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2026 Toyota Tundra TRD Performance: More Power, Same Questions
The upgraded twin-turbo V6 boosts output, but doesn’t fix the Tundra’s other quirks.
By David Gluckman
Toyota continues to tinker quietly with the twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6 in the Tundra. A new engine calibration, paired with intake and exhaust modifications, extracts an extra 29 horsepower from the hybridized powertrain, bringing the total to 466 hp. Max torque remains unchanged at 583 lb-ft. This hybrid setup is standard on the TRD Pro and other premium trims, and also available on nonhybrid Tundras (adding 32 hp) and the hybrid-only Sequoia. After testing the Sequoia with these upgrades, it’s now the Tundra’s turn.
Subtle Visual Changes
With all the visual cues already declaring the 2026 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro’s identity, the tiny “TRD Performance” badge on the lower left of the embossed tailgate is easy to overlook. Beyond the optional loud bedside graphics, there’s little left to outwardly advertise this package. However, that badge could certainly be larger. Peeking under the hood reveals a pair of TRD-branded airboxes, each serving its own turbo.
Helping the 3.4-liter engine breathe easier is a cat-back exhaust. At the rear, a single TRD-finished tip replaces the standard Pro’s dual circular outlets. The shape echoes the trapezoidal geometry of the Tundra grille. Like the rest of the truck, it’s chunky.
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Another clue lurks behind the fuel door: a sticker proclaiming “PREMIUM FUEL ONLY,” marked with the TRD Performance logo. It’s a reminder that you paid extra for this truck so you could pay more at the pump. Thankfully, the modest upgrades don’t seem to hurt fuel economy. We averaged 15 mpg during our time with the TRD pickup, which aligns with past Tundra experience.
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Pump Up the Volume
With this setup, the power peak hits at the same 5200 rpm, but max torque—unchanged at 479 lb-ft—arrives 400 rpm sooner. Compared to an unmodified Tundra TRD Pro, the TRD Performance truck was 0.1 second quicker to 60 mph, the same delta seen with the Sequoia, clocking in at 5.6 seconds. Larger gains appear in the rolling-start metric, with this test truck moving from 5 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, 0.3 second faster than stock. Its 14.2-second run through the quarter-mile at 97 mph is quicker and faster, by 0.3 second and 5 mph, respectively. If you’re seeking more power, you might need to explore aftermarket solutions to achieve a bigger boost, many of which are available.
HIGHS: Quicker than stock in every test, no fuel-economy penalty, visually stealthy upgrade.
With all the throttle application, the exhaust note can be, well, exhausting. The performance cat-back exhaust is an improvement only if your objective is loudness. At wide-open throttle, it matches the standard TRD Pro’s 80 decibels, but the drone on the highway is pronounced and wears thin quickly. At a 70-mph cruising speed, the performance exhaust pumps 70 decibels into the cabin, three more than the standard setup. Compared to the exhaust on the TRD Performance-equipped Sequoia—which replaces only the center pipe, increasing the sound from 65 to 70 decibels—it’s more noticeable but less pleasant. Even with this exhaust upgrade, Toyota continues to pipe in synthetic engine noise that cannot be disabled.
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Michael Simari|Car and Driver
A catch-22: You might hesitate to floor it very often, thus failing to get the most out of the tuning.
LOWS: Aftermarket tuners achieve greater output with this V-6, makes loud even louder, will people notice it’s special?
The tune does nothing to improve the Tundra’s occasional lumpy transmission shifts. At part throttle, the unit is busy cycling through its 10 gears, and when the pedal is floored, gear changes come fast and furious, though not smoothly. This is one area where the domestic half-ton trucks have a distinct advantage.
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Michael Simari|Car and Driver
Seats with Flair
While not specific to the TRD Performance package, the distinctive IsoDynamic suspension seats standard on the Tacoma TRD Pro are now available on the Tundra for 2026 and were included in this test truck. While they eat into already limited rear-seat space in the Tacoma, the Tundra CrewMax offers more room, and our rear-seat occupants didn’t complain—they only asked why there were bicycle pumps on the back of the front seats.
The TRD Performance package is available on select Tundra trims and configurations, adding $2,999 to the price. It costs a more reasonable $2,299 for the Sequoia, which makes a more reasonable amount of noise. If you simply want your TRD Pro to stand out, however, this is the mod package for you.
VERDICT: More power is good, but the Sequoia with this package improves performance without the added noise.
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Michael Simari|Car and Driver
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Specifications
2026 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-motor, rear/4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door pickup
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $74,660/$82,388
Options: TRD Performance package (dual air intake, cat-back exhaust, TRD Performance badge), $2,999; TRD cast-aluminum running boards, $1,219; IsoDynamic front seats, $980; Tow Tech package with wireless trailer camera, $850; bed step, $431; dash camera, $375; 2-year Connected Services trial offering, $325; TRD Pro Tow package (heated power tow mirrors with LED turn signals, 360-degree camera system), $290; TRD Pro bed lettering in black, $160; chrome front bumper lettering, $99
POWERTRAIN
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve 3.4-liter V-6, 421 hp, 479 lb-ft + AC motor, 48 hp, 184 lb-ft (combined output: 466 hp, 583 lb-ft; nickel-metal hydride battery pack)
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: control arms/live axle
Brakes, F/R: 13.9-in vented disc/13.6-in vented disc
Tires: Falken Wildpeak A/T AT3W
285/65R-18 116T M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 145.7 in
Length: 233.6 in
Width: 81.6 in
Headshot of David Gluckman
Reviewed by David Gluckman”