MotorTrend Year-Long TRD PRO review

I’m curious your thoughts on this year-long review from MotorTrend. As a journalist and a truck guy, I have thoughts that I’ll keep to myself. This is more of a “do you have the same critics I have” kind of post. Thoughts?

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2023-toyota-tundra-trd-pro-yearlong-review-verdict/

 

Just finished reading it and the only thing I agree with is the turning radius is much worse than the last gen. Suspension has been awesome in my 7k + miles so far and tires still looking decent, although don't really expect much with bulk supplied OEM specials treads.

 

Some of these reports I have to just shake my head... tires wearing out in 9000 miles? Are you kidding me? While OEM treads are never the best my 18,000 mile old OEM Michelin Trails look new, so just WTF are these guys doing with and to their tires? Maybe they are autocrossing and doing road and drag race track days.

 

I think that article is all over the place. The author bought an off road truck, compared to a Raptor, and then trashed it for things it wasn't built for.

I do think that some of their issues are warranted. I've never considered C&D or Road and Track as credible sources for truck information. As a matter of fact, I go to TFL and @testerdahl if I want to learn about how a truck actually performs for my uses.

As far as I'm concerned, I haven't read a C&D review in a long time and I don't see myself starting anytime soon. If I wanted a BMW X5, maybe I'd read them?

 

Known issue Toyota resolved for free: https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2024/03/2022-2023-toyota-tundra-trd-pro-tires-replaced-for-free/

 

I will say that I do dislike how an automotive journalist has to make money today via video. I miss the days of the written text b/c I could spend far less time reading the text vs having to listen to the video.

Its not a dig on you Tim. Nobody buys text in paper or digital form, so you're stuck with Youtube for income. I just know that I can consume a lot more data in a given amount of time via reading than listening to a video.

 

I wish I could just write. Soooo much easier than doing video. I’d just go broke.

Here’s some backstory. About two decades ago, a freelance article for the one of the big mags was $2000. Then, about a decade later it was $500. Then, it dropped to $150. Considering inflation increases, there’s just zero chance of making a decent living doing this kind of freelance work anymore unless you are writing AND selling a dozen articles a day.

 

The issue with automotive articles such as these are that they are always trying to push the envelope and ask for more in these trucks. While on the surface that sounds great, but every time auto makers add these features to vehicles, the price goes up substantially.

For example, the 2021 Toyota Tundra was reviewed and every article and YouTube video had nothing positive to say about the truck because it was too old. But in retrospect, it was affordable and it did everything a truck was supposed to do. However, no article was satisfied with that status quo because it doesn't "pay the bills", it wasn't fancy and it didn't bring in views because it was an old design but looking back at that truck, it was better in every way when compared to the big 3 trucks.

Fast forward, we now have trucks with suspect reliability and the auto reporting still isn't satisfied. I doubt any truck offering from Toyota would get a good review.

 

I’d say that’s a very fair criticism. When you are constantly driving the newest thing with the fanciest interiors, it’s hard to stay grounded and in reality to what prospective buyers are seeing. That’s a big part of the reason I try to read many comments from viewers about how they see the market. It’s easy to live in a bubble.

 

While I own a 1794, I did really appreciate journalists who purchase trim levels that are not the halo model, but what most people buy.

One of these days, I'll even take that advice and buy a more affordable trim

 

Interesting article. Without even trying, I just got 16.8mpg on my 5pm commute home yesterday in my v8 truck designed in 2006 that I put LT285/75R18s (skinny 35s) on.

A lot of us 2nd genners had VERY high hopes for the 3rd gen. We remember when the 2nd gen debuted way out in front of the pack. It is SUCH a great truck. Ultra dependable first and foremost, which historically to most Toyota buyers is criterion #1. Yes it’s inefficient, and yes it was the same for 15 years (8 if you count the mid-gen refresh). But it just worked. It earned the reputation of never getting tired. Rather it was the owner who got tired of it. Nothing breaks down, so you’d just trade it in just to shake things up. It’s “it just works”-ness is legendary.

Being insanely dependable at and above its stated ratings isn’t enough for the auto journalist crowd. There was nothing new and exciting to talk about that gives the publication clicks and views. So they would just trash the old Tundra. It’s boring. Old. Poor fuel economy. Outdated interior. (Who the heck buys a truck for the interior?!)

Having spent a bit of time in the 3rd gen, I agree with the article’s criticisms. Bottom line for me: the article reinforced that for a lot of us here, the old Tundra is just a better truck. Simple, does the job a half-ton is supposed to do, and will do it literally forever.

 

My perspective, most written/videos are for a targeted audience, typically who will provide the most clicks. In my case, my primary use is to tow the car to the track, tow the boat to the ramp. After that, it's a family truckster. It will not see offroad unless required, it will see heavy snow and it does not go to Starbucks.

