Car and Driver gave a nice review of the new 4.6L engine in the 2010 Tundra. Basically, C&D likes the engine for what it is – an adequately powerful and efficient V8.
Car and Driver reviews the 2010 Tundra 4.6L V8
The review mentions some nice things about the engine and the Tundra in general too:
- “the mid-grade Tundra motor boasts impressive fuel economy, too—the company estimates up to 15 city/20 highway mpg is possible, which places it among the best base V-8s of its competitors and even better than the Tundra V-6“
- “yet it is perfectly adequate, allowing one to scoot around town with reasonable gusto” [Who says 'gusto' in a car review?]
- “seem rather well-suited to the suh-moooooth operation and Lexus-like quietness of the 4.6. Seriously, you could drive through a library in this thing and not get shushed” [This isn't always good if you're looking for some exhaust sounds.]
Here’s the only negative comment that caught our eye (NOTE: Car and Driver tested the SR5 model):
- “The buttons and knobs are still cartoonishly huge…[the interior is nice]…so long as you’re used to being surrounded by hard plastic and sitting on seats upholstered more like the chairs in your dentist’s waiting room“
It’s worth noting that this is exactly what auto reviewers used to say about domestic products. Considering that Toyota is taking a lot of flack for “vanilla” styling, the writing might be on the wall here – time to upgrade the interior, Toyota.
SO, here it is: Attention Toyota interior engineers. Check out the interior in the Ram and the F150 and you won’t have to think twice about what to do next.
Still, overall, a good review of a great truck. Nice to see that the 2010 Tundra still rates with mainstream media.
Popularity: 3%
button and knobs cartoonishly huge. It is a truck man – not a subcompact car. I like the bigger knobs and buttons since it suits a truck’s purpose. Who drove this truck, a girl 5′ tall and 100 lbs.? I also like the interior with the firmer seats than most competitors since the more you weigh, the more the seats go flatter over the years. Much firmer than chevys’ seats that stay firmer longer. I don’t doubt the 4.6L is a decent motor, but only time will tell if the general public buy into the smaller motor just to save 1200 bucks. I’ll stick with the 5.7L engine until sales of the 4.6L around here are about 50% unlike sales now at less than 20%. It did seem to me that the 4.6L engine when punched or even at idle was a lot quieter than the 5.7L motor, but the more noise on the 5.7L engine was all engine growling sound which I like at a slightly higher rpm roar.