2014 Toyota Tundra

2014 Toyota Tundra

Episode 3303 , Episode 3316
Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

When the Tundra replaced the T100 in the Toyota lineup for 2000, it was proof that Toyota was serious about taking on the domestics in the full-size pickup truck market. And while sales have never really challenged F150 or Silverado, the Tundra has carved quite a niche for itself among personal use buyers. Now let’s see if a new manly makeover will help them carve out even more sales.

It’s hard to ignore the 2014 Toyota Tundra’s changed face. It’s larger and more in your face, and in tune with the more rugged appearance that graces the rest of the truck. And that more macho design was by design.

Despite being just as capable as domestic light-duty pickups, the Tundra has thus far been unable to shed its soft image. Well, as truck current marketing-think goes; the bigger the grille, the more capable the truck! So the new Tundra’s cow catcher grows in size, yet still blends in nicely with a new 3-piece front bumper. 

The stance is certainly wider, and fenders are a little more squared off, all helping to reaffirm this Tundra’s credentials, as does towing up to 10,400-pounds. The rear end is “branded” with Tundra script; an integrated tailgate spoiler, and a 3-piece bumper of its own, while aero tricks on the rear tail light lenses and side mirrors help this brutish brick get through the air as efficiently as possible.

To keep pace with the high dollar pickups now in vogue, Toyota adds a new 1794 model that pegs the bling-o-meter with 20-inch alloy wheels and a power moon roof. 3-Cabs are available; the 2-door Regular cab and a pair of 4-doors – the extended Double cab, and the CrewMax crew cab with a standard power sliding back window. All Tundras add Halogen reflector beam headlights with manual level control; and the 1794 edition adds LED daytime running lights. 

We are disappointed to see no major powertrains changes, however. It’s not that they’re inadequate. But, domestic full-size pickups, along with Nissan’s Titan, are making some serious strides in mixing more power with more fuel economy and Toyota is at risk of getting left behind.

As before, a 4.0-liter V6 is the base engine, and a pair of V8’s are available. We spent most of our time in the volume leading 5.7-liter V8 rated at 381-horsepower, and 401 lb-ft. of torque. While it pulls strongly and has a very responsive throttle, compared to domestic V8’s it tends to sound like it’s working much too hard.

It’s paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul mode, and gets Government Fuel Economy Ratings of 13-City, 17-Highway, and 15-Combined for our 4-wheel-drive tester. That makes for a very poor Energy Impact Score thanks to 22.0-barrels of annual oil consumption and yearly CO2 emissions of 10.0-tons. 

While the exterior has undeniably taken the macho route, the interior has actually gotten even friendlier. Materials vary greatly with trim level, but our CrewMax Limited had very comfortable leather clad seats and wood-style trim. Also, Tundra is the only truck with available blind-spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert. CrewMax models offer plenty of room in the rear seats as well, whether left in place for seating, or folded up out of the way for cargo. Switchgear is nice and big, with a fairly logical layout; and major controls are closer to the driver than before for ease of use.  

One complaint; like most rivals the Tundra’s navigation screen is hard to read in direct sunlight. The Tundra’s frame also carries over from last year, but the suspension has been revised and an improvement is quickly noticed. Ride quality is smoother and you really feel like you’re riding high and breathing thin air. Steering remains hydraulic, providing good overall feel, with better straight line stability. 

During our limited off pavement time we found the Tundra to be plenty capable of handling the less traveled way to your favorite camp site or hunting spot; and engaging 4-wheel-drive on the fly was quick and smooth. An automatic limited-slip differential is standard. 

And when it comes to pricing, starting at just $26,915 the Toyota Tundra is a lot of truck for the money. The 2014 Toyota Tundra has improved greatly and without a doubt has proved itself to be a viable alternative to the Big-3. Still, in this full-size arena, the domestics do it better. However, while Ford, Chevrolet, and RAM may not be worried at the moment; the Tundra is here to stay, and it’s getting better all the time.

Specifications

  • Engine: 5.7-liter V8
  • Horsepower: 381
  • Torque: 401 lb-ft.
  • EPA: 13 mpg city/ 17 mpg highway
  • Energy Impact: 22.0 barrels of oil/yr
  • CO2 Emissions: 10.0 tons/yr
2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz 9

2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz

Volkswagen Brings Beetlemania Level Of Excitement To Minivan Segment

Episode 4414
Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

The duty of upholding Volkswagen’s heritage has most recently been delegated to small legacy car names like Golf and Jetta. But hold on! A much larger, totally modern take on VW’s classic microbus has just buzzed over the horizon— the all-electric ID. Buzz. It’s been at the top of our minds since we first saw the concept back in 2017. Well, it’s finally here, so let’s get our groove into drive!

