The first generation Tundra had many similarities with the older Toyota T100 and the compact Toyota Tacoma.
These included the shared use of a 3.4-liter V6 engine which was the top of the line engine in both the Tacoma and T100.
The V6 engine would serve as the base engine for the Tundra, while a second engine was added, a 4.7-liter V8, the first V8 for a Toyota pickup.

Publicly introduced in May 1999 as a 2000 model, the Tundra prototypes and "show trucks" were initially known as T150s.
However, Ford and automotive journalists described the name was too close to the market-leader Ford F-150, and following a lawsuit by Ford, the production truck was renamed the Tundra.

The Tundra was slightly larger than the T100, but still had the perception of being too small and car-like to pose a serious threat to the domestic pickup trucks.
With a production capacity of 120,000, sales were double the rate of the T100.
At its introduction, the Tundra had the highest initial vehicle sales for Toyota in its history.
It was selected as Motor Trend's Truck of the Year award for 2000 and Best Full- Size Truck from Consumer Reports.
It was built in a new Toyota plant in Princeton, Indiana, with 65 percent domestic content.

Engine choices available in the Tundra were a 24V 3.4-liter V6 engine that produced 190 hp (142 kW; 193 PS) and 220 lb⋅ft (300 N⋅m) of torque and an LEV certified 32 valve 4.7-liter "i-Force" V8 engine that produced 245 hp (183 kW; 248 PS) and 315 lb⋅ft (427 N⋅m) of torque.
A Toyota Racing Development (TRD) supercharger was already available for the 3.4-liter V6 (2000-2003 models) that bumped power to the 260 hp (194 kW; 264 PS) range and 260 lb⋅ft (353 N⋅m) of torque.
TRD introduced a second supercharger for the V8 (2000-2003 models) engine late into its second year of production that increased to the mid 300 hp (224 kW; 304 PS) range and torque to the 400 lb⋅ft (542 N⋅m) range.
The V6 supercharger is still available, the V8 supercharger ended production once Toyota released the updated VVT-i equipped 4.7-liter engine.

The grille was updated in 2002 (for the 2003 model year), along with a new Stepside bed available on Access Cab models.
The Tundra Double Cab, also added to the lineup in 2004, was a crew cab with four rear-opening doors, with interior and exterior details copied from the Toyota Sequoia.
Its bed was nearly 5 inches (130 mm) longer than the competing Honda Ridgeline or Ford F-150.
It is also 13 inches (330 mm) longer, 3 inches (76 mm) taller, and 4 inches (100 mm) wider than the Regular and Access Cab versions, with a 12 inches (300 mm) longer wheelbase.
A new engine was introduced in 2005: a 4.0-liter V6 rated at 236 hp (176 kW; 239 PS) and 266 lb⋅ft (361 N⋅m) of torque, and the existing 4.7-liter V8 was updated with Toyota's VVT-i variable valve timing technology and was rated at 282 hp (210 kW; 286 PS) and 325 lb⋅ft (441 N⋅m) of torque while the 2006 versions were rerated at 271 hp (202 kW; 275 PS) and 313 lb⋅ft (424 N⋅m) of torque.
The 5-speed manual gave way to a 6-speed manual, and a 5-speed automatic replaced the 4-speed.
With a towing capacity of 6,900 lb (3,130 kg) on the Double Cab and 7,100 lb (3,221 kg) on Access Cab and Regular Cab models with a V8 engine, the Tundra still did not have enough power to compete with the heavier-duty offerings of the Big Three and Nissan.

In 2003, the T3 Special Edition was sold in conjunction with the release of the Terminator 3 movie.
It included a TRD performance package, "T3" badging, blacked out grille and trim pieces, special 17-inch wheels and T3 limited interior trim.
650 were sold in the US as 4x2 and 200 were sold in Canada as 4x4.

