“David get in your car and drive to the airport,” my former editor-in-chief Patrick George told me over the phone. “Wait, what?” I replied. “I don’t have time to explain, just go.” So I hopped into my 1996 Jeep Cherokee XJ five-speed and blasted down I-75 towards Detroit Wayne airport. While I was in the car, Patrick called me back. “I just got us an invite to the new Toyota Tacoma press drive. It’s tomorrow in Tacoma, Washington.” Hot damn!
That was an exciting launch for me because it was a vehicle that our readership actually cared about, unlike the car I’d previously written about, my first-ever review: the 2016 Hyundai Tucson. What’s more, it was at the 2016 Toyota Tacoma launch that I met chief engineer Mike Sweers, who informed one of my early Deep Dives, which really helped me make a name for myself in this business.
Anyway, that review was published on my 24th birthday with the headline “The 2016 Toyota Tacoma: A Spicy Taco That Doesn’t Taste All That New.” To this day I wonder why we didn’t use the word “Fresh” instead of “New,” but in any case, the vehicle — despite its new Crawl Control feature meant to help you get unstuck if you’re bogged in sand or dirt — felt like it was very much a tiny step from its predecessor (in typical Toyota fashion).
Still, it was a good, capable, and ultimately reliable machine as the world would find out, but it wasn’t perfect, with many folks complaining about efficiency and ergonomics. In any case, a new Taco is upon us, and it does indeed seem “Fresh.” With a new four-cylinder turbo replacing the old V6 and an eight-speed automatic instead of a six-speed (a six-speed stick stays around, thank goodness!), and also a new platform shared with the Land Cruiser, Sequoia, and Tundra — the new Taco seems promising.
I’m driving the vehicle near Malibu TODAY. In classic fashion not dissimilar to what happened eight years ago, we managed to get the invite only yesterday. I better get up from bed and hit the road! Let me know what you’d like to know about the new Tacoma!
I want to know when they are going to offer a tailgate that just has TACO embossed on it.
Photos of as many door jamb payload stickers as you can find!
Can it support my active lifestyle?
Will other people like me if I get one and put “overland” stuff all over it?
Is there enough headroom to fit inside with my trucker cap?
It’s the most reliable vehicle ever, right?
How do I convince my parents to buy me one?
How quickly does it shift into 4wd, engage the locker, and disconnect the sway bar? Do conditions have to be perfect or do they work on demand?
For example, the JL Wrangler sway bar will only disconnect on level ground but the Bronco can disconnect mid-obstacle. The JL E-Locker takes a few seconds to engage but the Bronco’s is instant.
Echoing others…
And also,
Seating position is the big one. I’m 6’3″, and the biggest problem with my current 4Runner and the current Tacoma is the seating position. I have less headroom than a Prius in the current Tacoma. Ideally I’d want a seating position closer to the Nissan Frontier or Ford Ranger.
Beyond that, MPG is the big one. There was a leak at one point that the LC would make 27 mpg. If the Tacoma is similar, that would move the needle big time for me.
I really wish they were going to have an option with both a center and a rear locker, but its pretty clear from promo material we’ve seen so far that’s not happening.
What promo material makes you think it won’t have a traditional 4wd transfer case? I believe this will be part time 4wd like the Tundra.
There was some note I saw somewhere about the limited having the center locking diff like the 4Runner Limited.
It may have been wishful thinking.
First question, how is the cabin ergonomics?
Specifically, seat comfort: H-point, back support, thigh support, is the cushion still super hard? Steering wheel adjustment still too low, in your lap?
The current gen Tacoma is unbearable for me, I want to get out and run away even after a single hour of driving.
My crappy old D40 Frontier is lightyears more comfy.
Second, how bad/good is the auto-transmission shift logic?
The current gen 6-speed is famous for hunting and shifting to the wrong gears at the wrong times, which I can fully confirm.
Third, does it still flex so much? Frame flex is quite significant on the current gen.
This might seem a bit trivial, but I haven’t seen it in any photos. Do any trims have rear seat vents? This can be important in the heat of the south for rear-seat passenger comfort.
