QUALITY | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
conspicuously quiet at highway speeds
Motor Trend
The Double Cab's non-adjustable rear seatback has more rearward inclination than those in most similar pickups.
Kelley Blue Book
limo-like 44.5 inches of rear legroom
Edmunds
The big-for-bigness’-sake climate and audio controls are almost comically large, and the instrument panel’s materials are very plasticky and dark...
Cars.com
The seats are wide, supportive and comfortable.
Cars.com
If you're still thinking that the Toyota Tundra isn't quite as large as the domestic full-sizers, you need to get up to speed; this is a model that's as huge as any full-size truck on sale in the U.S., and it comes in three different cab lengths, and in Regular, Double Cab, and CrewMax cabs.
The Regular Cab has the least going for it, if you need space for people. It's a three-seater at best, with either a pair of buckets or a classic bench seat across the cab. You'll see it most often in fleets, in Work Truck form, with just rubberized trim where carpeting would otherwise be, and with grey vinyl covering its seats. The bed in back is your best options for carrying things, as there are just a few cubic feet for storage behind the seats.
With its pair of rear-hinged doors behind the front-hinged ones, The Tundra Double Cab can haul more tools under lock and key in the cab, which has flip-up rear seats in back. Kids will fit well enough in there, though no one's really assessed the safety of these kinds of seats. Don't expect much comfort (or legroom) either.
The Tundra CrewMax is really the model to get if you have every task in mind. For the open bed, it's a roomy SUV, with four front-hinged, full-sized doors that open up to the kind of interior space that turns this Tundra into a legitimate family vehicle--especially for families that tow weekend fun behind them, or depend on a truck for work during the week. These rear seats slide and recline for comfort almost equal to that found in the front seats, with plenty of leg and knee room for all passengers. One note: Despite all the Tundra's height, it doesn't leave much headroom when you get the optional sunroof.
Inside the Tundra, the center console can hold hanging files or keep a laptop out of sight, and the front seats are supportive enough for American-size backsides. Go without the console and the Tundra's front bench truly will carry three grown adults across.
In all Tundras, the lack of wind noise and the refinement of the powertrain are a step ahead of every other full-size, light-duty pickup truck on the market. But what lags is the materials used for door panels, the dash, and trims. While the Ram 1500 and Ford F-150 have made huge carlike leaps inside their very upscale interiors, the wave of design that refashioned this Tundra somehow omitted finer sensibilities.
Conclusion
The 2012 Tundra has vast space for people and cargo, with the usual choices of doors and beds, but the materials inside can feel a little stark. .
