The dash is nice to say the least. It is not as graceful as the one found in the Sequoia, however its ergonomics are far superior. HVAC and audio controls are within easy reach and simple to use. The sound from the radio is middle-of-the-road. It does not particularly matter, as this is nowhere near the principal focus of the truck. One item that does break with Toyota's tough truck tradition is a steering wheel borrowed from the Camry's parts bin.
Technical
The Tacoma is available with two different engines. The first is a 2.7L inline
4-cylinder that turns out 164 hp at 5 200 rpm and 183 lb/ft of torque at 3 800 rpm. The other, also shared with the 4Runner, is a 4.0L DOHC V6 that develops 245 hp at 5 200 rpm and 282 lb/ft of torque at 3 800 rpm. The 4-banger can be mated to either a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual transmission. The V6 does better with the choice between a 5-speed auto and a 6-speed manual. The Off-Road Package includes a rear locking differential, transfer case and fuel tank skid plates, P265/70R16 mud & snow tires and a full Bilstein suspension setup. All Tacomas are fitted with front discs and rear drum brakes.
On the road
The 4.0L V6 is very rough and noisy. It simply could not be any other way: It looks the part so it has to sound the part too. It pulls hard from a standstill thanks to a large dose of low-end torque. What I liked about starting the truck was the immense amount of noise that came from the engine fan and from the motor itself. It seemed as though I had just started up a 1 ton Heavy Duty workhorse. The Tacoma's thirst for fuel is important. I averaged 17.5L per 100 km. Remember that if you do take this truck in the rough stuff, these numbers will increase dramatically.
The shifter is fairly precise for a truck-duty assembly. The travel is long, however this is a lorry and therefore must be this way. The shift action cannot be rushed; therefore the selected gear limits quick bursts of acceleration. The old heel-toe downshift is possible although tricky because the pedals are distant from one another. Also to note, the clutch pedal made a squeaking noise every time pressure was applied to it.
The brakes are standard Toyota fair. The pedal is very soft and presents too many inches of travel. Initial bite is very weak but the callipers eventually get the work done. Steering lacks sensitivity and precision.
The drive of the Tacoma can be characterized as being bouncy and jittery however it is not particularly unpleasant on a smooth road surface. The trade-off, thanks to the impressive travel of the suspension, is an amazing capacity to absorb all the bad stuff with great ease. Taking the Tacoma off-road is the equivalent of driving a Ferrari on a racetrack. It is at home jumping over rocks, ruts and splashing through rivers. At highway speeds, the Tacoma is very sensitive to crosswinds.
Technical
The Tacoma is available with two different engines. The first is a 2.7L inline
 |
On the road
The 4.0L V6 is very rough and noisy. It simply could not be any other way: It looks the part so it has to sound the part too. It pulls hard from a standstill thanks to a large dose of low-end torque. What I liked about starting the truck was the immense amount of noise that came from the engine fan and from the motor itself. It seemed as though I had just started up a 1 ton Heavy Duty workhorse. The Tacoma's thirst for fuel is important. I averaged 17.5L per 100 km. Remember that if you do take this truck in the rough stuff, these numbers will increase dramatically.
 |
The brakes are standard Toyota fair. The pedal is very soft and presents too many inches of travel. Initial bite is very weak but the callipers eventually get the work done. Steering lacks sensitivity and precision.
The drive of the Tacoma can be characterized as being bouncy and jittery however it is not particularly unpleasant on a smooth road surface. The trade-off, thanks to the impressive travel of the suspension, is an amazing capacity to absorb all the bad stuff with great ease. Taking the Tacoma off-road is the equivalent of driving a Ferrari on a racetrack. It is at home jumping over rocks, ruts and splashing through rivers. At highway speeds, the Tacoma is very sensitive to crosswinds.