New Taco review

[kendive]

I liked the toys when they were just toyota pickups. back when they were small Japanese trucks and not designed to be sold direct to the american slobs.

Yep I had an old 1985 in HS. That's when it still had a straight axle in the front and was built like a tank.

Sponsored

 

[Joeiconic]

I’ve watched a bunch of reviews and unless the reviewer is an obvious Toyota fanboy, the vibe I’m getting is “good” and “better”, but not “great”. Maybe they‘re saving that adjective for the TRD PRO and Trailhunter.

 

[underwhelmed]

Yep I had an old 1985 in HS. That's when it still had a straight axle in the front and was built like a tank.

Yep, I had an 81, 83, 85, 86 (New), 93 and an 88 4Runner. I beat the ? out of all those vehicles and only remember doing oil changes, filters and brake pads. I took a look at a really nice 85 the other day…damn those trucks were small lol. I wish I had hung onto one of them.

 

[23HRPXL]

First off, I am a Ford guy through and through. However, before I bought my '19 Ranger I did at least sit in all mid-size trucks at the North American Auto Show. The Taco was my only other vehicle I was giving thought about. Two things made my decision easy. First one is, the drivers seat sits so low in the cab that it was just not comfortable for me. Secondly, the poor fuel mileage sealed the deal. As I sat in the Taco my only thoughts were that yes, it will last "forever" but the uncomfortable driver's seat would make me hate every mile of it. I absolutely love my Ranger. 67k miles and counting, no component failures of any kind. Is the Ranger "perfect", no, but no vehicle is.

Went from Phoenix to Palm Springs and back in a 2wd 2010 Taco, most uncomfortable riding vehicle I have been in, also only managed 19 mpg. Coworker had 2013 PreRunner 4wd, also uncomfortable, and finally a friend of a friend has the same as coworker's, but 2016, again, so uncomfortable. I know Toyota generally makes good products, but my Ranger is waaaayyyyy more comfortable. And gets great fuel economy for what it is.

 

[LaBalbe]

i was wondering why the new taco looks so bad, hideous, weird, and overly complex. oh and plasticky and out-of-proportion. i couldn't understand why toyota abandoned the beautiful simplicity of the first generation design.

it looks like in order to bring the taco bros up from off the floorboard, a whole chain reaction of awkward design workarounds ensued.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma's Chief Engineer Explains Why The Truck Needed A Hideous Air Dam To Fix The Awful Seating Position - The Autopian

I was really looking forward to hearing that interview, but getting cut for an ad every 6 seconds or so just kills it for me. I get that they have to pay for things, but that's counter-productive IMO; it just turns me off of both the website and their advertisers. It's like some of those tv stations which will take a movie, cut half of the content out, cram in a bunch of ads, and you end up with a movie that barely makes sense and an air time that's still longer than the full movie run time.

 

[CATX]

Agree. I thought it might just me be my player doing that but I guess not. It was painful and I don’t watch their videos anymore but I love David’s reviews and deep dives, and Jason torchinsky is one of the best writers anywhere, auto journalist or otherwise.

QUOTE="LaBalbe, post: 629440, member: 12878"]
I was really looking forward to hearing that interview, but getting cut for an ad every 6 seconds or so just kills it for me. I get that they have to pay for things, but that's counter-productive IMO; it just turns me off of both the website and their advertisers. It's like some of those tv stations which will take a movie, cut half of the content out, cram in a bunch of ads, and you end up with a movie that barely makes sense and an air time that's still longer than the full movie run time.
[/QUOTE]

 

[GhostStrykre]

Yep I had an old 1985 in HS. That's when it still had a straight axle in the front and was built like a tank.

i inherited a 1992 (or maybe it was a '95?) Toyota Pickup when i went off to college. I always enjoyed the exchanges at the BMV when updating registration in person.

BMV: Make and model of your vehicle?
Me: Toyota Pickup.
BMV: What model?
Me: Pickup.
BMV: Yes, but which Pickup?
Me: Pickup.... the model is Pickup.
BMV: Sir, I know it's a truck, but which truck.
Me: I'm really trying here. The model name is PICKUP!
BMV: Oh wow... well that's confusing.
Me: It makes this annual registration fun, at least.
BMV: /heavy eye roll.

