Toyota has a huge investment in the Tundra, and it’s paid off handsomely. This version Tundra has more than doubled Toyota’s share of the full-size pickup market, compared to the slightly-less-than-full-size, previous-generation model. That investment included retooling its assembly line in Indiana and building a second, state-of-the-art pickup plant in San Antonio, Texas. For 2008, Toyota added more models to the Tundra lineup, and coupled it with aggressive pricing. The most popular Tundra versions, the Double Cab and CrewMax, are teamed with a new Tundra Grade trim package that offers fewer standard features — and substantially lowers the price.

I test drove a fully-loaded, 4x4 Double Cab Limited version, with the high-torque, 381-hp 5.7-liter, iForce V8, from Atlanta to the North Carolina mountains near Cherokee, while enjoying our annual family camping excursion.

Walkaround: The Tundra is a true full-size pickup. It’s intentionally big and burly, with a very large, boldly framed grille in black or chrome, depending on trim level, that’s every bit as aggressive looking as Dodge or Ford, pulling lines from the deeply sculpted hood into the front end.

The headlights are set into the slightly-flared front fenders and separated from the front bumper, which is either chrome or body-colored resin, again according to trim level. The body proportions easily accommodate the three bed lengths and wheelbases, with body panel gaps that are intentionally wider than contemporary robotic assembly usually allows.

Interior: When it was originally launched, the full-size Toyota Tundra raised the bar for working truck interiors, and remains one of the most comfortable, and best outfitted pickups available. Our Limited test model featured all the upscale bells and whistles — power windows, mirrors, door locks, with remote, tilt/telescoping wheel, heated front bucket seats, dual zone climate control with sync mode, and of course, leather. It also boasted a 10-speaker (including subwoofer), JBL audio system with AM/FM/6-disc CD changer, and a 440-watt, 8-channel amplifier with an auxiliary jack and steering wheel-mounted audio controls, along with Bluetooth capability. In addition, it also featured the available navigation system, which includes a tailgate-mounted backup camera — something extremely useful when hitching up a trailer, because it allows the driver to see the ball on the screen, and position it perfectly without having a second person to help, and/or jumping out of the truck numerous times.

The cab is roomy, with comfortable seats that aren’t too soft, and provide good thigh support. The rear seat in the Double Cab was surprisingly roomy and comfortable as well — as our 6-foot, 4-inch passenger found out.

Ergonomics are excellent, with extra-large knobs for the most used items. Visibility from the driver’s seat is excellent, with standard mirrors that are large, and can be adjusted for a panoramic view all the way around the truck.

The large center console transforms the cabin into a mobile office, better than any competitor. The middle third of the compartment can hold letter-size, hanging file folders if needed, or mundane items like CDs. There’s room for a laptop on either side of the middle section, and the side nearest the driver has a 110v power outlet. This was especially handy when I needed to find a Wi-Fi hotspot to receive and send some email to resolve a problem back home.

The front-door armrests house flip-out compartments beneath the power window switches, and front-door map pockets are molded to hold two 22-ounce water bottles, while the Double Cab rear doors hold one.

There are assorted storage bins and compartments beneath and behind the rear seat, though in our Double cab, the subwoofer replaced the lockable under-seat bin.

Safety equipment is the most comprehensive in pickups, including side-impact airbags, curtain-type head protection airbags, advanced anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) and brake assist, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and a limited-slip differential.

Under The Hood: The 381-hp 5.7-liter iForce V8, which delivers 401 foot-pounds of torque, comes standard with an excellent six-speed automatic transmission that’s smooth-shifting and makes this one of the strongest, most responsive powertrains in its class. The iForce V8 features a new advance in light-duty truck engine technology — variable exhaust valve timing. It’s not just timing, but phasing, which changes the speed of the valves’ movement, the duration (how long the valves stay open) and the overlap between exhaust and intake.

Behind The Wheel: The Tundra’s ride and handling are excellent. On the drive up I-85 out of Atlanta, the Tundra was smooth, comfortable, and quiet in both stop and go traffic, as well as above the 70 mph speed limit, just keeping up with traffic.

Acceleration is smooth and responsive. Steering is sure and certain, and braking is solid, with a firm pedal. Standard four-wheel discs are a first for a Toyota pickup, and the ABS system has all the control features, including electronic balancing of brake force, that one usually sees in a luxury car.

The suspension leaves no doubt you’re driving a truck, yet by almost every other measure, you could be driving a big luxury car. As with most pickups, the ride gets bouncy on bumpy roads with an empty bed, but the solid rear axle is less skittish than most other empty pickups. Loading it with gear coming and going from our storage unit, the ride — even on twisting mountain roads — was smooth. Over the Blue Ridge Parkway — which encompasses mountains and lots of winding terrain, the Tundra handled well and was exceptionally comfortable for both driver and passengers.

Whines: Most of the knobs and buttons, including the audio cluster, climate controls and nav screen, are located in the passenger side of the center stack — at the edge of the driver’s reach. The Tundra is wide, so smaller drivers may have a harder time operating some of them. They may also have to lift up and lean toward the center of the truck to adjust airflow, and in some cases, to get a clear view of the navigation screen.

Bottom Line: It’s difficult to convince any longtime pickup owner to switch brands, but buyers without a particular loyalty, or new to the light-duty truck market, should absolutely check out the Tundra. It’s a full-size pickup in every sense, and gives up nothing to Chevy, Ford, Dodge, Nissan, or GMC, delivering power, payload and tow ratings that meet or beat them all. It’s exceptionally comfortable, and easy to drive, and priced aggressively. And then there’s Toyota’s legendary reliability…