"You wanna fight, pal?"

If the Toyota Tundra had a voice -- a real big one -- that's probably the first thing it would say to its competition.

Remember the more modestly sized, subtle Tundra of old? It's gone. It's been replaced by a big -- and I mean big -- pickup truck that makes Dodge's Ram look like the classroom wimp.

Toyota went big this time around because one of the knocks against Japanese trucks is that they are too small and too underpowered. Count the Tundra out on both scores.

	Toyota's Tundra, seen here externally and internally, has been supersized. Click photo for larger image.

In fact, if performance is your middle name, the Tundra is your game. It's powered by a 381-horsepower, 5.7-liter V-8, and it really can scoot. We're talking zero to 60 in an amazing 6.4 seconds. That's sports car territory. When you step on the gas, the truck lunges forward, eager to chew up all the asphalt it can in the process.

Fuel economy? It's rated at 14 mpg in the city, 18 on the highway, which puts it a mile per gallon or two behind the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra.

Our test truck was a 4x4 Limited model double cab, with a base price of $38,550. It has a payload rating of 1,560 pounds and a tow capacity of 10,300 pounds. Standard equipment includes a six-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift, four-wheel drive, leather interior, center console, tilt telescope steering wheel, full power equipment, alloy wheels, traction and stability control, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, roll sensing curtain air bags and other features. The final cost was $39,643.

Even the brochure for this truck reinforces the tough image. Almost all of the trucks shown are dirty, filled to the brim with payloads or hauling trailers and the like. In other words, Toyota wants you to know this truck is for practical uses.

In that regard, I lament the passing of the previous Tundra, which had the comfort of an automobile, with a cushy interior worthy of a Camry. It was quiet, easy to drive, and well put-together.

It's true that the new Tundra feels surprisingly light and easy to manage despite its massive size. But now, the Tundra looks almost too stark inside, and its new contemporary, aluminum-laden look reminds me too much of a Nissan truck -- and that's not a compliment because those interiors generally are uninviting, too.

Sure, it's got some great features, such as a back-up camera system with a miniature camera in the tailgate latch that is linked to a monitor near the rearview mirror. And I liked the little storage spaces located near the armrests on the doors. While the look is very modern and fresh, it no longer looks like a place I'd want to be for very long. Too cold.

I also didn't like the ride. It's much rougher and bouncier than the old Toyota trucks. The class leader for ride, comfort and pleasant accommodations is the all-new Chevy Silverado.

So what did I like? The ruggedness and impeccable construction of the truck was reassuring. The square-jawed truck also makes you feel as if it's taking very good care of you -- because that's just what this truck does.

The bottom line is that Toyota has succeeded in giving the truck-buying public what it apparently wants: a rugged, safe, well-built truck that is the equal of -- or better than -- just about every truck out there, as long as your priorities are engine performance, ruggedness and practicality.