The New 2022 Toyota Tundra Is Finally Here, and We've Rounded Up Its Top 10 Features

• The 2022 Tundra is all-new from the wheels up
• It's the first all-new Tundra since 2007
• The Tundra might finally be able to best its domestic rivals after years of stagnation

3. Say goodbye to leaf springs

Like Ram, Toyota has decided to ditch rear leaf springs with the new Tundra. The benefits of this move include a significantly improved unladen ride, a quieter cabin and tighter handling. The new rear suspension architecture features dual-rate coil springs and a five-link suspension to handle the axle. Optional are rear air springs that automatically level the rear based on payload.

The front suspension is spring-only — no optional air suspension here. Toyota says this was a conscious choice to help keep the MSRP down, a move buyers will likely appreciate.

4. Tow more, haul more

Despite ditching leaf springs, towing and hauling numbers haven't been negatively affected. In fact, they're actually better than what you'd get on the old V8-powered Tundra. The 2022 truck can tow up to 12,000 pounds with the regular V6 and 11,500 pounds with the heavier hybrid powertrain. That's much better than the previous truck's 10,100-pound max tow rating. Hauling is up, too, from 1,730 pounds of maximum payload capacity to 1,940 pounds. These numbers aren't class-leading, but they're a solid step up from the old Tundra.

5. Any way you want it

The new Tundra can be had in a ton of different configurations. There will be either a double cab (with forward swinging half-doors) or a crew cab with four full doors. The crew cabs can be had with either a 6.5- or 8.1-foot bed, while the CrewMax Tundras offer a 5.5- or 6.5-foot bed. But the choices don't end there. The new Tundra will also be offered in seven different trims. They are: SR, SR5, SR5 with the TRD Sport Package (a street-biased suspension setup), Limited, Platinum, the 1974 Edition and the TRD Pro. Whew.

6. What's inside counts too

One of our least favorite parts of the old Tundra was the interior space. It was drab, filled to the brim with cheap plastics, and a decidedly old-school place to be. The new Tundra has righted all of those wrongs, or so it seems at first glance. The interior quality is way up, there are storage compartments everywhere, and there is finally a real infotainment system. Toyota also smartly kept the physical controls for its HVAC system, and the design is thoroughly modern. We'll have to wait until we get our hands on a production model to judge it on quality, but we like what we've seen so far.

7. New tech (finally!)

Aside from the obvious step forward in interior design, there is also a load of new tech for the interior space. Gone is the old 8-inch touchscreen that served as the old infotainment option, replaced by either a new 8-inch unit or a truly massive 14-inch unit. They both run a much more intuitive infotainment setup than the previous Tundra, and we're happy to see Toyota step up its game in this department.

Higher trims also get a fully digital instrument cluster and have a built-in hot spot for working on the go.

8. Electric power steering

Toyota has moved away from a hydraulically assisted steering rack for the new Tundra. It might not seem like the biggest change, but the old hydraulic rack was too heavy at low speeds compared to the easy electric boost of its rivals. The electric rack should make maneuvering the new Tundra a much simpler affair.

9. A composite bed

Like the smaller Tacoma, the Tundra now has a composite bed. That means there's no longer a need for a bedliner — built-in protection against scratching and scuffing is already there. It's another small change that will make a big difference to truck owners. We're glad that Toyota built its newest flagship with work-truck users in mind.

10. More dealer-installed add-ons

Modifying your truck to suit your needs and lifestyle is par for the course these days, and Toyota is offering a catalog of 51 dealer-installed add-ons at launch. Some of the highlights include a 3-inch lift, TRD-branded running boards and in-bed cargo boxes.

Edmunds says

It's been a long time coming, but the new Tundra is finally here. We're impressed by its new looks, new tech and fresh interior, but we'll have to wait until we test it to deliver a final verdict.