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With the introduction of the all-new Tundra in 2007 there was no doubt that Toyota had, with apologies to Emeril Lagasse, kicked it up a notch and became a serious player in the full-size pickup market. With a philosophy of making a good thing better, Toyota added the Double Cab and Crew Max trims in 2008. I had an opportunity to spend a week in a 4X4 Crew Max and I'm here to tell you, this is one serious truck.
I'm quick to point out that I'm not your typical truck guy and in truth, I wasn't really looking forward to "herding" a big truck around town but I have to say, once behind the wheel, my opinion changed in a hurry. Now, that said, I still prefer something with a bit more of, shall we say a fun quotient, than a pickup but the 5.7 liter V8 i-Force engine with 381 horsepower 401 lb-ft of torque makes the Tundra one of the fastest full-size pickups I've ever driven, ergo I acknowledge that there is indeed an element of fun quotient to enjoy.
Outfitters and guides, with their special needs for hauling customers, gear, trailers, horses and the like, will find the Tundra to be the solution for their needs. In fact, taking customers to the water or to base camp is almost like a limousine experience. The rear passenger seats recline and a 9-inch DVD player swings down and can play hunting or fishing videos. The wireless headphones add to the creature comforts of this amazing truck.
With a GVWR of 7,000 lbs. and a towing capacity of 10,400 lbs., the Tundra is a hefty truck, and I was very pleasantly surprised at how well the big truck rode and handled unloaded, because I was sure the ride would be noticeably rigid, but it was actually very smooth. The brake pedal had great feel with very even action and the Electronic Brake Distribution really helped bring the Tundra to a smooth secure stop.
Getting in and out of the Crew Max really requires a step rail unless you're a heck of a lot taller than I am, but once inside you'll find a very functional, albeit far from Spartan, interior. One of the first things I noticed was the size of the controls. They were large and easy to understand and use. According to Toyota, that was done because so many truck owners wear gloves while driving and they wanted the controls to be easy to operate without having to take the gloves off. The back seat area is almost as roomy as a full size sedan, with plenty of leg and headroom, and the Crew Max doors open wide for easy entry and exit. The center console is more of a desk than a console with plenty of storage space and even a place for hanging files and computer storage.
All of that is fine and good, but since I'm not the outdoorsy type, I asked some of my more "manly" friends to ride with me and tell me their thoughts on the Tundra. Bottom line was that to a man, and one woman by the way, they were all impressed with the thought that had gone into developing the Tundra, and specifically the Crew Max. They appreciated the large outside extendable towing mirrors, gauges that were very easy to read and the aforementioned controls. The backup camera was a huge success making hitching up trailers easy even for a citified boy like me. And they also liked the Obstacle Detection System which really helps navigating the big truck in tight spaces. Another hit was the tailgate's Assisted Hinge System that makes opening and closing the tailgate very easy, and the tailgate is also easy to remove if you so desire.
So, if you actually need a big brawny truck with comfort and proven durability, (and what outfitter or guide doesn't?) the Tundra Crew Max may be just what you're looking for. Check one out; I think you'll be surprised. I know I was.
For more reviews, go to twofortheroadusa.com.
The FJ Cruiser employs the same state-of-the-art comfort, power, economy, safety, emissions and convenience technology available in other Toyota vehicles. It provides optimized off-road capabilities, value and styling clues reminiscent of Toyota's famed FJ40 4x4 utility vehicle, sold in the U.S. from 1960 to 1983. The FJ40, which during its production life served around the world as the safari and expedition vehicle of choice, remains a desirable and collectable off-road vehicle.
Chassis & Suspension
The FJ Cruiser's frame is a boxed steel ladder-braced unit to which is mounted the FJ Cruiser's welded steel body. Independent front suspension, which offers a generous 7.87" of wheel travel for outstanding suspension articulation, is via double wishbones, the geometry of which is adapted for superior road feel and ride comfort. Tubular shock absorbers and an anti-sway bar also are employed.
A solid rear axle using a four-link coil-spring suspension system with a lateral rod, tubular shock absorbers and an anti-sway bar is employed. This provides 9.1" of wheel travel. The disc-brake system uses ventilated 12.6"/front and 12.3"/rear rotors.
With the FJ Cruiser's standard tires, ground clearance is a healthy 9.6". Approach and departure angles are 34 degrees/30 degrees. Maximum towing capacity with the optional Class Four receiver hitch is 5,000 pounds.
Engine & Transmissions
The FJ Cruiser is powered by a 4.0L V6 engine, a 24-valve, double-overhead-cam unit that produces 239 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. The EPA lists the FJ Cruiser's city/highway fuel-economy ratings at 15/19 mpg (4x4 auto) when using the new fuel economy standards.
A choice between an electronically shifted 5-speed automatic transmission and a 6-speed manual transmission is available for 4x4 models of the FJ Cruiser.
Comfort & Interior
The FJ Cruiser's interior features control knobs that are large enough to provide an easy grip, even when wearing gloves, and switches for critical functions, including HVAC, audio controls and the optional locking rear differential, are mounted in the center dash panel within easy reach of the driver.
Because the FJ Cruiser is optimized for dusty, muddy driving environments, easy cleaning and maintenance are important elements of its interior. Seating materials are not only water-repellant, but also provide excellent ventilation. Also as an aid to easy cleaning, the FJ Cruiser's floor surfaces are covered with an attractive gray rubber-like material.
