The is a full-size pickup truck manufactured in the United States by the Japanese manufacturer Toyota since May 1999. The Tundra was the second full-size pickup to be built by a Japanese manufacturer (the first was the Toyota T100), but the Tundra was the first full-size pickup from a Japanese manufacturer to be built in North America. The Tundra was nominated for the North American Truck of the Year award and was Motor Trend magazine's Truck of the Year in 2000 and 2008. Initially built in a new Toyota plant in Princeton, Indiana, production was consolidated in 2008 to Toyota's San Antonio, Texas, factory.

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First generation (XK30/XK40; 1999)

The first generation Tundra had many similarities with the older Toyota T100 and the compact Toyota Tacoma. These included the shared use of a 3.4L V6 engine which was the top-of-the-line engine in both the Tacoma and T100. The V6 engine would serve as the base engine for the Tundra, while a second engine was added, a 4.7L V8, the first V8 for a Toyota pickup. Model code XK30 denotes rear-wheel drive models, while XK40 is for four-wheel drives.

Publicly introduced in May 1999 as a 2000 model, the Tundra prototypes and "show trucks" were initially known as the T150. However, Ford and automotive journalists criticized the name as being too similar to the market-leader Ford F-150, and following a lawsuit by Ford, the production truck was renamed the Tundra.

The Tundra was slightly larger than the T100. With a production capacity of 120,000, sales were double the rate of the T100. At its introduction, the Tundra had the highest initial vehicle sales for Toyota in its history. It was selected as Motor Trends Truck of the Year award for 2000 and Best Full-Size Truck from Consumer Reports. It was assembled in a new Toyota plant in Princeton, Indiana.

Engine choices available in the Tundra were a 24-valve 3.4L V6 engine 5VZ-FE that produced and of torque and an LEV certified 32-valve 4.7L "i-Force" V8 engine 2UZ-FE that produced and of torque. The 3.4L V6 was only available until 2004 and the V8 was upgraded for the 2005–2006 model years alongside a new V6 shared with the Toyota FJ Cruiser.

A Toyota Racing Development (TRD) supercharger was already available for the 3.4L V6 (2000–2003 models) that bumped power to the range and of torque. TRD introduced a second supercharger option for the V8 (2000–2003 models) engine late into its second year of production that increased power to the mid range and torque to the range. The supercharged V8 was dropped when Toyota released the updated VVT-i-equipped 4.7L engine in 2005.

The grille was updated in 2002 (for the 2003 model year), along with a new Stepside bed available on Access Cab models. The Tundra Double Cab, also added to the lineup in late 2003 for the 2004 model year, was a crew cab with four rear-opening doors, with many interior and exterior details brought over from the Toyota Sequoia. Its bed was nearly longer than the competing Nissan Titan or Ford F-150. It is also longer, taller, and wider than the Regular and Access Cab versions, with a longer wheelbase. The Double Cab was only available with the V8 engine, and carried chassis codes UCK31/41, depending on whether it was equipped with four-wheel drive.

The new V6 engine was introduced in 2005, an aluminum-block 4.0L 1GR-FE rated at and of torque. Also in 2005, the existing 4.7L V8 was updated with Toyota's VVT-i variable valve timing technology and was rated at and of torque while the 2006 versions were rerated at and of torque. The engine however was the exact same for both these years and the rerating was only due to a change in industry standards for how data was determined. Therefore the down-rated changes for 2006 were not actually mechanical in nature.

For the new V6 model, the previous 5-speed manual mated to the 3.4L engine gave way to an optional 6-speed manual for the new 4.0L, and similarly a new 5-speed automatic replaced the older 4-speed. There were never any factory manual options available for the V8. Lastly, for the V8-equipped Tundra, the towing capacity was on the Double Cab and on the Access Cab and Regular Cab models. While suitable for many, the first generation Tundra was reported at the time to not have enough power to compete with heavier-duty offerings of the Big Three (General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford).

In 2003, the T3 Special Edition was sold in conjunction with the release of the film, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. It included a TRD performance package, "T3" badging, blacked-out grille and trim pieces, special 17-inch wheels, and T3 limited interior trim. 650 were sold in the US as 4×2 and 200 were sold in Canada as 4×4.

In 2006, the Darrell Waltrip Edition was marketed to honor the NASCAR driver and his participation in the NASCAR Truck Series. Only 2,000 V8-powered Double Cab models were produced. The package included special badging and unique 18-inch wheels.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Tundra "Good" overall in their frontal offset crash test. It was the first full-size pickup awarded a "Good" score; its competitors from Ford and Dodge were rated "Poor," and in the case of GM's entry, "Marginal."

Second generation (XK50; 2006)

2007–2013 A larger Tundra was introduced at the February 2006 Chicago Auto Show. It used styling cues from the Toyota Tacoma along with some cues from the Toyota FTX concept truck (also designed by Craig Kember in 2003). The truck featured towing capacity of over , and a payload capacity of over , a new 5.7L 3UR-FE V8 engine mated to a new 6-speed automatic transmission. The second generation Tundra had three engine options. The new 5.7L V8 that produces and of torque, and the carry over 4.7L 2UZ-FE V8 rated at and of torque, as well as the previous 4.0L 1GR-FE V6 rated at and of torque.

