2024 Toyota Tacoma Sneak Peek: New Truck Brings Big Changes! (2023)

Get your platitudes out. In the teeth, older than the earth, beyond its prime. They could easily be applied to the current Toyota Tacoma. It features ubiquitous Toyota elementsmedium truckThis dates back to its introduction to the US in the mid-90s. This is the story of the Stone Age for the modern age of the automobile.

However, the legion of loyal Tacoma owners past and present don't care. For decades, they've been busy bouncing and rolling boulder-strewn trails, traversing rough dirt roads, sprinting desert trails, and traversing concrete jungles in Tacoma pickups of all shapes and sizes. In fact, it might take a little convincing to convince them of the new, American breed2024 Tacoma TacomaWorth the trade.

However, once they realize just how much design and engineering power Toyota has put into the new fourth-generation Tacoma, they'll be lining up for a brand new path.Trailhunter PruningAlong with all the other four-cylinder turbo and hybrid models in the feature-rich 2024 Tacoma lineup, it will arrive in Toyota showrooms later this year.

Tacoma Chief Engineer Sheldon Brown helped develop the new truck. He is well aware of the danger he is in. "We have been number one in this sector for 19 years. We have to be bold and give them options," he said.

Always use iForce

Ditch a quart of 0W-20 for the naturally aspirated 2.7-liter I-4 that's been under the hood of every generation Tacoma in some form until now. When you use it, do the same with the 3.5-liter V-6 engine. Both engines have been retired, replaced by a new powertrain, Toyota's new 2.4-liter i-Force turbocharged inline-four. Headlining it is the hybrid version of the i-Force Max engine, with 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque—so much torque from 1,700 rpm that Brown says they had to adjust the throttle mapping to get things under control. power and transmission failures. you will notice asix-speed manualAlready on the market; for Toyota to keep it for the new generation, you can get it in 4x2 or 4x4 configuration. You'll also notice that the six-speed automatic is gone, replaced by an eight-speed.

The volumetric engine combination should be a 278bhp version of the eight-speed automatic. Interestingly, it has exactly the same horsepower numbers as the outgoing top-of-the-line V-6 model, and it also tows the most, rated at 6,500 pounds. The base engine is also more powerful than before, making 69 hp and 63 lb-ft more than the trusty 2.7-liter four-cylinder. All versions are also expected to handily beat the outgoing engine in EPA mpg ratings.

The star of the i-Force show is the Max turbo-four, with power figures that exceed anything the Tacoma has seen to date. It's conceptually similar to a version of the twin-turbo V-6 that powers the Tundra and Sequoia, with an electric motor (rated at 48 horsepower and a peak capacity of 184 lb-ft) and a bell mounted between the engine and transmission. A clutch on the hood is designed to provide extra boost when needed. Other basic functions (engine stop/start, pure EV power, energy recovery, etc.) are handled by the companion parallel hybrid unit. A 288 volt, 1.9 kWh Ni-MH battery provides the necessary power.

Trick Trailhunter Tacoma Beyond Truck Decor

SR5. TRD Pro. precursor. These nicknames are almost as familiar to Toyota truck enthusiasts as the trucks themselves. Toyota hopes its new Trailhunter trim, which will debut in the new Tacoma, will be just as respected in the future. Designed as a badass off-road vehicle, the Trailhunter features an i-Force Max drivetrain, an electronically controlled two-speed high/low range transfer case and an electronically activated locking rear differential, and is a collaboration with the off-road company that deals with the development of ARB. Like all new Tacomas, the Trailhunter uses the TNGA-F high-strength steel ladder-frame global truck platform it shares with the Tundra and Sequoia.

The Trailhunter's goodies list reads like a wish list of what a Tacoma Monster might want under his Christmas tree and includes: Old Man Emu (aka OME) Position Sensitive, 2.5-inch forged monotube shocks (with rear external remote fuel tank) , utility bed bar with removable MOLLE panels, 33-inch Goodyear Territory R/T tires, rigid LED fog lights, steel rear bumper, rear recovery points, rock rails, high-strength steel skid plate, etc. . The Trailhunter also features specific design cues, including a heritage bronze grille and other trims.

