Unpopular opinion: The current Tundra interior is better than everyone else's.

Pros:
• Everything is within reach without leaning away from or adjusting your driving position.
• Huge knobs adjustable by feel. No need to take eyes off the road at all.
• If you need to glance at the lower dash buttons (the ones you don't really push all that often), they are easily visible through the holes in the steering wheel.
• There are no controls missing from the steering wheel that I wish were there.
• Huge field of vision front and rear (ahem, looking at you, FJ Cruiser).
• Massive, gaping console. You could keep a watermelon in there.
• You can shut off the beautiful CarPlay screen so you're not tempted to look at it while driving.
• Speaking of CarPlay, it does everything I want.
• Seats are comfortable, even for 12 hours at a time, unlike many other current trucks I've sat in. Your mileage may vary on that one.
• Near Jeep-like driving experience with all 5 windows down.

Cons:
• CrewMax rear floor. Why, oh why, is there a giant padded shelf under the seat with no storage in it? If the goal was floor space when the seats are up, at least make it usable floor space.
• When I come to a stop at an intersection where I'm at an incline, the passenger A pillar and mirror block my rightward view of the road.
• Chrome trim. Sometimes it blinds me. Fixing that is on my short list...
• Speaking of blinding...no double or extendable visors.
• I'd take less console storage for 6 seats.

Complaints I see on the forum:
• "Why are some parts black, some parts gray, and other parts a different gray? It makes me so whin–I mean, angry!"

Who cares? IT'S A TRUCK. One that I'll pretty much never have to take back to the dealer for anything.

• "Why do the door panels seem to scuff so easily?"

Don't know. Don't care. Too busy doing truck things with it. (Yeah, sometimes when doing these truck things I'm a bit over payload )

• "Why is it so OUTDATED?"

Because they got it right a long time ago. Apparently "current" or "updated" means tons of tiny buttons or scrolling through touch screen menus for things I don't want to have to deal with WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK. I'd much rather have huge knobs I can adjust by feel. Oh look, my truck already has those! Did I mention I'll never have to take it back to the dealer for anything?

• "Look at the giant screen that other truck has in it."

Yeah...what about it? Do you need an even bigger screen in your peripheral vision while you're focused on the road and traffic around you? It's not like you can watch movies on it.

Well. There you have it. Tongue firmly in cheek. Bring on the

 

Your visors dont extend out? Mine do, once you pop them out of the clasp they should slide out a good ways.

I love the interior of my tundra. I agree about the underneath storage. I was thinking of just building a platform to be level with flat part under the seat, I can add storage compartments, plus lay my dogs bed down.

 

I agree 100%. I liked my 05 because it was more basic than the competition. I like the 2010 for the same reason. Simple is better. These new trucks have too much garbage all over

 

I wouldn't necessarily call it "garbage," but maybe "stuff we don't need" is more acurate . . .

Like a tailgate that folds twice (from Chevy and GMC). It's just something that we reeeaaaalllly do not need—oh wait, that's garbage

 

I'm going to ask this because I keep hearing people complain about a big screen and playing with it while you're driving . I don't understand why you would be playing with it while you're driving at all .

Do you play with the 8" screen while you're driving ? If you do you might like the bigger screen so it's easier to see .

 

I like the "basic" interior of the Tundra over the sensory overload of the others.

 

It's because it's not uncommon for newer vehicles with large screens to put critical, or frequently used controls, in the screen rather than having a physical button or knob that can be used by touch. Any function that requires the touchscreen is a greater distraction because it requires you to look at the screen instead of outside the vehicle.

I know that many vehicles have both, but some do have certain functions only available in the screen. Had a 2018 Renegade and the seat warmers and the steering wheel heat were only accessible via the screen. Other than that it was pretty good, though there are other vehicles that will have all the HVAC controlled strictly on a screen.

 

I know that Ram has some buttons and knobs with the big screen, but honest question: can you change which vents are blowing without the screen? Seat warmer and steering wheel?

Can you provide some pics of your truck's screen and button layout. My google-fu is weak today and I can't seem to find a pic worth a damn.

 

Best overall - not sure I agree….but it’s certainly not the worst truck out there either.

Ergonomically - it’s a nice set up - but when talking overall you gotta factor things like speedo/tach/gauges, radio, exterior noise and not just seats/materials and console.

