1998 Toyota Tacoma Review
Price Estimate: $584 - $914

Toyota Tacoma model years
Toyota Tacoma types
- Extended Cab
- Regular Cab
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Unique styling, Toyota reliability, and powerful engines make the 1998 Toyota Tacoma one of the most desirable small trucks on the market. Passenger side airbag shut-off switch is a nice nod toward making this truck safer for kids.
Cons
- Extended cab models lack a third door and the redesigned front end is a bit too swoopy.
What’s new
The 1998 four-wheel-drive Tacomas receive fresh front-end styling that makes them more closely resemble their two-wheel-drive brothers. A new option package appears for 1998 as well; the TRD Off-Road Package for extended cab models is offered. On the safety front, Toyota introduces a passenger-side airbag that can be deactivated with a cut-off switch, making the Tacoma somewhat safer for children and short adults. Toyota also offers a new Tacoma PreRunner for 1998, billing it as a two-wheel-drive truck with four-wheel-drive performance.
For sale nearby
27 listings
- $11,995fair price$74 below market
- 87,811 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use only
- 2.4l 4cyl
- Modern Nissan (302 mi away)
- Standard Cab
- 3500lb Towing Capaci...
Close
Located in Winston Salem, NC
Recent Arrival! TWO SETS OF KEYS, LOCAL TRADE, The 1998 Toyota Tacoma Base is a reliable and compact pickup truck known for its durability and practic...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
21 Combined MPG (19 City/25 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 4TANL42N7WZ038158
Stock: 16N4536B
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 06-21-2025 - 215,032 miles
- No accidents, 5 owners, corporate fleet vehicle
- 2.7l 4cyl
- Conley Motor Company Inc. (337 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Extended Cab
- 3500lb Towing Capaci...
Close
Located in Franklin, NC
Toyota Tacoma SR5 Xtra Cab 4x4 Auto AC PW/PL Good CarFax Report Local!
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
17 Combined MPG (16 City/20 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 4TAWM72N9WZ172253
Stock: 3941
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 05-14-2025
Vehicle overview
Toyota's sixth-generation compact pickup debuted as a 1995.5 model with an actual model name: Tacoma. It's supposed to suggest the rugged outdoors, as well as strength and adventure. Any of three potent engines go under the hood. Toyota aimed for aggressive styling, inside and out, and Tacomas sport an excellent selection of interior fittings. Regular and extended cab bodies are available, with either two- or four-wheel drive.
A freshening of the front end occurred on the 1997 two-wheel drive Tacoma and the 1998 four-wheel drive models follow this year. Swoopy fenders, a larger bumper, aero-style headlamps and a new grille set this truck apart from its forebears. Two-wheel drive Tacomas get a 2.4-liter four-cylinder base engine, rated at 142-horsepower. Tacoma 4x4s earn a 150-horsepower, 2.7-liter four. Toyota claims that its four-cylinder engines are comparable to V6s from competitors. If those won't suffice, however, consider the V6 option: a dual-overhead-cam, 24-valve unit that whips out 190 horses and 220 foot-pounds of torque. With V6 power, borrowed from the bigger T100, this compact pickup can tow up to 5,000 pounds and soundly trounce most factory sport trucks in the stoplight dragrace.
All Tacomas have front coil springs instead of the former torsion bars, but 4x4s feature longer suspension travel to improve ride/handling qualities. Manual-shift trucks feature reverse-gear synchronization to reduce gear noise when shifting into reverse. Four-wheel antilock braking is optional on all Tacomas, and all pickups contain dual airbags with a shut-off switch for the passenger's side. In top-of-the-line Limited pickups, a One-Touch Hi-Four switch is available for easy, pushbutton engagement of four-wheel drive.
Tacomas are produced at the NUMMI joint-venture facility in Fremont, Calif., having been designed in that state. Options include cruise control, air conditioning, a sliding rear window, tilt steering wheel and moonroof.
The 1998 Tacoma PreRunner, however, is set to attract truck buyers who desire but cannot afford a 4WD truck, 4WD truck owners who don't use their 4WD as often as they expected and 2WD truck buyers who take their vehicle off-road. Historically, a "pre-runner" is a truck that pre-runs an off-road race course. Toyota's new PreRunner has benefitted from considerable suspension tuning and development work with Toyota Motorsports desert racing truck program to produce a 2WD vehicle with 4WD capabilities.
Stylistically, the PreRunner is identical to the other 1998 4WD Tacoma trucks, but the PreRunners are only available as XtraCab models with four- or six-cylinder automatic transmissions. Special details on the PreRunners include a double-wishbone independent suspension with coil springs, a 1.02-inch stabilizer bar and hydraulic shock absorbers. Standard tires are 15- by six-inch steel wheels and P225/75R15 mud and snow tires. The Toyota Racing Development off-road package offers Bilstein shock absorbers, locking rear differential on six-cylinder models, alloy wheels and other off-road enhancements.
