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It’s getting laborious to not discover that the Toyota Tacoma hasn’t modified a lot within the final eight years. It was final redesigned for the 2016 mannequin yr, and even then, it was hardly a dramatic transformation. All of its opponents function brisker designs and engineering, and put merely, it reveals.
There are good explanation why the Toyota Tacoma is the gross sales chief regardless of its outdated age. It’s earned a well-deserved repute for longevity and sturdiness, a undeniable fact that helps the truck keep close to the highest of resale worth charts yr after yr. It’s supplied in a number of totally different types, together with a pair which are supposed for off-road lovers. And it’s ruggedly good-looking, too.
Sadly, there are many chinks within the Tacoma’s armor. For starters, its powertrain is thirstier and fewer highly effective than lots of its opponents. It doesn’t have class-leading specs wherever, actually, together with for trucky issues like towing and hauling. We stated its inside regarded dated a number of years in the past, and it hasn’t gotten any higher since then. Neither has its inside house or odd seating place. It’s not precisely nimble, both. Not less than Toyota nonetheless presents a handbook transmission on some trim ranges, which we very a lot respect, however in whole, the Tacoma must meet up with the occasions.
Toyota combined up the paint and choices packages for 2023, and that’s about it. Patrons can select a blacked-out SX bundle on both the SR or SR5 fashions (purple truck, beneath proper), including chunky black fender flares and wheels. A Chrome bundle for the SR5 Double Cab (darkish truck, beneath left) marries chrome wheels with shiny, shiny exterior accents. All V6-powered Tacomas get dual-zone local weather management customary, V6-powered SR5s get sensible keys and there are some further issues like energy seats and an upgraded 8.0-inch touchscreen on Restricted vans.
Previous that, the TRD Sport is now supplied in searing Electrical Lime paint, whereas this yr’s particular TRD Professional color is the orangey purple Photo voltaic Octane.
Properly, there’s not lots of tech there to speak about. In contrast to the bigger Tundra, the Tacoma has not acquired Toyota’s newest infotainment system. Midsize vans aren’t recognized for being luxurious cruisers, and the Tacoma, maybe greater than most within the phase, has a cabin that sticks to its practical, considerably spartan roots.
Whereas higher-trim Tacomas provide loads of options, they’re packaged into an inside that leans laborious into the truck’s rugged, off-road focus. There are some soft-touch supplies; all the things is screwed collectively nicely and the power-adjustable driver seat corrects the awkwardly low driving place that also stays in Tacoma trims with out it. Nonetheless, there’s no mistaking the back-to-basics really feel. That is very true in comparison to a couple of its rivals, just like the newly redesigned Nissan Frontier. Observe that the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon are new for the 2023 mannequin yr and look very good inside, however we’ve but to check them.
That is maybe most noticeable whenever you have a look at the steering wheel, which boasts massive buttons harking back to an off-brand online game controller. This theme extends to different inside switchgear, all of which appears to be like and feels strong, however doesn’t impress relating to materials decisions or design sophistication. It’s chunky, blocky and easy, maybe precisely what truck patrons on this phase need.
The infotainment system works nicely sufficient, however doesn’t do a lot past present the basics. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are thankfully included, they usually costume up an in any other case drab — however practical — multimedia interface. Toyota’s graphics stay fairly drained, however at the very least they’re easy and practical.
The Tacoma follows the essential footprint of the midsize truck phase. Entry Cab fashions are fitted with a 6-foot mattress, however the Double Cabs might be paired to both a 5-footer or the 6-foot one which’s referred to as the lengthy mattress. A pair of key rivals, the Ford Ranger SuperCrew and Jeep Gladiator, do not provide a long-bed/crew-cab combo. Each beds are simply 41.5 inches large on the wheel wells, so that they gained’t match 4×6 piece of plywood mendacity flat. The Tacoma’s total size is just like that of its rivals. For what it’s price, solely the smaller 5-foot mattress might be paired with the handbook transmission.
Inside, you may discover unusually low-mounted seats. Particularly, the driving force seat does not have customary height-adjustment and the ensuing splayed legged seating place drew fixed complaints throughout our most up-to-date midsize truck comparability. Not less than higher-trim fashions now get the “luxurious” of a power-adjustable driver seat, however headroom and visibility within the quick cab can nonetheless be a problem.
The Tacoma Entry Cab mannequin does not realistically provide sufficient house within the again seat for adults to journey in any semblance of consolation (and you actually should not put kids again there, both). Nevertheless, that is typical for the phase. The actual level of comparability, then, is the Double Cab. Although it provides a whopping 8 inches of legroom in comparison with the Entry Cab, it is significantly much less spacious and comfy again there than the Ranger, Gladiator, Colorado/Canyon twins and the Honda Ridgeline. In case you’re in search of a family-friendly midsize truck, this is not it.