Seats - it really depends on which trim you opt for. The SR/SR5 to me weren’t that nice - they are big - but not just comfy. Move up to a Limited/Pro and it’s better and of course Platinum/1794 build on that (I don’t feel the ac seats though in these are all that impressive myself though - others disagree),

Take Ram - everyone raves about their seats - myself, the base models were really nice - the Laramie felt cheap and the Limited were really really nice.

But Ram ergonomic set up to me is sub par - just too many electronic things and no simplicity. I’ll take simple and physical controls every time - not a billion settings in an app.

Cluster - the Tundra is “ok” - again higher trim Ram and Ford are nicer by a little - but with Toyota you get the same across the trims - I’d take Toyota over a base F150 cluster any day.

Console - it’s big, and I agree almost TOO big. Subjective to the user - a 6th seat isn’t really needed by most when it’s 1 passenger max a lot of the time. Again - picking on Ram - I will take the Toyota every time. Ram is big too but those stupid badges ruin it for me.

Lack of underwear storage on CM is the biggest issue - yes it can be added…but why not just make it the standard.

Radio deserves to be called out too - again - I upgraded mine but honestly I blame this forum for that. It’s not as bad as some will have you believe to my ears - just play with the settings. But still glad I did the upgrade. I’m cheap overall - and $1500 for speakers/amp is alot to me. I’d say it’s 50/50 - if you asked owners overall “do you like the radio” without tainting opinions by lettting them view the internet first - I’d guess half would say no - it sucks/to weak and half would say “it’s ok”.

Again - the “I do t care - I use my truck as a truck” argument is not fair. Comparing the Tundra to the half ton competition- everyone builds there truck to be used as a truck. It’s the end user who tries to use their vehicle as a macho SUV and not a truck. So need to hold it to that standard and not excuse missing features that the competition gives you.

Overall - I give my pro a 3.5 out of 5. The SR/SR5 is closer to a 3.

Definitely not “severely outdated” to me - and for reference I’d rate Ford in a comparable trim at the same - Chevy as a 2.5-3 and Ram as a 4 inside (Limited or Big Horn). Nissan is probably a 2.5 - haven’t driven one in a couple of years though.

Again - this is just the interior. Obviously Toyota picks up points on power train and reliability. Just don’t get me started on the lack of a 6.5 in a CM.

 

I wouldn't say everything is within reach, that's pretty subjective to your body style. Example, I always have to lean forward to get to the rear view mirror, which includes every time I need to press the garage door button. Those should really be in the head liner area where the stupid paperwork holder is. What a waste of space that thing...

On my Pro, the visors do extend out.

In @Shamrock92 example above on the 50/50 radio, I'm betting it's more like 50% would say "It sucks" and the other 50% would say "It's OK" but in that "I just bought a $50k truck and the radio sucks" tone of voice. LOL. It's bad enough that if it weren't for the massive pile of cash, JBL should request a recall to get their name plates removed from all the speakers and HU.

 

I like the interior of my 2010 just fine. I don’t have a screen at all and don’t want one. My wife’s flex has one for the radio, navigation, climate controls, and phone connection, and I hate it. I always miss the touch button I want and have to clear the screen and try again. I don’t like the general trend of cars and trucks to have screens for every control, multiple screens, bigger screens. How many things do you really need to adjust in a car, really? Oh, and I like that mine still uses an old fashioned key to start it up.

I would like to have a manual 4x4 lever like my friend’s 2019 4R has and like my old Jeep had. The knob selector in the truck just doesn’t seem appropriate for the function it performs, maybe I’m an old fuddy duddy for that.

I have storage compartments galore too, which I love. Keeps the interior uncluttered but pretty much anything I could need while driving is within easy reach.

I have found that neither my dash USB port nor the cigarette lighter will charge my phone worth a damn. I have to use the socket on the back of the center console and run the cord up to the front. Slightly annoying, but tolerable.

I’ve never been a huge fan of the unnecessarily deep gauges in the dash, but that’s covered in another thread somewhere.

 

The interior is one of the many reasons I bought a 21 model and did not "wait and see" what the new one was like. I love physical knobs and buttons. I hate trying to screw around with a touchscreen while I'm driving. It feels like my finger is a dart and the screen is the dart board.

