Pros

• A huge number of changes and settings.
• Off-road, TRD models are very capable.
• The available hybrid engine gives the car a lot of power and great gas mileage.

Cons

• The back seats are smaller than those of some rivals.
• The engine makes a noise when you speed up quickly.

What about how the Tacoma is driven? There are no worries that the Tacoma’s old V6 engine will hurt the truck’s driving experience or ability to carry things because it has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It was time to try a TRD Sport with 278 horsepower. For our tests, it was strong enough to get the truck to 60 mph in a reasonable 7.6 seconds, and it’s fun to drive every day. The transmission works quickly and easily, so you don’t have to change gears or fiddle with them while going up hills.

We were also very happy with how well the Tacoma could stop on the road. Putting on the brakes is easy, and the pedal moves quickly, so it’s simple to slow down at any speed. The Tacoma’s steering is crisp and light, and it does great on the highway, even though most truck buyers don’t care about how it handles.

The Tacoma’s off-road ability changes based on the trim level because of a big air dam that can be replaced. It can go from not very good to very good at both high and low speeds. Because it has improved traction control and smart shock absorbers, this car will work well in most off-road conditions.

What kind of comfort does the Tacoma have? There is room for people of all kinds in the Tacoma’s front seats, which are big and mostly flat. While the optional synthetic leather seating felt nice, the cloth seats in our test truck were a bit rough. They should last a long time, though. As with most midsize trucks, the back seats could be more roomy, and taller riders said the seat cushions were too low and short for long trips.

The trim level you choose will have a big effect on how the Tacoma moves. At the base level, like the SR, the ride is a little harder, which is to be expected. The ride quality is better because the suspension systems in higher grades are more modern. All Tacomas have simple temperature controls that are easy to find. The buttons and switches are big enough that you can use them without gloves.

How is the state of the inside? Besides the tough-looking cabin, the Tacoma’s main touchscreen is the thing that stands out the most. The normal model has an 8-inch screen, but the one in our test truck is a better 14-inch screen. The extra surround-view camera system looks better because it is clear and has easy-to-use controls. The Tacoma has a lot of real buttons and switches, which is nice to see since many new cars now use virtual ones.

It’s easy to get into the Tacoma, but it is a little harder to get into the back seats because there is little headroom. When the driver gets behind the wheel, they have a lot of choices, especially with the tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. Tall drivers will also have plenty of space.

What’s wrong with the tech? The 14-inch touchscreen that we got as an option in our test truck takes up most of the Tacoma’s internal space. This device looks out of place sitting on the dashboard, but it’s full of useful features, such as the ability to work with voice requests and wireless smartphones. The Tacoma has a lot of USB-C charging ports and also supports wireless charging pads. Some people are worried, though, that the almost vertical shape of the wireless charging mats will cause phones to fall over and lose their charging connection.

All Tacoma models come with high-tech features that help the driver, such as lane departure alert, full-speed adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and more. In general, the driving assistance systems worked well. They weren’t too cautious or likely to send out false alerts.

How do you store things and tow things? Utility and storage are very important to Tacoma. The cargo bed comes with a 400-watt plug that is like the ones you find in homes. It comes in two sizes. The hybrid engine in the Tacoma makes the output go up to 2,400 watts. The Tacoma has a lot of room inside for storage. The center panel and the front and back doors are both jam-packed with storage spaces. The glove box has a useful tray that goes over it.

When you set up the XtraCab, there is a lot of extra space for bigger items behind the front seats, even though it only has two seats. This makes it easy to move things that you don’t want to put in the bed. The backs of the four-door Double Cab seats fold down, and the pillows flip up to make more room for storage.

The Tacoma can carry up to 1,705 pounds of stuff, which is a lot. When properly loaded, the Tacoma can pull an average of 6,500 pounds, while the Colorado can pull up to 7,700 pounds. This should be enough to pull most small to medium-sized trailers.

How much fuel does it use? All Tacoma types should get about the same amount of gas mileage. It was a trip in a TRD Sport with a four-wheel drive. Toyota says it will get 21 mpg. We got 22.6 mpg on our test drive, which is a little better. The hybrid powertrain should get the same amount of gas mileage as the regular engine, even though it has a lot more horsepower and torque. In particular, the Tacoma doesn’t need special gas.

Is the Tacoma a reasonably priced car? Toyota gives Tacoma a number of trim levels so that buyers can find one that fits their wants and budget. But low-quality Tacomas don’t try to hide the fact that they don’t have many choices; their interiors are full of empty buttons and equipment that needs to be included. Basic Tacomas feel a lot more useful than similarly equipped Chevy Colorados; they lack the grace of those cars.

Three years, or 36,000 miles, for bumper-to-bumper coverage, and six years, or 60,000 miles, for powertrain coverage are normal in the business. Toyota also gave free maintenance and roadside help for two years.

The Tacoma isn’t meant to be a fun car; most trim levels are made to be workhorses. But having a car that does so many things perfectly is a pleasure that isn’t given enough credit. We were surprised that Tacoma’s looks caused more disagreement than we thought they would. Some of our editors like how aggressively this medium truck is designed, while others think it’s too flashy and cartoonish.

Toyota has a confusing range of Tacomas that are made to fit different needs. The TRD Sport strikes a great mix between being affordable, being able to go off-road, and being comfortable on the road. It would be hard to pick between the manual transmission and the hybrid engine, but we would choose the Premium package because it has so many nice features.

Types of Toyota Tacomas

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma is a medium truck that comes in two different styles: the Double Cab, which has four doors and room for five people, and the XtraCab, which has two doors and room for two people and lots of storage behind the seats. The crew cab has a 5- or 6-foot bed, while the extended cab has a 6-foot bed. After that, the Tacoma comes in eight different trim levels: SR, SR5, TRD PreRunner, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter.