The Tundra has a firm grip on the 5th place in 2013 light duty pickup truck sales through July. The 2013 Toyota Tundra is seeing a sales increase, but it’s not growing as quickly as most of its competitors. The redesigned 2014 Tundra is nearly here, but we wanted to say goodbye to the current generation truck with a battery of towing tests. Read on to learn more about how this CrewMax 5.7-liter TRD off-road package handled the challenges we threw at it.
| STATS | Starting Retail Price | As Tested Price | HP / Lb-Ft |
| 2013 Toyota Tundra CrewMax 4×4 | $43,895 | $46,518 | 381/401 |
| EPA Rating MPG | As Tested MPG | ||
| Rating: LEASE IT! | 13/18 Combined 15 | Towing 9.9 |
First Impressions
The 2013 Toyota Tundra CrewMax has an imposing appearance and a large footprint. Once inside, the huge interior is impressive. This truck is wide and the rear passengers have miles of legroom, as well as sliding and reclining seats.
Styling/Design:
This 2013 model is composed of rounded shapes that make for a sleek appearance. I do not have many issues with the exterior, but the interior of this Limited trim level truck does not feel expensive enough to justify the $46,518 price tag. The interior is laid out logically with very large HVAC control knobs and other buttons. However, one of the selector buttons on this new truck was showing signs of wear and the hard plastics and very fake wood trim were in abundance. The leather seating surfaces look and feel more like vinyl, but it also looks industrial and very durable. Toyota has a lot of room to improve the look-n-feel of the interior. Cannot wait to test the 2014 model.
The Tundra has the longest wheelbase (at 145.7 in) of the short bed full-size pickups, and this provided a good platform for a towing vehicle. It also has a very low 4.30 rear axle gear ratio. The axle and transmission work together to allow the engine to rev up into its power band for most effective pull. However, it also means that the truck likes to drink a lot of fuel, as the 13/18 EPA rating suggests. I got a relatively low around town average of 12.2 MPG. Toyota is proud to point out the strength and durability of all its drive-line components. I have every reason to believe it. Transmission and engine temperatures never wavered during the extreme towing tests that we threw at it.
Powertrain:
This Tundra is equipped with the 5.7-liter V8 engine that makes 381horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 401 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm. After it did well at the Ike Gauntlet test, we decided to tow the boat (total trailer weight of 5,740 lbs) for a day of deserved rest on the Horsetooth Reservoir near Fort Collins, CO. The Tundra obliged. It did not have much trouble rolling down the I-25 between 65-70 MPH. It had to downshift and labor harder on the uphill sections, but it was still able to keep pace and accelerate. This 110 mile round trip netted 9.9 MPG. I will take more trucks on this trip and will report the MPGs.
Handling/Ride:
The 2013 Tundra TRD off-road package has a well dampened and comfortable ride with or without a trailer. Of course, the trailer often lets its presence be known over bumps and expansion joints, but the Tundra’s suspension quickly puts it in check. This truck would do very well on a long towing trip. The steering feel is good for a full-size pickup and is nice and heavy, but it still has a some vagueness. There is no mistaking that this is a large full-size truck. You need to apply a bit of effort when maneuvering parking lots and taking corners. Just like a manly pickup truck should be.
Competitors:
| Starting Retail Price | City/Hwy MPG | HP / Lb-Ft | |
| 2013 Toyota Tundra Crew Limited | $44,890 | 13/18 | 381/401 |
| 2013 Chevrolet 1500 Crew LTZ | $44,380 | 15/21 | 315/335 |
| 2013 F-150 Crew Lariat | $43,435 | 14/19 | 360/380 |
| 2013 Nissan Titan Crew SL | $44,185 | 12/17 | 317/385 |
| 2013 Ram 1500 Crew Laramie | $45,220 | 13/19 | 395/407 |
It’s interesting
On the TFLcar scale of:
- Buy it!
- Lease it!
- Rent it!
- … or Forget it!
I give the 2013 Toyota Tundra CrewMax 5.7 a Lease It!
I enjoyed my week with this truck. It did the Ike Gauntlet extreme towing test, and took the family to the lake and back. It never complained. There are two reasons I give it a Lease It! rating. The first is the mediocre interior materials. It just does not seem to fit a $46,518 Limited trim truck. And the second, is the poor fuel economy. I got just over 12 MPG in city driving. This is not a huge complaint, but many competitors can do better. If you are looking for a reliable and comfortable truck, then the Tundra is worth a look.
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Check out this mile above sea level 0-60 MPH:
And here is a 0-60 MPH run with a 5,740 lbs boat trailer:
Andre Smirnov is a life-long automotive enthusiast, writer, reporter, and software engineer. He has been a contributor at TFLcar since 2011. When not working or spending time with the family – you can find him tinkering in the garage or simply ‘going for a drive’.