This 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz has indeed created the most buzz around Volkswagen since the Beetle’s return to the U.S. in the late 1990s. We couldn’t drive it anywhere without drawing a crowd. No wonder, just about everyone has a VW Microbus story to tell, and seeing this reimagined version rolling down the street brings back all those memories.

VW really pulled it off as far as we’re concerned, as it looks great without appearing over the top. All the cues are here: Big VW logo front and center, lots of greenhouse including A-pillar windows and mini sliders for the second-row passengers, D-pillar air vents, and two-tone wheels. And while its appearance may be pure retro, its drivetrain is far from it, as the ID. Buzz is all-electric, and unlike the new Beetle, the Buzz does retain the original Microbus’ rear-drive architecture.

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Powering those rear wheels is a 210-kW motor drawing juice from a 91-kWh battery for a range of 234 miles; 200-kW max charging will get you to 80% in about 26 minutes. Buyers can add another small 80-kW motor up front for 4motion all-wheel-drive and an increase of total output from 282 to 335 horsepower with a combined 512 lb-ft of torque. It uses the same battery, but range estimates drop just slightly to 231 miles. But while those numbers are modest, we also found them to be quite conservative, as we observed as many as 287 miles available in our all-wheel-drive tester’s gauge display and were on pace for 273 miles in our driving loop.

One throwback theme that may be a turnoff to some is that it’s quite a step up into the Buzz’s front seats, but there’s certainly a commanding view of the road once you climb in. Second row seating can be either a three-place bench or a pair of captain’s chairs, so there’s generous room for seven or six passengers. The captain’s chairs in our Pro S Plus offer good support and very easy access to the third row.

Lots of flexibility too with the option to simply fold the seats or remove them altogether.

With the sliding side doors and a wide opening rear hatch, there’s plenty of access for loading big sport utility amounts of cargo. Lots of flexibility too with the option to simply fold the seats or remove them altogether, and the ability to create a full-length flat floor with a rear cargo shelf that covers some handy removable storage bins. There’s 18.6 cubic-feet of space behind the third row, 75.5 behind the second, and a max of 145.5. That’s more than a Chevrolet Tahoe. For smaller items, there are lots of cubbies throughout the cabin, along with a standard Buzz Box that can be moved to multiple locations.

With a design that prioritizes retro form and modern function over aero efficiency, the 4motion equipped ID. Buzz earns a Fair efficiency rating, using 42-kWh of electricity per 100 miles, and we weren’t sure what to expect at our Mason Dixon test track.

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What we found was great torque off the line and drama free launches to 60 in just 5.3 seconds. It was very stable at speed and power delivery stayed steady most of the way down the track until we reached about 90 mph, when it began to taper off just before we finished the quarter-mile in 14.0 seconds flat at 97 mph.

With 1,200-lbs. of battery weight nestled in its 127.5-inch wheelbase, the Buzz felt planted to the pavement through our handling course. There was quite a bit of body roll to deal with, but surprisingly little understeer. In panic braking runs, pedal response was inconsistent, feeling soft at times, pushing back hard at others; but through it all, results were quite good, stopping from 60 in an average of just 108 feet.

Three interior themes are available, this Dune is the brightest, featuring coastal inspired wood optic dash décor, “gray and clay” leatherette surfaces, and a high-mounted central 12.9-inch touchscreen. Pricing starts with a rear-wheel-drive Pro S at $61,545; this Pro S Plus begins at $65,045, add another $4,500 for 4motion, which brings a few extra features along with all-wheel drive.

Retro design with old-school VW charm, modern EV drivetrain, big SUV capacity merged with minivan flexibility; it all comes together in this 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz. It’s easily one of the coolest rides of the year and one that will likely keep Volkswagen dealers buzzing for years to come, and that’s something no other people and things mover can say.

Specifications

As Tested

  • Motor Setup: Dual-Motor AWD
  • Battery Size: 91-kWh
  • Horsepower: 335
  • Torque: 512 lb-ft
  • EPA Range: 231 miles
  • 0-60 mph: 5.3 seconds
  • 1/4 Mile: 14.0 seconds at 97 mph
  • Braking, 60-0: 108 feet
  • MW Test Loop: ~ 273 miles