2024 Toyota Tacoma: What's It Like to Live With?
We're putting the redesigned 2024 Toyota Tacoma to a 20,000-mile test
| Miles Driven: | Average MPG: |
| 16,041 | 19.4 |
Latest Highlights
- The 2024 Toyota Tacoma is fully redesigned
- And it's now the third (gas-powered) midsize pickup in our fleet
- Comparisons are sure to follow
- Can Toyota keep its grip on the midsize truck market?
What do you want to know about?
What We Got And Why
• Our test vehicle: 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road
• Base MSRP: $43,295
• MSRP as tested: $55,240
A new Tacoma is so rare that when Toyota finally gets around to redesigning its perennial midsize pickup it's loaded up with as much expectation as its payload rating. The 2024 Tacoma was met with plenty of fanfare, but our initial impressions left us with a few questions — questions we now have an entire year and thousands of miles to help us answer.
But first, let's talk about what we're testing here. Our new long-term Tacoma is a 2024 TRD Off-Road without the optional hybrid powertrain. While we like to buy our long-termers, Toyota lent us this bright orange beastie for an entire year. Even though the TRD Off-Road is now available with the i-Force Max hybrid powertrain — which makes 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque — Toyota told us we'd have to wait a while for that. In the end we went with the standard turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder that cranks out 278 hp and 317 lb-ft.
Not only are we impatient, we also wanted something that would compare more fairly to the two other midsize trucks (neither of which is hybridized) we have in our fleet for the next year. That's right, the Tacoma is the last in a new triumvirate — we have the all-new Ford Ranger and Chevy Colorado with us for the same amount of time. Over the course of the next year, we'll be testing all three to determine which is the best to live with.
Back to our Taco. The TRD Off-Road comes with a wide variety of optional extras that vary from off-road specific to comfort-specific. Our truck has all of them. A heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated seats, and a 360-degree view camera should help make the truck more livable on the day-to-day. When we're off the beaten path, a disconnecting stabilizer bar, locking rear differential, crawl control, and a plethora of off-road driving modes should make it more capable when the going gets dirty.
All that comes at a hefty price, though. Our Tacoma costs a whopping $55,240. That makes it considerably more expensive than both the Colorado and the Ranger in our fleet — and puts it right in line with far more competitive versions of those trucks, the ZR1 and the Raptor. Not only that, but this very same Tacoma has already lost out big to the other two in our ratings and rankings. In a small class of just six pickups — when you consider the Frontier, Gladiator and Ridgeline — the Tacoma sits near the bottom.
So will a year with the Tacoma change our already-made-up minds? Is it going to prove worth the extra cash? Will it be the most deft off-road? The most reliable? We can't say for sure yet. We have 12 months and a lot of miles to cover to find out for sure. Stay tuned.
Toyota loaned Edmunds this vehicle for the purpose of evaluation.
Average lifetime mpg: 19.4
EPA mpg rating: 21 combined ( 20 city / 23 highway )
Best fill mpg: 22.4
Best range (miles): 353.3
Current odometer: 16,041
Early returns on the Tacoma's fuel economy
"The EPA-estimated 21 mpg always seemed a little optimistic, but we've been disappointed by the midsize pickup's fuel economy in the first 2,000 miles. Our best fill beat that rating (22.4 mpg) but we're averaging a meager 16.6 mpg so far. It's early days, but the Tacoma is unlikely to arrest this slide and become a fuel economy standout." — Jake Sundstrom, editor
"Really struggling to hit the Taco's EPA fuel economy estimates. On several fill-ups where I did nothing but highway driving in between, I couldn't even hit 20 mpg. Granted, that was in Utah, with 80-mph speed limits (Utah, I love you). But even in California at 70-75 mph in heavier highway traffic, I couldn't get anywhere near 23 mpg highway." — Steven Ewing, director, editorial content
The front passenger seat belt malfunctioned
"The night after I picked up the Tacoma from work, I was planning on going to dinner with my wife. But when she sat in the passenger seat and tried to buckle up, the seat belt was stuck in its upright position and would not move. We tried everything we could think of to get it to come out and buckle, but in the end my wife had to ride in the back as I chauffeured us to the restaurant and back.
