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Making Light of the Lotus Elite2024 Toyota Tacoma Review
2024 marks a whole new generation for the Tacoma. Toyota introduces new features, powertrains, and more. We talk a look at all the changes in our review.
2024 Toyota Tacoma – toyota.com | Shop 2024 Toyota Tacoma on Carsforsale.com
What’s New for the 2024 Toyota Tacoma?
In a word, everything. The 2024 Toyota Tacoma is a ground-up re-imagining of the long-loved Tacoma model. It still maintains its mid-size dimensions but adds just about every bit of modern technology one could want. Frankly, it’s a complete enough package that we’d recommend it over a full-size truck in most cases.
Toyota has refined this pickup and added a slew of new features, three engines, rear or four-wheel drive, and eight different trims across the lineup. Also new for 2024 is a Trailhunter trim aimed specifically at overlanding. It comes with special seats, a big infotainment system, and Old Man Emu shocks.
Carsforsale.com Score
9/10
Powertrain
Score
9.25/10
Interior
Score
9/10
Technology
Score
9/10
Value
Score
9/10
The Breakdown
Great engines
Plenty of options
Class-leading warranty
Expensive upper trims
Still waiting for the Trailhunter and TRD
Limited features for lower trim levels
A true mid-size competitor
2024 Tacoma Specs
- 228 horsepower from base engine
- 243 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 8 available trims
- Available 14-inch infotainment screen
- Standard adaptive cruise control
- Two years free maintenance
- Towing capacity of 6,500 lbs
2024 Toyota Tacoma Powertrain 9.25/10
Toyota offers the new Tacoma with three desirable engines to choose from starting off with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder. It makes 228 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque which isn’t all that much but it’s a huge step up from the old base engine that made just 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. It sends that power through an eight-speed automatic gearbox and then onto the rear or all four wheels based on specification. It gets up to 21 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway.
Next is a higher-strung version of the same engine but in this tune it makes 278 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. Notably, it’s available both with the automatic or a six-speed manual gearbox and gets 20 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway.
Finally, Toyota is also introducing a new hybrid powertrain consisting of the same 2.4-liter gas-burning engine but it’s mated to a 48hp electric motor and a 1.87 kWh battery pack for a total output of 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. Toyota still hasn’t released fuel economy data yet.
Those are serious figures but they have to be in this segment. For example, the GMC Canyon comes standard with an engine that makes 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. Interestingly, those figures are more than their own full-sized ancestors from just a couple of decades ago.
The Tacoma can tow up to 6,500 pounds when properly equipped. That’s significantly less than rivals from GM and Ford but even those trucks don’t all tow more than the Tacoma. Payload is capped at 1,705 pounds which is more comparable.
2024 Toyota Tacoma Interior 9/10
Don’t look now but the interior of the new Tacoma feels downright spacious. In fact, it’s so spacious that it’s almost full-size-truck-big on the inside. It’s comfortable too thanks to highly adjustable front seats and great cushioning that mixes compliance with support. The dash is simple but modern and easy to navigate. Even the steering wheel is more adjustable than in the old model so getting set for a long drive is just that much easier.
Toyota offers two styles of Tacoma, the XtraCab or the Double Cab. Each features the same cabin from the front seats forward but the rear changes dramatically. In the XtraCab there’s no rear seats at all.
Still, we’re glad that this body style is an option as it’s long gone from rival lineups. The Double Cab is capable of carrying five passengers. It’s still not the most comfortable mid-size truck back seat due to limited legroom but we’re talking about trucks here. Rear-seat comfort is always a bit of an afterthought in just about everything but the Honda Ridgeline.
What isn’t an afterthought is the bed and storage options. The XtraCab configuration offers a lot of locked interior storage behind the front seats and only comes with the six-foot bed so there is additional cargo capacity there. The Double Cab comes with flip-up/down rear seats for additional interior storage.
