Mileage Run! Our 2023 Toyota Tundra Has 750 Miles of Range*

Feb 06, 2024

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I have a confession to make: I haven't been driving our 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro yearlong test truck efficiently. I wish I could blame the V-8 noises that get pumped through the speakers, or the 580 lb-ft of torque that make the Tundra fun to launch off the line. Maybe it's California's fault? I hear a lot is. People in Los Angeles drive with a level of aggression that rests somewhere between "qualifying for the Indy 500," and "Black Friday sales mob." It's like automotive Darwinism: Either adapt or get left behind. I suppose at the end of the day, the buck stops with my heavy right foot and my enjoyment of driving in air-conditioned, seat-cooled bliss.

Even with a significant amount of highway cruising lately, I've only been averaging somewhere between 14 and 16 mpg in MT's Toyota. Now, that's not terrible fuel economy for a big truck, but it's well short of the Tundra TRD Pro EPA's rating of 18/20/19 mpg city/highway/combined. Plus, the Tundra is a hybrid. I thought those were supposed to be economical. Toyota says efficiency wasn't the point of hybridizing the Tundra, but even so, I ought to be able to do better. With that goal in mind, I decided to take a drive and see whether, with some careful driving, I could meet or even beat the EPA's fuel economy numbers.

My first instinct was to use duct tape and cardboard to try to make the square-faced Tundra slipperier in the wind. As fun as that project might have been, a second, stronger instinct kicked in, and I decided to do the bare minimum instead. Still, before setting off, I checked the oil level and verified the tires were set to their recommended pressures. That has to count for something, right? After I topped off the fuel tank at my local gas station, I switched the drive select mode into Eco, turned off the air conditioning, and reset the trip and average fuel-economy computers and parked it for the night.

I probably should have done this fuel economy test earlier in the year because it's mid-July, and California, like the rest of the country, is stuck in a never-ending heatwave. Driving without the air conditioning on would help boost the Tundra's efficiency, and so I decided to hug the coastline as much as possible in hopes of cooler temperatures. From Los Angeles, I would head north through Malibu to Route 101 and toward Central California. When I got to San Luis Obispo, I would head west to Morro Bay and along Pacific Coast Highway to San Simeon. From my driveway, that's just more than 250 miles one-way. Including detours to take photos, get coffee, and eat lunch, I figure that would put me somewhere around the 500-mile round-trip mark.

5:45 A.M., Long Beach, California

The earlier I start, the cooler it will be and the less traffic I will hit, I tell myself. I confirmed the Tundra was in Eco mode and—foot gingerly working the accelerator—set off on my way. Last night I refamiliarized myself with high-mileage techniques, and I will attempt to implement them during the drive. Easy on the throttle, no air conditioning, and keep the engine rpm as low as possible. Use cruise control and be patient.

But even leaving at 5:30 a.m. wasn't early enough to avoid traffic getting out of Los Angeles. Luckily, creeping along in Eco mode, the 3.4-liter twin-turbo V-6 mostly stays silent; at slow speeds the Tundra does its best to maintain speed using its electric motor. That means that, while I'm wasting time, I'm not wasting any fuel.

Luckily the traffic soon eases, and I slowly accelerate back up to 60 mph, 5 mph under the posted limit.

7:15 A.M., Malibu, California

I've made it into a foggy Malibu for my first and most important stop of the day: a bite to eat and a cup of coffee. I continue to hit small patches of traffic but maintain my throttle discipline with gradual starts and stops. Luckily it is 68 degrees, and so I'm keeping cool without the A/C.

7:45 A.M.

After my breakfast, I stop along the coast in Malibu to take a couple of photos. I mean, how could you not? Back in college, I lived in Santa Barbara but had an internship in Long Beach. I was lucky enough to drive through Malibu at sunrise, five days a week for seven months. Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu in the morning is like an old friend.

8:45 A.M., Santa Barbara, California

After about 25 minutes of slow, 15-mph traffic just south of Santa Barbara, I'm back cruising along at 55 mph. The fog is sticking around, which is good because I'm still driving without the air conditioning. I do have to crack the window occasionally to let the windows defog. I find if I leave the rear window cracked slightly, it allows enough airflow in to keep it comfortable. At least I'm dressed for the occasion; I wore shorts and a short-sleeve shirt in an attempt to be comfortable and avoid using the A/C.

9:30 A.M.

Traffic predictably lets up after I get through Santa Barbara. Nothing but open roads now as the Tundra and I drive along the beautiful coastline north of Santa Barbara. Meanwhile, I figure out that the difference between 60 and 65 mph is only about 50 rpm, so I decide the extra 5 mph is worth the slight efficiency sacrifice to be traveling at the speed limit.

9:45 A.M.

The first and really only hilly section of the trip comes as Route 101 departs from the coast and heads inland toward the Santa Ynez Valley. I'm sure my average fuel economy will take a hit cruising up the long grades.

10 A.M., Santa Ynez, California

Over the hill and into wine country. The real problem now is the heat. Once I left the coast, the temperature jumped 20 degrees. I'm attempting to last as long as I can without using the A/C, but I have a feeling it's just going to get warmer from here on out. I've used a quarter of a tank of fuel so far, and the trip computer reads 156 miles. That lends credibility to the idea of being able to get 608 miles on a tank.