Will they actually build a meaningful number of models with the 6MT? I know they say it’ll be “available” but if it’s in a trim configuration that is almost impossible to order, or in such small numbers that it’ll be impossible to buy, why even bother to pretend?
Is this going to cost a small fortune?
Will dealers fuck it all up like they did with the Rav4 and add even more to the cost?
Will it get a meaningful improvement in fuel economy ( because the current one is awful)
Can the manual version come in lower trim levels?
Can the manual version come in higher trim levels? I like both a sunroof AND a manual transmission.
Can we get the manual on the lower range SR and SR5 trims with the Access cab?Is that 4cyl turbo in addition to the V6 or is that the only option?What’s the ride height difference?Why is it so damn big now? Remember when you could buy a small Toyota pickup that would fit in your garage? What happened to those days and when are they coming back?Would it be great to take up to the lake? Throw a couple of sleeping bags in the back and lie out underneath the stars?
From what I´ve heard the tacoma only gets the 4cyl. If you want the V6 you´d have to get a tundra.
How often does it think about the Roman Empire?
I ended up selling my ’18 manual 4×4 TRD Off-Road because the seats sucked, the driving position sucked, the ride sucked, and the transmission & engine were poorly matched. I REALLY wanted to love that truck and had hoped to keep it in the family for 15+ years, but after 4.5 years and 55k miles, I sold it (for just $500 less than I paid).
So:
Are the seats better?Is the driving position better?Is the ride quality better?Is the drivetrain better?If the answer isn’t “very much, yes!” to all four of these, I probably won’t consider it, but if they’ve vastly improved the truck in all of these ways and more, it will be on my list.
Can confirm that the seats and driving position is better as I’ve sat in all trims except the TRD Pro. I have a 2023 Taco now and I do not like it but I bought it so I could gift it to my mom once I get my hands on a new GX. I had a 2022 Tundra for a year and can confirm the ride is amazing compared to the 2023 Taco. Given that the new Taco should have similar ride comfort due to the shared chassis (albeit shortened) and similar suspension, I would expect it to be as good as the new Tundra. I’m more interested in the new engine options because I have not tested those out yet.
Thanks – looking forward to trying one out!
When will I be able to purchase an Extended-cab version with a manual transmission? I’ve only seen the stick-shift mentioned for certain 4-door trims so far..
I don’t need 4-doors and prefer the longer bed, but still want my stick shift!!
On a mid level Silverado the air dam is molded into the upper bumper. It’s fine because it’s not as gargantuan as the one in this truck. Close ups of the bumper and air dam hardware please.
This one has been confirmed as removable, but I’m with you on wanting to see the air dam up close.
Totally get why it’s there for EPA reasons, but PLEASE make it dead simple to remove.
Allegedly, it’s just a couple bolts or something like that to remove. But I’ve heard those sorts of things, only to find the bolts can only be reached by snaking something in by feel, so I’m with you on that hope.
Well since it’s David “The Radiator” Tracy I’m sure we’ll get some shots of the cooling systems. That might be close enough to see what we need.
Oh I’m sure it’ll be automatically removed after landing on a few parking concretes blocks.
I recall that the new Tundra has a retractable/swiveling air dam, wonder if the Tacoma’s is the same.
Here is what I was thinking of regarding the Tundra:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM1UT2yZu8U
That’s fancy.
Your supercar has active aero? That’s nice. So does my truck.
I jokingly tell friends my NA Miata does too since the headlights DO generate drag when open
Is there a bare–bones–spec available with the 6-speed. Can they talk me out of my Maverick into a “real” truck, and what would that cost?
Yes. I like this question.
Which trims do you get to drive?
Interested in:
Have they fixed the poor seating position?
Can you hit it with a wrecking ball and drop it in the ocean overnight, then get it going again with basic hand tools and no spare parts?
Don’t forget about leaving it parked on top of a building during demolition.
And setting it on fire.
Nothing, thanks.
Didn’t Mercedes do this earlier this year in Hawaii?
