Logo
No matching results

Recent Articles

Popular Makes

Body Types

10 Things You Need to Know About the 2016 Toyota Tacoma

Charles Krome
by Charles Krome
January 29, 2016
6 min. Reading Time
2016 CAS Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro front 3 ・  Photo by Toyota Media

2016 CAS Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro front 3 ・ Photo by Toyota Media

Though the competition in the midsize pickup segment continues to grow, so do sales of the brand-new 2016 Toyota Tacoma. In fact, in 2015, despite the presence of two next-gen rivals in the marketplace, Tacoma was the best-selling entry in the category—with a 15.8 percent jump in volume and more deliveries than that other pair of pickups combined. How does Toyota continue to set the pace for midsize pickups? Here are 10 of the top factors.

1) The 2016 Toyota Tacoma is a real truck.

No, it’s not quite as big as its full-size Tundra sibling, yet the 2016 Toyota Tacoma—despite its “midsize” classification—does deliver more than enough capability for many folks today. For example, the re-engineered Tacoma also happens to deliver 300 more lbs. of pulling power than the 2015 model, for a max tow rating of 6,800 lbs. That allows owners to trailer personal watercraft, snowmobiles, popup and campers and other toys, as well as work-oriented machines like small skid-steer loaders. But you don’t have to hitch up a trailer to take advantage of the Tacoma’s hauling prowess. The robust bed of the truck enables a 1,440-lb. payload rating, and Toyota provides cargo-management resources like a standard Deck Rail tie-down setup, in-bed storage built into the bed walls and, for the first time ever for the Tacoma, a factory tonneau cover with a tri-fold design and security lock.

 Photo by Toyota Media

Photo by Toyota Media

2) The 2016 Toyota Tacoma showcases a new V6 engine.

Unsurprisingly, there’s a brand-new engine that brings most of those just-mentioned benefits to the 2016 Toyota Tacoma, while also noticeably raising fuel economy ratings. Consider: The Tacoma’s upgraded 3.5-liter V6 supplies 278 horsepower—42 more than the engine it replaces—as well as 265 lb.-ft. of torque, with that output matched by an EPA line of 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway/21 mpg combined; those metrics mark double-digit percentage increases in all facets of driving versus the 2015 Tacoma V6. It’s also worth pointing out that Toyota deployed new engine technologies to achieve that performance, running the V6 on the more efficient Atkinson cycle and bolstering its operation with a new variable valve-timing system and fuel-injection setup. Customers should note, however, that the standard engine remains a 2.7-liter, four-cylinder unit featuring 159 horsepower, 180 lb.-ft. of torque and peak EPA ratings of 19/23/21.

 Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

3) The 2016 Toyota Tacoma can take on tough off-road trails.

Like all pickups, the 2016 Toyota Tacoma furnishes four-wheel-drive technology, relying on a part-time 4WD setup with an electronically controlled transfer case and automatic limited-slip differential. However, the team at Toyota Racing Development also gets in on the action with the TRD Off-Road model that’s custom-tailored for trail adventures. Enhancements in style, technology and hardware all come into play, too, highlighted by a five-mode terrain-management system that optimizes throttle and traction control for different driving scenarios. Further helping owners get farther off-road are an electronic locking rear diff, an electronically shifted transfer case, Bilstein shocks and crawl control. The TRD Off-Road truck also sports rugged rubber; in this case, Kevlar-reinforced Goodyear Wranglers that are wrapped around 16-inch alloy wheels with a machined finish. Another tip for shoppers: the Tacoma TRD Off-Road pickup is available with short- and long-bed, double- and access-cab, and automatic- and manual-transmission configurations, but solely with the V6 engine.

fallback

4) The 2016 Toyota Tacoma appeals to customers with 29 configurations.

Among the (many) factors that go into the truck’s sales success, it certainly helps that the 2016 Toyota Tacoma can be built in 29 configurations. Physically, the truck is available with an access cab that has two doors and two small rear seats, as well as with a double cab providing four doors and seating for up to three in the back. The former also features a 127.8-inch wheelbase and 73.7-inch bed, while the latter comes in short-bed (60.5 inches in length with a wheelbase of 127.4 inches) and long-bed (73.7 inches on a 141-inch wheelbase) setups. Further, five grades—from work truck to range-topping Limited edition—are in the mix, as are five interior themes and eight exterior finishes that include three new ones for 2016: Quicksand, Inferno and Blazing Blue Pearl.

fallback

5) Infotainment isn’t an afterthought for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma.

The 2016 Toyota Tacoma does offer plenty of pickup-only advantages, but its cabin—and especially its infotainment resources—rival those found in the current crop of next-gen cars. Right at the heart of the matter, Toyota’s Entune multimedia bundle is standard on even the starter models, serving up a 6.1-inch touchscreen that not only acts as the interface for the infotainment system but also doubles as the screen for an also-standard rearview camera system; as for other media features, the setup additionally includes six speakers, an iPod-compatible USB 2.0 port, Bluetooth connectivity, voice recognition and Siri Eyes Free (for select iPhones). Of course, as you move up the Tacoma trims, Toyota raises the bar each time. For instance, the Tacoma SR5 gains a high-res display screen and an integrated, GPS-enabled navigation app; TRD trucks tout integrated navigation, a 7-inch touchscreen and Entune App Suite; and the Limited line leverages JBL speakers for super-sized sound.

fallback

6) The 2016 Toyota Tacoma wears a tough new exterior.