10:15 A.M.

This long stint on the highway is a good chance to try out the Tundra's steering assist feature.

10:17 A.M.

Two minutes of ping-ponging back and forth between the lines is about enough for me. Cruising exactly at the speed limit and swerving between the lines seems like an invitation for a roadside DUI test.

11:30 A.M., San Luis Obispo, California

Early lunch at my favorite restaurant in San Luis Obispo. Sally Loo's Wholesome Café has great coffee and excellent food. Exactly what I need after a morning of driving.

1:00 P.M., Morro Bay, California

I've made it to Morro Bay. I love this quaint little coastal town. I can't help but take a spin through downtown and head out to Morro Rock to snap a few photos.

1:30 P.M., San Simeon, California

I've reached my northernmost turnaround point. I've driven 266 miles and have used about a third of a tank of fuel in the past 8 hours.

1:50 P.M.

Zebras! I realize that sounds insane. but there is a herd of zebras that roam the grounds of Hearst Castle, and they always draw a crowd of tourists when they are close to the road.

2:15 P.M., Cayucos, California

I have to stop in Cayucos to buy cookies from the Brown Butter Cookie Company to bring home for my wife. That is, unless I eat them on the way home. If so, I must remember to delete this entry.

3:00 P.M., San Luis Obispo (again)

Afternoon coffee stop at the excellent Scout Coffee in SLO. Easily the best coffee place between Santa Barbara and San Francisco, and a welcome pick me up.

3:45 P.M.., Los Alamos, California

To pass the time on this long trip, I've been listening to a biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer called American Prometheus: The Tragedy and Triumph of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. (It is this book upon which the movie Oppenheimer is based.) I pull off in Los Alamos, California, and take a photo. I know it's not the Los Alamos, but it seemed fitting.

4:00 P.M., Santa Ynez (again)

Back in Sanchez Valley, and it's now 97 degrees. I still haven't turned on the air conditioning, but I'm increasingly tempted. Leaving the windows cracked creates just enough airflow to make it tolerable inside the Tundra. Although the Tundra's suspension tuning could be improved to calm the ride, I've now been driving for more than 10 hours and I have to give it up to Toyota for the comfortable seats. I am not sore or fatigued at all.

4:30 P.M.

I am very happy to be back on the coast north of Santa Barbara. The temperature drops 25 degrees in a matter of 10 minutes and 7 miles. Besides, I've done the drive from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles so many times it feels like I'm almost home. I have about a third of a tank of fuel left and have driven 391 miles. The Toyota's estimated range reads 166 miles until empty, and I'm 133 miles away from home. I have a feeling the truck is being conservative, though. I think I have more than that left in the tank.

5:00 P.M., Santa Barbara (take 2)

Back into civilization means I'm back in traffic. This time there's traffic and construction headed south. I'm cruising along at 3 mph. Some homecoming for this final leg of the trip.

6:45 P.M.

I've driven 465 miles in the past 13 hours. I'm stopping in Westlake, California, for dinner. The Tundra's trip computer says I'm averaging 22.3 mpg since the traffic let up.

7:30 P.M.

Somebody in a white, lifted second-generation Toyota Tundra TRD Pro just tried to race me on the highway going through San Fernando Valley. Seriously, bro? Why? Also, the temperature has once again skyrocketed back up into the mid 90s. I can't wait for this fuel economy run to be over so I can switch on the A/C.

7:50 P.M.

The Tundra crossed the 500-mile mark. Luckily, I'm returning late enough that I shouldn't hit any traffic.

8:45 P.M.

After 15 hours and 526 miles of driving, I'm done!

So how did the Tundra do? At the end of my 526-mile journey, I did in fact beat the EPA's highway fuel economy number for the Tundra TRD Pro by averaging 23.0 mpg throughout my long day of driving. Not only that, but I could have kept going. I still had a ton of fuel left when I refilled the tank and the end of the drive. Well, not literally. Our 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro has a 32.2-gallon tank, and I had only used 22.9 gallons on the trip. Going further, if I'd maintained my average of 23.0 mpg, I could have traveled as many as another 213.5 miles before running out of gas. Added to the 526 miles I'd already driven, that means I could have driven 740 miles total. Factor in the cooler air in the evenings (and maybe a good tailwind), and I think I could have pushed it to the 750-mile mark. Considering Toyota lists the single tank range as 608 miles, I think that was a successful day of efficiency running. And there's your asterisk (*) from the headline. It's kind of a big one, but 750 miles is theoretically possible.

Would I do it again? Maybe shoot for that impressive 750-mile number? Not a chance. Trying to drive economically was incredibly stressful when people are bearing down on you going what feels like 30 mph faster than you are. Besides, driving in near hundred-degree heat without A/C in a heatwave is far from pleasant.

Most important, driving like I did took all the fun out of the trip. I was so concerned with my speed, being smooth, and getting out of people's way that I didn't even really enjoy the drive through one of my favorite areas in California. So, can you stretch the legs of the Tundra TRD Pro, even beyond what Toyota and the EPA say is possible? Yes, but at what cost?

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