Toyota hopes to attract buyers with the style and image of their Tacoma as well as a lower price tag. We like the Tacoma, but question the value it represents. Most of these Toyota trucks don't come cheap. Guess that's the price you pay for the peace of mind a Toyota provides.
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$234/mo for Tacoma SR5 V6
Tacoma SR5 V6
vs
$211/mo
Avg. Compact Truck
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Toyota Tacoma Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Taco
5 out of 5 starsAlan, 07/19/2007
1998 Toyota Tacoma SR5 V6 2dr Extended Cab 4WD SB (3.4L 6cyl naturally aspired 5M)
I really enjoy my truck! I have 217,000 miles and will run it for as long as I can. Only major repair was the water pump. Still running original fuel filter, drum brakes, AC, plug wires. It drives like new and does not burn any oil. You cannot beat Toyota quality and this truck proves that.
still going
5 out of 5 starsheadhunter130, 01/04/2013
1998 Toyota Tacoma SR5 V6 2dr Extended Cab 4WD SB (3.4L 6cyl naturally aspired 5M)
My truck has over 357,000 miles and has been through it.
I'll never sell
4.38 out of 5 starsLuke, 10/31/2010
1998 Toyota Tacoma 2dr Regular Cab SB (2.4L 4cyl naturally aspired 5M)
This truck is one of the best trucks I've ever owned! Starts every time and all I do is change the oil and tires. The over all cost to get around is less that any other truck I know of. 13 years and still running like a champ! I bet I'll get 300,000 miles on this one easy. Thank you Toyota!
Bullet Proof
4.75 out of 5 starstaco ma, 02/13/2010
1998 Toyota Tacoma SR5 V6 2dr Extended Cab 4WD SB (3.4L 6cyl naturally aspired 5M)
Remember the old advertisement when the Tacoma gets hit by a meteor, then drives out of the crater?? It's a bit of an exaggeration, but not much... I just went over 200,000 miles and it is still going strong. Only problem ever was a starter. Puts all Chevy's or Ford's to shame.
1998 Tacoma Highlights
Extended Cab
Base
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 21 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $176/month |
rear wheel drive | |
Max Towing Capacity | 3,500 lbs. |
Safety
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalAcceptable
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
People who viewed this also viewed
4.0 average Rating out of 3 reviews. |
Starting at $33,330 |
5.0 average Rating out of 2 reviews. |
Starting at $31,900 |
3.7 average Rating out of 13 reviews. |
Starting at $40,090 |
Related Used 1998 Toyota Tacoma info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Lexus Is 300 2021 Review
- Toyota Rav4 Hybrid 2020 Review
- Dodge Durango 2020 Review
- Toyota Corolla 2020 Review
- Kia Niro 2020 Review
Shop similar models
- Used Chevrolet Colorado 2025
- Used Jeep Gladiator 2025
- Used Toyota Tundra 2025
- Used Nissan Frontier 2025
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Used Toyota Pickup 2012
- Used Toyota Pickup 2013
- Used Toyota Pickup 2017 For Sale
- Used Toyota Pickup 2020
- Used Toyota Tacoma 2010
- Used Toyota Tacoma 2011 For Sale
- Used Toyota Tacoma 2014
- Used Toyota Tacoma 2015
- Used Toyota Tacoma 2016 For Sale
- Used Toyota Tacoma 2018
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- 2024 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- Audi Q6 e-tron 2025
- Land Rover Range Rover Velar 2025
- New Chevrolet Corvette
- 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron
- 2024 GMC Sierra 1500
- 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross News
- Mercedes-Benz GLA 2024
- Volvo 850 2024
- 2024 SQ5
Research other models of Toyota
- New Toyota Tacoma
- Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid 2024
- 2025 Toyota Pickup
- New Toyota BZ
- 2024 Toyota GR Supra
- 2024 Toyota Corolla Hatchback
- Toyota Crown 2024
- 2024 Mirai
- New Toyota Pickup
Other models
- Used Chevrolet Astro-Cargo in Richland, WA 2005
- Used Volvo C40-Recharge in Owensboro, KY 2024
- Used Chevrolet Tahoe-Limitedz71 in Roswell, NM 2000
- Used Lexus GS-350 in Elizabethport, NJ 2020
- Used Chevrolet Silverado-1500-Hybrid in Woodstock, GA 2013
- Used Ford Freestyle in West Chicago, IL 2007
- New GMC Terrain for Sale in Merritt Island, FL
- New BMW 5-Series for Sale in Madison, MS
- Used Lexus Is in Poplar Bluff, MO 2025
- Used Audi Q3 in Mayfield, KY 2025