Design & Styling
Design features that hint at the FJ Cruiser's heritage are its front grille, which ties its two round headlights together in much the same way the FJ40's headlights and grille were integrated; its hood and fender contours; and a rear-mounted and exposed full-size spare tire with an off-center license-plate-mounting location. Additionally, the FJ Cruiser employs a white roof cap and wrap-around rear side windows, which were FJ40 signatures.
Safety
As with all other Toyota SUVs, the FJ Cruiser is equipped with Toyota's Star Safety System. This includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), an Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist.
Toyota's engineers go out of their way to make their cars and trucks as fuel-efficient as they can possibly make them. But the one thing over which they have no control is how efficiently the vehicles are driven. This is critical, because the way you drive can have a huge impact on the fuel economy your vehicle obtains. Just ask any hypermiler.
You may have heard the term hypermile. It's used to define a driving strategy for getting the greatest distance out of every gallon of fuel in a vehicle's fuel tank – and maybe even exceed the vehicle's EPA fuel-economy estimates.
Hypermilers have been known to take drastic measures to stretch the fuel economy of their vehicles. For starters, they lighten their vehicles as much as possible, tossing out tools, spare tires, even passenger seats. They might inflate tires to pressures beyond the manufacturer's recommended limits. They'll drive with their vehicle's windows closed to optimize aerodynamic efficiency and they'll turn the air conditioning off. They'll shut their vehicles' engines off when stopped in traffic, rather than let them idle. And they'll keep speeds down – way down.
Speed, in fact, is a good place in which to start your search for better economy. Aerodynamic drag, a by-product of speed, costs fuel to overcome. The amount of drag your vehicle generates is not linear – it does not increase at the same rate as your vehicle's speed does. Instead, drag is more or less proportional to the square of speed. It increases exponentially. So when you drive a little faster, you burn considerably more fuel.
The first rule of the day: If you'd like to spend a little less on gasoline, then slow down. Whatever your favorite cruising speed is, back it down a bit.
Second rule of the day: Once you're out on the highway at cruising speed and traffic permits, use your vehicle's cruise control. You'll burn less fuel if you do.
Third rule of the day: Check the inflation of your vehicle's tires. Now, this one's a little tricky. Under-inflation can greatly increase a tire's rolling resistance, and that will cost you gas. Over-inflation generally tends to reduce a tire's rolling resistance, but it also tends to concentrate the load on the tire on its center, which can lead to premature wear. Your best shot is to increase inflation to the maximum recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer, then adjust pressures as needed to obtain even wear across the width of the tire. If you save gas at the expense of tire wear, what have you really gained?
Fourth rule of the day: Slow down for hills. Maintaining your speed up a hill means opening your vehicle's throttle. A larger throttle opening means burning more gas. So you might want to think about backing down by a few miles per hour – even five or 10 – for climbs.
Don't accelerate until you get to the very top of any hill you climb this way. In fact, if there's a downgrade at the top of the hill, use that downgrade to help you increase your speed – let gravity help you to better fuel economy.
Fifth rule of the day: Connect your vehicle's gas pedal to your brain. Every time you accelerate, think, "That just cost me some gas." Do that, and you'll soon rethink this business of acceleration. You'll start accelerating only when you have to, and only as much as you need to.
Sixth rule of the day: When it's time to slow down or stop, get off of the gas as soon as you can. If you have to climb onto the brakes, that could mean that you've stayed on the gas longer than you needed to. Use your brakes when you need to, but allow aerodynamic drag, rolling resistance and all the other forces working on your vehicle help you slow down.
While you're trying these steps, do keep your vehicle's windows rolled up – lowering the windows greatly increases the aerodynamic turbulence around your car, and thus increases the drag. To stay comfortable, use your vehicle's air conditioning. It's the lesser of the two evils. And resist the urge to tow or to use a roof rack or a rooftop container for extra gear. These have extremely negative effects on your vehicle's fuel efficiency.
Even if you don't go to the extreme measures some hypermilers use, keep close track of your vehicle's fuel economy. For more useful vehicle and driving tips, visit Toyota's Open Road blog at blogs.toyota.com. RSS and email subscriptions are also available.
Seems to us that there are few things more tightly woven into the fabric of America than strapping the kids into the car and heading out to enjoy a few days and nights camping in one of our national parks.
Those parks are rightly seen as part of the national heritage, part of every American's birthright. They represent, for all of us, adventure, renewal and the inexorable allure of nature at its very best.
But they're something else, as well. Our parks also represent a unique opportunity to provide training for the next generation of environmental leaders. With that in mind, in a program known as Leadership in Environmental Awareness for the Future, or LEAF, Toyota recently announced a $5 million donation that will help support environmental leadership and educational programs at five national parks around the country. Toyota will also donate 23 vehicles for use in the parks.
This grant will support environmental education programs at:
• Everglades National Park and the South Florida National Parks Trust
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park through the Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Yellowstone National Park through the Yellowstone Park Foundation
• Yosemite National Park through the Yosemite Fund
• Grand Canyon through the Grand Canyon National Park Foundation
• Other parks through the National Park Foundation
These parks were selected because of their educational programs serving children and teachers. Programs include day-use and camp scholarships for inner-city and Native American communities; bilingual Junior Ranger programs; and the University of California intern program, which is designed to cultivate new leadership for the National Park Service.
So the next time you're roasting marshmallows over a campfire in Yosemite or maybe peering into the Grand Canyon's chasm, spare a thought for our nation's historic heritage of preservation and stewardship. And spare a thought, also, for the need to perpetuate these parks through the stewardship and training of environmental leaders and teachers.
If you've got favorite park memories, take a moment to share them with Toyota at blogs.toyota.com.
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