Used solely as a work truck, the 2020 Tundra has a lot to offer, including impressive standard towing capability and interior utility. But modern trucks are expected to be family transportation, too. From a refinement and feature standpoint, the Tundra falls behind almost all its major rivals.
The Toyota Tundra has received some updates over the years, including a fresh new look and even an impressive list of modern safety equipment. But the reality is that the truck underneath is more than a decade old. On one hand, this means the Tundra holds some appeal as a no-nonsense workhorse with a robust V8 engine. But if you're looking for the latest and greatest, you're not going to find it here.
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For 2020, the Tundra now only offers one powertrain: a 5.7-liter V8. Last year, a 4.6-liter V8 was standard and the 5.7-liter optional, but Toyota has ditched the smaller engine for now. Inside, the Tundra gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for 2020. But there are still some disappointing cabin materials surrounding the infotainment interface, and the general cabin layout is dated.
If you're looking to tow or haul on the regular, the Tundra has you covered with the standard V8 and a standard 4.30 axle ratio — the combo lifts towing capacity right around 10,000 pounds on every trim level. Fuel economy suffers quite a bit, however, and virtually every rival has an optional towing package that will get you an even higher tow rating.
The Tundra is a capable truck, no doubt, and the TRD lineup offers some cool off-road options to choose from. But overall, we'd recommend taking a closer look at one of the Tundra's more recently redesigned rivals, including the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford F-150 and Ram 1500.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
by the Edmunds Experts
Below Average
6.7
out of 10
We drove the 2020 Toyota Tundra on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
Performance
6.5/10
How does the Tundra drive? The 5.7-liter V8 has plenty of thrust, but that's about the best thing we can say about the Tundra's performance. The brake pedal is numb and provides little driver confidence during emergency braking. Around corners, the steering is vague and the large steering wheel doesn't return to center well. Handling feels unsettled at times, too, especially on tight roads.
We do like that Toyota offers the off-road-ready TRD Pro version. But for routine driving, nearly every full-size truck is more agile, maneuverable and modern.
Comfort
6/10
How comfortable is the Tundra? Comfort is below average in the Tundra. The seats are stiffly padded and aren't very supportive — most drivers will have issues getting comfortable. The Tundra rides OK over small ruts, but you'll definitely feel larger bumps and potholes because of the stiff and unforgiving suspension. We imagine a significant payload would settle things down a bit, but it's hard to live with every day. Wind and road noise is present most of the time.
Our SR5 test vehicle didn't have many creature comforts, but the single-zone climate control is easy to master because of its logical layout and big, easy-to-grasp knobs. The small vents mean you have to crank up the A/C to cool down the cabin in a hurry.
Interior
7/10
How’s the interior? The Tundra's interior is functional but dated. The controls are large and well-labeled, and the redundant buttons next to the touchscreen are useful. It's spacious inside too, with enough room for adults in all the major seating positions.
Forward visibility is good. However, there's a huge blind spot over both shoulders, and the blind-spot monitoring system doesn't always detect what's back there. The lack of visibility also makes maneuvering into a parking spot a challenge.
Technology
6.5/10
How’s the tech? Technology is a weak point for the Tundra. The base stereo has an underpowered six-speaker unit that doesn't get very loud. But when you turn it up, it distorts easily. At least Bluetooth and USB audio connect relatively quickly on a consistent basis.
The factory voice controls for music and phone calls work well but only under a very specific menu structure — the system doesn't respond well to casual language. On the plus side, the Tundra comes standard with features such as adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking and lane departure monitoring. On the minus side, some of these systems are overly sensitive to neighboring vehicles.
Towing and Storage
7/10
How are the towing and storage? The max payload rating for the Tundra is competitive, but the bed's load-in height is high. You can't get a fancy tailgate like you can on some of the newer trucks either. Thankfully, the 5.7-liter V8 and standard 4.30 axle ratio give most Tundras a tow rating around 10,000 pounds. Plus, the Tundra comes standard with an integrated electronic trailer brake controller.
The back seat is massive, so you can fit most child seats without a problem. But it's poorly laid out for hauling large cargo items because of a sizable hump in the center of the floor. Small-item storage is lacking because many of the spaces are small by segment standards.
Fuel Economy
6.5/10
How’s the fuel economy? The Tundra's EPA ratings are well below average. The six-speed automatic holds it back, as does the standard high axle ratio. Other truckmakers hide the negative effects of towing axle ratios by making them optional, but at least with them, you get the choice. As a silver lining, we've found the EPA estimates to be achievable in real-world testing.