Toyota presents two engines within the Tacoma. The bottom engine is a 2.7-liter inline-four producing 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. The Tacoma’s opponents do not provide such a low-power base four-cylinder. Gas financial system scores haven’t been launched for 2023 but, however since nothing has modified, we count on practically an identical numbers from 2022. That places the four-cylinder at 20 mpg metropolis, 23 mpg freeway and 21 mpg mixed with rear-wheel drive (4×2) and 19/22/20 with four-wheel drive (4×4). A six-speed computerized is customary with the bottom engine.
The improve is a 3.5L V6 that makes a a lot more healthy 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. The six can be one of many weaker choices within the phase, however not by an insurmountable quantity. Regardless of the large hole in energy, there’s not a lot distinction in fuel economy between the improve V6 and base inline-four. When geared up with the usual six-speed computerized, the V6 returns 19/24/21 with 4×2 and 18/22/20 with 4×4. The TRD Off Highway and TRD Professional might be geared up with an non-obligatory six-speed handbook that returns 17/20/18.
In its most towing-friendly configuration (V6, 4×2, Towing Prep bundle), the Tacoma maxes out at 6,800 kilos of trailering. Its GM, Ford and Jeep competitors sometimes presents round 7,500 kilos or extra, however the Honda Ridgeline lags behind the Tacoma at 5,000 kilos. The Nissan Frontier is simply barely outpaced by the Tacoma at 6,720 kilos.
Most payload capability is achieved with the four-cylinder 4×2, which may haul 1,685 kilos, and with this, it compares extra favorably to the phase. The favored configuration of Double Cab V6 4×4 with an computerized can haul 1,155 kilos with the common mattress. Going with the 4×2 provides a pair hundred kilos of capability as much as 1,285 kilos.
There are lots of totally different Tacoma trim ranges, and the off-road fashions naturally aren’t designed to coddle occupants with a snug trip and crisp dealing with. Restricted fashions are possible the most effective for asphalt, and the V6 has enough acceleration for freeway merges and passing. Nevertheless, that engine is noisier and coarser than these of rival vans and the six-speed computerized tends to hunt/discover itself within the improper gears (and has fewer gears from which to decide on than rivals have). The handbook six-speed gearbox accessible on V6 fashions is nice as truck transmissions go, however doesn’t do a lot to make the expertise extra partaking. Each the throttle and brake tuning are troublesome to adapt to, as each develop into abnormally sensitive after an preliminary deadzone making it troublesome to drive the truck easily.
TRD Off-Highway and TRD Professional fashions could be a bit bouncy and harsh on poor surfaces resulting from their beefed-up suspensions, however they’re tolerable on iffy roads for lovers who need the additional go-anywhere functionality. And go wherever they most definitely can. Each include terrain-specific drive modes, an digital locking rear differential, and heavy-duty drivetrain cooling. Automated fashions even get an auxiliary transmission cooler. All 4×4 fashions get a two-speed switch case, TRD or in any other case. Toyota presents a TRD Elevate Package for V6 4×4 fashions, too, in case you needed to take your non-TRD Professional even additional off-road (and would quite such a modification come from the unique producer).
The Toyota Tacoma is inbuilt Mexico in both Tijuana or Guanajuato.
Pricing begins at $28,485, together with vacation spot, however that is a reasonably stripped-down truck, and most people will need one thing pricier. Certainly, speccing out a pickup truck might be difficult, and even the Tacoma, which is accessible in comparatively few configurations in comparison with some full-size choices, is available in greater than 30 variants earlier than you even begin including choices.
There are just too many permutations to record all of them right here, however suffice it to say that apart from the TRD Professional and Restricted fashions, you may construct your Tacoma just about the best way you need. The shorter Entry Cab is accessible solely with the lengthy mattress; Double Cabs might be optioned with both. The Restricted and TRD Professional can be found solely in Double Cab configurations, and the TRD Professional can solely be had with four-wheel drive. TRD Sport and TRD Off Highway fashions can be found in 4×2 “Prerunner” fashion if that’s to your liking.
This is the essential mannequin lineup and pricing for the 2023 Tacoma, however you could find a full breakdown of those trim ranges’ options, specs and native pricing right here on Autoblog.
The Tacoma presents loads of customary energetic and passive methods, particularly for a midsize truck. Toyota’s “Security Sense P” system consists of ahead collision warning with computerized emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, computerized excessive beams, and adaptive cruise management that may simply be toggled off for many who favor the old school selection.
Rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, and parking sensors can all be added with packages accessible on the SR5, TRD Sport and TRD Off-Highway fashions. Larger trims get them bundled in.
There’s no ranking for the 2023 simply but, however it must be just like the 2022 version. Fashions which were crash tested by the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration acquired a four-star total ranking with a four-star frontal ranking and five-star facet ranking. The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security offers the 2022 Tacoma the best-possible “Good” ranking for all the things however the small overlap passenger take a look at the place it earned an “Acceptable” rating. Tacomas geared up with LED headlights (customary on the TRD Professional and Restricted, non-obligatory on TRD Off-Highway and TRD Sport) get a “Good” headlight ranking, whereas the usual halogens solely rating the third-best/second-worst “Marginal.”