The hybrid Toyota Tacoma is far better than the V6-powered version – we know because we tested it.

When an automaker decides to downsize engines to satisfy emissions requirements, automotive fanatics who will miss the visceral sound of a rumbly V8 are sometimes relatively upset – and we empathize. Within the case of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma, nonetheless, we are saying good riddance to the outgoing truck’s gutless V6; if you have not checked up on Toyota’s mid-size truck previously 12 months, you could have missed that the fourth-generation mannequin now makes use of a turbocharged inline-four in favor of a usually aspirated four- or six-cylinder.

CarBuzz has already pushed the gas-only Tacoma, however we have been not too long ago given an opportunity to pattern the obtainable i-Drive Max hybrid powertrain at a Toyota occasion in San Diego. This occasion was additionally our first probability to drive the Land Cruiser, Camry, and Crown Signia, so our time within the Taco Hybrid was considerably restricted and restricted to off-roading. It might have been temporary, however we now have an honest grasp of the i-Drive Max and whether or not it is price your hard-earned money.

Powertrain: Out-muscling The Competitors

If you need probably the most potent Tacoma on sale for 2024, it’s going to be the hybrid model. The bottom engine is a 2.4-liter turbo-four that makes simply 228 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque within the entry-level mannequin. Above the bottom trim, nonetheless, outputs improve. All configurations are extra gasoline environment friendly, and the hybrid i-Drive Max hybrid setup is properly and actually highly effective. Here is how the 2023 lineup compares to the brand new Tacoma vary:

Though the outgoing V6 matches the brand new four-cylinder on horsepower greater up within the vary, it solely developed 265 lb-ft of torque, making it really feel sluggish in freeway passing conditions. It additionally chugged gasoline far more greedily. Not solely does the brand new four-cylinder match the previous V6 on energy and finest it on torque, it additionally yields superior gasoline economic system.

Choosing the i-Drive Max hybrid setup provides a 48-hp electrical motor and 1.87 kWh battery mounted within the transmission to the turbocharged four-pot. The motor helps contribute to the general efficiency, leading to 326 hp (323 hp within the Trailhunter trim) and a seismic 465 lb-ft of torque – the perfect within the mid-size truck class. Solely the twin-turbo V6 Ford Vary Raptor produces extra horsepower within the section, and nothing outclasses the Tacoma in torque. Along with being probably the most highly effective Tacoma powertrain, the hybrid can also be probably the most environment friendly, rated at 22/24/23 mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed in most trims (as much as 23/24/24 within the Restricted).

Sadly, although the i-Drive Max leads the Tacoma lineup in torque, it isn’t all that helpful for truck duties comparable to towing. A hybrid Tacoma can tow 5,950 to six,000 kilos relying on the configuration, which is barely under a comparable 4×4 gas-only Double Cab mannequin, rated at 6,400 kilos. It is not a considerable drop, however some truck consumers could also be deterred from shopping for the i-Drive Max primarily based on this data.

Driving Impressions: Three Off-Street Flavors

Throughout our time in San Diego, we had the prospect to pattern three Tacoma grades with the i-Drive Max powertrain: the TRD Off-Street, the TRD Professional, and the Trailhunter.

First Drive occasions present our preliminary impressions of a automobile in a restricted setting underneath sure time constraints. Keep watch over CarBuzz for our complete Check Drive overview which can comply with quickly.

We’ll begin with the TRD Off-Street as a result of it is probably the most fairly priced of the bunch, and it gives extra functionality than most truck house owners will ever use. Toyota allow us to unfastened on a motocross observe, flexing the TRD Off-Street’s Bilstein distant reservoir shocks. This course was removed from grueling, but it surely proved that even probably the most attainable Tacoma off-road variant is fairly enjoyable.

The TRD Off-Street rides on 33-inch Falken WildPeak all-terrain tires, which offer loads of grip on the grime. We left the truck in four-wheel excessive mode for the entire drive, and by no means felt the necessity to have interaction the obtainable Stabilizer Disconnect Mechanism (SDM), which comes normal on the TRD Professional and Trailhunter.

This primary introduction to the i-Drive Max gave us some early impressions of the powertrain; it feels punchy even at low RPMs and the whoosh from the turbocharger sounds extra attention-grabbing than any noises the previous V6 used to make. The eight-speed computerized can also be an enormous enchancment over the outgoing six-speed, permitting the engine to place down energy extra easily with out feeling prefer it’s gasping for a brand new ratio.

The Trailhunter Has Arrived

Getting into the brand new Trailhunter trim, Toyota had a barely tougher off-road course ready. This gave us a greater alternative to check the Trailhunter, a brand new grade that sits slightly below however is sort of on-par with the well-loved TRD Professional. Although they’re related in some respects, the Trailhunter delivers a distinct taste of off-road efficiency. Whereas the TRD Professional is purpose-built to deal with deserts at excessive speeds, the Trailhunter feels extra snug plodding alongside slowly with a mattress stuffed with tenting tools.

To place the Trailhunter to the check, Toyota had us climb up a rock mattress in four-wheel low with the rear differential locked and the SDM activated. This gave us the prospect to see the Trailhunter’s great climbing functionality and wheel articulation. We activated Crawl Management, a low-speed cruise management that may go up or downhill by itself. For novice off-roaders, the Tacoma can primarily get itself by means of a path with out you touching the throttle or the brakes.