In 2006, the Darrell Waltrip Edition was marketed to honor the NASCAR driver and his participation in the NASCAR Truck Series.
Only 2000 V8-powered Double Cab models were produced.
The package included special badging and unique 18-inch wheels.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Tundra "Good" overall in their frontal offset crash test.
 It was the first full-size pickup awarded a "Good" score, its the
The first generation Tundra had many similarities with the older Toyota T100 and the compact Toyota Tacoma. These included the shared use of a 3.4-liter V6 engine which was the top of the line engine in both the Tacoma and T100. The V6 engine would serve as the base engine for the Tundra, while a second engine was added, a 4.7-liter V8, the first V8 for a Toyota pickup.
Publicly introduced in May 1999 as a 2000 model, the Tundra prototypes and "show trucks" were initially known as T150s. However, Ford and automotive journalists described the name was too close to the market-leader Ford F-150, and following a lawsuit by Ford, the production truck was renamed the Tundra.
The Tundra was slightly larger than the T100, but still had the perception of being too small and car-like to pose a serious threat to the domestic pickup trucks. With a production capacity of 120,000, sales were double the rate of the T100. At its introduction, the Tundra had the highest initial vehicle sales for Toyota in its history. It was selected as Motor Trend's Truck of the Year award for 2000 and Best Full- Size Truck from Consumer Reports. It was built in a new Toyota plant in Princeton, Indiana, with 65 percent domestic content.
Engine choices available in the Tundra were a 24V 3.4-liter V6 engine that produced 190 hp (142 kW; 193 PS) and 220 lb⋅ft (300 N⋅m) of torque and an LEV certified 32 valve 4.7-liter "i-Force" V8 engine that produced 245 hp (183 kW; 248 PS) and 315 lb⋅ft (427 N⋅m) of torque. A Toyota Racing Development (TRD) supercharger was already available for the 3.4-liter V6 (2000-2003 models) that bumped power to the 260 hp (194 kW; 264 PS) range and 260 lb⋅ft (353 N⋅m) of torque. TRD introduced a second supercharger for the V8 (2000-2003 models) engine late into its second year of production that increased to the mid 300 hp (224 kW; 304 PS) range and torque to the 400 lb⋅ft (542 N⋅m) range. The V6 supercharger is still available, the V8 supercharger ended production once Toyota released the updated VVT-i equipped 4.7-liter engine.
The grille was updated in 2002 (for the 2003 model year), along with a new Stepside bed available on Access Cab models. The Tundra Double Cab, also added to the lineup in 2004, was a crew cab with four rear-opening doors, with interior and exterior details copied from the Toyota Sequoia. Its bed was nearly 5 inches (130 mm) longer than the competing Honda Ridgeline or Ford F-150. It is also 13 inches (330 mm) longer, 3 inches (76 mm) taller, and 4 inches (100 mm) wider than the Regular and Access Cab versions, with a 12 inches (300 mm) longer wheelbase. A new engine was introduced in 2005: a 4.0-liter V6 rated at 236 hp (176 kW; 239 PS) and 266 lb⋅ft (361 N⋅m) of torque, and the existing 4.7-liter V8 was updated with Toyota's VVT-i variable valve timing technology and was rated at 282 hp (210 kW; 286 PS) and 325 lb⋅ft (441 N⋅m) of torque while the 2006 versions were rerated at 271 hp (202 kW; 275 PS) and 313 lb⋅ft (424 N⋅m) of torque. The 5-speed manual gave way to a 6-speed manual, and a 5-speed automatic replaced the 4-speed. With a towing capacity of 6,900 lb (3,130 kg) on the Double Cab and 7,100 lb (3,221 kg) on Access Cab and Regular Cab models with a V8 engine, the Tundra still did not have enough power to compete with the heavier-duty offerings of the Big Three and Nissan.
In 2003, the T3 Special Edition was sold in conjunction with the release of the Terminator 3 movie. It included a TRD performance package, "T3" badging, blacked out grille and trim pieces, special 17-inch wheels and T3 limited interior trim. 650 were sold in the US as 4x2 and 200 were sold in Canada as 4x4.
In 2006, the Darrell Waltrip Edition was marketed to honor the NASCAR driver and his participation in the NASCAR Truck Series. Only 2000 V8-powered Double Cab models were produced. The package included special badging and unique 18-inch wheels.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Tundra "Good" overall in their frontal offset crash test.  It was the first full-size pickup awarded a "Good" score, its the
Toyota Tundra