2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road 

The Toyota Tacoma is a staple in the mid-size truck segment. Its compact size makes it easy to drive and its body-on-frame architecture makes it a powerhouse when towing or going off-road. The new redesign means the Tacoma inherits the brand’s TNGA-F platform, which it shares with its larger Tundra sibling. Other new features include updated powertrains, a larger selection of trim levels, and updated suspension tuning.

A Plush, Utilitarian Interior

The past iterations of the Toyota Tacoma utilized plenty of plastics and hard surfaces, which gave the truck a spartan and utilitarian feel. This new model borrows some of that ethos with its plastic bits on the dashboard and door panels, but we can forgive it since it is a truck, after all. Its seats are trimmed in fabric and leatherette, giving them a rugged and semi-luxurious feel.

Although, I imagine that the leather surfaces would make them easier to clean as well. Interior materials aside, the Tacoma’s interior feels spacious in the first row as there is plenty head and legroom for the driver and passenger. The front seats are well-bolstered for all types of waist sizes and are powered for added comfort. The same cannot be said for the rear seat, though.

Sit in the back of the Tacoma and you’ll likely feel cramped. I’m only 5 feet, 8 inches tall and I barely had enough legroom when sitting behind my preferred driving position. That said, tall passengers may not like it and the upright seating position doesn’t help much either. That said, the rear-seat area’s saving grace is the underseat storage that can accommodate tall cargo or store items out of the view of prying eyes. Theres also a household outlet and a couple USB-C ports back there.

The Tacoma TRD Off Road is also fitted with the latest Toyota tech, which includes a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, a 14-inch infotainment display, a multi-terrain monitor, and a JBL premium sound system. One nifty feature is the portable speaker that sits in the center of dash and can be taken out and used for tailgating and other activities.

The New Turbocharged Four-Cylinder Is Powerful

For the 2024 model year, the Toyota Tacoma is available with two different turbocharged engine choices – a standard i-Force 2.4-liter and an upgraded one that’s connected to a mild hybrid system.

My Off-Road trimmed tester came with the former, which produces 278 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. In my week of testing, this engine provided all the power I needed to get onto the freeway quickly and pass cars with ease. I noticed that the truck accelerates much quicker than the previous versions equipped with a V6 and sound much less dramatic when you pull away from a stop.

Additionally, the eight-speed automatic transmission shifted smoothly and at the end of the week, I averaged 19.9 mpg.

That’s about on par with the EPA’s estimate of 19 mpg  in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, considering most of driving was done on regular streets. That upgraded engine is available in the five higher trims available for the Tacoma and it puts out 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. Interestingly, it has a lower tow rating (6,000 pounds) compared to my lower-trim tester (6,300 pounds), despite the extra power. But it does get two more mpgs in the city and one more on the highway.

As for the Tacoma’s ride quality, I found it to be smoother than expected. No, it’s not Camry-smooth, but for a truck, it’s exceptional. That’s partly due to Toyota installing coil springs in the rear, which is available on the TRD Off-Road trim and above. The lower SR, SR5 extended cab, and TRD PreRunner all use the old-school leaf springs, which lead to a rockier ride.

Another thing to note is that road noise can be detected at higher speeds, likely due to the truck’s all-terrain tires and 17-inch alloy wheels. At lower speeds, the cabin is much quieter.

A Rugged and Functional Exterior

The exterior of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma doesn’t look too much different than previous iterations, save for some brawnier fenders and body lines, but it should look familiar to most truck enthusiasts. As for the functional bits, Toyota did clean things up a little.

The tow hitch now sits flush with the bumper, so you don’t need to worry about banging your leg against it when you walk by. Also, there are high-lift jack points incorporated into the cross structure back there for easier jacking. The bed is also two inches deeper, which gives you more runway for loading longer items when the tailgate is lowered.

Speaking of the tailgate, I was surprised to see that it is powered in the TRD trim level. Push the button and you’ll hear a beep while the tailgate slowly lowers. To close it, lift the tailgate slightly and the motor does the work for the rest of the way. I honestly prefer a manual tailgate, but the powered version is nice, albeit unnecessary.

The truck bed also has LED lighting, a couple of storage spots, and an AC power interverter.  There are also updated Bilstein dampers on all four corners, which are larger and come with remote reservoirs for better damping.

Safety and Convenience

The Toyota Tacoma is equipped with all the safety systems it need to stay on the road an between the lane lines. Every trim level comes with Toyota’s Safety Sense 3.0, which includes driver aids like radar cruise control, pro-active driving assist, a pre-collision warning system, and a lane-departure alert.

Other safety features include a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic  alert, a back-up guide monitor, and front and rear parking sensors. There is also a “trailer view,” which shows a 3D graphic of the truck and its surroundings, making it easier to park when towing stuff.

Summary

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma carries on as one of the best choices for a mid-size truck, given its updates for the new model year. There are 11 different trim levels, starting at around $31,500 and topping at around $64,000 for the TRD Pro with the hybrid engine. My tester for the week rang in at $54,829, with the destination charge.

Is that a lot for a truck? Yes, but it’s also a new era where gas costs an arm and a leg and food costs more than having a baby, so I would say that the Tacoma is worth the extra cost. Additionally, considering the features you get and the trim levels that can accommodate any truck lover’s wants and needs, the Toyota Tacoma is a sure-fire bet for anyone needing to tow and haul cargo, just like it has been for nearly 30 years.