EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- The Indiana-made Toyota Tundra is drawing rave reviews in consumer magazines.
The November issue of Consumer Reports magazine rates the Tundra as the best full-size pickup truck on the market, edging out the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-150.Meanwhile, the December issue of Consumers Digest rates the Tundra as one of three "Best Buys" in the pickup category. That top category included the Ford F-Series and the Nissan Frontier.
The Tundra is made at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (TMMI) plant near Evansville. The $700 million plant began producing the Tundra, a new model, in December.
TMMI is undergoing a $500 million expansion that will allow it to build the Sequoia, a new Toyota sport-utility vehicle, which will begin going on sale in September.
The Tundra continues to be Toyota's best new product launch since it introduced the Tercel 20 years ago. Sales for Tundra's first four months reached 22,710.
TMMI spokesman Mike Goss said Consumer Reports was known for its unbiased approach and its extensive tests, and its high rating "just confirms what we hoped," Goss said.
The reporters of Consumer Reports compared the Tundra with the F-150, the Silverado and the Dodge Ram and gave the nod to the Tundra.
"While all these trucks are higher and harder-riding than their two-wheel-drive counterparts, the Tundra does the most things well."
Although smaller, it was a powerful performer and offered a comfortable ride and quiet cabin.
The Tundra, however, received a poor grade for rear-seat comfort.
In Consumers Digest, reporters wrote the Tundra had fixed the chief problems of its predecessor, the T-100. Although they praised the engine and quiet ride, they said the exterior styling was "on the conservative side."
"But as a personal truck that is going to be used for everyday transportation, the Tundra rates as the best in the business," the reporters wrote.