Motor Trend Truck of the Year goes to...

[Joey D]

...the Toyota Tundra.

Toyota Tundra named Motor Trend 2008 Truck of the Year

Motor Trend awarded its 2008 Truck of the Year award, the last of its three yearly awards, to the Toyota Tundra today. New for the 2007 model year, the Tundra beat out the Chevy Silverado HD, GMC Sierra HD and Ford's line of F-250, -350 and -450 Super Duty trucks. What's interesting about MT's TOTY competition is that because these trucks have such a wide range of capabilities and purposes, they are not pitted against each other, bur rather against specific criteria determined by the magazine's editors. Each is scored in the areas of "superiority", "value", and "significance". They use this strategy in both the Car OTY and SUV OTY award competitions, as well.

While we think the Tundra is the most significant truck that hit the market this season, at least in terms of how it has increased competition in this segment to new levels, we're not so sure that it stacks up as well in the other two categories. For one, it's difficult to call the Tundra "superior" when it's been saddled with a number of quality issues, including most recently its first official recall of 15,600 trucks for a driveshaft issue. And how exactly is the Tundra a better value than its competitors in the class when all can be had with a bed full of rebates and incentives?

Our money was on the F-450 for this award, as the truly super truck from Ford is rather peerless in the market. But we're not the editors of Motor Trend, and it's their award to give to whomever they choose. We're sure they're ready for the onslaught of armchair automotive journalism that's coming their way. Toyota, no doubt, is thrilled with the honor. Expect to see new commercials for the Tundra with those golden calipers on the hood any day now as the automaker attempts a last ditch effort to reach its goal of selling 200,000 units in 2007.

Now I don't have hatred towards Toyota like many in the Detroit area, but I think this award was bought by the company. There is no way a truck plagued with as many problems as we've seen with the Tundra is a stellar truck. I can say I don't really agree with this at all...but I guess they had to make up for the fact they picked a GM car for the COTY.

 

[Diego440]

It looks like a French bulldog

 

[JCE]

...the Toyota Tundra.



Now I don't have hatred towards Toyota like many in the Detroit area, but I think this award was bought by the company. There is no way a truck plagued with as many problems as we've seen with the Tundra is a stellar truck. I can say I don't really agree with this at all...but I guess they had to make up for the fact they picked a GM car for the COTY.

I'll go one step further, in real world use the Tundra is last...LAST in combined tow/haul duties. Even the Dodge and Nissan surpass the Tundra. Their snazzy commercials--WHICH ARE CGI--is the only reason why people bought them in the first place. Toyota is the most recalled company in the US--with the Tundra seriously lacking in build quality. I pity people who buy these things, honestly they aren't very good on anything except interior style/comfort.

 

[thebtspecial]

This is what I wrote in another forum about this subject:

That's interesting, because on Motortrend's website the Silverado beat the Tundra in a head to head comparison. This was in 2007, wonder what they changed?

Also this little note at the bottom of the page for the Tundra "Truck of the Year":

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Testing, judging, and story for the February 2008 issue of Motor Trend were completed and printed before the latest safety recall involving 15,600 2007 Tundras to correct a potential driveshaft issue)

In every test I've seen, they always take the top of the line Tundra engine and compare it to Chevy's bread and butter engine the 5.3L. So of course they rave and rave about the Tundra's power, but why don't they put one of GM's better engines (6.0L) in these comparisons. It would make for a far better comparison in my opinion.

I'm gonna have to respectfully disagree with their conclusion. I'm not sure why, but most magazines seem to jump on the Tundra's bandwagon, then jump right back off of it. It's a good truck don't get me wrong. I just believe that because it's a "Toyota", and by most magazines views they can do nothing wrong, it may be getting a little undeserved boost.

 

[YSSMAN]

No surprise here; I still think the people at Motor Trend are idiots. Sure, they FINALLY gave the proper nod to the Cadillac CTS and the new Chevrolet Malibu, but this pretty much throws all of that away.

How, in God's name, can you actually say that this is a better truck than whats out there right now? There are trucks that are going on five years old that are better than this. Toyota has had nothing but problems with this truck, and I honestly can't believe that they've actually awarded this piece of crap with something like this.

...Must have been that filing cabinet inside the center console. Maybe the dual gloveboxes. No wait, the spring-loaded tailgate...

Oooh! Look at this truck! I have to check every option box to make it better than the cheaper and more reliable Chevrolet! This truck is so awesome! It certainly is the truck of the year! Now how about that check Toyota?

 

[Jim Prower]

They did the Chevrolet last year, remember? The Thundra missed out on last year's TOTY test. I Havent' heard of many (Read: ANY) other new or significantly revised trucks, anyway, so what we're getting here is last year's leftovers.

and they once picked the AMC/Renault Alliance. and the Prius. Can you seriously expect them to be logical?