Value
7/10
Is the Tundra a good value? For a bare-bones work truck, the Tundra has some appeal. But when you start adding options, the pricing becomes less competitive. Almost every rival packs better bang for the buck. The cabin materials feel cheap and dated, even if the tolerances are tight.
The standard three-year/36,000-mile warranty and five years/60,000 miles for powertrain coverage are about average for the segment. Scheduled maintenance and roadside assistance for two years/25,000 miles are on the house, which is nice.
Wildcard
7/10
What the Tundra lacks in objective performance metrics, it makes up for with a bit of personality. The 5.7-liter V8 gives you a great soundtrack, and any of the off-road packages will make you feel like a hero in the dirt. Plus, no matter where you go or what you do, this big Toyota won't let you forget that you're driving a brute-force pickup, not some compromised daily driver.
The 2020 Toyota Tundra is a full-size pickup available in five trim levels: SR, SR5, Limited, Platinum, 1794 Edition and TRD Pro. All 2020 Tundras come with a 5.7-liter V8 (381 hp, 401 lb-ft) paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. From there, you'll pick a body style (the regular Double Cab, crew cab or the extra-large CrewMax) and one of three bed lengths. Compare the 2020 Toyota Tundra trim levels in-depth.
Which Tundra trim does Edmunds recommend?
Available with a number of optional upgrades, but reasonably priced, we recommend the Tundra SR5. It might be just one rung above the base SR, but the SR5 adds an upgraded 8-inch infotainment interface and has access to a larger fuel tank (via the Upgrade package) as well as some off-road equipment via the TRD Sport package.
The 2020 Toyota Tundra has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 5 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5, ranks it #6 out of 19 among Fullsize Trucks. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Reliability Rating by RepairPal
3.5 out of 5 stars3.5/5Above Average
#6 out of 19 among Fullsize Trucks
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
$608/yr
vs. $752/yr for Average Fullsize Truck
Frequency
0.79x/yr
vs. 0.98x/yr for Average Fullsize Truck
Severity
19.5%
vs. 19.9% for Average Fullsize Truck
powered by RepairPal
Recalls
5 recalls found
Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
Recall Number:
21V920000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
21TB10 / 2
Number of vehicles affected:
22462
Defect Description:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
Defect Consequence:
An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.
Recall Number:
21V688000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
21TB06 / 2
Number of vehicles affected:
158489
Defect Description:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Tundra vehicles. The headlight electrical circuits may power the high and low beams simultaneously, which could overheat the electrical connector.
Defect Consequence:
An overheated electrical connector can increase the risk of a fire.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will modify the engine wire harness assembly and replace any damaged bulb, bulb connector, and/or headlight assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB06 and 21TA06.
Recall Number:
21E103000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
21TH01
Number of vehicles affected:
151
Defect Description:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain JTEKT power steering gear assembly service parts for 2007-2021 Tundra and 2008-2022 Sequoia, part numbers 44250-0C160, 44250-0C131, 44250-0C170, and 11250-0C121. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
Defect Consequence:
An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 17, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TH01.
If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed beginning November 23, 2020. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
Recall Number:
20V410000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
20TB12/20T
Number of vehicles affected:
183397
Defect Description:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Toyota Tundra vehicles equipped with LED headlight assemblies. Due to a wiring error, the front turn signals may not flash brightly enough. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Defect Consequence:
If the turn signals or hazard lamps do not flash brightly enough, other drivers may fail to see that the turn signal or hazard lamp functions have been activated, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will modify the wire harness connected to the front turn signal bulbs free of charge. The recall began August 17, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB12/20TA12.
