First Look Review: The 2024 Toyota Tundra Hybrid is a complete truck

The third generation of the Toyota Tundra, introduced in September 2021, is the first to be available as a hybrid. Toyota’s full-size truck has just received its second update to become a 2024 model in the U.S. market. Recently, I got a chance to experience the 2024 Toyota Tundra Hybrid in the rugged TRD Pro grade, finished in the new ‘Terra’ color. I spent some time exploring the exterior and interior of the new hybrid pickup truck in detail. Here are my first impressions:

Design

The 2024 Toyota Tundra Hybrid retains the tough exterior introduced in September 2021. I think the powerful exterior unmistakably emphasizes the truck’s strength and robustness. While the gas model is available in Double Cab and CrewMax cab versions, the hybrid model comes only in the latter. Of the 5.5-foot, 6.5-foot, and 8.1-foot bed options, only the two shorter versions are available in the hybrid model.

At the front, I like the hexagonal grille with large honeycomb openings and the sleek, LED headlamps that include a T-shaped LED DRL on the grille’s flanks. Along with the massive grille, I think the muscular hood contributes to the hybrid pickup truck’s powerful appearance.

As compared to the previous generation truck (2021 model year), the sides also carry a whole new look, and the visible improvements are a contemporary greenhouse, beefed-up wheel arches, and more stylish door panels with a slightly deeper recess in the lower section. Looking closely at the wheels, I noted that while the second-gen model had five lug nuts, the third-gen model pictured here had six lug nuts.

At the back, the C-shaped outer edges of the taillights vaguely remind me of the Hyundai Palisade. I observed that the panel gaps in the body of the 2024 Tundra Hybrid were tighter, and the panel alignment was better than the previous-generation truck. The hybrid pickup truck’s paint was also of good quality.

On the 2024 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro

The generational change in 2021 has given the Japanese truck plenty of talking points. The extra-rugged Toyota Tundra TRD Pro has a more dominating front-end with “Toyota” in block lettering, a wide central LED light bar, and three clearance lights. Moreover, the hood has more aggressive styling with black TRD Pro plates.

On the sides, the marker light on the fenders and the rugged tube steps are unique to the TRD Pro variant. This specification includes 18-inch BBS forged wheels (with a red TRD logo and a red ring) wrapped in wider, 285/65 R18 Falken Wildpeak A/T3W tires. In addition to Fox dampers, the 2024 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro sports a TRD-branded front protection plate and anti-roll bar.

The three marker lights positioned above the grille indicate that the third-gen Tundra is no less than 80 inches wide. NHTSA’s regulations require vehicles with a width of 80 inches or more to have front identification lamps to indicate the presence of a wide vehicle.

Modern, tech-laden interior

The interior of the 2024 Toyota Tundra Hybrid, like its exterior, is a carry-over from the previous model. The cabin is quite upmarket and high-tech for a Toyota, and I have no complaints about the way it looks or the functionality. After spending some time in this interior, I feel like this is the perfect balance between the raw, solid look of a truck and the serenity and elegance of a car.

Toyota’s designers in Calty have used a horizontal layout theme and integrated the dashboard and the center console. The design is less cluttered but practical, retaining the physical controls for essential functions like climate control and volume adjustment. I also liked Toyota sticking to conventional buttons to enable/disable AC, heating and ventilation functions, and defoggers and to adjust the temperature and fan speed.

A 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster is available in higher trims, but the lower trims settle for a semi-analog instrument cluster with a 4.2-inch MID. A 10-inch head-up display is also among the optional features.

Another highlight is a massive 14-inch Audio Multimedia touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto compatibility, a virtual assistant that responds to Hey/Hi/Hello/OK Toyota wake-up phrases, and savable profiles.

In addition to being large, the 14-inch central display offers a great viewing angle to the driver because it is much less slanted. I think its user interface is straightforward. Lower trims feature an 8-inch Audio Multimedia touchscreen infotainment system instead.

The 2024 Tundra features a mobile phone holder-cum-charger on the right side of the gearshift lever. The wireless charger adheres to the Qi standard, which means that it supports all the latest Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy smartphones.

