With the Tundra being one of Toyota’s best-selling vehicles and one of the best-selling trucks in its segment, it’s no surprise that truck shoppers looking to get good deals on a Tundra from a Toyota dealer would be shopping high and low for the right kind of 2024 model with the right kind of package. Do you opt for the SR just to own a Tundra, even if it lacks some of the features you want? Or do you go with the Platinum even if it sits just outside your price range but has a lot of what you crave from a light-duty pickup truck? Or do you go with the TRD Pro to satisfy those off-road urges? Let me take you through some of the ins and outs of what you can expect from the trim line-up, the performance and fuel economy, as well as the convenience and package features so you’ll have all the information you need when it’s time to go shopping for the Tundra that you can’t wait to drive.
Trim Packages and Starting Prices
There are eight different trims available for the 2024 model year Tundra. The light-duty pickup truck is available across the different grades to give you different levels of functionality, feature sets, and package options. This includes entry level trims, feature-rich trims, luxury trims, and off-road trims. You can find the trim and starting MSRP for each model below, but keep in mind you will need to contact the dealer for final pricing information before making any hasty decisions:
- SR – $39,965
- SR5 – $45,500
- Limited – $51,855
- Platinum – $61,775
- 1794 Edition – $62,460
- TRD Pro – $72,130
- 1794 Limited Edition – $76,565
- Capstone – $78,845
Keep in mind that every trim is available with the Tow Package option, so that’s something to consider if you wanted to boost the towing and trailering utility of the Tundra. Every grade above the SR also has additional packages available. The SR5, for instance, has the most packages when it comes to convenience, premium upgrades, and off-road packages, making it the most versatile in terms of what you can do with it for its entry price. You can basically turn the SR5 into a luxury trim, off-road trim, or a basic daily driver based on the package’s versatility and combinations.
The Limited and Platinum also have their own packages available, mostly adding extra tech, convenience, or accessibility features. And since the Capstone is the top of the line, it basically comes fully-featured with everything you could want—the only packages available for the Capstone are load-leveling air-suspension options for those who want the extra stability.
Performance and Fuel Economy
The 2024 Tundra features two different powertrains that are default based on the trim. The Tundra is available in rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. There is the i-Force twin turbocharged V6 that provides up to 389 hp and up to 479 lb-ft of torque. The 3.4-liter i-Force V6 manages 17 MPG in the city and 23 mpg on the highway in four-wheel drive, and 18 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway in rear-wheel drive. It also manages a max towing capacity of up to 12,000 lbs and a max payload of 1,940 lbs.
The second engine is the 3.4-liter i-Force Max twin turbocharged V6 hybrid, which makes 437 hp at 583 lb-ft of torque. It manages 19 MPG in the city and up to 22 MPG on the highway in four-wheel drive, and 20 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway in rear-wheel drive. It has a max towing capacity of 11,450 lbs and a max payload rating of 1,680 lbs. Both versions of the i-Force are paired up with an electronically controlled transmission with intelligence, known as ECT-i, which is a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The Tundra SR, SR5, and Limited come standard with the 3.4-liter i-Force V6. The Platinum is capable of being paired with either the standard i-Force V6 or the i-Force Max V6. Alternatively, the TRD Pro, 1794, and Capstone all come standard with the 3.4-liter i-Force Max V6. So, if you want the max towing capacity out of the Tundra, the standard i-Force is the way to go, but it limits you on the trim selection to the SR, SR5, and Limited. If you want better fuel economy, you will want the i-Force Max hybrid V6, but it means having to opt for a more expensive trim at the expense of towing and payload capacity.
Cab, Bed, and Color Options
You can get the 2024 Tundra in a Double Cab or CrewMax cab format, both of which seat up to five people. The Double Cab is a two full door and two-half-door design, while the CrewMax is a full four-door cab design. There are three different bed configurations as well, with a 5.5-ft short bed, a 6.5-ft standard bed, and an 8.1-foot long bed. Only the SR and SR5 are available with the long bed, while the TRD Pro, 1794 Limited Edition and Capstone are only available with a short bed.
There are a total of 11 different colors, with select trims only having access to certain colors. The Limited, for instance, has access to most of the colors, with its line-up including Ice Cap, Wind Chill Pearl, Lunar Rock, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Celestial Silver Metallic, Midnight Black Metallic, Supersonic Red, Blueprint, Terra, and Solar Octane. Some colors, like Solar Octane, are only available with the TRD Off-Road Package, so that’s something to keep in mind.
The trims are also available with various interior materials. Fabric is standard on the entry-level trims, while the SofTex material is available or standard on the mid-tier trims like the Limited. Upper-end trims like Capstone feature semi-aniline leather as its interior cabin material. You have eight-way power-adjustable front seats on the lower-end trims and 10-way power seats on the upper-end trims with heated and ventilated seats on the Limited and TRD Pro; you even get heated and ventilated front and rear seats on the Platinum and above.
Infotainment and Safety Features
The 2024 Tundra features a standard 12.3-inch digital driver display. The lower-end trims have an 8-inch touchscreen, and the upper-end trims have a 14-inch touchscreen featuring the Multi-Terrain Monitor on the TRD Pro, multiple camera views, and available wireless charging, which is standard on the Platinum and higher. Wireless connectivity is also standard for smartphone projection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There is also a 10-inch heads-up display available on the Platinum and every trim above it.
The Smart Key System with Push Button Start comes standard, while the Limited and above have an easy lower and lift tailgate with smart switch release. The Limited and above also comes standard with premium LED lighting arrays on the exterior. A six-speaker audio system comes standard on the SR, SR5 and Limited, but you get a 12-speaker JBL audio system that comes standard on the Platinum and higher. All of the models come standard with the Star Safety System for stability and traction control, along with Smart Stop Technology. Each trim also comes standard with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 and all of its accompanying safety features.
You have a Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert with Trailer Merge Warning, a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, as well as Lane Tracing Assist. You also have automatic high beams and Road Sign Assist, which are also standard features for the safety suite. There is even the inclusion of Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which can help make the ride more convenient for those who would rather the truck do most of the work.
Which Tundra Best Fits Your Needs?
Choices are what make truck shopping so fun, but those same choices can also seem overwhelming if you have too many of them bogging down your decision-making process. In this case, there are a lot of gives and takes when it comes to picking the right 2024 Tundra model from a Toyota dealer. You have to weigh utility and price versus convenience and fuel economy. You definitely get a lot more out of the Limited and above, but you also have to pay more. If you need a basic truck with just the basic features, the SR, SR5, and Limited are well worth the price of entry. If you’re willing to spend more to get more, then you can certainly find a lot of value in the Platinum, 1794, TRD Pro, or Capstone trims, which is something to keep in mind as you shop for the right Tundra.