Like the rest of the Tacoma lineup, the Trailhunter is available in 5- or 6-foot bed sizes and dual-cab configurations (the SR, SR5 and TRD PreRunners are also available in the new two-door XtraCab trim) and can also be optioned from a variety of custom-tailored accessories. ARB and other Toyota approved accessories.

When it comes to options, accessories and essentials, the 2024 Tacoma is certainly packed with new things to drive on the road and on the trails, depending on the model and configuration. One of the biggest changes to the truck's chassis is theAdd new rear suspension system with multi-link coil springsThis is standard on most models. Fans of the Tacoma's traditional leaf spring design can still fit one the old-fashioned way (Brown says it's changed slightly to a base on the bottom), but only on the SR, SR5 XtraCab and TRD PreRunner.

Also, depending on which Tacoma you choose, a 4x2 setup with an automatic limited-slip differential (rear electronic locker available) with a two-speed transfer case and traction control (rear electronic locker available) can be selected A 4x4 setup like the Trailhunter , or a 4x4 full-time with two-speed transfer case and central differential lock. Plus, the Tacoma comes with an optional new electronic front stabilizer bar that offers 10 percent more agility than the old truck, so you can better stay sharp when you need it. Brown says the Tacoma's traction control system has been improved (reportedly quieter and more impressive in handling), and the multi-terrain option has been updated so you can use it on the go without shifting the truck into 4-Low.

In addition to the Trailhunter, you can choose from seven other Tacoma grades. Here, some highlights of each:

Stronger on the outside, more tech on the inside

Stylistically, it doesn't take eagle eyes to see how much has changed in the 2024 Tacoma lineup, but perhaps the most striking and aggressive lineup in the new Tacoma lineup aside from the TrailhunterIt's a TRD Pro.It's edgy, angular and offbeat, with aggressive fender flares. You can imagine it bombing down the Baja 1000 course, leaving waves of dust in its wake. The Trailhunter vibe is more about pitching your tent after conquering double ruts and steeper grades. While the TRD Sport and Limited are more of a street truck.

All are designed by Toyota's North American CALTY Design Centers in California and Michigan to deliver what the company calls, and we don't make, "Tacoma-ness." It's defined as "high lift, big tires, slim body and strong athletic stance." For the most part, they succeeded in a big way. Notable design cues include high-mounted LED headlights, updated hexagonal grille, hood air intakes, side air intakes, integrated roof and tailgate spoiler and more, depending on the model.

Dimensionally, the Tacoma's current owners insisted the truck retain storage capability, so engineers took that into account, according to Brown. Although the wheelbase is about 4 inches longer than before, Brown told us the length of the new truck remains largely unchanged. Toyota has achieved an impressive maximum ground clearance of 9.5 inches, a maximum ride distance of 11 inches and a maximum approach angle of 33.8 degrees, cornering angles of 23.5 degrees and departure angles of 25.7 degrees. While the width is up 4 inches, due in part to wider front and rear quarters and fender flares, it's slightly taller and the actual width between the doors is about the same, to help maintain the same slim look and help entering and exiting.

When you step inside the all-new 2024 Tacoma, depending on the model, there is a lot of technology available, and one undeniable feature is theToyota calls it IsoDynamic Performance seats, which debuted on the TRD Pro. The segment priority seats use what is essentially an adjustable shock absorber system to help the driver avoid excessive head drop and body sway when attacking undulating terrain at high speeds.

In addition to the fancy seats, there are a few other updates and upgrades inside, depending on the trim, including an 8.0-inch or available 14.0-inch touchscreen (supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), a basic 7.0 instrument cluster inch or 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster available in four different styles, standard smart key with push-button start and digital key or phone-based smart card key, additional rear seat storage on non-i-Force Max models , MOLLE storage panels. B-pillar armrests, 3D printed accessory slot, 10-speaker JBL sound system and detachable JBL Bluetooth speaker. Toyota's latest impressive suite of Safety Sense 3.0 driver assistance technologies is also standard, with other optional features available.

Considering everything we've seen so far, Toyota has been a bit reckless in how it's refreshed and reinvented its iconic trucks, especially the TRD Pro and Trailhunter. But at the same time, its powertrains and approach to dynamics have become more refined and sophisticated, and its range has greater breadth and depth than ever before. This combination will help keep the Tacoma firmly at the top of the midsize truck segment -- no matter how old it is.