What kind of real-world fuel economy difference exists between the latest 2025 Toyota Tundra TRD Rally with its twin-turbo V6 and a classic TRD Pro Tundra, powered by a V8? We put these two trucks head-to-head on our Denver 100 MPG loop to find out. Surprisingly, the V8 performed better than anticipated, but the newer truck still demonstrated a clear efficiency advantage. Here’s what we discovered.
The Contenders
The 2025 Tundra TRD Rally is a recent addition to the lineup, based on the TRD Off-Road trim, but enhanced with several upscale features and distinctive visual accents of yellow, orange, and red, both inside and out. Mechanically, the truck features an off-road-tuned suspension equipped with Bilstein shocks and a locking rear differential. The tires are 33-inch, and the truck incorporates an active air dam that deploys at speeds greater than 40 MPH.
The new truck has a 3.4L twin-turbo V6 engine, rated at 389 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. While a twin-turbo V6 hybrid powertrain is available for this generation Tundra, this test truck was not equipped with it.
For our comparison, we also used a 2019 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro as a benchmark. This truck is kept in stock condition except for a raised air intake. It rides on the stock height and original 32-inch all-terrain tires. Known for their power, the iForce V8-powered trucks aren’t especially economical at the pump, but they offer robust performance, combined with a distinctive TRD dual exhaust system. The V8 is rated at 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque, working with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The Denver 100 MPG Loop
The Denver 100 MPG loop provides a controlled highway and tollway route around the Denver, Colorado metropolitan area. The total distance traveled is approximately 111 miles, with speeds normally averaging a bit above 60 MPH. The majority of this route has speed limits of either 65 or 75 MPH.
The Results
The fuel economy results were interesting. The V8-powered truck managed 18.9 MPG on this loop. This figure surpasses the truck’s EPA rating of 17 MPG. The newer truck recorded 22.6 MPG at the pump, which is also slightly better than the EPA estimates for this truck. The new truck improved nearly 4 MPG when compared to the old one.
Whether this improvement in fuel economy is substantial is dependent on consumer priorities, especially considering the performance capabilities of both trucks.