The Tacoma and Tundra were models available when I was going through this, so a lot of newer BMV workers just didn't realize older Toyota's were just Pickups (pre-Tacoma). Either way, it felt like the classic "Who's on first" sketch.

On topic: I really like a lot about this new Tacoma, but as others have said, the prices are out of control. Might as well sit with the exceptionally capable Ranger I already have. Works for me. Gives Ford and Toyota time to work out the issues with their new trucks before I have to move on. Maybe Ford will give us a crew cab long bed configuration by then!

 

[db_tanker]

If my next vehicle is a truck, and Ford doesn't get their head out of their third point of contact, I am fairly sure I'm gonna get a Nissan Frontier or a Taco. I am PRAYING that Ford gets their act straight though since I do bleed a certain color of blue.

D

 

[9zero1790]

If my next vehicle is a truck, and Ford doesn't get their head out of their third point of contact, I am fairly sure I'm gonna get a Nissan Frontier or a Taco. I am PRAYING that Ford gets their act straight though since I do bleed a certain color of blue.

D

same here. except im already certain. last new ford for me is the 5g thats currently waiting for parts at the mechanic shop.

 

[StarLord]

Really nice looking trucks, honestly. They look as off-road capable as any other. Between these and the new Colorado ZR2, some pretty legit mid-sized trucks on the market right now.

 

[Brett Fields]

I raise you a 1991-1996 ford escort station wagon.

OMG!
Not exactly sure what your point is, but I had a '95 Escort wagon. I loved that vehicle SO MUCH! It was a standard trans with all the bells & whistles. We went everywhere in the escort. I don't know why, but the seats where shaped so perfectly for my back & tush.
SO MANY great naps in that car. Drove it 15 years before something happened to the engine. Not sure what.

 

[dtech]

I really like and have been happy with my Ranger, but with the new Taco fully expect Toyota to continue and likely extend their dominant position in the mid sized market, reviews are mostly all positive and mention correcting the most notable drawbacks of the current Taco:
seating position
drivetrain
rear drum brakes
so so frame design

And one review pointed out the new pricing on one or more of the variants is only marginally higher than the old Taco equipped with V6 engine. Not sure if I was a competitor I'd invest too heavily in trying to overtake Yota because the odds of success aren't favorable

 

[Brett Fields]

From autoweek, some sobering stats on the old gen taco:

But it might not have needed any of that because even in its eight-year-old third-gen self it has absolutely stomped the competition....

I've made this point in other threads, but it remains relevant.
If Ford doesn't build, advertise, or promote the truck, expecting to compete in sales is just silly. To then offer any assessment of product viability based on those metrics becomes ridiculous. Ranger has been (imho) a better product. Now it's gonna be a whole new comparison between new Ranger and new Taco. I hope Ford starts getting it. I'm encouraged by that Ranger ORV concept. Maybe Ford is realizing that Ranger is a viable platform in N.A. Maybe they see what people like us are doing to/with our trucks and are concerned about.
We'll see, I guess.

 

[Brett Fields]

If my next vehicle is a truck, and Ford doesn't get their head out of their third point of contact, I am fairly sure I'm gonna get a Nissan Frontier or a Taco. I am PRAYING that Ford gets their act straight though since I do bleed a certain color of blue.

D

...third point of contact....
Never heard that used in this context. It was a beautiful moment for me!

 

[Brett Fields]

15-20% of tacos are sold manual, only 25% of the broncos are ordered as a manual...

So they'd sell.. yeah.. but not great.

It's a sad thing, the death of the handshaker transmission.. yes.. but its for a reason ?‍

Every single one of my vehicles have been manual, until the ranger. Then.. when I traded the ranger for the Bronco i sought one out that was auto.. it's just better.

I love a nice manual transmission.
...except in stop & go urban traffic.
I live in Brooklyn.

Sponsored