"I then took the truck to a Toyota service center where they confirmed there was an issue with the seat-belt mechanism. They didn't have the necessary part in stock, though, and since it was right before Christmas it would be several days before I was able to bring it back and have the service completed.
"Between taking it to service and returning, however, the belt suddenly started working again. It now moved as if there was no issue at all. My wife and I did not trust it, though, so she ended up riding in the back seat until it was finally fixed.
"Once I brought it back for the final service, they were able to fix it in about an hour, and it was covered under the warranty at no cost. So that was a relief, and the seat belt seems to be working just fine." — David Lucio, post-production coordinator
Smooth, easy power
"We've got the turbocharged four-cylinder engine in our Tacoma, and I found the power delivery very smooth throughout the range of gears. I gave the Tacoma a lot of throttle while going up a steep incline and the engine still didn't sound whiny or exhausted. It started breathing heavy, no doubt, but it still managed its way up the hill without significant hesitation. I'm really digging this truck so far." — Jake Sundstrom, editor
"I'm a big fan of the way this truck drives on the road. I feel like the Colorado was tuned to be a little too trucky, and the Ranger was tuned to be a little to car-ish. The Taco strikes a good middle ground where it's responsive and smooth with a nice ride while still letting you feel how much truck you've got." — Will Kaufman, manager, video
The powertrain is much improved in the new Tacoma
"I was never a fan of the old Tacoma. I wanted to like it but had two insurmountable issues with the truck. First, I didn't really fit in it. I have a long torso, so even with the seat lowered all the way, my head would often rub. That meant leaning the rear seat back farther than I'd prefer. The steering wheel didn't telescope far enough for my liking either. I was never comfortable in the truck. My second issue was the powertrain, specifically the transmission tuning. The six-speed automatic was very poorly tuned, constantly wanting to upshift. It never seemed to be in the right gear, so the Taco felt sluggish and lazy.
"Toyota has fixed both of these issues with the new truck. I just took our Taco on a trip up to Yosemite over a long weekend, and I was pleased with how comfortable and easy the whole drive was.
"The seating position has been fixed. There's more headroom and more adjustment for both the seat and the wheel. I don't feel like I have to compromise my seating position at all. How great! The new powertrain is a huge improvement, too. The old V6 was nothing to write home about, so I'm not sad about dropping it for a turbo inline-four.
"What I'm quite pleased with is the new transmission. It's up two gears, and the logic is much better. The new engine provides more torque, too, so the truck usually doesn't struggle to pass on the highway.
"Finally, a Tacoma I could comfortably drive every day." — Reese Counts, vehicle test editor
"Loving the powertrain here. Tons of low-end torque, responsive throttle that doesn't feel jumpy, and smart transmission tuning. Never found myself wishing for the extra grunt of the hybrid setup, and the fuel economy difference is negligible — save yourself the $5,000." — Duncan Brady, script writer
Early returns on the Tacoma's comfort
"I was very pleasantly surprised by how comfortable I found the Tacoma on a 400-mile road trip. The driver's seat, and the front row at large, feels quite roomy for a midsize truck. And while these aren't the most comfortable seats I've ever planted my butt in, they're an upgrade over the previous generation and more comfortable than our Ford Ranger." — Jake Sundstrom, editor
But it can be tough to find the sweet spot in the driver's seat
"I got back in the seat of the Tacoma for the first time in a couple months and found it really challenging to find a comfortable seating position. Whatever sweet spot I found the first couple of times behind the wheel continues to elude me. That's led to some soreness in my right thigh, which suggests something about the way my foot reaches the pedal is bugging me." — Jake Sundstrom, editor
"The front of the Tacoma's cabin is pretty comfortable. The seats are more designed for off-road than road trips, but the dual climate control, heated and ventilated seats, and wireless charging and CarPlay make it a nice enough place to be.
