When it comes to midsize pickups, Toyota’s Tacoma is arguably the most well-respected offering in this burgeoning segment. The nameplate has been around for ages, well, specifically since the mid-1990s. Over the course of those two and a half decades and three vehicle generations, it’s become the gold standard in small trucks.
The one thing Toyota does better than just about every other automaker is: deliver a quality product. No, its designs may not be the most exciting and it’s never the first to offer the latest technology, but the dividend paid for this conservative product-development strategy is dependability. The brand’s cars and trucks are legendary for their toughness and ability to keep functioning for decades and hundreds of thousands of miles with little more than routine maintenance.
That single-minded focus on longevity is a cornerstone of the Tacoma’s showroom success. According to Toyota, it’s been America’s best-selling midsize truck for about a decade and a half. People that want a smaller rig that lasts are smart to buy one. Even used examples seem to command hefty pricing premiums. Generally, the Tacoma holds its value extremely well, good news if you own one and are looking to sell, bad if you want to acquire a pre-owned example.
Catering to a diverse range of customers, this truck is offered in a wide range of models, from the base SR version with a four-cylinder engine to the midrange TRD Sport variant to the feature-laden Limited-trim model, there’s a Tacoma for nearly every type of buyer. Toyota claims there are more than 30 separate configurations spread across six different model grades.
This truck is offered in three body styles, including an extended-cab model with a 6-foot bed as well as a crew-cab version either a shorter 5-foot cargo box or one measuring 6-feet for extra hauling capability.
Spruced up for 2020, the Tacoma gains a new grille design as well as updated wheels. A more comfortable 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat is offered on SR5 grades and higher, plus there’s a new infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa integration. A 7-inch touchscreen is on SR models, while SR5 and higher variants feature an 8-inch display.
The Tacoma is built in two different manufacturing plants, one in San Antonio, Texas, another in Baja California, Mexico.