Toyota Levels Up Its Flagship Truck with Rugged Options and Added Luxury
Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more
Upon the launch of the third-generation Tundra back in 2022, Toyota ditched the truck's proven 5.7-liter V8 engine in favor of a cleaner, greener twin-turbo V6 and (gasp) a hybrid option.
At the time, many pickup enthusiasts grieved the loss of those two additional cylinders, even though the smaller engine resulted in improved fuel economy, more power and more torque.
That's not all — as part of the refresh, Toyota introduced multi-link rear suspension, a beefier fully boxed frame and a host of interior refinements.
In an effort to compete against domestic offerings, last year's update made eight-way front seats available on the SR5, added a power tailgate as standard and introduced a new TRD Rally appearance package.
Not content to stop there, Toyota has just unveiled its 2026 Tundra. Along with a bold new color option, the truck also benefits from some rugged TRD upgrades and even more luxurious trim choices. Here's what to expect.
Rugged trail readiness
For the 2026 model year, Toyota is treating the Tundra to some subtle but impactful tweaks that make it even more suited to towing and trail duty.
In practice, this means that all Tundra models will come equipped with the larger 32.2-gallon fuel tank as standard — even the SR and SR5 models that had previously featured the smaller 22.5-gallon option.
What's more, Toyota will be including a tow hitch and a 7/4 pin connector across the lineup to provide hauling provisions from the factory.
And the changes aren't exclusive to the lower-spec Tundras; as part of the refresh, Toyota is also adding several trim-specific updates.
For instance, the Tundra TRD Pro will get a bright Wave Maker Blue colorway and some optional ISO Dynamic seats similar to those found in the Toyota Tacoma.
Elsewhere in the lineup, the Platinum and 1794 TRD Off-Road Package models get power running boards, while the SX Package gains 20-inch wheels. The TRD Rally Package improves on its capabilities thanks to the option of a three-inch TRD lift kit and Tow Tech Package.
Elevated, inside and out
Beyond giving the 2026 Tundra TRD Pro a bright Wave Maker blue colorway, Toyota aims to elevate the driving experience — inside and out.
To improve cabin comfort, this means that all double cab Tundras will feature additional air vents in the rear center console. Moreover, Toyota says that all models equipped with single-zone climate control are to receive the automaker's SmartFlow management system.
For 2026, the Limited grade moves to leather-trimmed seats, with black and grey hides complemented by monochromatic stitching. As such, even the top-of-the-line Capstone grade gets a new option in the form of some Shale-colored leather-trimmed upholstery.
More to come
At this stage, Toyota has yet to release full pricing and specifications or the 2026 Tundra lineup.
However, it has confirmed that next year's model will retain its twin-turbo V6 i-Force and hybrid i-Force Max powertrain options. Output remains consistent with the 2025 model at 389 horsepower and 437 horsepower, respectively.
As such, it's unlikely that the above changes will result in a significant price hike (as inevitable as they may be).
The 2025 Tundra starts at $40,090 for the SR5 and tops out at $80,725 for the Capstone, so chances are pretty good that MSRP will shape up to be similar when the truck hits dealers later this year.