"However, the back of the cabin is where the comfort suffers greatly. No vents for the passengers, absolutely no legroom at all, and if you can squeeze someone back there (at the expense of front passenger legroom), their knees are banging against the hydraulics built into the back of the front seats. They almost would have been better off leaving it a two-seater or bench in the front and using that extra cabin room for storage or a longer and actually usable truck bed." — David Lucio, post-production coordinator
Android Auto displays great in the Tacoma
"OK, so for my money Toyota's native infotainment is ... meh. BUT the big screen in our Taco is GREAT for Android Auto. I get complete takeover, with tons of real estate. The Ranger might have a better native interface, but its Android Auto isn't nearly as good as in the Tacoma. You get a tiny portion of the screen, and your home/maps/recent apps buttons are just sort of sandwiched in the middle of the screen, right above the part that's permanently devoted to climate controls. It's terrible to try to hit those while the Range is moving. If you're an AA user, the Taco is way better." — Will Kaufman, senior writer and strategist
The data port is hidden on the Tacoma
"Is ... is there no USB for data? I only found charging ports, but nothing that plugged my phone directly into the infotainment. It made setup more annoying because instead of just plugging in and having it all taken care of, I had to go through pairing and then activate wireless Android Auto. I mean, now that it's done ... it's fine, who cares. But it's still weird there doesn't seem to be a wired connection." — Will Kaufman, senior writer and strategist
"Good news! There is a USB for data in the Tacoma ... it's just hard to find. The USB-C data port is on the side of the large infotainment screen. It's easier to find (and plug in) from the passenger's seat — it's at the top right corner of the screen." — Jake Sundstrom, editor
What do we think of the driver aids?
"The suite of safety features on this truck is extensive, but most of the time they felt intrusive and like training wheels on a kid's bike. The automatic braking was very sensitive and kept slowing me preemptively when I was wanting to coast on the freeway. I also had to turn off the lane keeping assistance as it was jerking the truck around and did not center it in the lane as I would have preferred.
"The adaptive cruise control worked pretty well, though, in peak LA traffic, and the Apple CarPlay in the Tacoma connected faster and worked more seamlessly with my phone than in any other vehicle I can remember. Plus the massive screen in the truck made it easy to follow my navigation and I could reach everything with no issue."
"But the backup camera has a weird fish-eye-style lens [that] makes things at the edge of the image look way closer than they are. I ended up using my mirrors more for spacing on the side and the camera primarily for backing up straight. Also, the front and rear cameras suddenly stopped working for me at one point while I was in a parking lot. I had to turn the Tacoma off and back on again in order for the cameras to come back." — David Lucio, post-production coordinator
A thoroughly modern Tacoma
"Every time I've driven a Toyota Tacoma, it felt like I was stepping into a time machine. The interior layout, buttons and technology all felt several years behind whatever the given model year was. Not so with this fourth-generation Tacoma. It feels like a modern truck in nearly every way. The 8-inch multimedia screen is plenty big for most people, and the digital gauge cluster enhances the cutting-edge feel. For those who want an even bigger screen, there's a 14-inch option available. The buttons and switchgear have a metallic finish to them and don't look like they came from the parts bin in 2010. The ride quality is truck-like yet comfortable. As someone who prioritizes a nice interior, this is a truck I wouldn't mind being in for extended drives." — Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor
We dig the Tacoma's easy-to-use interior
"This interior is just so chunky and satisfying. Big shifter that's nice to rest your hand on, big knobs and buttons, lots of grippy rubber everywhere. Everything is so tactile. Like, after a day in this truck I'm ready to start reading EDC forums to find the best pocketknife." — Will Kaufman, manager, video
But the back seat is very tight
"The back seat of this thing is a punishment. It's so tight, I can't imagine asking anyone to sit behind me on a road trip. And it's even tight for my toddler in his car seat unless I move the front passenger seat far enough forward it's unusable. I WILL give it points for having a proper upper LATCH anchor instead of just those fabric pass-through loops most trucks get." — Will Kaufman, manager, video
"Man, there really isn't any rear legroom in this thing, is there? I wanted to put my backpack on the floor behind the front passenger seat, and even that required me to move the front seat forward. I feel bad for any adult human who has to ride back here." — Steven Ewing, director, editorial content
And visibility could be better
"Visibility is cool, guys. So it's lame that Toyota has the front end of this truck so ridiculously squared up. It looks tough, but you've got a ginormous blind spot right in front of you. And it's not even necessary? I popped the hood to look, and there is just cubic feet of empty space up there. They could absolutely lower the front of the hood to give you a better view." — Will Kaufman, manager, video
Where are the hazards?
