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Introduction
The Toyota Tacoma may be the best pickup in its class. And that's saying a lot,
because the entire class is outstanding. The Toyota Tacoma was completely just
last year, but nearly every truck in this class has been recently redesigned.
Just in the past two model years, nearly every pickup in this class has grown
from a compact to a mid-size, and all have been totally re-engineered in the
process. Toyota, Nissan, and Dodge redesigned their smaller pickups from the
ground up, keeping little the same but their nameplates; Chevrolet and GMC
launched all-new trucks with new names. The aging Ford Ranger is the only truck
left from the old generation, and it competes primarily on price.
The latest generation of mid-size trucks features roomier cabs, improved ride
quality and increased stability. The boast more power and increased refinement.
All are available in the increasingly popular crew cab configuration, and their
larger size makes this a more compelling choice. The newest crew cab models are
practical alternatives to a sedan, something that wasn't really true of the
previous generation. Mid-size pickups offer better maneuverability than
full-size trucks, while providing serious hauling and towing utility. With so
many good trucks available, this is a fine time to be shopping for one.
Tacoma steps to the front of this class with its comfortable cab, refined ride,
responsive handling, proven off-road capability, and quality construction.
Properly equipped V6 models are rated to tow up to 6,500 pounds. In every way,
this latest Tacoma improves on all the attributes that loyal Tacoma owners have
cherished in the past, while increasing interior roominess and refinement.
Perhaps most important, Tacoma enjoys Toyota's reputation for quality,
durability and reliability.
Tacoma was redesigned and launched as an all-new model for 2005 and there are
no significant changes for 2006.
A wide choice of models is available, ranging from a $14,000 work truck to a
$30,000 4x4 Double Cab. The former is among the few regular-cab pickups
available today as the market has moved to extended-cab and crew cab styles.
TRD PreRunner models may make you feel like Ivan "Ironman" Stewart getting
ready to win another Baja 500, while the sporty X-Runner may make you feel like
Rod Millen preparing to blast up Pike's Peak.
Model Lineup
 
Regular Cab, Access Cab (extended cab) and Double Cab (crew cab) body styles
are available. All come with six-foot beds; Double Cab is available with a
six-foot bed or a five-foot bed.
The 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine comes with a choice of five-speed manual or
four-speed automatic transmissions. The 4.0-liter V6 is paired with a six-speed
manual or five-speed automatic. With either engine you can order two-wheel
drive (2WD) or part-time four-wheel drive (4WD).
The base Tacoma 2WD Regular Cab comes standard with anti-lock brakes (ABS) with
electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, a full-size spare
tire, AM/FM/CD four-speaker sound system, tachometer, coolant temperature
gauge, digital clock, two powerpoints, fuel warning light, dome lamp and rear
mudguards. New for '06 are a standard tire-pressure monitor and service
reminder indicator. Access Cab and Double Cab models come with more standard
features, including bucket seats and a center console. Double Cabs get upgraded
seat fabric and power windows, mirrors and door locks. Access and Double Cab
models also get upgraded audio systems, including an AM/FM radio with an
in-dash six-CD changer and six speakers; Double Cabs also offer a JBL premium
audio system with seven speakers, including an amplified subwoofer. Both audio
upgrades feature steering wheel audio controls.
Options revolve around five packages: An Enhancement Package for the 2WD
Regular Cab adds air conditioning and styled steel wheels. The Convenience
Package for the 2WD Regular Cab adds cruise control; remote keyless entry; and
power windows, door locks and mirrors. The SR5 Package bundles styling and
comfort features, including color-keyed overfenders and front bumper, chrome
grille surround and chrome rear bumper, center console, intermittent wipers and
upgraded interior features and trim. In Access Cab and Double Cab models, the
SR5 package also adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter.
Walkaround
The Toyota Tacoma is an attractive truck, though not as stylish as those from
Nissan, Dodge and other manufacturers. Big headlights and a bold grille
highlight the front of the Tacoma. Flush rear surface glass and flush surface
structures between the bumper sides and body give it a polished look. PreRunner
and 4x4 models are distinguished by bold overfenders.
The length of the Tacoma varies by body style: Regular Cabs are the shortest,
measuring 190.4 inches overall on a 109.4-inch wheelbase. Access Cab and Double
Cab short-bed models have a 127.2-inch wheelbase and 208.1-inch overall length.
