TOUGH ENOUGH? Bigger, more powerful Tundra raids the last American stronghold.(Auto File)

After two tries at the full-size-pickup market with undersized and underpowered products, Toyota has finally built what looks to be a worthy entry with the second-generation Tundra.

As one editor points out, complaints of being too small are a thing of the past: "Toyota will not be dissed for not giving Americans the supersized kind of pickups we're all supposed to love. Check out the doors on this thing-they're huge! Big seat, big steering wheel, big tires, it's all big. No wonder they had to build the assembly plant in Texas; it's the only state big enough to hold the thing.''

At the heart of Toyota's assault is an available 5.7-liter V8 that most owners we heard from opted for over the 4.7-liter V8 and the base 4.0-liter V6. Performance from the range-topping engine was a hit, with 381 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque, and was a main reason to purchase for many owners.

Tundra owners also applauded its towing prowess, one saying it had "enough brute torque to tow my 32-foot travel trailer without beating itself to death.''

One staffer used the Tundra to tow his truck to the trail for a weekend of off-roading. "I can't believe how quick it is with 5000 pounds in tow and a few hundred pounds of gear in the truck. I never worried about getting up to speed, and the fuel economy was surprisingly good,'' he said.

At the track, we put a 4x2 regular cab equipped with the 5.7-liter V8 through our test gauntlet. In straight-line tests, the Tundra blitzed the competition with the best 0-to-60-mph time of 6.31 seconds. A Nissan Titan with a 5.6-liter V8 took 7.53 seconds; Ford's segment-sales-leading F-150, with a 5.4-liter Triton V8, needed 8.44 seconds. The Tundra clocked the quickest quarter-mile time, 14.85 seconds at 93.5 mph, ahead of the Titan's 15.89 seconds and the F-150's 16.22.

When it came to braking, the Toyota dropped to the back of the pack, needing 140 feet to stop from 60 mph. The Nissan fared better, using 137 feet, and the Ford turned in the best result of the group, at 132 feet.