A truck for all reasons: crew-cab pickups: the Toyota Tundra tops this group of passenger-friendly pickups.

The Toyota Tundra is our new top pick in the pickup-truck category That's especially notable because for 2004 there are more full-sized pickups from which to choose.

* The Ford F-150, the volume model in the U.S.'s best-selling model line, was redesigned and greatly improved for 2004.

* Nissan introduced the new Titan, the company's first full-sized pickup and only the second from an import automaker (although both the Tundra and Titan are built in the U.S.).

* For 2004, Chevrolet and Toyota introduced crew-cab versions of the Silverado 1500 and Tundra models, respectively which means that crew-cab versions are now available for every full sized model.

We bought all five models in a similar configuration: a crew cab with four-wheel drive and a V8. Sticker prices ranged from $32,447 for the Tundra to $35,585 for the Silverado. A large V8 typically provides quicker acceleration and greater towing capability but sacrifices fuel economy Overall gas mileage ranged from 14 mpg for the Toyota, Ford, and Chevy to only 11 for the Dodge.

Crew cabs have four regular doors and seating for five or six people. They also offer more interior room for protecting cargo from the weather. The trade-off is that crew cabs have short cargo beds--about 5 to 6 feet long, rather than the 8-foot beds common on regular- and extended-cab versions.

The Toyota Tundra was introduced in 1999 and was our top rated pickup model from 2000 to 2002. The Tundra accelerates nicely but has the lowest towing capacity here. Its V8, which is derived from the one used in Lexus cars, is smooth and quiet. The ride is civilized, the cabin is quiet, and reliability has been top notch. The Tundra also has one of the longest beds in this group. Those things make the Tundra the most well-rounded pickup we've tested.