I'm curious about your TOTY selection, the Toyota Tundra. Based on your criteria of superiority, significance, and value, I'm not sure how the selection occurred. Superiority? The recently redesigned Tundra already has had many documented manufacturing/quality problems and poor interior-design issues. Significance? The line doesn't offer a true HD version (diesel/dually) like its competitors already do. Value? The pricing is higher than its competitors at all trim levels. In addition, I've read recent comments in Truck Trend and Motor Trend on Toyota's "sterling reputation for quality" and "superiority," which is interesting considering its declining manufacturing quality across the truck and car lines, and lackluster styling (Highlander and Sequoia to name two examples).
John Padgett II
Leland, North Carolina
Dear Reader,
There's no question that Toyota bit off a big bite when it redesigned and reengineered the new Tundra and built a whole new manufacturing facility for it. With that came some significant issues that it's had to deal with head on. We noted those recall issues, also identified some interior changes we would make, and made note of Toyota's clever pricing strategies, all of which was exhaustively debated in our final evaluation. We never stated this was the perfect truck -- just the best we'd seen this year.
- Truck Trend