1st Gen vs 2nd Gen Toyota Tundra: Which One Is Better?

Toyota is a well-known vehicle and vehicle parts manufacturing company based in Japan. The company is responsible for making high-performance and legendary car models that provide the best durability at a cost-effective price. Toyota Tundra is one of the most commonly used pick-up trucks manufactured by Toyota Tundra.

Toyota Tundra set a new height for the modern-day pickup trucks that could do the work of both carrying passengers to carrying large payloads. It had reached the pinnacle of popularity among customers because of its off-roading capabilities and flexible handling. Since the truck has been around for over 20 years, the 1^st and 2^nd Gen Toyota Tundra can be compared to handpick the better choice.

Brief History of Toyota Tundra

This ground-breaking pickup truck was first introduced to the public in 1999 by Toyota automobiles manufacturing company. Since then, the popularity and necessity of the truck have helped it continue production for the last 21 years and still going in full swing.

An uncommon fact about the Toyota Tundra is that the model has first manufactured by the US branch of Toyota which used various parts and took into account the necessities of the regular US citizen. That’s why this truck is great as a pick-up truck for working and a family transport vehicle for trips and vacations.

The Toyota Tundra 1^st Gen was released in 1999 and had durable parts but the truck lacked various upgrades that were released in the 2^nd Gen model. However, the truck had to sacrifice some features to input new and improved features in the 2^nd Gen. Coming back to the present, the 3^rd Gen of Toyota Tundra will be released by 2022 and has better upgrades and mileage than ever.

Toyota Tundra 1^st Gen Information

The 1^st Generation of Toyota Tundra was released in May 1999 and the production of the model continued for 7 years and ended in 2006. It’s worth mentioning that all the Tundra trucks were called Double Cab and Regular Cab before its definition changed in 2018 with the entry of the Crew Max. This 1^st Gen model had a wheelbase of 128 inches and an engine that went up to 4.7l.

It should come as no surprise that all the Toyota Tundra trucks since 1999 were the first pick-up trucks to have a V8 engine and were all FWD (Four Wheel Drive). When Tundra 1^st Gen was released, people thought it was the Toyota version of the already existing Ford F150. They were proved wrong when they saw the sheer off-roading capabilities of the truck.

The two models of the 1^st Gen Toyota Tundra looked totally from one another and had different towing capacities. The Double Cab model was a good choice for customers who wanted to transfer people while the Regular Cab model was made only for towing. The Double Cab was released in 2005 and couldn’t tow as much as the Regular Cab model.

5 Things Must Know Before Buying 1st Gen Tundra

Toyota Tundra 2^nd Gen Information

The 2^nd Generation of Toyota Tundra got released in 2007 and has been in production for the last 14 years. The model was supposed to be an upgrade to the 1^st Gen but it became a whole different truck model due to the wide array of differences. The truck also had a V8 engine that a capacity of up to 5.7l oil. The original shape of a bed was between 6.5 to 8.0foot depending on your choice of 2^nd Gen model.

Due to the different varieties of 2^nd Gen models, the dimensions including the wheelbase vary slightly. This is the engine that had 381hp and a torque of 401lb-ft. The 2^nd Gen model had 31 different configurations. Along with the addition of the 6-speed auto transmission system, many new upgrades and downgrades took place in this model.

Toyota Tundra 1^st Gen vs Toyota Tundra 2^nd Gen Difference

It’s possible to find the better pick out of the 1^st and 2^nd Gen Toyota Tundra truck models through a comparison of their characteristics. A common misconception among the common folk is that the 2^nd Gen is better than the 1^st Gen since it’s the next Gen. Rest assured, that is not the case which you will see in the comparisons below:

Mileage

Since the 1^st Gen Toyota Tundra models are smaller and have a smaller body size, they are capable of better fuel economy is compared to a 2^nd Gen model. The problem with the 2^nd Gen models is that they have a large bed and seating space which puts more pressure on the engine.

Additionally, the 2^nd Gen models are not as stable and aerodynamically designed as the 1^st Gen smaller models. The 1^st Gen goes up to an average of 15mpg with an engine of 4.7l while the 2^nd Gen needs 5.7l to almost reach 14mpg. So, 1^st Gen is better than the 2^nd Gen model in terms of Mileage and fuel economy.

Payload

The 1^st Gen has a smaller bed in the Basic Cab and no bed in the Double Cab compared to the 2^nd Gen large models. The 2^nd Gen has models that have beds of up to 8.1foot which can carry a payload of more than 6200lbs. Such payload is next to impossible for the small 1^st Gen Tundra with a smaller bed.

Meanwhile, the towing power of the 2^nd Gen models like the 2018 Double Cab goes above 9900lbs. with ease. The 1^st Gen can tow for up to 6500lbs. which is pretty impressive given that the engine isn’t as large or powerful as the 2^nd Gen 5.7l engine. All in all, the 2^nd Gen is the better choice in terms of carrying larger payloads.

Performance

Flexibility and Speed are two necessary traits of the off-roading Toyota Tundra and both Gens try their best at it. The 1^st Gen model offers enormous speed and faster acceleration compared to the 2^nd Gen. On the other hand, the handling in the 2^nd Gen model is upgraded to the best there is.

Both truck models are FWD but the 2^nd Gen has a better traction system compared to its older version. Again, the biased leveling of the 2^nd Gen truck supports drivers to see the road ahead clearly. However, the 1^st Gen conquers over the 2^nd Gen in terms of acceleration. So, it’s up to the customer’s requirements to choose the better truck model between these two.

Cost-effective

Cost-Effective not only means that a product is cheaper but that it’s worth every penny you spend buying it. The 1^st Gen Toyota Tundra is a shining example of money for the product. Most of the parts found in the 2006 Toyota Tundra cost more than the actual price of the truck.

On the other hand, the 2^nd Gen model is more luxurious and durable but costs more than it should. Due to the use of different new upgrades each year, the price of the 2^nd Gen Toyota Tundra is more no matter if you choose the Crew Max or the Double Cab. As a result, the 1^st Gen is the cost-effective option among the two.

Final Statement

Toyota Tundra is a customer’s choice pickup truck right after Ford F150 and has proved its worth over the past 20 years. Both 1^st and 2^nd Gen have their upsides and disadvantages so the choice of which one you’d choose is dependent on your budget and demands.

Put simply, it’s only important for you to buy 2^nd Gen Toyota Tundra if your main job is transporting payloads and towing weight. Otherwise, the 1^st Gen is a great choice as a family car and does the added job of pulling moderate payloads. Overall, both truck Gens are reliable and durable.