Toyota Tacoma

The Tacoma is a midsize pickup that slots below the full-size Tundra in Toyota’s truck lineup. It’s available in three cab sizes: a regular cab (which was discontinued in 2015), an extended cab (known as the Access Cab) with extra room behind the front seats for storage or temporary seating, and a crew cab (known as the Double Cab) with a traditional rear bench seat. The regular and extended cabs come with a six-foot cargo bed, while the crew cab can be fitted with either a five- or a six-foot bed. Properly equipped, the Tacoma can tow up to 6,800 pounds.

Under the hood, the Tacoma offers either a four- or a six-cylinder gasoline engine. The base four-cylinder is a 2.7-liter unit that makes 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. In 2015 and earlier models, an available 4.0-liter V6 produces 236 hp and 266 lb-ft. It was replaced in 2016 by a new 3.5-liter V6 with 278 hp and 265 lb-ft. Most Tacomas utilize an automatic transmission, which received an upgrade to six speeds in 2016. A manual gearbox is also available; it was discontinued for four-cylinder models in 2018 but continues to be offered with the V6. No hybrid or electric versions have been produced.

Since 2016, Toyota has built the Tacoma in six main trims: the entry-level SR, the slightly upgraded SR5, the mid-range TRD Sport, the more rugged TRD Off Road, the upscale Limited, and the range-topping TRD Pro. In 2021, two special editions also joined the lineup: the outdoorsy Trail Edition and the Nightshade Edition, which features blacked-out trim, dark-finished alloy wheels, and black leather upholstery. Forward collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control became standard safety features on the Tacoma in 2018, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration first became standard in 2020.