 

Spot on review!! Yeah...I don't understand why folks want big monitors that (per the forums for trucks that have them)........ often times don't work or freeze up etc...etc....

 

I like that my big monitor does music and navigation. I don't want a bunch of climate and vehicle settings as touch controls.

 

I have 2019....

I specifically chose to get a Tundra and another 5th gen 4runner because inside and out, they are the most 'dated' vehicles out there.

Bitching about screen size is the 2021 version of overcompensation.

Might as well hang truck nuts off your hitch.

 

The seats and wheel no . I have mine set up to come on when it’s below 5C . I haven’t touched them again .
You can change it to defrost with the buttons but not any where else . I always have mine set to floor and vents and don’t touch it .
In the winter if you remote start it and it will automatically turn the defrost on , rear window defroster , heated mirrors , heated seat and wheel .

 

Sorry forgot to include a pic

 

I guess I should clarify; yes the visor slides out, but it does not extend to cover a larger area the way the visors in my 4Runner did. I found that very useful.

 

Again - to each their own.

I get tired of the same talking heads repeating “the Tundra is dated and feels like it’s straight out of 1998” though.

It’s still a TRUCK - full sized trucks are built to do truck things - like haul a single person to a job site. Want seating for you, the Mrs and 5 kids - buy an SUV or minivan and quit whining your truck cab is too small.

Why do I need 38 compartments to hold tissues, makeup, and all that junk - I just need 1 storage location for my tool box. That’s why I dislike the under seat storage being wasted in the CM.

Radio is 8” on a modern Tundra - show me how many 2016 trucks had that standard - much less 1998s. It’s plenty big - but it’s the knowledge Ram makes a 12” option that gets people all worked up - why can’t I have that.

it’s plenty big and how much does Ram charge for that 12” - between 2-4K including it in some otherwise worthless packages. Plug you damn iPad into the truck if you need a bigger screen to control the radio I guess.

Chevy is every bit as dated and it’s been refreshed already.

 

Fun fact - I actually HAVE put a melon in there (OK, two cantaloupes). Did it a few months back on the way home from the store to prove to my wife that yes, it was that big. (Heh heh.)

I dunno that I'd argue that it's too big (again, heh heh) as someone else said. We had a smaller console jump seat in our '13 F150, and it was 'just' the right size to....cause my wife to have her arm go numb if she rested her arm on it for any amount of time. This is, honestly, one of the biggest reasons why, when I decided to purchase a newer vehicle, I wanted a center console and no jump seat.

She vehemently disagreed with me until a few weeks after we bought the truck, when she turned to me and said "You know, you were right about this...I LOVE the huge center console and I don't at all miss the old jump seat."

 

Buttons and knobs are tactile and don't need to stare at it - and you can control every function WITH GLOVES on. I like the reliability of analog inputs and less centralized than a digital 'iPad' that controls everything but becomes a single point of failure. Toyota hammered the usability and reliability aspects in bringing the full-size Tundra in and until they decided to eliminate the independent transmission coolers in the latest generation, I think they did pretty good on that. I don't see many Tundras on tow trucks.

1st gen CrewMax have space under the rear seats - great spot for storage of recovery gear/ratchet straps.

 

I don't get this at all. The interior of my truck looks great to me. If it was all black, everyone would complain it's too monochrome.

 

Blaaaack!

 

Even more Blaaaaaaaaaaack!

 

I like my 14 interior much better than my 07. 07 gauge cluster was well, a cluster fu*k. As far as a larger screen....I have an IMax not far to go watch movies. Maybe the 22 will have a HUD display to out update the big 3. Can pretend you're an F-22 pilot.....

 

What exactly would you like to see added to or changed on the cluster?

 

Not sure about the other two but I'm pretty sure the top GM trims have a HUD.

 

All the buttons and large touchscreens that require manually look for and scroll through to change settings is not innovation.

Innovation would have been auto sensing and turning on automatically at the time when needed.

Examples,
- Smart home thermostat like climate where it learns your comfort.
- Instead of cycling through list of camera views, automatically show the most appropriate one based on what you are about to do in real-time.
- Adjust to the terrain in real-time through sensing.

A useful feature in the current Tundra with auto folding mirrors is when reversing, the mirrors automatically point down to see the line or curb better.

 

I've found the thread of my people