Double Cab long-bed models are quite long at 221.3 inches overall on a
140.9-inch wheelbase. All models have six-foot beds except the Double Cab
short-bed, which has a five-foot bed.
How to choose? Regular Cab models pack lots of cargo space in a relatively
small package, good for maneuverability in the big city. PreRunner and 4WD
Regular Cabs have the best break-over angle due to their short length and
therefore offer the best capability off road. Access Cabs feature large dual
rear auxiliary doors, not good for people but very good for gear. Double Cabs
have long, conventionally hinged rear doors that open 80 degrees for ease of
entry or loading gear. Double Cabs offer the comfort of a sport-utility; the
long-bed Double Cabs can carry more stuff but are unwieldy in tight places.
Tacoma comes with a composite inner bed, lighter than steel yet tougher and
more durable. The bed features two-tier loading and an integrated deck rail
utility system with four adjustable tie-down cleats. The rails are compatible
with Genuine Toyota Accessories, including cargo bed cross bars, a fork-mount
bike rack, and diamond-plate storage boxes.
Interior Features
All of the latest-generation of mid-size pickups have decent interiors, but the
quality of Toyota's interior materials seems just a little better. The dimpled
material on the dash and upper panels and the textured material on the lower
dash and door trim look nice; it's hard plastic, but it looks soft. Not
everyone loves the perforated silver plastic used for the center stack. But the
cloth upholstery is decent and the seats look nice.
We found the bucket seats on the upper level models comfortable, with good
bolstering, though some thought the seat bottom could be longer and have more
thigh support. The manually adjustable seats include lumbar adjustment but no
adjustment for seat height or the angle of the seat bottom. The power seats
available on the Nissan Frontier have these features. Overall, though the
Tacoma provides the driver with a good driving position.
Big mirrors afford a good view to the rear. Solid cup holders are provided in
the center console area. The front passenger's seatback flips down to form a
tray table or to make room for long objects, a handy feature on models so
equipped. The switchgear is easy to operate, and everything is where you expect
it to be. Big rotary knobs make it easy to adjust cabin temperature even with
gloves on; the knobs are electronic, so they're easy to twist. The radio is
fully integrated into the upper center stack and it's easy to operate, though
the display is nearly impossible to read through polarized sunglasses. CDs
sound good through the JBL speakers. We aren't thrilled with the pull-out
handbrake that comes on models with manual transmissions, as we prefer a lever
or footbrake. Models with automatics come with a foot-operated parking brake.
The rear seats in the Tacoma Double Cab are particularly comfortable for the
class, offering good legroom and shoulder room and decent headroom. The
seatback is angled back slightly, making it more comfortable. In a back-to-back
comparison test, we found the back seats of the Tacoma more comfortable than
those in the Frontier. A younger rider should be okay to ride across the state
back there and even adults won't complain too much on short trips. The rear
windows go all the way down.
The rear-seat area in the Double Cab is good for carrying cargo. The back seat
is split 60/40. Flip the seat bottoms forward and fold the two sections down to
form a flat platform for gear. It takes two hands to do this and you first have
to remove the headrests, which is a hassle, though Toyota has at least provided
a place to store them. The seatbacks are hard, and form a sturdy cargo floor.
It's not a bad spot for a dog, better than the bumpy floors in the Nissan
Frontier and Dodge Dakota, but still a big jump down. Our experience has been
that none of the trucks in this class is particularly good for dogs.
The Access Cab has rear seats, but they're pretty hopeless for humans. The
space back there is best used for small cargo that you don't want to put in the
bed.
Driving Impressions
The Toyota Tacoma drives well and cruises nicely, it offers plenty of power
from the V6, good handling and feels relatively refined. Off-road models offer
better capability over rugged terrain than previous-generation models as well
as improved ride comfort.
The 4.0-liter V6 engine uses dual overhead camshafts and variable valve
technology (called VVT-i) to optimize power and torque over a broad range of
rpm. In action, it feels refined and delivers responsive performance. The
Society of Automotive Engineers, or SAE, has changed the way power is rated, so
on paper it looks like the Tacoma's power has been reduced, but in fact the
engine hasn't changed for 2006 and offers just as much power as 2005. The new
tests rate the 4.0-liter V6 at 236 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. The
Toyota V6 is more powerful than the five-cylinder engine in the Chevy Colorado
or the base V6 in the Dodge Dakota, but less powerful than the Nissan Frontier.