2026 Toyota Tundra
Learn More
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Customers Can Now Buy the 2026 Toyota Crown in Vacaville, California
Drivers in Vacaville who want a stylish blend of refinement, innovation and all-weather capability can now check out the 2026 Toyota Crown in person at Ammaar's Toyota Vacaville. VACAVILLE, Calif., July 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Drivers in Northern California looking to blend electrified performance with cutting-edge tech and refined design now have a reason to visit Ammaar's Toyota Vacaville—the 2026 Toyota Crown is officially available for purchase in Vacaville, California. This latest iteration of Toyota's premium sedan brings a bold presence and remarkable performance. Drivers can choose between two hybrid powertrains. The first, the Hybrid MAX, pairs a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with electric motors, delivering an impressive 340 net combined horsepower. With motors positioned strategically—one between the engine and transmission, and another powering the rear axle—torque arrives instantly, making highway merging or mountain climbing effortless. For drivers who favor fuel efficiency, the XLE and Limited trims offer a refined hybrid system with a 41 EPA-estimated combined mpg and 236 horsepower. Switch Auto Insurance and Save Today! The Insurance Savings You Expect Affordable Auto Insurance, Customized for You Great Rates and Award-Winning Service Control and comfort work hand in hand with features like Adaptive Variable Suspension, which adjusts damping in real time to keep rides confident and composed—even on twisting backroads. Paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel offer manual-style control for those who crave a more hands-on drive. Inside, the Toyota Crown is loaded with intelligent technology. The 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen brings navigation and app access to fingertips, while the 12.3-inch Digital Gauge Cluster keeps key information front and center. Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ allow for effortless device pairing, and the available JBL® Premium Audio system transforms every drive into a rolling concert. Driver-assistance systems include Toyota Safety Sense™ 3.0, Traffic Jam Assist and Advanced Park, allowing hands-free parking with the press of a button. Visibility is boosted with the Panoramic View Monitor, while Blind Spot Monitor, Lane Change Assist and Front Cross-Traffic Alert support confident maneuvers in busy traffic. Comfort hasn't been overlooked. Inside the Crown, climate controls include heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel and an available panoramic roof. A Qi wireless charging pad in the center console keeps devices powered on the go. Ammaar's Toyota Vacaville invites shoppers in Vacaville and surrounding areas to explore this dynamic, tech-savvy hybrid sedan at 500 Orange Dr. Vacaville, CA 95687. Prospective buyers can also call 707-446-7000 for further assistance. Media Contact: Gul Parpia, 707-446-7000, gparpia@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Ammaar's Toyota Vacaville Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Exclusive-Chinese consumer complaints show widespread padding of car sales figures
(Reuters) -A tactic used by Chinese automakers and dealers to inflate car sales has grown increasingly common in recent years in response to a bruising price war in the world's largest auto market, a Reuters analysis of consumer complaints has found. Earlier this month, Reuters reported EV brands Neta and Zeekr had arranged for cars to be insured before buyers purchased them, a scheme that effectively inflates sales numbers and gives the appearance the companies were hitting periodic targets. But the controversial tactic was not limited to the two companies and was employed elsewhere in the industry, according to a Reuters review of 97 separate consumer complaints published on three widely used Chinese websites. In more than a dozen cases, buyers said they were informed by dealerships that the practice was specifically designed to meet sales targets. The allegations cover some of China's largest domestic and foreign brands by sales volume, including homegrown champion BYD and Toyota, Volkswagen and Buick. The three foreign brands operate their China businesses in partnerships with state-owned giants GAC and SAIC Motor Group. While the earliest complaints date back to 2021, the majority were published this year and last as a price war squeezed an industry crucial to China's export-driven economy. Reuters reviewed complaints posted on a third-party site used for consumer dispute resolutions, and two other similar sites. The platforms require owners to verify their identity and submit proof of their allegations. In most of the cases reviewed, the automakers responded publicly, saying they sought to resolve problems. Reuters was not able to independently verify the complaints or their resolutions. It is not clear what portion of China's car sales were inflated by the insurance scheme. SAIC, which is a China joint venture partner for Volkswagen and Buick-owner General Motors, said it is committed to providing users with high-quality and standardised sales services but did not elaborate. The practice effectively disguises how much inventory automakers actually held, said Yale Zhang, managing director at consultancy