2008 Toyota Tundra Review
Popular Tundra Reviews
From Edmunds.com:
A top choice for a full-size pickup, the 2008 Toyota Tundra gets it right in terms of performance, work ability, road manners and available configurations and equipment.
Pros: A wide range of cab and bed styles, potent 5.7-liter V8, brawny tow ratings, spacious passenger quarters, numerous safety and convenience features.
Cons: Cabin has a lot of hard plastic and a few ergonomic flaws.
From Cars.com:
What We Like: 5.7-liter V-8 performance; Roominess of CrewMax; Tailgate designed to be steady when lowered; Door handles big enough for gloved hands.
What We Don't: High hood restricts visibility.
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2008 Tundra Overview
After making a spectacular splash on the full-size pickup scene in 2007, the Toyota Tundra entered the 2008 model year largely unchanged. 12 months after a full redesign, Toyota engineers decided to make only slight tweaks to the vehicle’s equipment packages and features, which meant that the ‘08 edition of the pickup was very similar to the one that came before it.
Trim Levels
The most significant difference found on the 2008 Toyota Tundra is the fact that the base trim was made available across all three body styles. Previously, the entry-level DX (renamed “Tundra Grade” for 2008) edition of the truck was only available on Regular Cab versions of the pickup, but for 2008 it was expanded to include Double Cab and CrewMax versions of the truck as well. These two body styles provide larger passenger accommodations capable of handling as many as six occupants, depending upon how they are configured, as well as a second set of rear entry-points – with the CrewMax offering full-size doors both front and back. Both the Regular Cab and Double Cab Tundras can be found with either a 6.5-foot short box or an 8 foot long box. The CrewMax comes exclusively with a 5.5-foot bed.
While the Tundra Grade trim might be available for all 2008 Toyota Tundra body styles, the opposite is not true – the Regular Cab still comes exclusively with entry-level features and equipment. These include a split cloth bench seat, a CD player, dual zone air conditioning and basic 18-inch steel wheels. In general, the Tundra Grade trim is intended to provide the essentials for drivers interested in a work rig and fleet buyers.
The next step up is the SR5 trim, and it has been given a few additional goodies to add to its already impressive list of gear. As in 2007, SR5 trim Tundras are provided with a six-speaker CD stereo system – two more than are found in the Tundra Grade trucks – as well as power windows and door locks, cruise control, an adjustable steering column and keyless entry. When ordered on Double Cab or CrewMax body styles the SR5 trim also includes a six-CD changer, power front seats and heated side mirrors (previously only available on CrewMax SR5 models) as well as rear heating ducts. The CrewMax SR5 still enjoys an additional equipment edge on the Double Cab SR5 thanks to the inclusion of a rear sliding window with defroster, rear air conditioning to complement the rear heating system, and a recline feature for backseat passengers.
The Limited trim represents the top tier edition of the 2008 Toyota Tundra, and it includes a number of exterior features – such as tie-downs and bed rails in the cargo box, alloy wheels and self-dimming side mirrors that retract at the push of a button – with an upgraded passenger compartment that offers leather seats, nicer buckets for forward occupants (power adjustable for the driver), automatic climate control and a 10 to 12 speaker JBL sound system (with the CrewMax benefiting from the additional woofers and tweeters). Bluetooth connectivity is also included free of charge.
Aware that these three trim levels might not satisfy everyone’s needs when it came to equipment or accommodations, Toyota also made a number of options and packages available for installation on the 2008 Tundra. High tech gear such as a backup camera and a navigation system represent some of the pricier items that could be specified on the truck, while a memory feature for the driver’s seat and a sunroof also improve the interior’s comfort and convenience. Outside, the truck’s appearance could be upgraded and customized via a monochromatic trim package and the addition of 20-inch wheels. From a practical perspective, the TRD Off-Road package added an extra degree of ruggedness to the Tundra through the application of Bilstein shock absorbers, BFGoodrich trail tires, fog lights and of course skid plate protection for the truck’s undercarriage.
Powertrain Options
Both the Regular Cab and Double Cab versions of the 2008 Toyota Tundra offer a 4.0-liter V6 as their base engine. Generating 236 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, and shifted through a five-speed automatic transmission, this responsive yet thrifty mill bears an EPA fuel mileage rating of 15 miles per gallon in city driving and 19 miles per gallon on the highway when ordered in two-wheel drive form. For those who wanted to balance V8 power with reasonable fuel economy, the 2008 Tundra was also offered with an optional (on the Regular Cab and Double Cab) 4.7-liter, eight-cylinder engine tuned to provide 271 horsepower and 313 lb-ft of torque. Standard on the CrewMax and certain editions of the Double Cab, and matched with the same auto transmission as the six-cylinder engine, this unit drops only a single mile per gallon for each respective measure when compared to the V6.
The undisputed king of the hill when it comes to Toyota Tundra power is the 5.7-liter V8 engine that could be ordered with each and every body style. Its 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque rank it near the top of the full-size truck power pyramid, and Toyota’s VVT-i variable valve timing and advanced engine management enable the motor to return fuel mileage of 14 miles per gallon in stop and go driving and 17 miles per gallon on the highway. Part of this impressive efficiency has to do with the six-speed automatic transmission that comes standard with the large V8.
In terms of towing capacity, predictably the V6 offers the lowest rating – 5,000 lbs – followed by the 4.7-liter V8 (8,500 lbs) and the 5.7-liter, eight-cylinder engine (up to 10,400 lbs).