On the French Bulldog comment....That ain't no Mack...

 

[Keef]

I don't agree with this at all. The new Camry is worse than the last one, and this truck is also a piece of crap. My dad's 1993 Ranger is in better operating condition than a brand-new Tundra.

 

[JosX]

Ugliest truck I've ever seen, looks like a French Pug/Bulldog.

 

[1X83Z]

NEW FOR 2008

Remember, 'truck of the year' is an award that can ONLY be given to trucks that are NEW for this model year. Meaning the possibilities were either the Tundra or various heavy-duty trucks that have very little buyer base in the real world. The Tundra was the DEFAULT option, and for those of you who don't like it, please nominate a vehicle that is more important that debuted for 2008.

 

[McLaren]

I'll go one step further, in real world use the Tundra is last...LAST in combined tow/haul duties. Even the Dodge and Nissan surpass the Tundra. Their snazzy commercials--WHICH ARE CGI--is the only reason why people bought them in the first place. Toyota is the most recalled company in the US--with the Tundra seriously lacking in build quality. I pity people who buy these things, honestly they aren't very good on anything except interior style/comfort.

Sorry, those were real.
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2007/02/how_they_made_t.html

 

[Joey D]

The GMC Sierra HD is a pretty nice truck if you get it with all the options and what not. I realise there wasn't an 1500 series trucks that were new this year and the only smaller truck that was new was the Dakota...and that thing is rubbish anyways.

 

[Jim Prower]

NEW FOR 2008

Remember, 'truck of the year' is an award that can ONLY be given to trucks that are NEW for this model year. Meaning the possibilities were either the Tundra or various heavy-duty trucks that have very little buyer base in the real world. The Tundra was the DEFAULT option, and for those of you who don't like it, please nominate a vehicle that is more important that debuted for 2008.

Thus, the Tundra's award means even less in the grand scope of things, now, doesn't it? (I'd figured as much...didn't hear of any new 1/2 tons at all, and since that's the most competitive segment...)

This year, the Calipers are made of Tin.

 

[TopHat]

This year, the Calipers are made of Tin.

Truer words have never been spoken. I can't believe that this won out over the F-Series Super Duty.

 

[JCE]

Sorry, those were real.
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2007/02/how_they_made_t.html

I still don't buy it. Its either CGI or cleaver trick photography.

 

[YSSMAN]

This year, the Calipers are made of Tin.

Quite right. Add to the fact that the Tundra has been recalled unlike any other Toyota before, plus the fact they aren't quite selling nearly as well as Toyota had anticipated... Well, it adds up to another pointless win.

A GMT900 HD would have happily bowed out of the way for the Ford Super Duty (even I know whats the best HD truck), but a Tundra? Come-on. If they've got these three categories that they're supposed to judge the trucks on, how the hell does a Tundra win when it clearly only takes the cake in the 'Relevance' category?

 

[SlipZtrEm]

A garbage mag picks the CTS as it's COTY: "Brilliant, they really know their stuff over there."
A garbave mag picks the Tundra as it's TOTY: "They know nothing."

Right...

Both of them win on hype. And like M5Power pointed out, they had to be new. I don't think the Dakota (crap though it is) even counts as it's just a face lift and new engine. I don't see how any of the others had the Tundra licked on "significance". I'll admit, the recalls have really made me question it, but the Tundra has been an important step for Toyota, and like it or not, has made an impact on the truck category in general (good or bad, even).

 

[DeltaTrain]

bah, Toyota is like the G-unit of cars now.

They only car about car sales by making out low quality vehicles.

 

[McLaren]

I still don't buy it. Its either CGI or cleaver trick photography.

Neither. Toyota's own website shows how every scene was planned, built, practiced, & filmed. It's real. Try getting over that, please.

 

[shaka]

Very good choice i agree.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> I've driven the Tundra (from Vegas to Utah and back), and I'm quite sold as of date, and deserves the trophy.

-> I might think that the Tundra outweighs the F-Super Duty is because; unlike the Tundra, the Ford is almost the 25% the size of a semi or 50% the size of the commercial-grade F-650. I think thats the everyday factor and value, despite with its tons of recalls.

-> I should say that please stop this anti-JDM brand bashing and be neutral for once, I saw the Malibu at the LA show and it wasn't all that. I'd like to see these cars after 5 years.

-> True I'm not a MT fan, but these magazine test their cars extensively on and off road. And none of us here in GTP can have that privilage (I wish me, YSS, and M5P to make our own assesments just like Top Gear).

