With a keen awareness of the growing consumer desire for more fuel-efficient vehicles, for 2009 Chevrolet offers an XFE (Xtra Fuel Economy) model, a two-mode hybrid, and now a six-speed transmission with manual shifting capabilities. The new Hydra-Matic 6L80 is available in Silverados equipped with the 5.3-, 6.0-, and 6.2-liter engines. It was first made available in crew-cab models and later will be offered in regular- and extended-cab models (except with the five-foot-eight-inch short bed) with 5.3- and 6.0-liter V-8s. The new transmission provides a lower rpm at cruising speed, improving fuel economy on the highway.

What better way to find out just how much of a difference the improvements have made than with a road trip? We requested an LT Crew Cab with the Z71 off-road package, 18-inch wheels with Bridgestone Dueler A/Ts, the 5.3-liter, E85-capable V-8 with 315 horsepower and 338 pound-feet of torque and Active Fuel Management, and the aforementioned optional six-speed automatic.

Leaving sunny Los Angeles, we were ready for a nearly 1400-mile journey to Northern California and the Sierra Nevadas and back. Once out of the metropolis, the trip consisted of mostly freeway driving, with some in-city travel, snow driving, and a windy canyon road thrown in for good measure.

The brawny, squared-off sheetmetal and wide stance can be unnerving at first in city traffic, but the Silverado’s excellent sightlines make its size easy to adapt to. Quick, accurate steering inspires confidence, and a smooth ride makes the Silverado a pleasant commuter. The LT came with a nicely appointed interior, albeit not the topline package found in the LTZ. Still, the seats remained comfortable despite the distance, and the XM Satellite Radio and auxiliary input jack kept us entertained for the duration of the trip. The center stack is still a ho-hum slab of gray plastic when the Navigation box hasn’t been checked on the order sheet, but the stereo and small upper glovebox–which requires two hands to open–were the only detractors from the otherwise nicely finished dash.

Because inclement weather was predicted, we unfortunately had to load the luggage in the cab rather than in the bed. However, the 60/40-split rear seat bottoms are easy to raise using one hand, which allowed us to stow the luggage on the cab floor. Folding the larger portion of the seat gave us a week’s worth of gear-stowing for three people behind the driver’s seat and still ample seating for a third passenger in the second row.

On the road, the Silverado was exceptionally pleasant to drive, providing a smooth ride–the suspension ably soaked up bumps and pavement imperfections. The steering was nicely weighted and communicative, and the manual-shift buttons on the column came in handy on long hills or when passing. Climbing up the narrow, windy Feather River Canyon, the Silverado handled nicely, never feeling underpowered or too wide for the road.

When the snow came, the Silverado remained unfazed. The Automatic four-wheel-drive setting handled slippery roads nicely, and putting it in 4-Hi four-wheel drive kept us trouble-free with deeper snow. Not once did the truck feel unsure or disconnected from the road.

Upon our return to Los Angeles, we had traveled 1364 miles (including a marathon 13-hour drive covering most of the length of California), from sea level to nearly 4000 feet and back. Along the way, we spent $148.71 on 79 gallons of regular-grade gas, averaging 21.7 gallons per fill-up at about $40 every 380 or so miles.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2009 Toyota Tundra is a full-size, half-ton pickup truck available in three body styles: regular cab, Double Cab (crew cab) and CrewMax (really big crew cab). Regular and Double Cabs can be ordered with either a 6.5-foot or 8-foot bed, while the CrewMax comes only with a 5.5-foot bed. Trim levels include base Grade, midlevel SR5 and plush Limited. The regular cab is only available in Grade trim, while Double Cab and CrewMax styles are available in all flavors.

Standard Grade features include 18-inch steel wheels, a bed light, a 40/20/40-split cloth bench seat, manual accessories, a tilt steering wheel, dual-zone manual climate control and a six-speaker CD stereo with an auxiliary audio jack (four speakers in regular cab). The SR5 adds cruise control, full power accessories, heated mirrors, a console-mounted shifter, front bucket seats (the bench remains an option, returning the shifter to the steering column), a power driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a six-CD changer, keyless entry and rear heater ducts. Many of these options are available on the Grade. The SR5 CrewMax also includes a reclining and sliding rear seat and a power vertical-sliding rear window.