"I'm not thrilled with the placement of the hazard lights switch. It's on the far side of the center stack and I couldn't immediately find it when I needed to turn on the hazards quickly in a parallel parking scenario." — Duncan Brady, script writer
A sight for sore eyes
"We live in an era of decreasing in-cabin font sizes. Thankfully, Toyota is bucking the trend. When I started the Tacoma yesterday, I was reminded of how much I appreciate its large display with magnified text, clearly labeled buttons and large knobs. This isn't unique to the Tacoma. You'll see the same in other Toyota models. And it's a welcome relief for tired eyes like mine." — Mike Schmidt, associate director, vehicle operations
Towing over long distances is a snap
"Our Tacoma is rated to tow 6,300 pounds, so I had no trouble towing 5,300 on a road trip from Denver to Los Angeles. Even in 100-degree weather going over the Rocky Mountains, the Taco was fine — not so much as a hiccup. The Tow/Haul mode is great for long, steep downhill grades; it'll proactively downshift and let engine braking supplement mechanical stopping power so you don't fry the brakes. It works with the adaptive cruise control, too — rather than applying the brakes to slow for a slower car on a slope, Tow/Haul will downshift first and let that scrub off some speed. Good stuff." — Steven Ewing, director, editorial content
What do we think of the Tacoma's looks?
"I'm trying to be nice when I say the redesigned Toyota Tacoma with this orange paint is absolutely hideous. Its identity is now so fused with the Tundra that it has lost some of the charm and personality that defined the previous-generation Tacoma. Mix that in with a paint color that screams something like 'TRAFFIC CONE' and 'TOY TRUCK' and you have ... well, a truck with unappealing styling." — Jake Sundstrom, editor
"I wasn't a fan of the Tacoma's design when it debuted, but it's really grown on me. Maybe that's because I just spent 2,000 miles living with this truck. Or maybe it's because the Tacoma is so often parked next to our dumpy-looking Colorado in the garage. Whatever the case, I like the look of the Taco, even in this eye-searing orange." — Steven Ewing, director, editorial content
The Tacoma is winning hearts and minds
"I ... really like the Taco? This might actually be my personal favorite between this, the Ranger and the Colorado." — Will Kaufman, manager, video
"The only complaint, other than styling, I have about the Tacoma is its fuel economy. Otherwise, this is far and away my favorite midsize truck in our fleet. It's miles better than the Ranger and I think it edges out our Edmunds Top Rated truck, the Chevy Colorado. Really impressive work by Toyota on this truck." — Jake Sundstrom, editor
"At first the truck seemed very pared down and not that much fun to drive. However, the more I spent time in it, i started to notice all the nice touch points in the truck. I really like the feel of the steering wheel, and acceleration is OK. My kid did have issues over and over again with the front passenger seat belt — it kept locking no matter what — if I was in park or stopped the car or started moving — couldn't figure it out. I did take the truck off-roading on some mild trails out in the Mojave desert, [and] it did exactly as I thought it would. Using the crawl control to get down a rocky steep hill was amazing to watch! It's like AI in a truck; so cool that it needed no help from me and didn't slip at all!" — Amy Silliman, senior production manager
We love manually adjusting our headlights
"I love that the Tacoma has manual headlight leveling. It's such a small thing more commonplace in European-spec cars, but being able to angle the headlights down when driving at night lets me know I'm not blinding other drivers with the LEDs. Remember, it might be a midsizer, but the Tacoma is still a tall truck." — Steven Ewing, director, editorial content