2024 Toyota Tacoma Technology Features 9/10
Generally speaking, the Tacoma features a very solid technology suite. The majority of trims come with an 8-inch infotainment system that provides good feedback and also comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Toyota includes physical buttons and knobs for things like climate control, volume, and the radio tuner.
Toyota also offers a really attractive 14-inch infotainment screen but it’s very limited in terms of availability. It comes standard on the Limited, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter but each of those trucks is well beyond $50,000. The only way to get it without paying that much is to buy at least the TRD Sport ($40,895) and then spend an additional $845 to add the optional screen. For those who get it, they’ll enjoy the crisp graphics, the quick reaction times, and the easily navigable menus.
Finally, we really like the safety tech in the Tacoma. Even the base truck comes with adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, automatic emergency braking, and a lane-centering system. Those features go a long way toward making the road safer both from Tacoma drivers and those around them. In addition, those who want blind-spot monitoring get it with the SR5 trim or above. Advanced features like a 360-degree camera are only standard on the Limited and above.
2024 Toyota Tacoma Trims & Pricing
SR – $32,995
The base Tacoma comes with the base engine, 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, a composite cargo bed, keyless entry, an 8-inch infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, leaf spring rear suspension, and a Class IV hitch.
SR5 – $37,695
The SR5 adds the mid-level 278-hp engine along with bed rails, a coil-spring rear suspension, and blind-spot warning.
TRD PreRunner $39,595
The PreRunner is focused on off-roading and as such it gets a lifted suspension, a locking rear differential, underbody fuel tank protection, 17-inch dark gray wheels, a digital gauge cluster, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, and automatic climate control.
TRD Sport – $40,895
Consider this the on-road version of the PreRunner with a sport-tuned suspension, 18-inch wheels, no lift kit, a coil-spring rear suspension, LED bed lights, and six speakers.
TRD Off-Road – $43,295
This trim gets four-wheel drive, 17-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, skid plates under the entire body, and Bilstein remote-reservoir suspension dampers.
Limited – $53,595
The most luxurious Tacoma gets 18-inch chrome wheels, a 14-inch infotainment system, a sunroof, power running boards, a power tailgate, a bed storage box, a wireless trailer camera, a trailer backup guide, an integrated trailer brake controller, and two household-style power outlets.
TRD Pro – $57,995 (est)
Toyota hasn’t released specs on the new TRD Pro version of the Tacoma but we do know that it’ll come with the hybrid i-Force Max.
Trailhunter – $59,595 (est)
Similarly, the Trailhunter doesn’t have an official price or features list but we do know that it’ll also come standard with the i-Force Max engine and it’ll have special overlanding parts like Old Man Emu shocks.
2024 Toyota Tacoma Overall Value 9/10
The Tacoma represents a very good value for those who need a truck. It’s very capable, has a great interior, offers a bevy of options to suit different buyers, and is priced competitively. Top-end trims are quite pricey but that’s true of every truck in this segment so we’d avoid them unless they’re integral to your everyday lifestyle.
CarsForSale.com Overall Score 9/10
2024 Toyota Tacoma – toyota.com | Shop 2024 Toyota Tacoma on Carsforsale.com
The only real issue with the Tacoma at this stage is that Toyota isn’t building enough of them just yet. Despite launching the Trailhunter almost a year ago it’s still not in production. On top of that, Toyota really limits some of its features like the 14-inch infotainment screen to very few trim levels.
2024 Toyota Tacoma FAQ
How much can the Toyota Tacoma Tow?
The Tacoma can tow 6,500 pounds when properly equipped.
Where are Toyota Tacoma’s made?
The Tacoma is built in San Antonio,Texas and Baja California,Mexico.
What does SR5 mean on a Toyota Tacoma?
Funnily enough, it used to mean Sport-Rally Five-Speed. Today, it means nothing as it’s neither sporty, rally-inspired, or available with a manual transmission. It’s now just used as a trim level name.