A panoramic roof, heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated seats, rear sunshade, and power sliding rear window are some of the main comfort features of the 2024 Tundra. A 360-degree camera system allows parking the large pickup with ease.

The third-gen Tundra has large vertical AC vents instead of the second-gen model’s small circular ones. Unlike the second-gen Tundra, it has a chunky A-pillar driver-side grab handle, which drivers would really appreciate when driving off the road. Toyota has fitted an A-pillar grab handle on the passenger side as well, but that’s not a new feature. The company offers the TRD Pro trim with TRD Pro-branded red or black artificial leather seat covers.

Multi-link rear suspension system

The 2024 Tundra Hybrid has a multi-link rear suspension with coil springs in the interest of ride comfort. The same goes for the Tundra TRD Pro variant, which boasts higher ground clearance with Fox dampers and a red anti-roll bar. A TRD-branded front skid plate is also a part of the TRD Pro variant’s exclusive equipment.

When it entered its third generation, the Toyota Tundra moved on from the TripleTech frame. Previously, it had fully-boxed rails for the front portion, a reinforced C-channel under the cab, and an open C-channel beneath the bed. Now, it has a fully boxed frame, which has brought a significant improvement in rigidity. With a widened rear frame member, the full-size pickup has improved on stability and towing capability aspects.

i-Force Max hybrid system

In my opinion, the biggest advantage of the 2024 Toyota Tundra Hybrid over its rivals is the i-Force Max powertrain. This hybrid system teams up a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 gasoline engine with an electric motor and produces 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission channels the power to the wheels. The hybrid truck has a payload capacity of up to 1,680 lbs. and is able to tow up to 11,450 lbs.

The battery pack storing energy to run the electric motor is a 1.87 kWh Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) unit located under the rear passenger seats. It delivers most of the power at low engine speeds. Once the speed of the pickup increases above 18 mph, the engine constantly remains in operation.

As before, Toyota doesn’t offer a Tundra diesel. The company sees the Tundra Hybrid as being fit for potential diesel customers. Mike Sweers, the Tundra’s executive chief engineer, had told Driving.ca that he loves diesel engines and would have liked the line-up to include one. However, following the Volkswagen Group’s diesel gate scandal, certifying a diesel engine in North America takes three years. Plus, the hybrid engine offers a faster response compared to a diesel engine, Sweers said.

As the 2024 Tundra Hybrid has no mechanical changes from the previous model, it has the same EPA-est. fuel economy. In 2WD, it delivers 20 MPG (city)/24 MPG (highway)/22 MPG (combined) and in 4WD, it returns 19 MPG (city)/22 MPG (highway)/20 MPG (combined).

Manufacturing

Production of the 2024 Toyota Tundra Hybrid takes place at the company’s San Antonio (Texas) plant, which has an annual production capacity of 208,000 vehicles.

Colors

The 2024 Tundra Hybrid is available in a new ‘Terra’ color, but it is exclusive to the TRD Pro grade. The company also offers all the previous (MY2023) color options except for Army Green. Unlike in the old Tundra, Solar Octane is unavailable in the TRD Pro grade but in the Limited grade, as per the online configurator.

While Solar Octane is a bright orange with a dash of pearl, Terra is also an orange but a darker paint. Buyers who find the pop color a bit overwhelming for their rugged truck will be happy with the deeper shade.

The 2024 Toyota Tundra Hybrid is available in the following options:

• Ice Cap
• Wind Chill Pearl
• Lunar Rock
• Magnetic Gray Metallic
• Celestial Silver Metallic
• Midnight Black Metallic
• Supersonic Red
• Blueprint
• Smoked Mesquite
• Solar Octane (Limited-exclusive)
• Terra (TRD Pro exclusive)

Toyota Tundra Capstone

On January 11, 2022, shortly after launching the all-new Tundra, Toyota announced a new Capstone grade that offers more contemporary styling and sits at the top of the range. The Tundra was a MY2022 truck at this time. The range-topping trim has continued through to the 2024 model year.

