2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma – Review, Specs, Pricing, Features, Videos and More
Our Rating | 3.3/5 |
Price | $27,250 - $43,580 |
Engine | 2.7-liter 4-cylinder / 3.5-liter 6-cylinder |
Power | 159 hp / 278 hp |
Torque | 180 lb-ft / 265 lb-ft |
Drivetrain | RWD / 4WD |
There aren’t many vehicles that have a devote following as the third generation Toyota Tacoma. On sale for 8 years, the Tacoma, or Taco as it’s affectionately known, is a rugged mid-size pickup. It’s powered by either a four or six cylinder engine and can come with a manual or automatic transmission.
Many different versions of the Tacoma were available during the truck’s run, including the off-road ready TRD Pro.
Pros | Available manual transmission, Resale value, Reliability |
Cons | Uncomfortable driving position, Still has rear drum brakes, Fuel economy |
Bottom Line | It's old and simple but it'll last forever and you'll make your money back reselling the Toyota Tacoma. |
Table of contents
- 2023 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road Review
- 2021 Toyota Tacoma Trail Review: Simplicity Is Key
- Ford Ranger vs Toyota Tacoma: Which Mid-size Pickup is Right For You?
- Honda Ridgeline vs Toyota Tacoma: Which Midsize Pickup is Right For You?
- Toyota Tacoma vs Toyota 4Runner: Which Mid-Sizer is Right for You?
- Chevrolet Colorado vs Toyota Tacoma: Which Mid-Size Truck is Right For You?
- Detailed Specs
- Our Final Verdict
2023 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road Review
How big is the gap between “resting on ones laurels” and “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? After a week with the 2023 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road, I’d say it’s almost exactly 212.3 inches.
The Tacoma is far and away the best-selling mid-sized truck on the market, with market share approaching 40 percent. This is a fact. The Tacoma is also ancient. This is a fact, too.
That puts Toyota in an awkward position. 2023 is shaping up to be a very busy year in the mid-sized segment, with multiple new entries promising big advances in tech, comfort, and capability. Can the Tacoma’s sterling reputation for bomb-proof reliability and inflated resale value keep it looking fresh? In a word: no. But it will probably still outsell the competition—and as a simple, manual-equipped pickup, it offers something increasingly rare.
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2021 Toyota Tacoma Trail Review: Simplicity Is Key
There is a quote by a certain Zen author that states, simplicity boils down to two things: identify the essential, eliminate the rest.
If you were to search for a carmaker that embodies that philosophy, it would probably be Toyota. And if you want to be even more precise and apply that idea to a vehicle, the Tacoma would fit the Zen saying like a glove. It’s no secret that the Toyota mid-sizer has been the bestselling truck in its segment for years. Despite its continuous evolution, its core attributes, functionality and reliability have remained constant over the years and are the prime reasons for its success.
The 2021 Toyota Tacoma Trail sticks to those principles. It’s a no-frill mid-size truck that promises a functional package with added off-road capabilities in a straightforward, even if somewhat old-school package.
Ford Ranger vs Toyota Tacoma: Which Mid-size Pickup is Right For You?
While the Toyota Tacoma outsells everything in the mid-size pickup truck market, it doesn’t do so uncontested.
Honda and Nissan both make trucks to rival the Tacoma. And in recent years the big three American automakers have also re-entered the segment with their own offerings.
Ford returned in 2019 after a hiatus of almost eight years with an all-new resurrected Ranger. Ford offers the Ranger with a solitary powertrain and three core trims. But we suppose that’s the blue oval playing it safe after being out of the game for so long. But having said that, the Ford Ranger is available in SuperCab and SuperCrew configurations. Ford also offers an off-road-centric FX4 and an even more hardcore Tremor package. Interestingly, both rival the Tacoma’s Trail and TRD Pro trims perfectly, so does that make the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger perfect rivals?
Honda Ridgeline vs Toyota Tacoma: Which Midsize Pickup is Right For You?
After the American brands all but pulled out of the midsize truck segment, the Toyota Tacoma dominated the class thanks to little competition.
The biggest competitor to the Tacoma was and continues to be the Nissan Frontier, but Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, and Jeep have all jumped back into the segment with traditional trucks as it has grown exponentially over the last decade.
On the other hand, Honda took a different approach to the pickup world, with the Ridgeline offering more of an SUV feel by coupling a unibody construction with the cargo bed of a midsize truck. As a result, the Ridgeline is unlike any of the other midsize pickups, but that is what has made it so attractive to owners. It offers a more car-like feel and more enclosed storage than any other midsize truck while still featuring bed space and room for five passengers.
Toyota Tacoma vs Toyota 4Runner: Which Mid-Sizer is Right for You?
In the world of four-wheel-drive vehicles, the Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner are two of the most sought after.
The Tacoma has been the bestselling mid-size pickup since the segment has existed while the 4Runner is the most popular 4×4 (off-road) SUV to come from any non-American automaker.
While these two Toyota utility vehicles don’t compete with each other, they are both mid-sized vehicles that can haul, tow, and attack rough terrains. If you are shopping for a mid-sizer that will go anywhere in any weather condition and refuses to break down, there is a good chance that the Tacoma and 4Runner are on your shortlist. While their physical shape is the most obvious difference between the two, they each have some key advantages that might sway you to purchase one over the other.
Chevrolet Colorado vs Toyota Tacoma: Which Mid-Size Truck is Right For You?
The Toyota Tacoma is the most popular choice but is it also the better one?
While the mid-size pickup truck market might not be as hotly contested as the full-size one, that doesn’t mean it’s one manufacturers choose to ignore. In fact, one truck in particular, has captured the market like no other and it sold nearly 240,000 units last year—in the middle of the pandemic. That truck is the Toyota Tacoma, the most popular mid-sizer in North America. And it’s not like there’s any dearth of competition either. The Japanese truck faces stiff competition from the Detroit giants Ford and GM, in the form of Ford Ranger and the Chevrolet Colorado.
If a full-sizer is too large for you and you’re looking for a mid-size pickup, the Colorado and the Tacoma are bound to be on your list. But which of the two is the better choice? We compare the specs to see which one prevails.
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Detailed Specs
Price | $27,250 - $43,580 |
Engine | 2.7-liter 4-cylinder / 3.5-liter 6-cylinder |
Power | 159 hp / 278 hp |
Torque | 180 lb-ft / 265 lb-ft |
Drivetrain | RWD / 4WD |
Transmission | 6MT / 6AT |
Fuel Economy (city/hwy) | 17–20 mpg / 21–23 mpg |
Cargo Capacity | 57.5 cu ft |
Our Final Verdict
Toyota Tacoma
Overall | 3.3 |
Performance | 7.0 |
Features | 6.0 |
Comfort | 5.0 |
Quality and Styling | 7.0 |
Value | 8.0 |
More by AutoGuide.com Staff
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