The mid-size Toyota Tacoma has long been one of the most popular pickups in the Pacific Northwest, regardless of size. They are literally everywhere, thanks in large part to their legendary reliability and wide range of trim levels, from basic rear-wheel-drive to serious off-road four-wheel-drive models.
But in recent years, the Tacoma has been challenged by newer mid-size pickups like the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon and Ford Ranger that feature more sophisticated rides, more advanced engines, and more state-of-the-art technologies. Even the crossover-based Honda Ridgeline and recently redesigned Nissan Frontier and Jeep Wrangler-based Gladiator were nipping at its heels.
Toyota has finally responded with the all-new 2024 Tacoma that builds on its strengths while leapfrogging its challengers. The new pickup offers a choice of cab styles, manual or automatic transmissions, rear- and four-wheel-drive systems, small turbocharged and hybrid engines, off-road suspensions, and several additional trim levels – all wrapped in a bold new body on the company’s TNGA-F global truck platform that is shared with the recently redesigned full-size Tundra. The biggest challenge facing Tacoma buyers is deciding which model to buy.
All versions come with roomy, updated interiors with higher quality materials and a raised seating position with additional headroom. A more adjustable steering column should help more people find the perfect driving position. Most Tacoma’s now come with a 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster, while the TRD Off-Road models and upper trim levels feature a larger 12.3-inch all-digital unit. Large knobs and buttons make most controls easy to use, even when wearing gloves.
My first impression in the driveway was that the new Tacoma is significantly larger than the previous generation. A quick glance at the statistics confirms that. The 2024 is noticeably bigger inside and outside than the last generation – something that was even more apparent when I was able to park next to recent versions, which were always easy to find.
Of course, the difference is much greater compared to the original compact Toyota Hilux pickup first sold in the U.S. in 1968. Introduced when gas prices were soaring, they were much smaller but more economical than the common trucks of the day, while still able to perform most chores. The base four only produced around 100 horsepower, but it was enough to haul a decent load with the standard four-speed transmission. I parked my tester next to an early 70s model in good condition in my neighborhood and was amazed by how much it has grown. The 2024 is even bigger than the full-size pickups of the day.
The least expensive 2024 Tacoma is the rear-wheel-drive, extended cab SR that comes with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 228 horsepower. That’s a big improvement over the previous base four that was only rated at 159 horsepower. The SR starts at $32,995, which is a good price for any pickup these days.
My test version was a TRD Off-Road 4X4 Double Cab which came with an eight-speed automatic transmission mated to a stronger i-FORCE 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 278 horsepower. That’s as much as the previous optional 3.5-liter V6, but the turbo also generates 317 foot-pounds of torque, which is a whopping 52 more than the previous six.
As the full name of my tester says, it was a four-door with enough room for five adults and included an advanced four-wheel-drive system with multiple drive modes and off-road suspension by the company’s Toyota Racing Development performance division. It was priced at $54,829, including packages that added leather seats and a sunroof. That’s slightly more than the beginning price of the top-of-the-line Limited version, but still very competitively priced for the midsize factory-equipped off-road pickup category.
During a week of driving, the Tacoma always rode well, thanks to the newly available independent rear suspension. The three lowest trim levels -- the SR, SR5, and TRD PreRunner -- still come with rear leaf springs. I’d upgrade to a coil springs-equipped version, however, if only because they help smooth out the poorly maintained streets in my part of town.
Given the increase in torque, my tester felt much faster than the previous V6 version I have tested in the past. Car and Driver clocked a similarly equipped at zero to 60 in 7 seconds, almost a full second faster than last year’s model with the six. But part of that increase could be because of the new eight-speed automatic transmission that replaced the previous six-speed.
Also new this year is the first hybrid version of the Tacoma. It adds an electric motor to the i-FORCE engine, boosting the total output to 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, a whopping 75% increase in torque compared to the previous V6. Although the i-FORCE MAX also increases mileage slightly, economy is not really the goal. The hybrid is only available in the upper trim levels, with the base TRD Sport starting at $47,795 and the top-of-the-line TRD Pro beginning at $65,395.
Multi-Terrain Select drive modes are selected by an easy-to-use dial on the center console. They include dirt, sand, mud, snow, rock, and auto. Towing capacity ranges from 3,500 to 6,500 pounds, with the new hybrid version able to pull the most. That’s logical, since it is the most powerful Tacoma ever produced.
Despite the vast improvements, I still have a few gripes. The off-road version are so high they practically require running boards. Unlike many trucks these days, there is no step that can be reached when the tail gate is down that makes it easier to reach the cargo. And although the interior is much more modern, especially the center display, there’s a lot of hard plastic and rubber to be seen and felt. That’s probably easier to maintain than cloth, leather and metal, but some of it borders on cheap, and several pockets are surrounded by an open mesh design that would be hard to clean if they get dirty.
But those are small quibbles compared to the vast improvements in the all-new 2024 Tacoma. It took Toyota a long time to respond to the increasing competition in the mid-size truck market, but it is now poised to continue dominating sales for many years to come.
2024 Toyota Tacoma
Base price: $32,995 (SR)
Price as tested: $54,829 (TRD Off-Road 4X4 Double Cab)
Type: Mid-size pickup
Engines: Turbocharged 2.4-liter 4 (228 hp, 243 lbs-ft); turbocharged i-FORCE 2.4-liter 4 (278 hp, 317 lbs-ft – as tested); turbocharged hybrid i-FORCE MAX 2.4-liter 4 (326 hp, 485 lbs-ft)
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport
Multi-Terrain Select modes: dirt, sand, mud, snow, rock, auto
EPA estimated mileage: 19/23 – as tested
Overall length: 213 inches
Curb weight: 4794 pounds
Final assembly: Guanajuato, Mexico
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