by Cheryl Eldridge
There is one truck that’s on the road that ‘s turning heads in all age groups. Not only does it stand out on the road, its 1794 sticker tells a story.
The 1794 Edition, which is known for the Texas ranch on which a portion of the Tundra assembly plant now stands, has been one of the best one-week test drives for trucks in a while. Imagine driving a 2014 1794 Toyota Tundra Crewmax, it sure will make you want to put on your cowboy boots!
Its Western-themed top trim body has safety front, a rearview camera is now standard across the board, and a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alerts that’s one of a kind.
Available only as a CrewMax, the 1794 adds unique silver exterior details, saddle-brown leather upholstery with ultra-suede trim for the front seats and matching soft-touch materials for the shift console, door trim and instrument panel.
I enjoyed the saddle-brown leather upholstery that was top of the line and fit for a queen and my little king.
This week’s Crewmax had plenty of leg room which seated six and body styles are mixed among two wheelbases and three bed lengths – 5.5-foot short bed, 6.5-foot standard bed and 8.1-foot long bed.
Added to this matrix are five trim levels: the base Tundra SR, SR5, Limited, Platinum and 1794 Edition. Not all of these variations are available together, and the availability of some options depends on the region where you live.
The SR5 trim is available in the double cab and CrewMax body styles. Additional standard equipment includes foglights, a chrome grille surround, chrome rear bumper, variable intermittent wipers, a center-console shifter, an upgraded instrument panel, a manual sliding rear window (power sliding in the CrewMax, which also gets an overhead console), a higher-resolution 7-inch touchscreen display, satellite radio and HD radio. The optional SR5 Upgrade package brings front bucket seats with an eight-way power driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a front console, a rear under-seat storage tray (double cab only) and an alarm system. The TRD Off-Road package adds 18-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, an off-road-tuned suspension, skid plates and tow hooks (2WD models).
The Limited trim adds 20-inch alloy wheels, chrome heated side mirrors, a more upscale silver billet grille, the bed-rail system, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather upholstery, power front bucket seats (10-way driver, four-way passenger), heated front seats, a power-operated sliding rear window (double cab), an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a navigation system and the Entune smartphone app suite. The Limited Premium option package provides front and rear parking sensors, one-touch power windows, illuminated entry lighting and a glass-breakage sensor.
The Platinum trim comes only in the CrewMax cab and adds trim-specific 20-inch wheels, more chrome exterior detailing, power-folding outside mirrors that are heated and auto-dimming, a sunroof, upgraded leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, driver-seat memory functions and an upgraded sound system with 12 JBL speakers.
By the way, the blind-spot monitoring system with cross-traffic alerts was perfect while driving the 1794 Edition.
My tester, the 5.7-liter V8 is the most powerful engine available for the 2014 Tundra. It’s standard on 4WD regular cabs and all Limited, Platinum and 1794 trims, and optional on the other models. It generates 381 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque, and comes with a six-speed automatic transmission. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 15 mpg combined (13 mpg city/18 mpg highway) on two-wheel-drive models; 4WD models also rate 15 mpg combined but drop a point on the highway rating.
A tow package is standard on all Tundras equipped with the 5.7-liter V8, and towing capacity tops out at 10,400 pounds when properly equipped.
On the safety side, the 2014 Toyota Tundra comes standard with antilock brakes, stability and traction control, trailer sway control, front side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags that cover both rows and front knee airbags. A rearview camera is standard across the board, while parking sensors are optional on the Limited and standard on the Platinum and 1794 Edition. The blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alerts is optional on the Limited, Platinum and 1794 models.
Inside, the Tundra has received a thorough update for 2014. Everything seems at once larger and more legible, and the uncomfortably long reach to the audio and climate dials and buttons on the center console has been remedied by reorienting the dashboard 2.6 inches closer to the driver. The instrument cluster now features two conventional and wonderfully legible dials for the speedometer and tachometer. It’s nothing wacky or trendy – it’s just instrumentation that works.
The 2014 Toyota Tundra’s interior materials also look and feel higher-quality than in past years, and the leather appointments in the upper trims are particularly appealing. A touchscreen display is now standard across the board, and most models are available with Entune, a suite of smartphone-connected services that includes such features as the Bing search engine, Pandora streaming radio, real-time traffic and sports and stock information. Getting started with Entune can be a hassle, though, since you have to install an app on your phone and register for an account, plus you always need an active data connection to use it.
The front seats in every trim are broad and comfortable, but as this is a truck, you shouldn’t expect much in the way of lateral support. There’s a vast amount of legroom and headroom in the backseat of the CrewMax, which shouldn’t surprise considering the enormity of this configuration’s footprint. The folding rear seats in double cabs and CrewMaxes also provide a good amount of protected storage for valuable items you’d rather not leave in the bed.
The 1794’s suggested retail price was $44,270.
Until next week, drive safely and buckle up.