The 4.0-liter V6 works well with the five-speed automatic transmission. And
that's our first choice for this truck: the V6 and automatic. The automatic is
super smooth and very responsive, quickly downshifting when you mash the
throttle, and it offers five ratios to better keep the engine at its most
efficient rpm. For it's part, the six-speed manual transmission is easy to
shift, but first gear is a very low ratio, leaving a broad stretch to second.
And the manual does not offer fuel economy advantages: The EPA estimates 18/22
mpg City/Highway for 2WD automatics, 17/21 for 4WD automatics; with the manual
transmission the V6 managed only 16/21 with 2WD or 4WD. Toyota recommends 91
octane gas for the V6.
The 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine does offer better fuel economy than the V6
and can run on less-expensive Regular gas. For 2006, the four-cylinder is rated
at 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, which about average for the
class. The four-cylinder does offer. EPA estimates are 21/27 mpg for 2WD with
five-speed manual, 20/27 for 2WD with four-speed automatic. Four-wheel drive
bogs it down, however, to just 19/23. Toyota recommends 87 octane for the
four-cylinder. As with the V6, the four-cylinder benefits from VVT-i and dohc,
which means it's a modern, sophisticated engine.
Handling is quite good on curvy roads. The Tacoma feels steady in sweeping
turns and suffers from surprisingly little body roll, or lean, in hard corners.
The Tacoma feels big on the road when compared with older compact pickups and,
in fact, it is relatively large. It's wider and longer than previous-generation
models. Size can be a detriment when parking, and a long-bed Double Cab can be
a challenge in tight parking situations due to the amount of space it requires
to turn. The Tacoma Double Cab long bed requires 44 feet to complete a circle,
while a Double Cab short bed needs closer to 40 feet. For this reason, we
recommend the short bed unless you really need the long bed, in which case we'd
recommend the long bed. A base Tacoma Regular Cab boasts a turning circle of
less than 37 feet.
On pavement, the 4WD and TRD models seemed smooth and refined. A 4WD TRD model
is smooth and highly capable off road. The TRD suspension is excellent on
rough, rugged terrain. It handles well on rough dirt trails, something we
learned while charging up a ski run at Alyeska. It never bottomed on the rough
terrain even when we pushed it well beyond socially acceptable standards. The
Tacoma TRD easily handled an off-road course that featured steep ascents and
descents, moguls and a log step. In short, we'd feel comfortable tackling just
about any terrain in a Toyota Tacoma. And it doesn't just get there, it does it
in relative comfort. The Tacoma doesn't seem to generate as much head toss as
earlier 4WD compact pickups, an important consideration when driving long
distances over rugged terrain because we don't want to arrive in the
backcountry fatigued from driving.
Switching into 4WD and 4WD Lo is as easy as twisting a rotary knob. It works
very well, for the most part, but we tried to confuse it by switching the knob
around underway and we succeeded. The low-range lights wouldn't turn off until
we stopped, shut it off and restarted, the automotive equivalent of rebooting
your computer.
The Tacoma's brakes are smooth and easy to modulate and can bring it to quick
halt without drama. The rear brakes are drums, however, less desirable than the
rear disc brakes that come on some of the other pickups in this class.
The X-Runner is a lot of fun to drive and handles like a sports car. It corners
flat and generates lots of grip in corners. We pushed it hard up a hill climb
and were not able to reach its cornering limits. It tracks well and is very
stable in tight corners even when spinning the inside rear tire under full
throttle. The ride is firm, but seems to ride better than our recollection of
the SVT Lightning. However, we didn't care for the feel of the clutch pedal,
the steering was vague on center, and there was that aforementioned inside
rear-wheel spin. Wind noise seems higher in the X-Runner than in the other
models. But much of this is nitpicking. This is a tight, sporty truck, and
probably the best of the genre. There's no cowl shake. The exhaust sounds cool.
If you want a truck that can hang with a sports car, the X-Runner is the
ticket.
Summary
Toyota Tacoma is among the best of the latest generation of midsize pickups. The
Tacoma features a comfortable cab trimmed with quality materials. The 4WD
models offer crisp handling, a nicely balanced ride quality, and excellent
off-road capability. The TRD models are terrific trucks for rugged terrain. The
new X-Runner drives and performs like a sports car.
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