View our New Toyota Tacoma Inventory!!!
At the moment there is only speculation whether Toyota will roll out a 2010 Tacoma. If they do, it will likely be largely unchanged. The last time the Tacoma got a total redesign was for the 2005 model year; the wheel flares became larger, character lines are more pronounced and the grille got a little more menacing. A minor makeover for 2009 included an argent-painted grille and redesigned tail lamps for all models. Smoked headlamp trim went on the TRD Off-Road, TRD Sport and X-Runner.
The Tacoma is available in three cab styles: Regular Cab, Access Cab and Double Cab. Regular and Access Cabs come with 6-foot beds, while the Double Cab can be had
with either a 5- or 6-foot bed. Ahuge part of Tacoma's repertoire comes from its special models and packages. The TRD Off-Road package is perhaps the most popular, with a combination of appearance and performance items. Included are progressive-rate front springs, Bilstein shocks, BFGoodrich Rugged Trail tires, 16-inch alloy wheels and TRD badging. The TRD Sport package offers a monochromatic appearance, street-tuned suspension and low-profile tires on 17-inch wheels. The X-Runner is made for street-performance. It features a 4.0-liter V-6 engine, six-speed transmission, 18-inch wheels, improved steering response, Bridgestone Potenza tires and a lowered, specially tuned suspension. The X-Runner gets its name from a unique X-brace on the rear of the frame.
The Toyota Tacoma offers three cab styles: regular cab, extended Access Cab with rear-hinged rear doors, and the Double Cab with four conventional side doors. For 2010, Regular cabs should have bucket seats or a three-passenger bench. The others should seat five via front bucket seats and a three-place rear bench. Access Cab's seat cushion flips forward to form a level load deck and reveals covered under seat storage. Access Cab has very little room, even with the front seats well forward. The rear bench has a low cushion and bolt-upright seatback. Rear-hinged doors ease entry and exit. Double Cabs have a split rear seat; the backrests drop and cushions flip forward individually to make a level floor and expose storage bins, as well as covered under-seat storage. Double Cabs offer a comfortably angled seatback, adequate legroom behind tall front-seaters, and easy entry and exit through fairly large doors. Step-in height is reasonable, even on 4WDs and PreRunners. Visibility is fine for a pickup. Tacoma's interior is well finished, with high-quality materials. The overall atmosphere on base models is bland. The gauges are easy to read. Audio and climate controls are mounted high on the central dashboard, yet are within easy reach. The noise inside the Tacoma is modest; the available off-road tires even louder. The V6 emits a refined growl under acceleration and cruises quietly.
Regular cabs and Access Cabs should continue to use 6-foot-long cargo beds, Double Cabs 5- and 6-foot beds; all would have a dent-resistant plastic liner. Cargo beds have four adjustable tie-down hooks along the top rail, two lower hooks, and an optional 115-volt outlet.
The 2WD PreRunner, which has a raised suspension and other 4WD styling cues, should return. The sporty X-Runner, which has an Access Cab with the V6, manual transmission, aero lower body trim, and sport suspension, should also return. X-Runner has almost sporty-car moves, with little body lean in fast corners and strong brakes. PreRunners and 4WD Tacomas exhibit comparatively more body lean and less braking prowess, but are easily on par with class rivals. Most models are fairly controlled and comfortable for compact pickups, but the optional TRD Off-Road suspension makes the ride bouncy and stiff.
Tacoma should continue to offer two engines. A 159-hp 2.7-liter 4-cylinder should team with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. A 236-hp 4.0-liter V6 should team with a 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic. Maximum towing capacity should remain 6500 lb. Both engines should be available with rear-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive that should not be left engaged on dry pavement but includes a low-range gear for off-roading. There is also speculation that at some point Toyota will release a diesel version. After hooking up with Isuzu, Toyota is now going to start taking advantage of Isuzu's diesel expertise. For the first time Toyota is going to combine their Synergy hybrid drive system with diesel engines. A diesel hybrid system has the potential to provide the best of both worlds.
Combined with sophisticated accident-avoidance technologies and standard side-impact and side curtain airbags, the Tacoma has more safety features than most compact pickups. Besides stability control, the Star Safety System includes electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist and traction control, an antiskid system.
The Toyota Tacoma is a truck which leads its class in refinement, and is holds a place in performance, accommodations, utility, and off-road prowess. The X-Runner handles like a sports car while sacrificing little utility. Overall, these are excellent compact trucks. The Tacoma has great build quality and attention to detail. And with its specialty models such as TRD Off-road, TRD Sport and X-Runner, the 2010 Tacoma will please a wide variety of consumers.