2020 Toyota Tundra Limited 4dr CrewMax SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A)
Had 3 F150s with very few issues along the way, but the prices of the new ones are simply out of sight. So, I decided to give a Toyota a try this time around, given the lower price for similar equipment. I love the simplicity of the Toyota...no useless bling, baubles and eye candy...just a solid, good looking truck inside and out, with all the modern conveniences and a great … reliability track record. Yes, it feels a little dated and a bit less refined than some of its competitors, but it's a good, bulletproof, comfortable, capable, truck that does everything I need a truck to do. And, importantly, it was priced right. As someone else said, if you want bling and baubles, you won't find them here. I've had two trucks like that and found all the 'cool', whiz-bang, stuff to be interesting but largely unnecessary, overly complex, and certainly not worth the extra investment. They were solutions to problems I never had, and just added complexity, distraction, and often frustration. The Tundra has good, intuitive, easy to navigate features which add to my driving experience in meaningful ways. In addition, it's ridiculously off-road capable...far more than my other trucks. My only gripe is with the fuel mileage, but it's the price I'm willing to pay to drive a V8 with all the simplicity, torque and horsepower I prefer. Love the Tundra so far. It's different from what I'm used to, but not in bad ways. It's very off-road capable with all the bells and whistles I need to enjoy my commute and travels.
This is my 4th Tundra
I traded my 2007 for this 2020 because it will be my last truck and we will be doing alot of towing. The 2007 had 120000 miles on it and I was convinced it would go another 100k but my wife was nervous...
120k. No oil use between changes, u-joints still solid, NO problems at all. Towed a trailer from Tacoma to Cabo and back, Calgary and back and several trips tp … Death Valley with nary a whimper!,
Keep all your bells and whistles I need a reliable tow vehicle —the Tundra!
Approaching retirement, I set out on my mission to buy what I hope will be my last new truck. With a couple of fine son-in-laws and grandsons in the picture, my extended cab truck wasn't meeting our needs any more.
I spent the first 6 months of the year learning about all of the full sized 2020 pickup trucks. Allot of reading, visits to the dealerships, test drives and talking to owners … to see what they liked and disliked about their trucks. By July 4 my head was hurting from all of the intake, and I was done thinking about it.
I bought my 2020 Tundra SR5 Crew Cab that week, and it's been all good.
The most important things to me:
1. Reliability
2. Reliability
3. Reliability
4. Room for six 6' foot passengers
5. Power to pull a trailer full of dirt bikes and gear through the mountains
Over the years I have owned a couple of Chevrolet trucks, a Ford and then a Toyota Tacoma.
I sold my 2003 Tacoma only because I needed more cab room. The Tacoma was the best performing and most reliable vehicle I have owned. It was running (and looking) near new at 17 years and 120,000 miles.
That's why I chose to stay with Toyota, for the simplicity and reliability.
I keep a vehicle for 10 years and 150,000 miles or more. I just don't see engines with computerized cylinder deactivation, or turbo chargers, being as reliable as the simple fuel injected overhead cam engine that powers the Tundra.
Having driven the truck for 6 months, I am amazed at the value this base model truck offers. Much more than I was expecting.
The mechanical performance is impressive. There's plenty of power to get moving quickly when pulling onto a highway.
The torque is fantastic, pulling a trailer up a mountain is easy with the Tundra.
The seats are excellent, I have driven up to 5 hours on my longest trip, and we were all still comfortable. When someone jumps into the backseat, they always comment that they can't believe the amount of room they have.
4 Wheel drive system works really well. With all of the updated traction control features, it seems to be even more surefooted on snow and ice than my "go anywhere" Tacoma.
The ride comfort is what has surprised me the most. The smooth ride, the quiet cabin and the straight tracking of the steering all exceed what I expected. On a straight highway, you can let your hands off the steering, and it will track straight for a long ways. I'm used to my past trucks needing allot of mini-correction of the steering going down the road, but not the new Tundra.
The Technology features in my truck have all worked well, I have had no issues with any of the safety features, bluetooth system, or audio system. My truck does not have an onboard navigation system, but does pair with Android Auto via my phone, which works real well.
Fuel mileage is what it is. I knew it when I bought it, and am OK with less MPG for the simplicity and reliability that I am looking for. My truck has been averaging 15 mpg with my combination of around town and highway driving. On a highway trip with no trailer being towed, I had over 19 mpg. A tank of gas with all around town and no highway trips averages around 14.5 mpg.
Bottom line - I am really happy with my Tundra. It is a great truck, and I would recommend it without reservation,.
2020 Tundra
5 out of 5 stars
James C, 12/04/2019
2020 Toyota Tundra SR 4dr Double Cab 4WD SB (5.7L 8cyl 6A)
The 5.7 L engine runs great and is rated at 17 MPG highway but I've been averaging 18-19 MPG.
The 7" screen is easy to see and use as well as all the information items that can be checked (tire pressure, MPG etc.).
Just made a 1700 mile round trip and enjoyed the seats and overall vehicle response.