2023 Toyota Tacoma Overview What’s new: Cheap SR5 cars now come with new SX and Chrome packages to make them look better. In 2016, the third generation of Tacoma came out. Tacoma is one of the best examples of how well Toyota has done. It sells more than the Tundra and the 4Runner and is also the most popular midsize pickup truck. It is a tough truck that does well off-road and takes up less space than a full-size truck. It has a lot of passionate fans and can be customized uniquely, thanks to both the original packages and the significant number of add-ons that can be bought separately. Toyota will add the SX and Chrome packages to the SR5 trim level in 2023. This will give Tacoma customers more ways to customize their vehicles. The truck can be set up in over 30 different ways because it has two types of cabs, rear-wheel drive, and four-wheel drive. The 2023 SX package is bold and uncompromising. It has black accents and blackout trim. It looks tougher because the badges, wheels, and mirrors are all black. The vehicle has a unique design for the bed, and the black overfenders give it a more aggressive look. Before, the SX package was only available on SR models, but now it’s also available on SR5s with V6 engines. On the other hand, the Chrome package makes the Tacoma feel more elegant. There are shiny design elements all over the truck. It has polished alloy wheels that are 18 inches in diameter, chrome door handles, and chrome inserts in the tailgate. This option is only available on SR5 Double Cab Tacomas with V6 engines and a 5-foot bed. What do they like to live with? We put more than 40,000 miles on a 2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road that was part of our fleet of long-term vehicles. Even though Tacoma has gotten some upgrades since its makeover in 2016, most of our points still stand. Pros vs Cons Pros: Strong ability to go off-road The composite truck bed has tie-down cleats that can be moved and a power plug. A six-speed manual transmission can be paired with a top-level V6 engine. Cons: Because of the focus on off-road, the step-up height is higher. On paved roads, steering may seem slow. Performance How do you move the Tacoma? The steering and handling of the Tacoma are smooth and easy to use. The brakes are the most noticeable difference. They seem to grab and can cause the car to nosedive when you stop quickly. The 3.5-liter V6 seems more eager, but it still has enough power for everyday use. The transmission can make the engine run as well as possible and predictably shift gears. Off-road, the only car that can compete with the Tacoma is the Gladiator. The Tacoma has the ground clearance, gearing, and traction to handle rough terrain, and in low-range crawling conditions, the brakes and throttle are amazingly accurate and responsive. Comfort How comfortable is the Toyota Tacoma? The Tacoma was always an excellent car to drive, but the changes for 2020 made it a little better. On V6 vehicles, the driver’s seat is fully adjustable in 10 different ways. This makes long trips more comfortable for drivers of all sizes. Even though the Colorado and Ridgeline still do better in this area, the thicker side windows make wind noise less of a problem than in older models. Still, Tacoma is more rugged than its competitors, with the smoothest rides, so it has a similar ride quality. The system for controlling the temperature is easy to use and does an excellent job of heating and cooling. Interior How does the inside look? Tacoma’s biggest flaw is that it is hard to get in and out of. Once you get through it, everything inside is safe. The big infotainment screen, the new knobs, and the physical shortcut buttons are all easy to use and make sense. Even though the 10-way power seat gives you more ways to adjust it than cars made before 2020, we wish the steering wheel could be longer. Even though the heart can be moved lower, the space in the front seat hasn’t changed in any other way. The shape of the hood, the large side windows, and the camera system with front and side views make it easy to see. Technology How good is the tech? The latest Tacoma has a wide range of high-tech features that are very impressive. Compared to older models, Toyota’s new screen was more significant, had more explicit map images, and worked faster. You also get Amazon Alexa and Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto for your phone. If you often go places where your cell phone doesn’t work, built-in navigation is a cheap upgrade that might be worth it. Toyota does an excellent job with the standard active safety technology. Adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking that detects pedestrians, lane departure warning, automatic high-beam control, and even a system that can tell when the driver is tired are all standard features. Storage How are the storage and towing going? The truck bed of the Tacoma is perfect. It is made of a composite material that eliminates the need for a bed liner and has a great mix of fixed and moveable tie-downs. Loading is easy because the back door opens low, and the sides of the bed aren’t too high. Tacoma can only pull up to 6,800 pounds, less than some competitors, but the difference is insignificant. There is a lot of room inside for small things. Even though it takes a little more work to fold the back seats into a cargo-carrying position, it has more storage space than any other vehicle except the Ridgeline and Gladiator. Child safety seats are easy to install, but larger seats that face backward and infant seats may take up too much space in the front passenger seat. Fuel Efficiency How well does it use gasoline? The 3.5-liter V6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission get 18 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, which adds up to 20 mpg for 4WD models and 21 mpg for rear-wheel-drive models. From what we’ve tested, these ratings are both doable and accurate. We put 40,000 miles on a 2016 TRD 4WD Off-Road in more than a year, getting an average of 18.6 mpg. On many road trips, we got better gas mileage than the highway rating, so there are several possible reasons why our truck fell just over one mpg short. Our base model is better for driving in the city, while the TRD Off-Road gets rid of the front air dam that most Tacomas have in favor of tires with more knobs. Value How much is Tacoma worth? For your money, you get a lot of trucks and a bed, as well as a lot of safety and cargo-handling features that come as standard. In TRD models, the value equation is powerful. The build quality is excellent, and Toyota cars are known for being tough mechanically. Even though the warranty could be better, you get free routine maintenance for two years. Wildcard The Toyota Tacoma is an enjoyable pickup vehicle because of its spacious inside and straightforward controls. Its TRD off-road options are natural, unlike sticker packages inflated by a marketing blitz. People who buy cars have responded well to this one, and it has also caught the attention of the aftermarket, which is supporting it with various goods that can be used to customize it in different ways. The Tacoma is a great pickup truck for people who want the look and feel of an off-roader but will never get it dirty because it is easy to drive and reliable. What is Invoice Pricing's Recommendation? As of this writing, Toyota has not made official statements about the 2023 Tacoma. If anything changes, we’ll change our recommendation, but based on last year’s Tacoma, we recommend the SR5 trim level if you don’t need the extra off-road capability of the TRD trims. The SR5 can be bought with either engine, which helps keep the price low. It has power-adjustable front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and an 8-inch touchscreen (V6 engine). A few tech and driver-help packages are also available as add-ons. Toyota Tacoma models include There are six trim levels for the midsize Toyota Tacoma pickup truck: SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and TRD Pro. Standard on the SR and SR5 models is a 2.7-liter, four-cylinder engine with 159 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. You can get a 3.5-liter V6 with 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque on these models, which is standard on all other models. Even though most models have a six-speed automatic transmission, some V6 models also have a six-speed manual transmission. 2023 Toyota Tacoma Video Review