The Toyota Tundra Capstone flaunts a unique grille featuring a color-keyed outer frame and chrome inner mesh pattern to stand out from other grades. Chrome mirror caps, chrome trim accents, 22-inch chrome wheels, and chrome “TUNDRA” tailgate inserts are also part of its special styling. The driver and passengers can conveniently enter the cabin, thanks to power bed steps.

Inside, the Tundra Capstone features semi-aniline leather-trimmed seats in an exclusive black-and-white color scheme, Dark American walnut wood-grain trim on the center console and passenger-side dashboard, and an illuminated Capstone logo on the dashboard. With acoustic glass used on the front doors, the Capstone grade of the all-new Tundra should offer a quieter ride. No other trim comes with this extra sound-deadening feature.

New options

Nightshade

The 2024 Toyota Tundra Hybrid is available with a new ‘Nightshade’ package for a darkened exterior on the Limited grade. Priced at USD 450, the option pack includes 20-inch matte-black alloy wheels; black overfenders and rear bumpers; gloss-black window molding, door handles, mirror caps, and tailgate handle; and semi-black model name badge and 4×4 badge (if equipped with an optional 4×4 system).

TRD Off-Road

Another new optional package for 2024 is TRD Off-Road. It’s available on the Platinum grade, and only if equipped with an optional 4×4 system, for a price of USD 2,105. It includes a TRD grille, 20-inch exclusive alloy wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, a TRD OFF-ROAD bedside decal, skid plates, and mudguards.

Off-road suspension with Bilstein shocks, electronic rear differential, Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, Downhill Assist Control, and PVM+BSM ORVMs with Multi-Terrain Monitor functionality add to the capabilities of the hybrid pickup truck. Inside, the TRD Off-Road package brings TRD leather shift knob and aluminum sport pedals.

Toyota allows 2024 Tundra Hybrid customers to enjoy more off-road capability with a new optional, factory-fitted 3-inch suspension lift kit as well. However, this option is bundled along with the TRD Off-Road package and offered at a price of USD 6,100.

1794 Limited Edition

The 1794 Limited Edition builds on the 1794 grade and offers a classier interior with unique premium leather designed in collaboration with the Saddleback Leather Company. It comes with a large overnight bag, tool roll, owner’s portfolio, key glove, and a small pouch, all sourced from the same Texas-based leather accessory specialist.

Thanks to upgraded FOX suspension and an off-road-inspired wheel and tire combination, the 2024 Tundra Hybrid 1794 Limited Edition has improved off-road capability as well. Toyota uses 2.5-in.-diameter FOX Internal Bypass shocks with piggyback reservoirs in this grade, and along with these shock absorbers, a 1.1-inch lift gives the special edition model an enhanced stance.

On the outside, a dark chrome grille, body side moldings, blacked-out accents, and a unique stamped tailgate communicate the 2024 Tundra Hybrid 1794 Limited Edition’s exclusivity. Toyota will sell only 1,500 units of this model, and each of them will have an embossed label on the inside stating it’s one of 1,500. The company will offer it in Wind Chill Pearl, Midnight Black Metallic, Blueprint, and Smoked Mesquite colors.

Price

The 2024 Toyota Tundra Hybrid is available in Limited, Platinum, 1794 Edition, TRD Pro, and Capstone trims, priced at USD 57,625, USD 65,705, USD 66,405, USD 72,130, and USD 78,845, respectively. These MSRPs exclude a USD 1,850 DPH fee and all available options.

Sales

The Toyota Tundra Hybrid had its best-ever sales in the U.S. in 2023, recording a 101.9% growth year-over-year. Toyota sold 30,303 units of the Tundra Hybrid in 2023, 15,292 units more than in 2022 (15,011 units.). The Hybrid version accounted for 24% of Tundra sales in 2023 – 125,185 units.

TopElectricSUV says

The 2024 Toyota Tundra Hybrid is a carryover of what was already an impressive full-size pickup. A hybrid system has become a necessity because of rising gas prices. Offering impressive capabilities, premium features, and a decent fuel economy in a wide range of configurations, I think the 2024 Tundra Hybrid continues to be a capable Ford F-150 PowerBoost alternative.

Also See: Hybrid pickup truck: 6 current & 4 future models

2024 Toyota Tundra Hybrid FAQs