Skip to main content

Is the 2024 Toyota Tacoma a Good Pickup Truck? 6 Pros, 3 Cons

toyota tacoma trd off road 2024 113 exterior offroad front angle scaled jpg 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road | Cars.com photo by Christian Lantry

Toyota Tacoma enthusiasts are nothing if not a loyal bunch and have helped keep the Tacoma at the top of the mid-size pickup truck sales charts despite it not being redesigned in ages. That makes the arrival of a revamped Tacoma for the 2024 model year a big deal and leaves it with some big shoes to fill.

Related: 2024 Toyota Tacoma Review: The Tastier Taco You’ve Been Demanding for Years

Shop the 2024 Toyota Tacoma near you

Used
2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road
8,451 mi.
$41,900
New
2024 Toyota Tacoma Limited
$55,057 MSRP $58,811

The new Tacoma arrives better equipped to do battle with more recently redesigned competitors, including the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon stablemates, the Ford Ranger and the Nissan Frontier. The update largely succeeds at its mission, bringing a more modern Tacoma without taking away from its core appeal. 

Slightly larger than the outgoing model, the new Tacoma gets more aggressive, chunky styling along with new powertrains and features. It does all this while keeping its variety of trims, cab configurations and bed lengths, as Cars.com Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman learned during a recent Southern California media event (per Cars.com’s ethics policy, we pay for all travel and lodging at such manufacturer-sponsored events). Tap the link above to read Bragman’s expert review, or for a quicker look, read on for six things we like about the 2024 Toyota Tacoma and three things we don’t.

Things We Like

1. Choices, Choices

Where competing manufacturers have cut back on the number of cab configurations and bed lengths, Toyota has chosen to continue offering both the two-door XtraCab version with seating for two and the four-door, five-seat Double Cab; 5- and 6-foot-long beds are available. There are also two powertrains to choose from, bed options, numerous off-road options and the choice of rear- or four-wheel drive.

2. Upgraded Accommodations

The redesign brings big improvements in interior room and ergonomics, eliminating the low, legs-out driving position and limited headroom of the old Tacoma. Instead, the 2024 model’s roomier cabin brings a more conventional seat height up front, providing a lot more comfort and good visibility. Rear-seat room, however, is not as generous as it is in some competitors. 

toyota tacoma trd sport double cab 2024 46 interior front row scaled jpg 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport | Cars.com photo by Christian Lantry

3. Better Bones

The new Tacoma rides on a version of the full-size Tundra pickup’s frame, meaning it’s probably more robust than it needs to be. Strategic use of aluminum helps keep the weight down in spite of its increased size and capability. Both the 5- and 6-foot beds are deeper for increased volume, and accessing the bed is made easier with a new power tailgate.

4. Powertrain Choices

The standard engine is a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder; its output varies from 228 to 278 horsepower, depending on the trim level and whether it’s paired with the six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. We drove several versions of the Tacoma with this engine and found power to be more than adequate. A more powerful hybrid powertrain is coming later and pairs an electric motor with the 2.4-liter four for a total of 326 hp; it will be standard on the TRD Pro and Trailhunter variants.

5. Drivability

The Tacoma’s driving dynamics are significantly improved. A new electric power-steering system offers better feel and more compatibility with driver-assistance safety systems, and the brakes have been updated with four-wheel discs, providing more stopping power with improved feel. The ride remains somewhat choppy as is typical of any mid-size pickup truck, however, but an available rear coil-spring suspension should help smooth things out a bit.

6. Off-Road Champ

The Tacoma has long been a favorite with off-roaders, and Toyota aims to double down on that with the new version. Half the trim levels offer some degree of off-road capability, and available tech features include the Crawl Control off-road cruise control and a 360-degree camera system to help maneuver in tight quarters.

More From Cars.com:

toyota tacoma limited double cab 2024 02 exterior front scaled jpg 2024 Toyota Tacoma Limited | Cars.com photo by Christian Lantry

Things We Don’t Like

1. Curb Cruncher

The Tacoma’s aggressive new style looks good, but there’s one element we could do without: A new air shield mounted under the front bumper is meant to improve aerodynamics and fuel economy on trims not intended for off-road use. It’s not a bad thing, but the oversized shield looks like a tacked-on afterthought that’s likely to lose in its first encounter with a high curb.

2. Shifting Priorities

Toyota should be commended for continuing to offer a manual transmission for buyers who prefer to do their own shifting. That said, our advice is to stick with the eight-speed automatic, which delivers smooth gear changes and is well suited to the engine. The manual works well enough, but it has the long throws and vague feel common among trucks with stick shifts.

3. Mixed Media

New tech features include a 7-inch digital instrument cluster or a 12.3-inch configurable cluster that’s standard on higher trims. While bright and easy enough to use, the big screen’s multiple icons and warnings can add up to information overload. An 8-inch multimedia touchscreen is standard, as well, and a huge 14-inch touchscreen is available. Both work well enough, but the Toyota Audio Multimedia system is not one of the best and lacks both a home screen and icon-based controls.

Related Video:

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.

Featured stories

202501 tariffs scaled jpg
vinfast vf 9 2024 01 exterior front angle jpg
ram hd 2025 01 exterior front angle jpg