When the new Tundra was first launched in January 2007, it was available in 31 configurations, which consisted of three bed lengths, three cab configurations, three wheelbases, and two transmissions. The new extended cab now had conventional rear doors instead of the previous generation's rear-hinged doors; it also took the name "Double Cab," which was applied to the first-generation crew cab. The second-generation crew cab was renamed as "CrewMax." The Double Cab and Regular Cab were available with a regular bed or an long bed, while the CrewMax was only available with a short bed. The Tundra also featured a new 6-speed automatic transmission which could lock the torque converter in fifth and sixth gears with a manual shift mode (which was standard with the 5.7L), giving it a time of 6.3 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 14.7 seconds.

Toyota designed the new Tundra with construction workers in mind by including extra large door handles, deck rail system, integrated tow hitch, and head restraints that can fit a worker with a hard hat. The Tundra also includes the following as standard: an electronic automatic limited-slip differential (Auto LSD), Vehicle Stability Control, traction control, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, anti-lock brakes, and tailgate assist. However, its starting price was higher than the Chevrolet Silverado Work Truck and Ford F-150 XL.

Some other changes Toyota included in the new Tundra are optional tow mirrors, a fuel tank, available alloy wheels, backup camera, Bluetooth, large center console (enough to fit a laptop), extra-large disc brakes and calipers, and the aforementioned 6-speed sequential automatic transmission.

All 5.7L Tundras came equipped with a tow package which included engine oil and transmission coolers, an integrated trailer hitch, 4.30:1 axle ratio, and large braking hardware for increased fade resistance. Equipped with the 5.7L V8, the Tundra had a maximum tow rating of depending on body configuration. Toyota began rating the Tundra under the SAE J2807 protocol beginning in 2010.

Model year changes The 2008 model added 13 variations, bringing the total number of variations to 44. The 2008 models featured additional standard features at a lower price, and also included a new "Tundra Grade" trim which is slotted below the SR5 trim and geared toward tradespeople and the price-conscious consumer. Toyota made E85 fuel capability standard for 2009 Tundras equipped with the 5.7L V8 in select regions. Toyota also updated the TRD Sport package and added a TRD Rock Warrior package. Prices increased 0.4% over the previous 2008 model year.

The 2010 model year Tundra received visual updates to the grille and tail lamps. A premium Platinum trim level was added. A new 4.6 L V8 paired with a 6-speed automatic replaced the previous 4.7 L 2UZ-FE V8 engine. For added safety, driver and front passenger knee airbags became standard and NHTSA frontal crash test scores improved to five stars. The 2010 Tundra began arriving at dealers in late April 2009.

Special editions and option packages

Ivan Ironman Stewart Signature Series Tundra In June 2008, Toyota introduced the Ivan "Ironman" Stewart Signature Series Tundra. Three different packages are offered, one of which includes the TRD Supercharger.

As of 2008, Stewart has won the Baja 500 seventeen times driving Toyota vehicles.

Rock Warrior Package For the 2009 model year, Toyota introduced a new off-road themed option package called the TRD Rock Warrior. This option package was only available on the 4x4 Tundras with either the Double Cab or the CrewMax cab. Included are 17-inch TRD forged aluminum wheels, LT285/70R-17 BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A tires, Bilstein shocks, color-matched front bumper and grille, matte-black rear bumper, and fog lights. The interior included black cloth bucket seats, sport shift knob, and pedal covers. Double cab models received a sliding rear window. The TRD Rock Warrior package was only available in Black or Super White. For the 2011 model year, the Rock Warrior package continued with some minor changes. Manual sliding rear window with privacy glass (Double Cab), and TRD Rock Warrior graphics. (Available only in: Black, Radiant Red, Magnetic Gray Metallic, or Super White.)

Platinum Package For the 2010 model year, a new luxury option group called the Platinum package was made available exclusively on CrewMax Tundras. The package included a chrome front bumper, unique 20-inch aluminum wheels, Platinum badges, and a power moon roof. Interior upgrades included a DVD navigation system and backup monitor, JBL sound system with satellite radio and a Bluetooth system, wood grain trim, glass break sensor, and door sill protectors. This option group included heated and ventilated bucket seats with perforated leather trim, power controls, and embroidered headrests.

For 2010–2012, the Platinum was offered as a luxury package. For 2013, the Platinum package was made into a trim level.

Engines

2007–2009 model years 4.0 L V6 GR engine and (California Air Resources Board (CARB) LEV II certified) 4.7 L V8 UZ engine and (CARB ULEV II certified) 5.7 L V8 UR engine and (CARB ULEV II certified)

2010–2013 model years 4.0 L V6 GR engine and (CARB LEV II certified) (2010) 4.0 L V6 GR engine and (CARB LEV II certified) (2011-2013) 4.6 L V8 UR engine and (CARB ULEV II certified) 5.7 L V8 UR engine and (CARB ULEV II certified)

2014–2021