The most capable Tundra off the beaten path is the stupidly expensive TRD Pro, which is exclusively i-FORCE MAX and CrewMax with the 5.5-foot bed. Retailing at $72,130 for the 2024 model year, the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro can be furthered by Texas-based tuner Hennessey Performance Engineering.
Enter the TRD Off-Road Upgrade Package, which sounds pretty similar to the TRD Off-Road trim level of the Tundra. In any case, Hennessey Performance Engineering kicks it up a notch with 20-inch wheels finished in black and 35-inch rubber boots from Nitto. By comparison, the factory-stock TRD Pro flaunts 33-inch Falken Wildpeak ATs.
Also referred to as 37-inch tires on Hennessey's website, said 35-inch units are joined by a 2.0-inch suspension lift and two more off-road goodies in the form of off-road bumpers fore and aft. The front one is a bull bar-style bumper with a few LEDs for good measure, as expected from an off-road package.
Electronic fold-out steps also need to be mentioned, along with Hennessey exterior badging and Hennessey-embroidered headrests. Each build is topped by a high-flow air induction system that – unfortunately – HPE did not detail. Hennessey Performance Engineering hasn't confirmed the pricing of this package, but does list a three-year/36,000-mile (60,000 kilometers) warranty.
What boggles the mind is Hennessey refraining from giving the 3.4L twin-turbo V6 more power and torque. Given that 2022-and-newer models continue to experience various engine-related problems, John and company are better described as being wise than afraid of giving the V35A-FTS a bit more oomph.
Photo: Hennessey
In the entry-level SR, the 3.4-liter six belts out a respectable 348 horsepower and 405 pound-feet (550 Nm) at 2,000 revolutions per minute. If you step up to the SR5 and better-equipped grades, the V35A-FTS makes 389 horsepower and 479 pound-feet (650 Nm) at 2,400 revolutions per minute.
As implied, the MAX in i-FORCE MAX stands for hybrid assistance. This powertrain is standard on TRD Pro, the even pricier 1794 Limited Edition, and the range-topping Capstone. To whom it may concern, the luxury-oriented Capstone is $78,845. At 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet (790 Nm) available from 2,400 rpm as well, the i-FORCE MAX is 7 ponies and 13 pound-feet up on the PowerBoost hybrid setup of the F-150.
i-FORCE MAX returns up to 22 miles per gallon (10.7 liters per 100 kilometers) in the combined test cycle, whereas PowerBoost kicks it up a notch to 23 miles per gallon (10.2 liters per 100 kilometers). Given that both half-ton pickups are heavy and feature small battery packs, these combined gas mileage estimates are not surprising in the least.
Ford, however, is the more successful automaker in terms of truck sales in the United States. The F-Series moved 152,943 units in the first quarter of 2024, while Tundra couldn't do better than 36,215 units. Ford also sells the nation's favorite hybrid truck, that being the Maverick Hybrid.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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