Automotive Foresight. "That could lead to a misjudgment of monthly demand within the industry and result in increased production scheduling," Zhang said. CONSUMER ANGER Between 2021 and 2025, 48 separate buyers said on that they purchased new cars only to later discover they were already insured by the dealer. Many of the buyers said they felt deceived by the dealerships, especially when they realised the insurance on their cars was registered in other names. Likewise, there were 26 separate complaints published between 2021 and 2025 on the 315 auto consumer complaint platform, run by the state-owned China Internet Information Center. Another 23 were posted between 2022 and 2025 on Black Cat, a widely used consumer complaint platform run by tech firm Sina. In 14 complaints on the three platforms, buyers of BYD-, Neta-, Toyota-, Buick- and Chevrolet-branded cars said they were told by dealers the practice was aimed at booking sales early to meet targets. One complaint, filed in December against a SAIC GM dealer on alleged the automaker required 60 cars to be insured without buyers to meet sales targets. Another complaint on filed in April alleged a BYD store in Shaanxi told a buyer it had 12 cars insured in a batch to inflate sales last July. Buyers of Li Auto, Changan, FAW-Volkswagen and Geely also reported cars being insured pre-purchase. A Volkswagen Group China spokesperson said it refused to boost sales figures through insurance and that complaints would be investigated. DEALER COMPLAINTS Separately, Reuters identified 29 official media reports from 2020 to 2025 that detailed complaints against dealers of major brands, including BYD and Changan and foreign brands Volkswagen, GM, Toyota, Nissan and Honda, run by their joint ventures with state-owned Chinese automakers. The media outlets, across 15 provinces and cities, are controlled and owned by the regional governments. In nine cases, dealers representing FAW Hongqi, SAIC Roewe, SAIC VW, Dongfeng Nissan, GAC Toyota, GAC Honda and SAIC GM told official media that insuring unsold vehicles was for booking purchases early to meet sales targets. A Honda spokesperson said that GAC Honda prohibits dealers from taking out compulsory insurance before selling new cars and that any dealers found doing so would be dealt with severely. FAW Hongqi said it does not use insurance plans to pre-confirm sales and any such activity was not official company action. GM China said it does not require wholesale vehicles to be insured pre-purchase and that it counts deliveries, not insurance, in its sales reports. BYD, GAC Toyota, Geely, Changan, Nissan and Li Auto did not respond to requests for comment. Reuters also identified five articles published by Chinese courts between March 2023 and March 2025 about consumers taking dealers to court for concealing pre-purchase car insurance. In three of those, the court ruled for the buyers who demanded compensation. Verdicts for the other two were not publicised. 'ZERO MILEAGE' Vehicles booked as sold before reaching buyers are called "zero-mileage used cars" in China. The practice emerged out of the cut-throat competition as the market deals with a years-long price war caused by chronic overcapacity. More than 100 car brands are competing intensely to survive consolidation, deepening pressure to bolster sales and take market share. Analysts and investors that track the industry use two sets of data. Wholesale figures reported by automakers to the industry association show sales from automakers to dealers, while retail data compiled from mandatory traffic insurance registrations show the number of sales to users. Accusations of selling cars with existing insurance policies date back to 2016 when a Cadillac buyer told a regional radio programme he found the car was insured before his purchase. The practice appears to have picked up after the price war started in early 2023, when several brands led by Li Auto started posting weekly sales rankings on social media based on insurance registrations. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers has criticised such postings as unreliable and this month blamed them for intensifying "vicious" competition.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Exclusive-Chinese consumer complaints show widespread padding of car sales figures
(Reuters) -A tactic used by Chinese automakers and dealers to inflate car sales has grown increasingly common in recent years in response to a bruising price war in the world's largest auto market, a Reuters analysis of consumer complaints has found. Earlier this month, Reuters reported EV brands Neta and Zeekr had arranged for cars to be insured before buyers purchased them, a scheme that effectively inflates sales numbers and gives the appearance the companies were hitting periodic targets. Switch Auto Insurance and Save Today! Great Rates and Award-Winning Service The Insurance Savings You Expect Affordable Auto Insurance, Customized for You But the controversial tactic was not limited to the two companies and was employed elsewhere in the industry, according to a Reuters review of 97 separate consumer complaints published on three widely used Chinese websites. In more than a dozen cases, buyers said they were informed by dealerships that the practice was specifically designed to meet sales targets. The allegations cover some of China's largest domestic and foreign brands by sales volume, including