It's been a long wait, but what you see here is the new and redesigned 2024 Toyota Tacoma. The last model went pretty much unchanged since 2016. Unsurprisingly, the compact pickup truck still had strong sales. That's an understatement, really. After the Ford F-Series of trucks (which encompasses many models), the Tacoma is still, literally, the best-selling pickup truck in America. But in terms of styling, tech, comfort, and features, the long-in-the-tooth Tacoma was way behind the competition. Toyota rectifies all that with the new Tacoma.
The good news is that the new Tacoma isn't a slightly altered version of the outgoing truck. The 2024 Tacoma is new from the ground up. In terms of details, there's a lot of ground to cover. The fourth-gen Tacoma is built upon the TNGA-F global truck platform that also shows up in the new Tundra and Sequoia. If you thought the Tacoma was going to get left behind in the redesign department, you were wrong. Let's take a closer look.
The Styling
The good news is that the Tacoma still looks like a Tacoma but better. It retains a similar overall shape, but there's a lot more styling flair and aggressiveness. It mimics the Tundra but gets more depth and dimension in the front fascia. The fender flares are huge and even incorporate the headlights at the leading edge. In some of the photos, you can see a massive air dam, which looks downright overdone. It's supposed to improve aerodynamics around the front wheels, but you do have to remove it if you're going to do any meaningful off-roading. According to Toyota, it's rather easy to do so with only 9 bolts to remove.
The Tacoma still has a big ellipsoid grille, a kink in the rear side window, prominent creases in the doors, and a bold fascia. Toyota just dialed things up a bit. The somewhat dull rear end and tailgate have been replaced by bolder taillights, creases and beveling in the tailgate, and more prominent logo debossing. Overall, the new Tacoma looks more brash, more masculine, and more truck-like. The front end looks a little busy to us, but it falls in line with the new Tundra and Sequoia and makes the design language consistent in Toyota's truck/SUV line.
The Tacoma will continue to get two body styles: an extended cab and a quad cab. The extended cab gets a 6-foot bed while the quad cab will get a standard 5-foot bed or an optional 6-foot bed length. The extended cab will lose its back seats for 2024. Instead, it will have lockable storage bins. This move is smart, given the fact that the current Tacoma only has 32.6 inches of rear legroom in the extended cab. That's not much legroom, so why not maximize storage capacity?
The Details
There's some important news about the powertrains. Rather than a single choice like the current truck's V6, there will be three choices that all build off a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder. The base SR gets 228 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque. Then there's a more potent version of that same 2.4-liter turbo four: 278 horsepower and 317 lb-ft with the eight-speed automatic or 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft. with the six-speed manual. Both transmissions can be mated with two- or four-wheel drive. The third powertrain is also a turbo 2.4-liter four-cylinder mated to a 48-hp electric motor that's powered by a 1.87-kWh battery. Combined output is 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. It's the Tacoma's first hybrid trim, and it also adds 2.4-kW of onboard power. It gets an eight-speed automatic transmission, as well.
The new Tacoma uses a double-wishbone, coil-spring suspension setup. The SR, SR5, and TRD PreRunner trims get a live axle with leaf springs in back. Higher trims get a new multi-link solid axle design with coil springs. The TRD Sport, TRD Off Road, Limited, TRD Pro, and new Trailhunter trims get unique shocks. The Sport has stiffer shocks for predominantly on-road driving, the Off Road has remote reservoir Bilsteins, the Limited has electronically adjustable shocks, the Pro has manually adjustable remote-reservoir Fox off-road shocks, and the Trailhunter has Old-Man Emu remote-reservoir shocks. The TRD Pro and the Trailhunter ride 2 inches higher at the front and 1.5 inches higher in back. Both trims can be outfitted with an electronic anti-roll bar disconnect for the front suspension to increase articulation by a not-insubstantial 10%.
All Tacomas now get four-wheel disc brakes, while TRD trims get upsized front brake rotors, and hybrid models add bigger rear rotors. The 2024 Tacoma will also get steering electric power assist, an upgrade from the current truck's hydraulic power steering system. In terms of towing, the Tacoma can handle 6,500 pounds and a payload of 1,709 pounds, but those numbers decrease depending on the powertrain, cab, and trims levels, so be aware. Toyota states that the new Tacoma gets 7% more bed volume and 300% more storage space under the rear seats on the quad cab.
The Tacoma gets two-wheel drive standard and optional four-wheel-drive with a low-range transfer case. There's also a standard limited-slip differential on all models and an available electronic locking rear differential for four-wheel-drive models. This setup comes standard on the TRD PreRunner, an off-road two-wheel-drive trim level. The Limited trim is available with full-time four-wheel drive, but only with the hybrid engine option. It's a lot to keep track of.
The New Interior
The Tacoma's cabin needed even more redoing than the exterior. The good news is that it, too, has been fully redesigned. We're hoping they fixed the horrible seating position, but we will have to wait until we drive it ourselves. The way more modern interior centers around a 7-inch instrument cluster and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen. There are optional 12.3-inch gauge cluster and dash-mounted 14-inch touchscreen. The new Tacoma also gets standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and optional wireless device charging.
The interior also benefits from improved materials, contrasting colorways, and a much better center console and stack with physical buttons, a traditional PRND shift knob, and a nifty grab bar for the front passenger. The dash is fresh and linear, and even the door panels are more ergonomic and attractive. We love the fact that Toyota kept a lot of the controls as physical knobs and buttons for less distraction and easier on- and off-road usage.
A couple of unique features show up in the new Tacoma, as well. If you get the available upgraded JBL sound system, the center-mounted speaker in the dashboard is Bluetooth portable for great overlanding and tailgating delights. One other nifty feature is the QR code located in the hidden side pocket on the driver's side dashboard. Scan it with your smartphone and it send you to a site with 3D-printer plans for accessories like a lantern and tool kit. Who thought of this one?
Trailhunter and TRD Pro Trims
The biggest news, next to the hybrid powertrain option is the all-new Trailhunter. It shares a lot with the even more rugged TRD Pro trim, including the front and rear bumpers that enhance approach and departure angles, and the same fender flares. It has the same All-Terrain tires as the TRD Pro. It's not as off-road ready as the TRD Pro, but it does provide bronze wheels, a utility bar in the bed with MOLLE mounting points. as well as a convenient on-board air compressor.
The top dog TRD Pro continues its reign in the Tacoma lineup, but this time it comes with a sole hybrid engine. It does come with adjustable Fox shocks, sway bar disconnect and suspension lift, off-road-designed front bumper, wide fender flares and ARB steel rear bumper and recovery hooks. The tires are the same as the Trailhunter's: 33-inch Goodyear Territory R/T off-road tires. It gets approach, breakover, and departure angles of 33.8, 23.5 and 25.7 degrees, respectively. The TRD Pro also benefits from cameras for off-road tight spots and trailering.
What steals the show are the first-ever suspension seats with built-in shocks. Yep. Take a look. They're units with ball joints and vertical and lateral air-over-oil shock absorbers. You can even adjust the air pressure based on comfort levels and your own weight. They provide a smoother riding experience in the rough stuff and over uneven terrain at high speeds. You can even lock them in place for a regular on-road experience. Did we mention they look pretty sweet, too?
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma will go on sale later this year, but the first units will be the non-hybrid trucks, followed by hybrid models in the first quarter of 2024. No pricing or fuel economy numbers have been made public yet, but expect that information soon. We're pretty pumped about the new Tacoma, and it looks like the wait will be well worth it.
Find a Great Deal on the Toyota Tacoma
The Toyota Tacoma has a cult following for good reason. Read our full review below:
2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro 4x4 Review
