Driven: 2024 Toyota Tacoma Has Something For Everyone

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma is all-new this year, marking the fourth generation of the beloved Taco. This mid-size pickup truck gets updated powertrains, new features, and a larger trim lineup for the new model year, and includes off-road focused TRD trims and the new Trailhunter, which is geared toward overlanders. These improvements come at a cost with the whole lineup moving up in price and top trims pushing tight budgets.

Absolutely everything is new about this truck, which is a very good thing because the outgoing generation felt old. Not only does the new one look better and have updated tech from capability to infotainment, it rides better and has more premium interior trims, especially in those pricey top trims. But is it as good as we hoped?

Exterior: It’s A Rugged Little Thing No Matter The Trim

Trucks in this segment never look timid and refined, but the Tacoma goes full bore toward rough and ready styling. It’s rather blocky with bold fenders and an aggressive grille. We love the updated look, which is even more spectacular in the off-road TRD lineup and the Trailhunter. There are 17-inch or 19-inch wheels depending on the trim with either an XtraCab that seats two or a Double Cab that seats five.

There’s also a choice of either a 5-foot or 6-foot bed. The exact combination you choose can make the Tacoma look pint sized or rather burly. No matter the configuration, the Tacoma has bold, updated styling that makes it look like a truck ready to do work and have some off-road fun.

Interior: Attractive And Durable Materials

While some full-size trucks boast interiors that look like they belong in luxury cars, like the new Ram 1500 Tungsten, the Tacoma is never truly fancy. It’s very practical with fabric seats on base trims and SofTex imitation leather on top trims in the lineup. Controls are big and easy to grab even with gloves and the overall impression is one of durability.

There are, however, plenty of creature comforts packed into that very practical interior. Move up through the lineup and the 6-way manual front seats become eight-way power adjustable. Heated and ventilated front seats along with a heated, leather-trimmed steering wheel are available. It’s an attractive interior that will keep you comfortable.

This is, however, a mid-size truck, so you won’t find the kind of passenger room that’s available on a full-size model. The seats are comfortable and supportive, but things feel snug. A six-foot passenger in the front seat of the Double Cab has plenty of headroom, but legroom is tight, and they won’t be able to stretch their legs. That tall passenger also makes the rear seat room almost unusable, even for kids. Those who don’t feel the need for the rear seats at all have the option of the two-passenger XtraCab.

Powertrains: A Choice Of Four-Cylinder Engines

No matter how you configure your Tacoma, it will include a four-cylinder turbocharged engine, but there are two variants of that engine. The base i-Force engine found in the SR only delivers 228 horsepower with 243 lb-ft of torque and is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. In the rest of the lineup, it delivers 278 hp with 317 lb-ft and uses the same eight-speeder, or 270 hp with 310 lb-ft paired to a six-speed manual. There’s also the i-Force Max hybrid, which has 326 hp and 465 lb-ft paired to an eight-speed automatic only. The Tacoma also offers a choice of either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive.

That’s quite a range of options and each is going to drive differently. The difference between that base engine and the I-Force Max is downright dramatic. If it’s only about power, then go with the i-Force Max. It’s not available on base trims, however, so you’ll pay a premium for the hybrid power.

That’s a somewhat mind-boggling number of configurations, which is par for the course when it comes to trucks. Not every configuration is available on every trim, however, so it’s worth prioritizing what you want and then seeing which trims work for you. Whether you’re looking for off-road prowess, or affordability, there’s a version of the Tacoma that fits the bill.

On the fuel economy front, there’s once again a long list of numbers depending on the exact configuration you choose. EPA fuel economy estimates for the non-hybrid versions are best in the SR5, Sport or PreRunner trims with 2WD, managing 21/26/23 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. Four-wheel drive trims do worse. Choose to go with the i-Force Max hybrid engine and the numbers don’t change by much, but it is the best of the lot: According to the EPA, the 4WD hybrid will achieve 23/2/24 mpg. Your fuel economy doesn’t really change for the added performance offered by the hybrid.

Towing and Payload: Getting Work Done On A Smaller Scale

Midsize trucks don’t have the same impressive towing and payload figures as the big boys, but that doesn’t mean they’re not capable of getting work done. It makes a lot of sense to go with something like the Tacoma if you need some truck capability, but don’t want to pay for or manage the dimensions of a larger truck.

The Tacoma has a maximum payload rating of 1,705 pounds with the gas engine or 1,710 with the hybrid. Its maximum tow rating comes in at 6,500 pounds with the gas engine and 6,000 with the hybrid. Those numbers are good, but towing is lower than what you’ll find in both the Ford Ranger and the Nissan Frontier.

Technology: The Features You Need

The base infotainment system in the Tacoma features an eight-inch touchscreen and four-speaker audio with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 14-inch touchscreen is available higher in the lineup along with six-speakers or a 10-speaker JBL premium audio system. It’s a solid offering, but that larger touchscreen doesn’t become available until the middle of the range and is only standard on the top three trims.

A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is standard on all but the SR and SR5 trims and there’s Qi wireless charging available for most of the lineup. One final piece of the tech picture is a head-up display on the top three trims of the range. It’s a comprehensive system that has clear screens, crisp graphics, and well-organized menus that are easy to learn.

Drive Impressions: Something For Everyone

The thing with the Tacoma is that its wide range of configurations makes it quite different from one trim to the next. We spent our drive time in the TRD Off-Road trim with the gas engine and the automatic transmission. It’s one of the more rugged options, and it feels that way behind the wheel. It delivers strong acceleration and is well-mannered at high speeds, but quick lane changes had some body roll. You won’t forget you’re in a truck.

This trim has an off-road suspension system that, while ideal for heading into the dirt, makes its on-road ride less than perfect. Bumps and dips in the road as well as uneven road surfaces won’t go unnoticed. It’s not harsh, but you will know you’re in an off-road truck. It is, however, a quiet ride with the sound of the engine well-muted. Road and wind noise are also managed, which makes road trips a less tiresome proposition.

Pricing And Verdict: A Wide Range Of Trims And Affordability

The Tacoma has eight trims with two beds, two cabs, two engines, and a choice between rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. That’s a wide range of configurations with an equally wide pricing spread. The base SR with rear-wheel drive and the XtraCab starts at $31,500, not including $1,495 destination. That’s an affordable choice with basic features.

At the other end of the spectrum is the TRD Pro i-Force Max Double Cab with four-wheel drive at $63,900. That’s double the price of the base trim with a total of 27 different configurations and prices all together. The bad news is that it can be confusing to figure out what you want, but the good news is that you can likely find exactly what you want, too. That pricing spread also gives you plenty of room to find something within your budget.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma excels at offering choices. There’s no one midsize truck customer, so Toyota made sure it has something for everyone in the Tacoma lineup. It also gave the Tacoma an attractive interior, a solid tech package, and the ability to handle off-road adventuring if that’s your plan. Those looking for a fully-featured and versatile midsize truck will find the Tacoma holds lots of appeal.