Toyota is aware of the off-road truck section is booming, so it has room to supply two related but distinctive Tacoma flagship fashions. In contrast to the TRD Professional, which is just obtainable with a five-foot mattress, the Trailhunter gives an non-obligatory six-foot mattress for house owners who plan to pack a whole lot of stuff earlier than they deal with a path. The Trailhunter rides on 33-inch Goodyear Territory Rugged-Terrain tires, the identical because the TRD Professional, however these tires come wrapped round 18-inch bronze wheels that present a extra premium appear and feel.

The Trailhunter additionally differs by way of suspension. It makes use of Previous Man Emu cast monotube shocks, that are designed to softly compress even with a full payload. Toyota says it observed that many house owners wished to take their TRD Professional tenting with numerous stuff within the mattress, a job the high-speed off-roader wasn’t designed for particularly. If this feels like the kind of exercise you get pleasure from along with your truck, the Trailhunter could be the superior possibility over the TRD Professional.

These two vehicles have completely different flavors inside as properly. The Trailhunter features a grey SofTex inside with yellow accents, a mixture we discover to me extra mature than what’s discovered within the TRD Professional.

TRD Professional Will get Extra Excessive

After a while behind the wheel, we concluded that the TRD Off Street is probably going the perfect off-road bundle for almost all of consumers and the Trailhunter could secretly be probably the most succesful for the kind of trails that most individuals deal with. So, the place does that depart the TRD Professional? It might not be a do-everything multi-tool just like the earlier era, however the addition of the Trailhunter has allowed Toyota to hone in on the TRD Professional and make it extra excessive than ever earlier than.

Fox QS3 adjustable shocks with rear distant reservoirs ship a cushty experience whereas tackling terrain at excessive speeds; the shocks characteristic three settings for on-road use, off-roading, and excessive off-roading, altering the firmness and rebound to swimsuit the precise job. Toyota tuned the shocks to the second setting, making ready them for the highest-speed off-road course of the day.

The suspension does a terrific job holding the truck stage when going round fast bends, and cushioning occupants from massive impacts. We obtained to take the TRD Professional over a bounce, getting all 4 wheels airborne earlier than returning brutally again to Earth. Even on this state of affairs, the Tacoma is not a back-breaker.

Along with the superior suspension, the TRD Professional is the one Tacoma grade to get Toyota’s new IsoDynamic Efficiency entrance seats. These seats are not like something we have ever sampled in a truck, utilizing air-over-oil shock absorbers to manage lateral seat motion and cease entrance occupants from shifting round as a lot whereas off-roading. The motion is much less noticeable than the air experience seat in a semi truck, however we may positively really feel the shocks doing their factor because the truck leaned into the corners.

Although the seats are a neat contact, they do include quite a few downsides. Firstly, the shocks on the seat backs take up a noticeable quantity of area, severely hurting rear legroom and nearly turning the Tacoma right into a two-seater. You additionally lose the flexibility to recline, making the IsoDynamic Efficiency seats much less snug relying in your most well-liked seating place. We hope Toyota makes these seats non-obligatory for consumers who desire a TRD Professional with out the compromise.

Pricing & Trims: How Can You Get The Hybrid?

The principle takeaway after our time in San Diego was the brilliance of the hybrid powertrain. It is highly effective and easy, and solely provides to the off-roading expertise. Nevertheless, the i-Drive Max engine shouldn’t be obtainable on each Tacoma grade. It is obtainable on the core fashions, and normal on the flagship variants. You possibly can go for the hybrid on the TRD Sport, TRD Off-Street, and Restricted, including $3,700 to the value, when adjusting for physique configuration and limiting all three to four-wheel-drive with a five-foot mattress.

The TRD Sport and TRD Off-Street are similarly-priced at $46,300 and $46,600, respectively, whereas the Restricted i-Drive Max prices $55,800. Alternatively, the TRD Professional and newly-introduced Trailhunter grades are solely bought with i-Drive Max, priced at $63,900 and $62,900 ($63,400 with a six-foot mattress), respectively.

Is the i-Drive Max definitely worth the $3,700 premium? When you deal with the hybrid solely as a efficiency possibility, it is a important amount of cash – but it surely does put the Tacoma within the higher echelon of mid-size truck efficiency. In case you are solely buying the i-Drive Max for its superior gasoline economic system, you could have to work the figures to see if its worthwhile over the usual engine. Assuming 15,000 miles per 12 months yearly and a gasoline value of $3.38 per gallon, the hybrid will save roughly $210 per 12 months in comparison with the gas-only Tacoma. On this state of affairs, the i-Drive Max wouldn’t earn again its premium even after 10 years. Your driving habits could differ, but it surely’s tough to see the i-Drive Max as purely as an effectivity play.

Very like its bigger sibling, the Tundra hybrid, the Tacoma i-Drive Max is positioned for consumers who need probably the most efficiency with the very best gasoline effectivity. It might not be essential for each truck proprietor, however we’re comfortable to see Toyota innovate with confirmed expertise. The concept of a hybrid pickup could sound blasphemous to traditionalist truck house owners, however we promise you will not be upset when you give it a strive.