To distinguish the latest generation of America’s favorite midsize truck, designers turned to Toyota’s highly successful off-road racing program for inspiration and developed a retail vehicle that was “all about recreational activity and athletic agility.” The dramatically sculpted front end sets the tone, sharing the same kind of bold, hex-shaped grille as the full-size Tundra and featuring projector-beam headlamps with a slim and sophisticated appearance. The hood of the 2016 Toyota Tacoma also sits higher than on the past-generation truck, and that, combined with prominent wheel flares and a (locking) tailgate with an integrated rear spoiler, creates a more aggressive presence that can be further amped up in the TRD and Limited models. Notably, the Off-Road trim, already mentioned, gets appropriate attire for the trail, accented by black overfenders and a chrome rear bumper, while the TRD Sport is spruced up with a hood scoop and body-color accents.

fallback

7) The cabin of the 2016 Toyota Tacoma has been significantly updated.

The 2016 Toyota Tacoma gets a sportier-looking interior, too, with the company also making an effort to boost refinement in the cabin. Thus, there are more soft-touch surfaces and metallic accents, and the work wasn’t merely skin deep, with engineers deploying a multi-layer acoustic windshield, a sound-absorbing headliner and a floor silencer pad to produce the quietest Tacoma interior ever. Leather trim for the seats and shift lever and a leather-wrapped steering wheel also are available for an extra touch of class. Meanwhile, the driver and front row passenger are able to enjoy heated seating and four-way adjustability for their spots. And again, the TRD and Limited models elevate Tacoma comfort and style with their own distinctive design cues. In the TRD Tacoma, that runs to things like orange contrast stitching for the seats and an eye-catching accent ring around the instrument panel; the Toyota Tacoma Limited goes the lux route with hickory leather interior trim.

fallback

8) The unexpected details make the difference in the 2016 Toyota Tacoma.

Beyond the obvious benefits to buying the 2016 Toyota Tacoma are the subtle difference-makers that can mean so much during the daily driving routine, like a wireless smartphone-charging niche that’s handily designed into the bottom of the truck’s center stack. Or take the Tacoma’s pro-active driver-assistance measures—a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert—which complement the vehicle’s standard rear-vision system and furnish a measure of added owner confidence when on the road. When off the road, Toyota also has the finishing touch for drivers who want to show off their wild sides, and that’s a GoPro camera mount that’s located on the inside windshield near the rearview mirror. Owners simply install their own cameras, then are ready to roll. Similarly, the highly versatile pickup bed of the Tacoma has it share of hidden values, like robust composite walls and a damped, easy-to-lower tailgate.

fallback

9) Routine maintenance and roadside assistance are standard.

Complimentary routine-maintenance programs are a staple of the premium brands, but the 2016 Toyota Tacoma belies its mainstream positioning to provide both that benefit and complimentary roadside assistance. Coverage for the former extends to two years/25,000 miles and takes care of factory-scheduled tire rotations, engine oil and oil filter changes, vehicle inspections, and fluid fill ups. The expansive roadside-assistance coverage is for two years and an unlimited number of miles, and it handles:

  • Jump starts for drained batteries
  • Emergency fuel delivery for empty tanks
  • Flat-tire changes (with the owner’s spare)
  • Certain towing and winching services

Needless to say, some restrictions do apply, although Toyota Care coverage is standard on all products from the brand.

fallback

10) The 2016 Toyota Tacoma can be tricked out with a ton of accessories.

The 2016 Toyota Tacoma is a particularly popular canvas for customizers, and a big part of that is because owners aren’t limited to aftermarket outlets for their accessories. There’s also a long list of them available directly from the automaker. Now, as you might guess, the ol’ Toyota parts catalog contains typical truck add-ons such as side steps, bed steps, bed extenders, hitches and cargo-management systems, along with a package that pulls it all together for customers. Highlights for the cabin include a universal tablet holder that mounts on back of the front seats, so that owners can create their own rear-seat entertainment systems (with their own devices). And finally, it turns out that TRD has its own dedicated parts and accessories programs in the United States, supplying hi-po pieces such as performance oil and air filters, matte-black hood graphics for the TRD Sport and a 16-inch beadlock tire-and-wheel package for owners oriented toward off-road fun.

 Photo by Toyota

Photo by Toyota


`

Interested in Getting a New Car?

Used Cars Near You

No Data Available

Powered by Usedcars.com
©2024 AutoWeb, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Some content provided by and under copyright by Autodata, Inc. dba Chrome Data. © 1986-2024.