Scotty Kilmer Explains Why The 2022 Toyota Tundra's Hybrid System Isn't Really Hybrid
We all know and love Scotty for his weird jokes, scratchy laugh, and simple yet informative editing style. I personally don’t watch a lot of his videos, but my friends all like him. He recently posted a video that grabbed my attention about the true meaning of a hybrid pickup truck. We have all seen the pictures of the 2022 Toyota Tundra Hybrid and how it is supposed to be the next step in electrified pickups. On the other hand, Scotty says that’s not true, and it actually doesn’t give you more MPG than a conventional pickup truck.
So a non-hybrid 2022 Toyota Tundra gets you about 18/24 MPG. The hybrid gets you 20/24 MPG. While these are higher numbers, it's going to still below your average pickup truck. So, Scotty explained how there are basically two types of Hybrid vehicles out there. There are hybrids meant for fuel economies like the Prius or Camry, and then there are hybrids meant for extra power like the new Tundra or Audi SUVs. These power-hybrid enhanced cars typically only have one goal…to give you more horsepower and torque.
The early Tundras used to all be v8s. These were pretty powerful and had great torque. Toyota later decided to move it to the turbocharged v6 which gave it more power, but the torque was still not there. However, Toyota decided to move to a Hybrid-v6 drivetrain which not only gave it even more power, but now the torque was up to par with other previous v8s, and the towing capacity was increased.
This meant that you could now tow more weight more easily without having to use fuel on 2 more cylinders. It’s true, the 2022 Toyota Tundra Hybrid does get better gas mileage than the non-hybrid. However, Toyota’s focus on the electrified pickup was not to save on MPG but to enhance the power. Better MPG was just an unforeseeable benefit of the hybrid system.
Now even though both the Prius and Tundra are hybrids, they don’t have the same system so to speak. The Prius uses a simple little engine with a boost from an electric motor getting power from a battery. The Tundra is kind of the same except the engine is huge and the electric motor is also big. So, you essentially get the benefits of a hybrid except you to substitute the Prius’ little engine for a honking v6.
Consequently, the simple option here to buy would be the more expensive Hybrid Tundra because of its towing capacity and slightly better gas mileage. The 2022 Toyota Tundra Hybrid is about $17,000 more than the regular base model Tundra’s MSRP however your wallet and trailer will thank you for it later. It seems like a good work truck, and I honestly would buy one regardless of its price or reason. The new tundra altogether is just a really cool truck. Its design, performance, and overall stance scream alpha male to me.
What do you think? Would you buy a regular Tundra or a Hybrid? Let us know in the comments below.
Harutiun Hareyan is reporting Toyota news at Torque News. His automotive interests and vast experience test-riding new cars give his stories a sense of authenticity and unique insights. Follow Harutiun on Twitter at @HareyanHarutiun for daily Toyota news.