EDIT: I TOOK THE PLUNGE! So I test drove a ‘25 Limited…

So… I test drove a brand new 2025 Tundra Limited with Nightshade package. Beautiful truck. But not sure how I feel about it to be honest. It literally had 1 mile on the odometer.
My immediate concerns:
1. Burning smell- I assumed this was something burning off the exhaust after it warmed up, but it was a little concerning. Not enough to really scare me away though..
2. I punched it at a light and smoke poured out of the tailpipe! WTF! Is this normal? I literally could not justify being worried about that while driving off the lot if I had purchased it
3. Wind noise in the cabin going 60MPH was far noisier than my 2021 Nissan Titan Platinum

I’ve always believed in naturally aspirated engines being the way to go as they have less moving parts, and less maintenance overall. Not sure how I feel about this powertrain yet.

Definitely hesitant on pulling the trigger, idk if Toyota has their shit together with this new Gen yet…

May wait and try out a 2026 refresh…

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/2025-crewmax-limited-should-i-pull-the-trigger.155495/

 

Why did you post a link to my own thread? Lol… I hadn’t test drove it when I wrote that…

 

I think his point was you could have just updated your other thread, instead of starting a new thread.

FYI, the burning smell is absolutely normal for a brand new engine. Are you sure it was smoke or condensation you saw? If it was actually dark smoke, that would concern me.

The bottom line is, you didn't have a good test drive experience. So, don't buy the truck.

 

Complete doubt it was smoke. When its cold and you get on the gas a ton of condensation comes out the exhaust. It is a very high flow exhaust system to accommodate the turbos. Note the size of the exhaust pipe! I highly doubt it was smoke.

 

1 mile on it? Come on, it's a brand new truck, sure it will smell a bit while things heat up & burn off. Smoke from tail pipe? I'd say condensation or again, newness burning off. Just keep your Titan & be happy then.

 

Apologies, I guess I’m used to reading forums and not really posting in them, so still getting used to the etiquette

what about the wind noise on your 3rd gen’s? My Titan is super quiet. Do the higher trims over the limited come with added insulation?

 

My 23 Limited TRD OR is quiet. Maybe take another one out for a test drive and see if it's the same.

 

Same for my '24 same trim, no wind noise. I don't believe it's trim specific as SOME upper trim owners have noted it as well. It's not an across the board problem.
Same advice. Go for another test drive.
If you still don't get any warm fuzzies, don't buy one.

 

I like it- thanks Fam. Going to check a different dealer tomorrow.

 

You should buy something else.

 

My 2024 is more quiet than the 2018 was.

 

I’ve read that some have traced the wind noise to the door seal. They added 3M tape behind the seal in spots to thicken it between the body and door and it reduced wind noise. Maybe the one I drove had this issue, it almost seemed like a window was cracked but I checked and they all were closed. I’ll drive another one. It’s also windy as heck in my area today, but my current car was much quieter driving to and from the dealer

 

How many opinions do you need? Seems your extremely skeptical, the truck isn’t for you and that’s ok too.

 

I purchased a 2025 limited 4x4 in late November and have been extremely happy with the Tundra. Smell is normal for a new truck and dissipates in a couple hundred miles. Mine is also very quiet, more so than my previous Sequoia Platinum, even with BFG KO3 tires. I’d recommend test driving another one and see if you have a similar experience.

 

I think I’m going to- in talks with another dealer. Appreciate the advice

 

So, I went to another dealer and drove another tundra which did not have the dreaded wind noise, and I took the plunge and bought it! 2025 Tundra Limited with TRD Off Road package and a slew of other options. Got a heck of a deal on it. She’s a beaut and drives like a dream. Let the honeymoon phase and accessories frenzy begin!

 

Sweet… love that color and especially with the blacked out badging and wheels

 

Totally agree, saw it and was like damn that’s a vibe right there. All black on the dark blue it’s slick.

 

Careful with washing....it's a swirl and scratch magnet. Congrats!

 

Congrats!
<----You have good taste sir.

 

Mine had a burning smell for the first two weeks.

 

Yeah it has the burning smell but it’s not bad, seems to be going away. It also blew some smoke from the tail pipe when I stepped on it but hasn’t done it since. For those insistent it’s condensation- it most definitely was not

 

The burning smell is a preservative put on the exhaust to prevent rust because they don't now how long or what region it may reside in before it sells.

It's similar or maybe the same preservative that goes on heat exchanges for furnaces.

Congrats on the new Rig man, Blueprint is a bad ass color and with the blacked out badges even better.

 

I am a road noise Nazi during test drives due to hyper acousity from hearing damage. One thing I have learned is check the tire pressures always because all vehicles particularly lot queens can have very random tire pressures. And always check which model tire is on a vehicle because some tire companies just make loud tires.

 

Congrats OP. That's a beautiful truck. Owned mine since 6/24 and still in the honeymoon every time I get to drive it

 

I’ve only had it for a short period but there is nothing about it I don’t love. I’ll report back after she gets some miles on her but it’s a well made great driving truck. Not sure where all the hate comes from- it seems like Toyota made a great product in the tundra. Miles ahead of the Titan I drove previously and the F150 I came from before that

 

My experience as well.

 

Same, a year and a half in, not one complaint.