King of the Off-Road Trucks? We Test the 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro

It seems so foreign that just one year ago we were getting to see this truck with our own eyes for the very first time at the State Fair of Texas. After its online teaser campaign, leaked images, and full digital reveal, it was impressive to get a BRAND NEW Tundra and get to see it for ourselves in the flesh…. err sheet metal, as it were.

Fast forward a week or so and we got to be some of the FIRST journalists to drive one at our annual Texas Truck Rodeo put on by the Texas Auto Writers Association. Our test vehicles were early pre-production and there was a lot that had not been completely finalized with this vehicles for production just yet. NOW, here in fall of 2022 and we get to spend a week with the TRD Pro version of the newest Tundra complete with its powerful twin-turbo V6 hybrid powertrain.

We sampled the non-hybrid version of this particular engine in the 2022 Lexus LX600 earlier and really liked almost everything about it (though it was still particularly thirsty for a 3.5L, blame that on the heft it has to carry around). Here with the added power of the hybrid electric drive, this really is a powertrain to be reckoned with. We had no complaints with this engine/transmission combo in our time with the truck. In fact, it compares (on paper) nicely with Ford’s PowerBoost 3.5L twin-turbo hybrid V6 we have previously tested as well. However, in reality…this is the superior powertrain, in my opinion. Most of that comes down to the transmission. My strongest memory of testing that F-150 was its rough 1-2 shifts. They were noticeable. In the Toyota, however, it was smooth sailing from 1-10th gear.

As the off-road focused version, I was a bit caught off guard by its rather terrible approach and departure angles. Getting it out in our favorite red East Texas Dirt of Barnwell Mountain (https://www.barnwellmountainra.com) had us taking easier trails with less climbing obstacles because the nose of this big vehicle protruded just a bit too far and was covered completely in plastic. It is a while before you find that TRD Pro-branded skid plate up underneath. While full-size pickup trucks are definitely the family vehicle of Texas, they do not make for great off-road rigs. They (all pickups) have just gotten too large to really do much in the way of serious off-road adventuring. You would be much better off sticking to a smaller Tacoma or 4Runner if off-road adventures are REALLY what you seek. This TRD Pro Tundra is really meant to be more visually intimidating that truly capable, sadly.

Watch the video to find out more of what we thought of this new Tundra and to see it in action.