 

[YSSMAN]

-> I might think that the Tundra outweighs the F-Super Duty is because; unlike the Tundra, the Ford is almost the 25% the size of a semi or 50% the size of the commercial-grade F-650. I think thats the everyday factor and value, despite with its tons of recalls.

I've had the opportunity to sit in and spend some time with an F350, and it was awesome. Compared to the Tundra, it made the Toyota feel like a "girlie man's" truck. I know trains were part of the inspiration for the new style, and in all honesty, it felt like you were in one. Choo choo!

-> I should say that please stop this anti-JDM brand bashing and be neutral for once, I saw the Malibu at the LA show and it wasn't all that. I'd like to see these cars after 5 years.

I do my best, usually. But again, spending time with the Tundra and actually looking at several very closely (anyone ever noticed the outrageous panel gaps, the lack of shrouds under the fenders, and so-so quality inside?), not to mention sitting through the press introduction in Chicago two years ago... Well, I think I'm fairly educated on the truck.

Plus, I love the Frontier and the Titian. I'd happily rate the Frontier as the top "small" truck, the Titian probably third in the "big-boy" market. And the Tacoma/Hilux isn't bad either... Particularly the X-Runner (loves it!).

-> True I'm not a MT fan, but these magazine test their cars extensively on and off road. And none of us here in GTP can have that privilage (I wish me, YSS, and M5P to make our own assesments just like Top Gear).

Are you advocating a GTP Magazine or television show, or maybe even a podcast where we (well, you, Doug and myself) rate new vehicles?

Yes please!

I think we could do it well enough, although, I call Clarkson. You guys can fight over Hammond...

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

->

I've had the opportunity to sit in and spend some time with an F350, and it was awesome. Compared to the Tundra, it made the Toyota feel like a "girlie man's" truck. I know trains were part of the inspiration for the new style, and in all honesty, it felt like you were in one. Choo choo!

^ Well, as what I've always say; "it's always been a drivers preference". Yes, the Tundra is 'soft' compared to the F-350 (I've driven the F-250, in which almost basically the same). I've actually like sitting inside the Tundra, it has that 'cushy' feel to it for a full-size compared to the F-150. A 'girlie man's' truck? I think the Asia-spec Hi-lux takes the cake on that, even the 'whimpy' Ridgeline looks 'brutish'.

I do my best, usually. But again, spending time with the Tundra and actually looking at several very closely (anyone ever noticed the outrageous panel gaps, the lack of shrouds under the fenders, and so-so quality inside?), not to mention sitting through the press introduction in Chicago two years ago... Well, I think I'm fairly educated on the truck.

^ It's quite different on my experience on my trip to Utah, everthing was built on a top-notch quality. Maybe the one you sat on was a "production-prototype", a lot of things happen on those 'sample' vehicles.

Plus, I love the Frontier and the Titian. I'd happily rate the Frontier as the top "small" truck, the Titan probably third in the "big-boy" market. And the Tacoma/Hilux isn't bad either... Particularly the X-Runner (loves it!).

^ I rank them high as well too. The Frontier is so JDM, while the Titan is a Frontier on a humongous dose of steriods. Too bad theres rumors that the Titan will be gone by 2010.

Are you advocating a GTP Magazine or television show, or maybe even a podcast where we (well, you, Doug and myself) rate new vehicles?

Yes please!

I think we could do it well enough, although, I call Clarkson. You guys can fight over Hammond...

^ Sure why not, all we need to do is to meet up somewhere and have a proper equipment (hoping to have $$$ to make it possible). I'll deal with Hammond (and hopefully the Stig), Doug will take care of James May.

 

[Joey D]

-> I should say that please stop this anti-JDM brand bashing and be neutral for once, I saw the Malibu at the LA show and it wasn't all that. I'd like to see these cars after 5 years.

The Tundra isn't JDM, it's designed by Toyota of America for the American market.

 

[Jim Prower]

Are you advocating a GTP Magazine or television show, or maybe even a podcast where we (well, you, Doug and myself) rate new vehicles?

Yes please!

I think we could do it well enough, although, I call Clarkson. You guys can fight over Hammond...

ME TOO!!!!!! Who says we need to limit ourselves to three presenters?

 

[JCE]

Neither. Toyota's own website shows how every scene was planned, built, practiced, & filmed. It's real. Try getting over that, please.

Ok then, I'll ante up one more--lets do the SAME tests with the SAME equipment by an INDEPENDANT crew with its competition to see just "what's what". Toyota fails with truck construction but wins with media hype. I won't get over it because the Toyota is a cream puff compared to the big boys...and this includes the Titan.