homegrown champion BYD and Toyota, Volkswagen and Buick. The three foreign brands operate their China businesses in partnerships with state-owned giants GAC and SAIC Motor Group. While the earliest complaints date back to 2021, the majority were published this year and last as a price war squeezed an industry crucial to China's export-driven economy. Reuters reviewed complaints posted on a third-party site used for consumer dispute resolutions, and two other similar sites. The platforms require owners to verify their identity and submit proof of their allegations. In most of the cases reviewed, the automakers responded publicly, saying they sought to resolve problems. Reuters was not able to independently verify the complaints or their resolutions. It is not clear what portion of China's car sales were inflated by the insurance scheme. SAIC, which is a China joint venture partner for Volkswagen and Buick-owner General Motors, said it is committed to providing users with high-quality and standardised sales services but did not elaborate. The practice effectively disguises how much inventory automakers actually held, said Yale Zhang, managing director at consultancy Automotive Foresight. "That could lead to a misjudgment of monthly demand within the industry and result in increased production scheduling," Zhang said. CONSUMER ANGER Between 2021 and 2025, 48 separate buyers said on that they purchased new cars only to later discover they were already insured by the dealer. Many of the buyers said they felt deceived by the dealerships, especially when they realised the insurance on their cars was registered in other names. Likewise, there were 26 separate complaints published between 2021 and 2025 on the 315 auto consumer complaint platform, run by the state-owned China Internet Information Center. Another 23 were posted between 2022 and 2025 on Black Cat, a widely used consumer complaint platform run by tech firm Sina. In 14 complaints on the three platforms, buyers of BYD-, Neta-, Toyota-, Buick- and Chevrolet-branded cars said they were told by dealers the practice was aimed at booking sales early to meet targets. One complaint, filed in December against a SAIC GM dealer on alleged the automaker required 60 cars to be insured without buyers to meet sales targets. Another complaint on filed in April alleged a BYD store in Shaanxi told a buyer it had 12 cars insured in a batch to inflate sales last July. Buyers of Li Auto, Changan, FAW-Volkswagen and Geely also reported cars being insured pre-purchase. A Volkswagen Group China spokesperson said it refused to boost sales figures through insurance and that complaints would be investigated. DEALER COMPLAINTS Separately, Reuters identified 29 official media reports from 2020 to 2025 that detailed complaints against dealers of major brands, including BYD and Changan and foreign brands Volkswagen, GM, Toyota, Nissan and Honda, run by their joint ventures with state-owned Chinese automakers. The media outlets, across 15 provinces and cities, are controlled and owned by the regional governments. In nine cases, dealers representing FAW Hongqi, SAIC Roewe, SAIC VW, Dongfeng Nissan, GAC Toyota, GAC Honda and SAIC GM told official media that insuring unsold vehicles was for booking purchases early to meet sales targets. A Honda spokesperson said that GAC Honda prohibits dealers from taking out compulsory insurance before selling new cars and that any dealers found doing so would be dealt with severely. FAW Hongqi said it does not use insurance plans to pre-confirm sales and any such activity was not official company action. GM China said it does not require wholesale vehicles to be insured pre-purchase and that it counts deliveries, not insurance, in its sales reports. BYD, GAC Toyota, Geely, Changan, Nissan and Li Auto did not respond to requests for comment. Reuters also identified five articles published by Chinese courts between March 2023 and March 2025 about consumers taking dealers to court for concealing pre-purchase car insurance. In three of those, the court ruled for the buyers who demanded compensation. Verdicts for the other two were not publicised. 'ZERO MILEAGE' Vehicles booked as sold before reaching buyers are called "zero-mileage used cars" in China. The practice emerged out of the cut-throat competition as the market deals with a years-long price war caused by chronic overcapacity. More than 100 car brands are competing intensely to survive consolidation, deepening pressure to bolster sales and take market share. Analysts and investors that track the industry use two sets of data. Wholesale figures reported by automakers to the industry association show sales from automakers to dealers, while retail data compiled from mandatory traffic insurance registrations show the number of sales to users. Accusations of selling cars with existing insurance policies date back to 2016 when a Cadillac buyer told a regional radio programme he found the car was insured before his purchase. The practice appears to have picked up after the price war started in early 2023, when several brands led by Li Auto started posting weekly sales rankings on social media based on insurance registrations. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers has criticised such postings as unreliable and this month blamed them for intensifying "vicious" competition. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
