Only 1 Half-Ton Truck Doesn’t Use a V8 Engine
We typically expect our half-ton trucks to have strong V8 engines providing incredible towing and payload numbers. The new generation half-ton Toyota truck bucks this trend. Every model of the 2023 Toyota Tundra uses a V6 engine, but this truck still has plenty of power.
Will the 2023 Tundra have a V8?
No, the latest version of the new Toyota Tundra has two powertrains which both use impressive V6 engines. These two powertrains are:
i-Force
3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6, 10-speed automatic transmission
389 horsepower, 479 lb-ft of torque
Max towing: 12,000 pounds
Max payload: 1,940 pounds
i-Force Max
3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 hybrid, 10-speed automatic transmission
437 horsepower, 583 lb-ft of torque
Max towing: 11,450 pounds
Max payload: 1,680 pounds
The fuel economy numbers for these two powertrains reach between 19 and 22 mpg combined, depending on the truck’s configuration.
Does the new Toyota Tundra require premium gas?
No, regular 87-octane is just fine. Even though this half-ton Toyota truck has turbocharging on every model, you can use regular gas to fuel the drive. This makes it pretty easy for you to enjoy the best fuel mileage level and the necessary power during your drive.
Is there anything new for the 2023 Toyota Tundra?
Typically, the second year of a generation has very few changes for any vehicle. That is certainly the case for this full-size Toyota truck. The SR5 trim receives a new SX appearance package, adding black and dark gray design elements to the exterior. This package includes:
- Dark gray 18-inch wheels
- Black door handles, body trim, and rear bumper middle section
- Dark rear 4×4 badges
- Black interior accents
- Deleted door badges
The SX package is available for SR5 models in white, silver, gray, or black.
What is the most luxurious version of this Toyota truck?
The most luxurious version of the new Toyota Tundra is the Capstone trim. This trim entered the market to compete with the topmost trims of the Ford F-150, GMC Sierra 1500, Ram 1500, and Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
This top-level trim of the Tundra gives this truck:
- 22-inch chrome wheels
- Two-tone leather trim
- Interior wood accents
- A unique grille design
- Power running boards
- A panoramic moonroof
The Tundra Capstone only uses the i-Force Max powertrain, which offers the most power in this half-ton truck.
How much does a fully loaded Toyota Tundra cost?
The Capstone trim of the new 2023 Toyota Tundra starts at $75,245, comparable to some of the other luxury half-ton trucks in the market. Consequently, the Ford F-150 Limited costs $84,910, and the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate costs $81,400, which is much more expensive than the top-level Tundra.
Which trim of this Toyota truck should you choose?
If you’re willing to take some expert advice, you’ll want to follow the trim Edmunds recommends. They chose the SR5 model when testing the SR5 against the off-Road Toyota Tundra TRD Pro and luxury-level Capstone trims. That said, they recommend the Limited trim, which offers a lot of value for the price.
The Toyota Tundra Limited model includes:
- Choice of either Double Cab or CrewMax configurations
- A choice of two bed lengths (5.5 and 6.5-feet)
- Chrome exterior trim
- 20-inch gray-painted alloy wheels
- Heated power-folding side mirrors
- Tailgate release bump switch
- Horizontal sliding rear window (Double Cab)
- Vertical opening rear window (CrewMax)
- Acoustic laminated windshield
- SofTex synthetic leather upholstery
- 8-way power front seats
- Driver’s seat memory settings
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- 60/40 split-folding rear seat with center armrest
- Dual-zone automatic climate controls
- Leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob
- 14-inch touchscreen monitor
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alerts
- Front and rear park assist
The Limited trim of this Toyota truck starts at $48,565, making it a value-oriented truck considering the long list of features included.
The 2023 Toyota Tundra is the only half-ton pickup truck that doesn’t offer a V8 engine. Still, this truck is strong, tough, and reliable and brings several configurations and trims to make it a great truck to drive.
Next, check out the story behind the 1794 Edition of the Tundra, or learn more about this new Toyota Tundra in the video below:
