Toyota Tacoma

Trucks have been increasing in popularity over the last several years. People can’t get enough of full-size trucks. However, for many people a full-size or heavy-duty truck isn’t necessary—this is where compact trucks come in. A compact truck offers you great cargo capacity in the bed and decent towing capacity. You also get plenty of passenger capacity and great features. Compact trucks are also more affordable than their full-size counterparts.

The Toyota Tacoma is a popular compact truck. This truck first came out in 1995. It has received plenty of updates since then, but it remains a great new and used truck to purchase because it is a reliable one. If you are looking into getting a Used Toyota Tacoma truck, you will likely be looking at a second or third generation Tacoma. The second generation of this truck ran from 2005 to 2015, and the third generation started in 2016 and is going through the present time.

To help you determine whether or not the Toyota Tacoma is a good truck option for you, we are going to highlight some of the features and capability below. We are going to look at the performance, technology, interior, exterior, and safety of the Toyota Tacoma below. We are also going to talk a little bit about what model years have what different features so that you can narrow down which Used Toyota Tacoma is the best option for you.

Performance and Engine Options

First, let’s talk about the performance of the Toyota Tacoma and the engine options you can find with this truck. This truck is a compact one, so it will not have the huge engine options you can find in a heavy-duty truck, but you can still get a great performance from the Tacoma. Learn more right here.

• Engine Options – The exact engine found in your used Toyota Tacoma is going to depend on what model year and trim level vehicle you choose. Most Tacoma trucks have a base four-cylinder engine with the option to upgrade to a more powerful V6 engine. For example, the 2014 Tacoma has a base 2.7-liter four-cylinder that gives you 159-horsepower, but it also has a 4.0-liter V6 that gives you 236-horsepower. The 2017 Toyota Tacoma offers you that same base four-cylinder engine, but the V6 engine is a 3.5-liter V6 that gives you 278-horsepower.
• Performance and Towing – Your performance and towing in the Tacoma will also be dependent on the model year and the engine option that you choose. The V6 engine options are better for towing than the four-cylinder engine options. However, when the Tacoma is properly equipped, you can expect it to tow upwards of 6,000 pounds. For example, the 2017 Tacoma has a towing capacity of 6,800 pounds.
• Off-Road Capability – The Toyota Tacoma is also known for having some great off-road capability. In 2014, the Tacoma stared offering the TRD Off-Road package which included a locking rear differential, Bilstein shocks, a skid plate, and downhill assist. In 2015, the Tacoma offered a TRD Pro trim for the first time which added on even more off-road capabilities like longer Bilstein shocks for an added 1.75 inches of suspension lift, beadlock wheels, and a front skid plate. Later model years for the Toyota Tacoma add features like different traction control modes for different types of off-road terrain.

As you can see, there is a lot to love about the performance of the Toyota Tacoma. This compact truck can offer you some great engine options that allow you a good towing capacity for this being a smaller truck. You also get some great off-road capabilities with different features and trim level options in the Tacoma. Learn more about the other features this truck can offer you below.

Exterior

The Tacoma has a bold and strong look. This truck may be compact, but it isn’t short on style and features. The Tacoma has features like LED lights, strong grille options, aerodynamic sculpting, and more.

The exterior of the Tacoma also provides you with some good cargo space in the bed. Depending on your Tacoma model, you could have a 5-foot or a 6-foot bed length. This could give you an overall length of the truck to be between 17 and 19 feet depending on the year and body style. You can expect the payload capacity for the Tacoma to be around 1,500 pounds depending on the model.

There are also several trim levels that can be found on the Tacoma. The exact trim options depend on the specific model year, but you can expect options like the SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and TRD Pro. Trims like the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro focus more on off-road performance and add some great performance features. The SR trim will be a more basic option, but it still gives you plenty of standard features and technologies. If you have any questions about specific models, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Interior

On the inside of the Tacoma, you can find comfortable seating and quality materials. The exact seating depends upon the cab option that your particular Tacoma has. In the 2014 Tacoma, you have three different cab options. The Regular Cab seats just three people, the Access Cab seats four people, and the Double Cab seats five people. However, in 2015, Toyota gets rid of the Regular Cab option for the Tacoma leaving only the four-seat Access Cab and the five-seat Double Cab.

Regardless of the cab option, there is comfortable seating for all with different options like cloth upholstery, leatherette upholstery, leather upholstery, heated front seats, and more. The interior of this vehicle has a good design overall, and the cabin remains quiet even on the highway.

Technology

In addition to the great interior features, you can find a lot of great technology features in the Toyota Tacoma. This truck provides you with connective and entertainment technology to fit with your lifestyle.

The exact technology you get depends on the model year and the trim level, but even going back as far as the 2014 Tacoma, you have technology like a 6.1-inch touchscreen, USB ports, Bluetooth, and the Entune App Suite with apps like Pandora and iHeartRadio. In later years, you get technology like a navigation system, a 7-inch touchscreen, remote keyless entry, and more.

In the 2018 Toyota Tacoma, you can find technology like HD Radio, a JBL audio system, Siri Eyes Free, Bluetooth, smartphone navigation integration, wireless smartphone charging, and even a GoPro camera mount to record off-road excursions.

Safety

Finally, let’s take a look at the safety features that can be found in the Toyota Tacoma. This vehicle was built to be safe for you, but as the years have gone on, new safety technology has been developed and added to the Tacoma. Check out what safety technology features can be found on which Toyota Tacoma models below.

• For the 2015 model year, the Toyota Tacoma started offering a rearview camera to keep people safer while backing up.
• In 2016, this truck added some safety features like rear parking sensors and blind spot monitoring.
• In 2017 the rearview camera became standard on every Toyota Tacoma model, and features like blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and rear parking sensors were available.
• For the 2018 model year, the Tacoma got Toyota Safety Sense P standard. This includes standard safety features including a rearview camera, automatic high beams, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and pedestrian detection. There were also available safety features like rear cross traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and blind spot monitoring.

As you can see, the Toyota Tacoma has added more and more safety features throughout the years. For the 2018 model year, there are a lot of safety features standard on the base model. If safety is something that is really important to you, you might want to look for a newer Tacoma model, but if it isn’t as high of a priority, you can get an older Tacoma model for a more affordable price.

There are a lot of things to love about the Toyota Tacoma. This compact truck offers you a lot in terms of capability and off-road performance. You also have a comfortable interior with plenty of great technology and features. The Tacoma is also a dependable truck, so it is well worth the investment. You can find Used Toyota Tacoma trucks at Tim’s Truck Capital. If you have any questions about our specific models, we have experts that are happy to help you. You can also come down for a test drive today.