The Tundra Limited adds 18-inch alloy wheels, a bed rail system with adjustable tie-downs, front and rear parking sensors, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power passenger seat, automatic climate control, auto-dimming side mirrors, Bluetooth and a 10-speaker upgraded sound system with a subwoofer (12 speakers with CrewMax).

Other options include 20-inch wheels, driver memory functions, a navigation system, a back-up camera, a towing package and a sunroof (CrewMax only). The TRD Off-Road package available on the SR5 and Limited trims adds an off-road-tuned suspension, unique 18-inch alloy wheels, foglamps, front tow hooks and a sliding rear window. The TRD Rock Warrior package adds 17-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, Bilstein shocks, a black cloth interior, foglamps and special exterior detailing and decals (available only on four-wheel-drive 5.7-liter Double Cab standard bed and CrewMax). The TRD Sport package includes 20-inch alloy wheels, a special shift knob and pedals, and unique detailing and decals (available only on two-wheel-drive 5.7-liter regular and Double Cab standard bed models).

Powertrains and Performance

Three engines are employed for duty underneath the Tundra’s sculpted hood, and all versions of the Tundra can be equipped with two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Standard on the 4×2 Tundra regular cab and standard bed 4×2 Double Cab is a 4.0-liter V6 good for 236 hp and 266 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy for this engine is 15 mpg city/19 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined. Optional on these models and standard on all other Tundras is a 4.7-liter V8 with 271 hp and 313 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy with this V8 is 14/17/15 (13/16/15 with 4WD). Both these engines come standard with a five-speed automatic transmission.

Optional on all Tundras is a muscular 5.7-liter V8 that produces 381 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic is standard. This truck is seriously quick, as a Double Cab SR5 4×4 we tested went from zero to 60 mph in just 6.9 seconds. Fuel economy is an estimated 13/17/15 mpg (14/18/16 with two-wheel drive). Properly equipped, the Tundra can tow between 10,100 and 10,800 pounds, depending on driveline and cab style.

Safety

Antilock disc brakes, traction control, stability control, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags are all standard. In government crash testing, the 2009 Tundra scored four stars out of five in frontal impact tests for both driver and passenger. In the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s frontal-offset crash testing, the Tundra earned the highest possible “Good” rating. In side impact crash testing, a Tundra Double Cab also achieved a “Good” rating.

nterior Design and Special Features

The 2009 Toyota Tundra has without a doubt the most stylish interior among full-size trucks. However, many of its audio controls are out of comfortable reach for the driver. Meanwhile, each gauge is housed in its own deep tunnel, resulting in less-than-stellar legibility. Materials quality is satisfactory for a full-size pickup, though the same can be said for the Tundra’s rivals.

The regular cab offers comfortable seats as well as a generous amount of interior cargo space. In Double Cabs, the backseat is fully usable for adults, while the CrewMax offers the roomiest rear seat of any pickup truck. With a limolike 44.5 inches of rear legroom, even 6-footers can stretch out and cross their legs.

Driving Impressions

The 5.7-liter V8 makes the 2009 Toyota Tundra one of the quickest pickups on the road, and the engine’s delivery is impressively smooth. Shifts from the six-speed automatic transmission are prompt, and the console shifter’s precise action makes it easy to use the manual mode while tackling steep highway grades or off-road challenges. The light steering further complements the Tundra’s easy-to-drive nature.

We were satisfied with the Tundra’s ride quality a few years ago, but the new Dodge Ram’s rear coil spring suspension and the Ford F-150′s sturdier frame make the Tundra seem jiggly by comparison. During our long-term test, rear seat passengers often complained about the choppy ride. Braking distances are a few feet off the pace of competitors, but we’ve found the Tundra is very good at resisting fade after multiple stops.