-> I might think that the Tundra outweighs the F-Super Duty is because; unlike the Tundra, the Ford is almost the 25% the size of a semi or 50% the size of the commercial-grade F-650. I think thats the everyday factor and value, despite with its tons of recalls.

http://autos.aol.com/cars-Toyota-Tundra-2007/available-trims
http://autos.aol.com/cars-Ford-F_150+SuperCrew-2008/available-trims
http://autos.aol.com/cars-Chevrolet-Silverado+1500-2008/available-trims
http://autos.aol.com/cars-Dodge-Ram+1500-2008/available-trims
http://autos.aol.com/cars-Nissan-Titan-2007/available-trims

The Toyota 5.7L is almost the same weight as the F150 Super Crew 5.4L. Its the base model Tundra that weighs significantly less. I've posted the other full-size trucks for comparison.

-> I should say that please stop this anti-JDM brand bashing and be neutral for once, I saw the Malibu at the LA show and it wasn't all that. I'd like to see these cars after 5 years.

Hah JDM, that's great. It isn't Japanese.

The Tundra isn't JDM, it's designed by Toyota of America for the American market.

Just like the Nissan Titan. And, the new 2008.5 Titan is pretty decent for the money you pay. Its not as "soft" as the Toyota--but more importantly its more "manly" than the Toyota.

 

[YSSMAN]

ME TOO!!!!!! Who says we need to limit ourselves to three presenters?

Its all very interesting... I'm not sure why we don't have a dedicated news section where we can get some press credentials or something and show up to some of these auto shows a couple times a year. Hell, maybe even get a few of the press cars in our driveway for the kids to hear about.

...I mean, we know what we're talking about, right? Right?

 

[Jim Prower]

Sure. could even make a career out of it. The problem is coming up with the money to start...

Back on the Tundra: My dad's boss rants and raves about his last-gen model, but I hope he's not blinded by that to buy one of these new ones, and then finding out about the recalls...I think the Craftsman Truck version needs less work than the street version does.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> ...

The Tundra isn't JDM, it's designed by Toyota of America for the American market.

Ok then, I'll ante up one more--lets do the SAME tests with the SAME equipment by an INDEPENDANT crew with its competition to see just "what's what". Toyota fails with truck construction but wins with media hype. I won't get over it because the Toyota is a cream puff compared to the big boys...and this includes the Titan.

-links-

^ Are you implying that the Titan is with the same league as the 'cream-puff' Tundra? And I'm not implying with the same full-size class. I'm using the F-Super Duty not F-150. And also based on the website that you provided; it shows that on the 15 AOL users rates the Tundra 5 out of 5 stars while the F-150 has the same rating rated by 2 users.

The Toyota 5.7L is almost the same weight as the F150 Super Crew 5.4L. Its the base model Tundra that weighs significantly less. I've posted the other full-size trucks for comparison.

^ Based on my experience between the two trucks; my experience with the F-150 feels like it was anemic or something. The last-gen Silverado felt more meater of carrying it own weight around. The only edge that the F-150 has are, a beefy closed-box frame and its variety of cab-bed styles.

Hah JDM, that's great. It isn't Japanese.

^ Did I just say, JDM-brand, not made in JDM-land?

Just like the Nissan Titan. And, the new 2008.5 Titan is pretty decent for the money you pay. Its not as "soft" as the Toyota--but more importantly its more "manly" than the Toyota.

^ I like the Titan as of late thou.

Its all very interesting... I'm not sure why we don't have a dedicated news section where we can get some press credentials or something and show up to some of these auto shows a couple times a year. Hell, maybe even get a few of the press cars in our driveway for the kids to hear about.

...I mean, we know what we're talking about, right? Right?

^ YES!!! So far I'm trying to get a course in journalism in the future after getting a Bussiness Management degree. I love to drive and to share my thoughts to the world. And since my thread on 'Cars you test drove' is gathering dust at Cars in General thread, I've driven a lot of cars since then.

Sure. could even make a career out of it. The problem is coming up with the money to start...

^ Yeah.

 

[McLaren]

Ok then, I'll ante up one more--lets do the SAME tests with the SAME equipment by an INDEPENDANT crew with its competition to see just "what's what". Toyota fails with truck construction but wins with media hype. I won't get over it because the Toyota is a cream puff compared to the big boys...and this includes the Titan.

Independent? Toyota hired a random film company, stunt men, construction company & let them have a fully-optioned Tundra straight off a showroom.

The tests are real. Get over it, please.

 

[Joey D]

-> ...

^ Are you implying that the Titan is with the same league as the 'cream-puff' Tundra? And I'm not implying with the same full-size class. I'm using the F-Super Duty not F-150. And also based on the website that you provided; it shows that on the 15 AOL users rates the Tundra 5 out of 5 stars while the F-150 has the same rating rated by 2 users.

What? No. I never said anything about the Titan. All I'm saying is that Toyota of America engineered and built the Tundra for the American market.