1 of 6
Budd Stanley photos
2 of 6
Budd Stanley photos
Toyota Tacoma
The new front design took a little getting used to, but we think it’s a winner.
3 of 6
Budd Stanley photos
Toyota Tacoma
The interior not only looks the business, it feels very well built and solid, offering up several new features.
4 of 6
Budd Stanley photos
Toyota Tacoma
Under the body sits a stronger yet lighter ladder frame chassis.
5 of 6
Budd Stanley photos
Toyota Tacoma
Much like the Tundra, the Tacoma sports embossed lettering on the tailgate.
6 of 6
Budd Stanley photos
Toyota Tacoma
Like to film your excursions? Toyota was already thinking of you by placing a GoPro mount in the windshield.
Story & photos by Budd Stanley
For quite a while now, Toyota and Nissan have had a complete monopoly on the mid-size truck market. If you wanted anything smaller than a half-ton, your choices were simple – Frontier or Tacoma. As a result, we’ve seen very little change in the Tacoma for over a decade now, other than some front fascia and infotainment upgrades. And really, this was fine as the Tacoma was a pretty good truck to begin with. However, the return of the Colorado/Canyon twins has shaken up the segment in a in a big way, all of a sudden, pretty good just doesn’t cut it anymore.
Well, with competition comes the will to adapt, survive and overcome, and Toyota’s answer to its first real threat in four years just made its debut stage right at the NAIAS in Detroit. The 2016 Tacoma now sports a conservative redesign that gives the front and rear fascia’s a healthy shot of modernization, yet you can still see the trademark silhouette of the current Tacoma lurking beneath.
While the designers have gone easy on the exterior, the interior is a different story. The dash receives a complete makeover that is both modern and good looking, yet beautifully simplistic at the same time. An upgraded Toyota infotainment system dominates the top of the centre stack handling all audio inputs, while easy to decipher HVAC controls reside one step down.
Stepping into the Tacoma reveals that Toyota has made a good thing even better. The already solid build quality takes a step in the right direction, as all panels feel strong and well supported, with a noticeable upgrade in material quality.
While the new Tacoma may look like its biggest changes are only skin deep, there is a lot more happening beneath the sheet metal than just a makeover. The frame has been redeveloped with extra rigidity and strength despite lowering the weight. Weight savings has also been implemented into the body with the use of high strength hot stamped steel.
The biggest change comes at the heart of the Tacoma. Gone is the gas guzzling 4.0L V-6, replaced with a 3.5L Atkinson cycle V-6 equipped with Toyota’s D-4S injection technology that utilizes both direct and port fuel injection. A 2.7L four-cylinder engine will also be available. Both engines will be paired to a new six-speed automatic transmission with electronic shift or a new six-speed manual transmission.
Toyota know they have a long way to go to make the Tacoma competitive fuel efficiency wise with not just the mid-size competition, but even the ever more advanced half-tons. These new developments should ensure the Tacoma realize large jumps forward in the fuel efficiency game, matching the Tacoma’s new lighter weight body and efficient V-6 to the new 6-speed automatic and manual transmissions. However, we have no hard numbers as of yet.
The new Tacoma will be available in four grades in both 4x2 and 4x4 configurations and Toyota say each grade will have its own personality and unique look. These include the SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road and the Limited. What we’re interested in is the TRD Off-Road edition, which will sport much the same equipment as the current TRD but with retuned springs and Bilstein shocks and Locking Rear Differential.
In terms of off-road technology, Toyota has updated their Multi-Terrain Select system, which allows the driver to choose between loose rock, mud and sand at the touch of a button. Each input regulates wheel spin by adjusting throttle and brake pressure to provide maximum traction. Also available will be Toyota’s Active Traction Control, and Crawl Control allowing the driver to select their own speed while tackling rough terrain.
Toyota is so pumped that future Tacoma owners will be exploring the limits of their trucks in extreme situations (constantly referring to its desert blazing abilities) that they have teamed up with GoPro, offering a GoPro camera mount located near the rear-view mirror as standard on all trim levels.
Toyota sure was talking up the new Tacoma’s off-road prowess and abilities, almost to the point of comparing it to a Raptor… almost! Will the new Taco be all that? There is still a lot of unanswered questions and we for one are very curious as to the new Tacoma’s true abilities, both mechanical and driving wise. Stay tuned, as we keep up to date with one of our favourites.