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Toyota Tacoma - What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 Toyota Tacoma ranks 1 out of 8 Compact Pickup Trucks. This ranking is based on our analysis of 61 published reviews and test drives of the Toyota Tacoma, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

With its car-like interior and robust capabilities, the Toyota Tacoma is one of the best choices in the compact pickup class.

The Tacoma is not one of the vehicles affected by the recent Toyota recall.

The Tacoma has long been an award-winning car, including recognition from J.D. Power as the "Best Midsize Pickup in Initial Quality" for 2007, and Truck Trend's Best in Class Compact Pickup for 2009. The 2009 model was the U.S. News Best Car for the Money in the compact pickup class. Car and Driver says, "Toyota's compact pickup holds its ground in a segment hard hit by a lack of buyer interest and industry investment."  In a class where most competitors fall short of expectations, most reviewers say the Tacoma is a sound choice that should please most buyers. With three different available cabs, two bed sizes and two available engines, finding a Tacoma to suit your needs shouldn't be a problem.

Despite the overwhelming praise, a few reviewers think the Tacoma's ride is too truck-like for daily driving. And although the Tacoma Double Cab has comfortable rear seating for three, the rear seats in the Access cab are almost universally disliked by reviewers. However, the Tacoma gets high marks for a simple interior design with a long list of standard convenience features and car-like amenities that people just entering the truck market may appreciate. 

Buyers should also appreciate the Tacoma's low starting price, compared to others in its class.  While opting for more features and space add to the Tacoma's price tag, buyers can still get an affordable, reliable truck that performs well by choosing a base Tacoma.  If you're shopping the Tacoma, be sure to akso check out the Nissan Frontier, which some reviewers say is a more exhilarating performer. On all other measures, however, the Tacoma is the compact pickup to beat.

The Tacoma was last redesigned in 2005.  Since then, Toyota has upgraded the truck's safety systems, adding airbags and stability control, standard.  The Tacoma is available in regular, access, and double cab; the double cab is the trim with a full-sized back seat. Four- and six-cylinder engines are offered, and the Tacoma offers a performance-tuned X-Runner trim.

Before you buy, make sure to check out our Toyota Deals page to see what offers and incentives are available on a new Toyota Tacoma.

• "Tacoma leads its class in refinement, and is more than competitive 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 and easy Best Buy picks." -- Consumer Guide
• "The fact is, as the sales numbers attest, if you want a small pickup and willing to give up the room, horsepower and hauling capacity of the bigger trucks, the Tacoma is hard to beat. " -- The Auto Channel
• "The Toyota Tacoma may be the best pickup in its class." --Automotive.com
• "Taken as a whole, this truck has a lot to offer: power, off-road abilities, comfort and convenience-everything you'd want in a work truck, even if you just work hard at playing."-- AutoWeek
• "Tacomas have such a strong reputation for quality and reliability that late-model used ones often sell for almost as much as new vehicles." -- BusinessWeek

 

Tacoma Performance - 8.6 (Very Good)

"This is plenty of truck for 95 percent of truck buyers," says Car and Driver, and most reviewers agree. The 2010 Toyota Tacoma has a strong optional V6 engine, smooth transmissions and enough hauling and towing capabilities for most buyers.  All in all, reviewers say this truck is a strong performer, though some complain about an overly harsh on-road ride, something that's typical for the class. Read More

Tacoma Exterior - 8.1 (Very Good)

When it comes to exterior styling, some say the Tacoma doesn't measure up to the competition, but manages to uphold Toyota's reputation for strong build quality. Kelley Blue Book says, "The overall exterior of the Tacoma is well done, and an impeccable level of fit and finish is a known characteristic of Toyota products." Read More

Tacoma Interior - 8.1 (Very Good)

The Toyota Tacoma's interior impresses most reviewers thanks to its high-quality materials. While a few grouse that the interior is too "car-like" others use the term as a compliment. "The Tacoma interior gets a higher grade than other compact trucks, with a simple but effective layout, supportive seats and attention-to-detail build quality," reports PickupTrucks.com. Read More

Tacoma Safety - 9.9 (Excellent)

With a long list of standard safety features and government crash test scores that impress, it's no surprise that Automobile Magazine reports, "The Tacoma was built to passenger-car safety standards." However, the Tacoma is included in the 2009 recall of floormats from nearly four million Toyota and Lexus products after the mats were found to be at the root of a fatal car accident. Read More

Tacoma Reliability - 8.0 (Very Good)

The 2010 Toyota Tacoma reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). Every new Tacoma comes with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty.  While Toyota has a great reputation for reliability, publications like Consumer Reports recently downgraded the company's reliability rating. Read More