on mid-trim trucks.

What’s the cheapest hybrid 2022 Toyota Tundra?

The lowest Tundra trim level you can option with the i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain is the 2022 Tundra Limited. In addition, Toyota will only install the hybrid engine on trucks configured with the larger CrewMax cab. Therefore, the cheapest possible hybrid Tundra costs $53,000.

Promo photo of a Toyota Tundra TRD Pro parked in the middle of a desert.
2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro (hybrid) | Toyota

To configure the cheapest hybrid Tundra, you must first select the 2022 Toyota Tundra Limited ($47,550). Then you have to configure it with a large, CrewMax cab. Your most cost-effective option is the CrewMax cab and shorter, 5.5-foot bed ($49,600). This is the cheapest Tundra you can option with the hybrid engine.

The i-FORCE MAX engine itself adds $3400 to the price of your truck. Therefore, a Tundra Limited with the hybrid option will cost at least $53,00.

At this price, you get a 2WD pickup truck with a softex interior. Because it’s the Limited trim it also has 20-inch alloy wheels and a 14-inch premium touchscreen. Adding an off-road package or a towing package costs extra.

Is the hybrid Toyota Tundra worth it?

While there are no long-term reviews of the new hybrid Tundra yet, it likely won’t be a cost-effective way to save gas on highway driving. But for truck owners with commutes in stop/go traffic, the hybrid Tundra upgrade might pay for itself.

The premium interior of a Toyota Tundra pickup truck, a city visible outside its windshield.
2022 Toyota Tundra interior | Toyota

The team at TFL Truck spent over a year driving the Ford F-150 PowerBoost hybrid truck–which has very similar figures to the i-FORCE MAX Tundra. The EPA rates the PowerBoost at 23 city/23 highway mpg (23 combined). The reviewers found the hybrid averaged closer to 21 mpg, but sometimes hit 26 mpg during city driving.

The EPA has rated the 2WD hybrid Tundra at 20 city/24 highway mpg (22 combined) and the 4WD version at 19 city/22 highway (20 combined). These highway numbers barely improve on the non-hybrid version, but the city numbers are all 2 mpg higher. So if you do a lot of stop/go driving and are buying a Tundra Limited anyway, the hybrid option might actually be worth the upgrade.

Next, read about the entry-level Tundra you can buy for $37k or see the i-FORCE MAX engine reviewed in the video below:

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Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.