“I Like Big Trucks, and I Cannot Lie!”
I couldn’t resist making a parody of the old rap song but it’s the first thing that popped into my mind when I first saw the 2017 Toyota Tundra 1794 Edition Crew Max in person. The Tundra is a luxury truck with a huge personality and presence and this 1794 special edition is impressive on the road. It’s definitely a head turner.
And, this edition was built with Texas in mind. Toyota moved its North American headquarters to Plano, Texas recently and is putting more Lone Star State in everything they do. Including the name of this truck: it’s built in San Antonio in an assembly plant on the site of a former ranch that was founded in 1794, which became the name of this Texas-themed pick up.
And if you’re thinking of the Toyota Tundra as a used truck, make sure to check out our rundown at the end, where we evaluate how it fares as it grows older.
This Luxury Truck Is Not Dad’s Old Pick-up Truck
At first glance you instantly think, is that really a Toyota?! Yes, this big boy is a Toyota and it’s a luxury pickup truck. I know ‘luxury’ and ‘pickup truck’ aren’t usually synonymous but Toyota has changed that forever with the Tundra 1794 Edition Crew Max. It has all the luxury you’d expect in a high end sedan coupled with the rugged durability you need in a pickup.
The exterior is your normal rugged, durable pickup truck, while the interior is all luxury sedan. The 1794 edition comes with a beautiful brown, more bronze/copper leather interior with suede accents. Yes, suede! The front seats are 12-way heated and vented (cooled in the summer) power seats. Another favorite feature borrowed from luxury sedans is the dual climate control which comes in handy for those blistering hot days.
Who the 2017 Toyota Tundra 1794 Edition Is For:
- The truck fan who wants a rugged and functional pickup
- The truck buyer who wants a little luxury on his off day
- Buyers who want a heavy duty pickup truck
What It Costs:
The 1794 Edition Crew Max we drove had a base sticker price of $50,030.
Additional options featured on our test vehicle included:
- 20 inch, 6-spoke chrome clad wheels with P275/55R20 tires $220
- Running boards $345
- Center console storage tray (we loved) $85
Total sticker price is $51,875 (including a delivery processing fee of $1,195)
Spacious and Tech Filled Cabin
As mentioned, I fell head over heels in love with this pickup’s luxurious interior but I also loved its technology and convenience features.
For buyers who will also need this vehicle for a road trip, there’s definitely enough room in the Tundra for a family of four to ride comfortably. The 1794 edition comes with the usual technology package you’d expect. This package includes touch screen, back-up camera and a state-of-the-art navigation system. Another feature borrowed from the luxury car scene (that we love) is the fabulous JBL audio system. You’ll love listening to your favorite tunes on these premium speakers.
A surprising amount of storage for a pick up
Storage space is plentiful in the Tundra. Not only does it have a spacious cargo bed with more than enough space to haul just about anything. It also has a spacious interior. The center console storage tray is a must have! It gives the driver and the passenger great space/holders for smartphone, beverages, chargers, glasses, notepads, whatever you need there’s room for it on this console.
Cool Convenience Features
The Tundra 1794 edition had two convenience features (that’s what we call them) that were pretty cool. Mirrors are an important fixture on a car and people are always knocking them off/cracking them while parking. I’m always pushing mine in manually to save them. The Tundra doesn’t have an app for that but it does have a button! The Tundra sits up high so it really didn’t need a button to move the mirrors, but I loved the option and hitting that button to pull in/extending my mirrors quickly was fun.
The other convenience feature I absolutely loved was that the rear window could be lowered. Now the Tundra 1794 edition had a power sunroof but if you wanted the breeze to hit the back of your neck, well there’s a switch for that too. You gotta love convenience!
Let’s Talk A Little About Performance
This pickup truck does not disappoint. The gas mileage is not the best but it delivers impressive speed with a 381 hose power 5.7L V8 engine. This means when you need it the most, this baby has a little get up and go! With this engine you can also tow just about anything, up to 10,500 lbs. #Impressive
What We Loved:
- Comfortable luxury seats that are heated & cooled
- Roomy interior
- Cool convenience features
- Easily accessible color touchscreen
- Luxury sedan touches (leather/suede seats, wood grain trim, heated seats)
- Fab technology package
- It’s a rugged pickup truck!
What You Need to Know:
- Fuel economy: 13 city/17 highway
- Regular fuel recommended
- Seats 4 fabulously/5 comfortably
- Overall 4 star safety rating
- Bumper-to-bumper warranty: 36 months/36,000 miles
- Power-train warranty: 60 months/60,000 miles
- Anti-corrosion warranty: 60 months/unlimited miles
I have to admit my family wanted me to keep the Tundra after my test drive. But there are two things/features I’d love to see added at this price point. I love to see a heads up display (that shows your speed and/or navigation) and push-button-start added. I know, I know pickups don’t normally have these two features but at $51,000, that’s a serious investment and it should have all the bells and whistles (in my opinion).
If you or the family business needs a new pickup truck for daily hauls and or towing, you should strongly consider the Toyota Tundra 1794 Crew Max edition. You’ll love the comfortable and luxurious interior and the rugged durability the Tundra offers. You’ll also love that it’s sporty and elegant enough to drive to a special event. After all, it’s a good looking truck!
How Does the 2017 Toyota Tundra Fare As A Used Car?
In terms of all pickup trucks released in 2017, the Toyota Tundra is the most reliable and most well-loved of the bunch. While the truck can trend on the more expensive side, even while used, you’ll find that it comes with an equal amount of reliability, giving you a vehicle that can last for years.
Market Value
The 2017 Toyota Tundra often sells for around $24,000 to $43,000, though exact prices will vary depending on the location, trim, and condition of the truck.
Trouble Spots
There are four recalls on this truck:
- The rear seat can move in a crash
- The wheel lug nuts can crack
- Certain labels in the vehicle incorrectly post payload information
- The bumper steps can become damaged and result in injury
In addition, the brakes can have some trouble, so it’s important to ensure they’re functioning as they should be.
What Owners Are Saying
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“Drives and rides as well as most cars. has good acceleration and very good steering response.” – Tery N., TX
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“Always wanted a truck that was comfortable and dependable and that’s what I have in a Toyota Tundra.” – Anonymous, MA
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“Comparably equipped Ford, GM, or Ram truck would cost $10k to 20k more and would not be as highly rated in terms of reliability.” – Anonymous, TX
Disclosure: The 2017 Toyota Tundra 1794 Edition Crew Max was provided for my review. All opinions are my own.
