Our 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Is Making Back-Breaking First Impressions (2023)

Unfortunately, the Tundra TRD Pro's ride quality leaves much to be desired, both on paved roads and off the beaten path. As a photographer, my duties often involve capturing shots while hanging out of the back of a van or SUV. For the uninitiated, the disorienting sensation of looking backward through a camera lens while the vehicle sways and twists along mountainous roads or on tight racetracks can turn the faces of even the hardiest of souls a nauseating shade of green. Not me, though: I'm cool as a cucumber. Seriously. Last year, for example, during a story about escape and evasion techniques, my hands and feet were duct-taped and I was locked into the trunk of a Chevrolet Malibu. The driver proceeded to do highspeed donuts in a dirt parking lot. I wasn't exactly comfortable, but I focused on my task and broke out of my binds and escaped. When the car stopped moving, I hopped out of the trunk, threw my hands in the air, and walked away triumphant with a smile on my face.

Despite this superhuman equilibrium, I was surprised to find myself experiencing motion sickness while driving down Interstate 405 into Los Angeles. The uncontrolled body movements on regular, albeit imperfect roads were jarring, and the discomfort was even worse for my wife riding passenger, who now dreads trips lasting longer than half an hour.

Despite the beefy Fox shocks underneath, the story doesn't improve when the pavement ends.

During a recent trip to explore the California wildflower superbloom, I was initially lulled into a sense of comfort. The beginning of the trail was a 10-mile-long lightly graded gravel road that gently twists along a dry riverbed. This sort of terrain is where the Tundra shines. The Tundra has fairly good visibility, the steering is nicely weighted, and the length of the truckmakes it feel stable at higher speeds. The problems began when the trail narrowed and became rougher. The Tundra is somehow simultaneously too soft during some types of driving and then too stiff in others, absolutely thrashing you when you take a bump, rut, or whoop at anything faster than walking speed. The Tundra TRD Pro might dress like a desert racer, but it certainly doesn't drive like one.

They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but the Tundra's prerunner styling suggests a certain competence in the type of sandy, higher-speed desert running that's so common in the creosote-bush-encrusted flatlands of Southern California.

Before I highlight some of the truck's positive aspects, it's worth mentioning one final drawback: the Tundra's horrible turning circle of 49.8 feet, over 3 feet larger than a comparable Ram 1500 Rebel. Navigating parking lots often necessitates executing at least a two- or three-point turn to get into a parking spot, and U-turns are nearly impossible. Unless I'm turning onto a roadway with a minimum of three lanes going the opposite way, I have stopped trying. I won't even attempt a drive-through if I think someone will pull in behind me, knowing I'll need to stop and readjust my angle.

The good news is that there are several aspects of the 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro that I've genuinely come to enjoy.

Also, despite what I said in the previous paragraphs about the ride quality, on perfectly paved roads, the Tundra is very comfortable to drive for long distances. The heated and ventilated seats are very comfortable, and the massive 14-inch screen is pleasant to use with its wireless Apple CarPlay capabilities. The boatloads of torque make overtaking easy and at highway speeds the truck feels stable.

You've likely noticed the glaring disparity in length between the sections highlighting the good and the bad first impressions of the 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD. It's flawed, but knowing these flaws will inform us going forward, and time will tell if my opinion takes a turn. If it does, though, I can guarantee it will be a three-point turn.