Although not as crowded as the SUV market, many contenders are in the full-size pickup truck market. One of the most popular ones is the Toyota Tundra. So far, this lineup has been able to provide reliability, capability, and comfort.
Soon enough, we will see a new iteration from the lineup: the 2020 Toyota Tundra. Interestingly, some rumors suggest we will see the New Toyota Tundra Diesel.
Up until now, the lineup has been powered by gasoline engines only. A diesel engine has not been an option. This will be changed with the arrival of the 2020 model. Now, let’s see how the upcoming Tundra will be.
Update:
Currently, the Toyota Tundra is available in the latest model year. There are 6 variants on the Tundra 2021 model year, including:
- SR: $34,025
- SR5: $35,715
- Limited: $42,740
- Platinum: $49,245
- 1794 Edition: $49,245
- TRD Pro $49,125
Table of Contents
2020 Toyota Tundra Diesel Redesign
Toyota has yet to give the Tundra lineup a major redesign. The last time Toyota did was in 2007. Since then, no major redesign is given to the lineup. There are some refreshes here and there, with the most recent being in 2014. From 2014 until now, the overall look of the Tundra is more or less the same. It still sports a rugged, work-oriented, off-road look.
What is important to note is that, despite the lack of redesign, the fans of Tundra don’t think it is necessary. They rather wait for a diesel engine, which will likely come in the 2020 model, than wait for a new look.
That being said, we expect Toyota to give updates, upgrades, and minor changes to the 2020 model. The upcoming pickup truck will need them to survive in the market, to say the least.
Exterior
Since a major redesign is unlikely to happen given that Toyota seems reluctant to do it, we expect the upcoming Tundra to inherit the overall look of the current model. That does not mean there will be no changes at all, though.
The 2020 Tundra should get a more sophisticated and modern look in addition to a rugged, work-oriented, off-road look the lineup already sports. Moreover, in comparison to its rival lineups, Tundra has less design flair.
Even if there may not be any complaint from the fans of Tundra about its exterior, there is always room for improvement. In the Tundra case, 2020 Toyota Tundra Diesel will be benefitted from new headlights, grille, and bumper, for example. A more modern touch like sharp and sleek lines wouldn’t hurt either.
2020 Toyota Tundra Interior
We expect the same thing with the interior. There will not be any drastic changes in its interior. In terms of space, the cabin should be spacious and comfortable, just like the 2019 model.
There should be enough space for everyone, including the rear passengers. What the lineup is lacking so far is quality materials. Indeed, for its price, Tundra’s interior materials are quite underwhelming. Will the upcoming Tundra have better quality materials? Only time will tell.
2020 Toyota Tundra Diesel Specs & Performance
It is not uncommon for the Toyota Tundra lineup to come with engines capable of generating robust power. It seems that the 2020 Toyota Tundra Diesel will continue this trend.
The upcoming Tundra will likely get a 5.0L turbocharged Cummins V8 engine. This engine is quite powerful. It can generate up to 310 horsepower with over 500 lb-ft of torque. The diesel engine is likely to be mated with a six-speed auto transmission gearbox.
In terms of driving experience, so far, the Toyota Tundra lineup has been able to provide a comfortable and composed ride. The truck can handle off-road settings such as field, dirt road, and sand quite well. This is true for the 2019 model.
We can expect the same thing for the 2020 model. What the 2019 model is lacking is maneuverability. The truck has a wide turning radius which can be bothersome in spaces like urban settings and parking lots. Let’s hope the 2020 model will not have the same issue.
Features
In terms of features, the upcoming 2020 Toyota Tundra Diesel should come with at least the following: a touchscreen display with an up-to-date infotainment system, navigation, automatic climate control, an audio system, and Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay compatibility.
The Previous Toyota Tundra does not have Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, which can’t be overlooked today. The 2020 model should not make the same mistake.
Other features, such as a moonroof, heated leather seats, a tow package, skid plates, LED headlights, all-terrain tires, and a steering wheel with a leather cover may also be available. These features are available for the higher trims of the current model. They should be available for the 2020 model too.
Safety Equipment
Since the truck has yet to be released, we will use the current model as the basis of our expectations. The current model, the 2019 Toyota Tundra, comes with various active safety technologies. For instance, it has auto high-beam headlights, auto emergency braking (which includes a pedestrian detection system), adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warnings. More likely than not, the 2020 model will carry these technologies as well.
New Toyota Tundra Diesel Price
Toyota has yet to release the exact release date and the price of the upcoming 2020 Toyota Tundra Diesel. While we don’t know when the upcoming Tundra Diesel will be released, we can expect the full-size pickup truck to hit the market soon.
Release in 2020 is also possible, but we think it is unlikely. After all, the upcoming full-size pickup truck is meant to be a 2020 model.
As for the price, we can expect it to be in the same price range as the 2019 Toyota Tundra Diesel. The current model’s starting price is around $37,000. The price of the 2020 model shouldn’t be too far from that. A slight price increase should be expected.