The new Tacoma has officially been available to the public since January 2024. While these trucks are still hard to get, Facebook, pages and other forums like 4GTaco.com are loaded with questions, asking new or soon-to-be owners what they think about this new truck and if they should buy it.
In this article, we are going to expand on that question and break down why you should or shouldn’t get one.
Table Of Contents
Reasons To Buy
Let’s go over five reasons that may just push you towards purchasing. I’m sorry in advance if this causes you to spend money.
Improved Powertrain
This reason alone has me very excited for people to experience the truck. I recently went on a 1,500-mile round-trip to pick mine up. I drove my 3rd Gen Tacoma about 700 miles to the dealership, traded it in, and then drove my brand new 4th Gen back home covering those same 700 miles.
There was no comparison between the powertrains. With the new one, there was no gear hunting, plenty of passing power, and also I got about five more miles per gallon over the outgoing powertrain. Mine isn’t even the hybrid model that comes out later this year. I really enjoy this new powertrain and it’s a night and day difference from the outgoing generation.
Major Technology Upgrade
This Tacoma has so much new technology in it. Everything from the digital dash to a massive 14-inch infotainment screen. It’s kind of wild how big of a leap Toyota took in the technology department.
This new truck comes standard with LED lights, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, upgraded remote start, and a digital key. It also has the latest version of Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Select, which is virtually silent with none of the ABS clunking that the previous iteration was known for.
Toyota also still left physical buttons and didn’t overcomplicate the tech, so it’s a nice blend of old and new in my opinion.
Improved Driving Position
This, along with the constant gear hunting, are probably the two biggest complaints about the 3rd Gen. Toyota vastly improved the seating position on this truck. No more sitting on the ground or your legs cramping up.
They also improved the ingress and egress of this vehicle so you don’t hit your knee on the steering wheel as you get in. If you opt for electric power seats, they have increased adjustability compared to the outgoing model as well. I was very uncomfortable in my 3rd Gen as I drove up to the dealership in Kentucky. This wasn’t the case coming home, I couldn’t believe how much better the seating position and overall driving experience was!
Hybrid Option
I cannot imagine how powerful the new Tacoma hybrid is going to be with 465-ft lbs of torque and increased horsepower over the normal i-FORCE engine. It’s going to be insane.
While we don’t yet know the exact fuel economy numbers, the new Toyota Land Cruiser gets 23MPG combined and it utilizes the same powertrain. That slight bump in fuel economy and increased power will be incredible. This is especially good news for those who are looking to tow with their truck.
Something Fresh & New
It’s always fun to get something new and shiny, right? That sudden dopamine hit with a new car is amazing. Also, when purchasing something new, you will have a factory warranty again. This may be enticing to those who have an older vehicle. You could argue that purchasing new is financially irresponsible, but you can’t deny how good it feels.
Reasons Not To
Unproven Powertrain
While I just complimented how well this truck drove compared to the outgoing generation, the former has proven its reliability. This new truck has some big shoes to fill. The new powertrain gets more complicated with a turbocharger, a new potential point of failure long-term.
That being said, Toyota hasn’t ever intentionally produced an unreliable vehicle. I remember when the 3rd Gen came out and people were upset that it had a 3.5L V6 versus the bulletproof 4.0L V6 that the 2nd Gen had. Fast forward nine years and the 3rd Gen has proved itself to be bulletproof as well.
Too Much Technology
This could be an issue for some old-school people. Fortunately, Toyota still has some bare-bone models with a smaller infotainment screen and only a partially digital dash.
However, a lot of the other trim levels of this truck have quite a bit of technology. Some of this new tech could lead to issues and costly repairs down the road, but that’s just how new vehicles are now. If you want a truck with minimal technology, you may want to stick with your current vehicle.
Smaller Gas Tank Size
I can’t believe that Toyota only put an 18.2-gallon tank in this truck. The logic here was that with increased fuel economy, a smaller tank would yield the same range as the outgoing generation. I’d rather keep the larger fuel tank plus increased fuel economy for maximum range.
Instead, we have a truck with a smaller tank and once we start adding bigger, tires, camping equipment, etc., will still get the same abysmal mid-200-mile range that the 3rd Gen did.
Lack Of Aftermarket Scene
To be honest, this is only temporary. Toyota is notorious for having aftermarket communities develop products for their vehicles and this new Tacoma is no exception. There are already companies that have lift kits for the truck, roof, racks, sliders, and full skid plates in development, and the truck is only three months old.
I do not doubt that in the years to come, this new 4th Gen will have a plethora of aftermarket support. This is just one of those things that will take time.
Price
No matter how you sugarcoat it, it has gone up quite a bit in price, especially if you add packages that were standard at the end of the 3rd Gen’s life. For example, the Off-Road Premium that I just purchased was about the same price as the outgoing TRD Pro, which is just absolutely wild.
For some, all of the benefits of a new truck don’t outweigh the increased price. Unfortunately, I don’t see the price of these new trucks coming down anytime soon. Tacomas also hold their value very well, so even used ones may still be expensive for the foreseeable future.
Final Thoughts
I have owned my 4th Gen Tacoma now for about two weeks and so far, so good. I enjoy the improved powertrain and seating position that this new truck offers. Soon, I will be road-tripping out West from Florida and covering several thousand miles to put this new powertrain to the test. Stay tuned, as I’ll be sure to share my thoughts!
Will you be picking one up in the near future? What are your what are some of your pros and cons about this new platform? Be sure to let us know in the comment section below!
