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2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA

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Alex Law
test like this is remarkable. Toyota also claims the tests showed Tundra had better rolling start acceleration when towing 2950 kg, better passing acceleration with a 545 kg payload and a 2950-kg trailer, and better 110 km/h to 0 braking with a 545-kg payload. The power numbers of this engine are impressive enough -- 245 horsepower at 4800 rpm and 315 pound-feet of torque at 3400 rpm -- but they don't tell the whole story. At least in part because it was originally designed to power an upscale Lexus sport-ute, this double-overhead camshaft engine with electronic throttle control (among other techno-toys) is smooth and quiet enough to propel a luxury sedan. In situations 95 per cent of buyers will experience 99 per cent of the time, the 4.7-litre engine in both the 4x2 or 4x4 configuration delivered the smoothest, quickest and quietest performance I've ever seen in a pickup. I do not exaggerate when I say that a V-8 Tundra raises the bar on how a pickup performs.

This is of course what Toyota was after, says Tony Wearing, vice-president of vehicle sales for Toyota Canada Inc. "North American owners of full-size pickups use their pickups on a daily basis," he says, "as their personal vehicles. So Toyota designed its biggest-ever truck to exceed the performance and handling of the domestics, and Tundra does both with ease."

Much less was said about the 3.4-litre V-6, which has okay numbers. Specifically, that would be 190 horsepower peaking at 4800 rpm and 220 pound-feet of torque at 3600 rpm. The 4-speed automatic is standard equipment here, since Toyota Canada says there wouldn't be enough demand to warrant bringing in a 5-speed manual. The big plus to this engine is
Alex Law
Alex Law
Automotive expert