Interior is very important. Towing stability is important. Long term reliability is mega important. I may be unique or common, I don't care as it's what's important to me. And yes, I'm disappointed in the engine recall, knowingly accepted the new generation risk as I could not justify few K less for a '21.

That typed, most articles/videos do not address my towing/family truckster needs. At this point, the first minute or two of a vid determines if I stop of move to the last minute. This article was a quick scan with the only aspect I relate to is the school bus turning radius.

 

So, I literally clicked on the link to read the article and the first picture of the a big red truck is a... TACOMA...?? Already failed.

 

Most reviews for Toyota IMO are very harsh. My thoughts

1. Turning radius is large, no doubt. Not going to like this next comment, but driver skills overcome the large turning radius with setting up your turns.
2. No issues with the suspension. Think it's a good balance
3. Agree, OEM Falken tire plain suck.
4. Interior is fine. AC works great and most important wife likes taking long trips.
5. MPG could be better..........a ten speed auto where you only see 10th gear at 80MPH. Little gearing adjustment would go a long way with MPG and seeing 10th gear say at 75MPH.

Is my TRD Pro Tundra as good as my former 2017 4Runner TRD Pro? The 4Runner was on off road beast for sure, but the Tundra is a better match for me

 

I drive like an old man, mainly because I am, I'm in my 50s. I just installed a lift and new wheels and tires yesterday. I had 4/32 of tread left on my stock tires when they took them off. OEM tires are built to be cheap, less tread, lighter for gas mileage purposes, and not anything like what you buy at the tire shop. My wife had an Explorer in 2017 and those stocks lasted 14K before I had to replace them. OEM tires suck, and they suck on purpose, because the auto manufacturer only cares about cost, while the tire manufacturer is the one getting the bad press from making a crappy tire.

 

Lifes too short for unheated cloth seats

 

If they still offered heated cloth seats I’d be all for it

 

My new thought after getting my Tundra is that life is too short to live without a heated steering wheel! Not that it matters so much today when it will be 100 degrees here.

 

I don’t have a Pro, have a SR5.

Design, I agree it’s an amazing look. I have Army Green, and maybe not as much as Solar Octane, people are always commenting on its color and looks. They hit it out of the park. Plenty of folks don’t like it here on the ole interwebs , and they are not afraid to tell us lol, but all that means is that your doing something right. In real life the reactions are much different.

Engine/Transmission, great pairing. I have the mid selection, no hybrid but not detuned SR. Wonderful engineering here. Tows great, hauls ass.

Economy- I just don’t get how the mileage could be that bad. I regularly get over 20 all the time. I don’t spend time idling or in bad traffic very much, and I have a nice mix of highway and rural driving that might make the difference. I am not sure, but I average right what they said I would, 19.

My suspension of fine. The stock tires were pretty horrible (and I bitched about them right here on these pages), but I squeezed about 38k out of them. Changing them at 9k to means they had a bad alignment, had the alignment fixed and then got a new set of tires for free (this was a known issue on the PRO models), but ended up with the same crappy OEM tires, and then they upgraded. This could have been communicated better.

My gripes are wind noise mainly. Turning radius is pretty large, but it’s made me a better driver, and much better at backing in parking spaces and parallel parking as well. It is pretty huge though.

I also feel I like it should have come with a bed step automatically.

I would have no problems getting another one, and I would get the hybrid if money was no object.

 

Thing about cloth is, it’s never too hot or too cold.

Leather, on the other hand…life is too short for leather that isn’t both heated and cooled.

 

For the record, that crap happens on my website too. Drives me nuts. It is something to do with how Google sees the page and remembers it. I'm constantly fighting it.

 

I think Ford does.

 

The review is mainly TRD Pro specific with "Raptor is better" drumbeat. Which it maybe but for the good % of possers driving the Baja trucks to Lowe's not sure any of the main debits other than turning ratio really matter.

 

First Pic is a Tundra, second pic below it is the Tacoma.

 

Purchased my 23 Pro in April and had to replace the factory tires November, 4 months before the replacement campaign was announced. Submitted a claim 3 weeks ago and just received a denial letter from Brand Engagement stating the tires I purchased weren’t a component covered under the service campaign. WTF?

 

I stopped reading Motortrend and C&D reviews after both rags raved about the 2013 BMW X5, so we bought my wife one. The engine seized at 87K miles after being religiously maintained by the BMW dealership. Sound familiar? The dealership wanted $3500 just to diagnose the problem. After a long attempt to negotiate a suitable solution, we finally gave up and accepted their $2300 offer for the car. That one stung a little.

I consider Motortrend and C&D shills for the highest bidder.