That didn’t include driving. She only got to look at them.
That was the one where they go and look at the vehicles.
The process is now:
If I wanna taste the car, I’m tasting the car. Just TRY and stop me.
Also, once I’ve licked the car, it is legally mine. See the doctrine of Finders Keepers, Subsection 3 (Calling Dibs).
It was confusing because they did get to drive the grand highlander at the same event where they just let them look at the Taco
Can a 5’ 10” adult sit in the back without severe discomfort?
Also, can a 6’ 3” adult sit in the front without severe discomfort?
Can *anyone* sit in the front seat without severe discomfort?
Truck King on YT did a review of one where they got to sit in it. The presenter Steve is a big guy and over 6′, and he fit in the back.
I don’t visually like that bar-like piece of trim to the right of the shifter, but I suppose it performs the helpful function of stopping a passenger’s hand from getting too close.
Plus, it provides that function visually as a deterrent, including a bit of “don’t touch the climate controls aside from your own seat’s.”
Other than that…well, the climate controls are separate from the screen, so I guess I wouldn’t complain.
Can’t ask much since I’m not a truck guy, but it does look nice. Having said that, the “verticality” of the hood immediately reminded me of this article I just read this morning on the Verge about truck hood height and pedestrian safety.
Yeah, I’d really like to see the hood more sloped and lower. I’m somewhat interested, but I wish all the midsize pickups were a little less aggressive and less dangerous.
Is the Taco really midsized anymore? It’s basically the dimensions that “full size” trucks were back before those all inflated to XXL.
The Maverick is the new compact pickup, so the Tacoma, Ranger, Colorado, and Canyon are midsize. Just don’t compare the Maverick dimensions to a 90s Ranger. It’ll make you sad. Or maybe that’s just me.
That’s my problem, my scale is permanently skewed by 80s and 90s mini-trucks.
It really is crazy how big trucks have gotten. I have a 1987 4WD Toyota Pickup. My dad has a ’23 Tacoma. Same class of truck when new. My Pickup has a longer bed, similar payload rating and better fuel economy – even though my dad’s Tacoma dwarfs it. The Tacoma is a much nicer place to be, however, and it goes highway speeds.
I still drive a 1985 Nissan 720 King Cab quite a bit. She’s no longer my daily, but she was for years. Now she’s my just a toy to toodle about in or run a load of garbage to the dump etc.
I am completely skewed by them for a definition of compact trucks. Now the options are 14/10s of a full size truck (f250), or 9/10s of a full size truck (Tacoma).
Sometimes I park my tiny nissan with its 2 inch lift next to my wifes ’04 Ram 2500 quad cab, with some kind of lift and 35s under it. My tiny truck is literally half, if not less, of her truck.
But hey, I guess I don’t need to compensate for anything.
I just drove a 2001 Tacoma and didn’t buy it because the interior was comically tight, my head touched the roof and my knees touched the steering wheel. By today’s standards it’s a mini-truck
I had a 2003 and fit in it just fine, but I’m average height/weight. That truck with the extended cab only just barely fit in my garage, the generation after that no longer would.
I’m 6’3″ mostly torso. I was bummed because the truck was in great shape for a taco in the land of winter.
So let’s ask it.
David: how many toddlers could you run over in this truck before noticing? Or, more politely, how tall does an object have to be for you to see it while sitting in the driver’s seat?
I have had more trouble with the passenger knee knocking the shifter.
That makes sense. I’ve never driven stick, so it hadn’t occurred to me. Just visually distinctive, even if it’s useful.
Other than the efficiency and pricing they keep withholding, the main things I’d like to hear are a solid assessment of backseat legroom and a good comparison of the different suspension setups. The AVS on the Limited has me curious, but the TRD Pro/OR/Sport suspension differences really seem worth hearing about, too, from an actual, practical use standpoint.
Also, comparison video showing the different suspension systems over the same bit of track would be one of few videos I would choose to watch, and one of even fewer I would consider sound on (assuming David was telling us why we were seeing each react in the ways we see).