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2017 Toyota Tacoma Road Test and Review

Carrie Kim
by Carrie Kim
January 22, 2017
5 min. Reading Time
2017 Toyota Tacoma Limited exterior front angle ・  Photo by Toyota

2017 Toyota Tacoma Limited exterior front angle ・ Photo by Toyota

The Toyota Tacoma is an iconic pickup that can be found crowding parking lots at the beach, populating popular off-road trails, and even towing toys out to the desert for a long weekend. With those types of capabilities combined with the known reliability of the brand, you end up finding them in an awful lot of driveways, too. Dependable, desirable and even domestic, the Tacoma works for singles, couples, families … well, actually, pretty much everyone. The Tacoma certainly brings a lot to the table if you’re in the market for a truck. Read on to see if the 2017 Toyota Tacoma has what you’re looking for.

Models and Pricing

Short bed, long bed—Access cab or Double cab—4-cylinder or V6 engine; these are just a few of the many options available if you’re shopping for a Tacoma. There are six available models for 2017, and 31 various trim levels. It may seem a little daunting to wade through that many options, so our quick breakdown is this: There are three Tacoma models (the SR, SR5, and Limited) and three Tacoma TRD models (the TRD Sport, TRD Off-road, and TRD Pro). SR and SR5 are entry-level trucks that start at $24,120 and $26,205, respectively. These two models come with options for an extended (access) cab or double cab and 4-cylinder or V6 engines. The Limited model, a double cab model with a V6, is much fancier—it offers most of the creature comforts of a well equipped passenger car and starts at $35,720. The TRD Sport and Off-road are found in the middle of the pack and start at $30,485 and $31,740, respectively. The TRD Pro is the top-of-the-line Tacoma; this tough truck starts at $40,760 but is loaded with all the bells and whistles.

 Photo by Toyota

Photo by Toyota

What’s with the “TRD”?

Toyota Racing Development, better known as TRD, is the brand’s longstanding racing division. Toyota has built serious street cred over the years in off-road motorsports, so you can expect the trucks emblazoned with “TRD” on their sides to uphold the legendary name. If you want performance chops and serious off-roading capabilities, look to the TRD models. The TRD Sport model features a sport suspension, a hood scoop, body-color fender flares and 17-inch wheels. The TRD Off-Road is trail-ready with a special TRD-tuned off-road suspension and comes with Bilstein shocks, 16-inch wheels with Kevlar-reinforced Goodyear Wrangler tires, and black fender flares. The 4x4 models include a locking rear differential, a Multi-Terrain Select system, and Crawl Control, a sort of off-road cruise control that allows the driver to select a speed between 1 and 5 mph and focus solely on steering the truck. New for the 2017, the TRD Pro is a more tricked-out off-road model and king of the Tacoma lineup. The Pro adds TRD front springs that raise the front end an inch, Fox internal bypass shocks at all four corners, an aluminum skid plate, black 16-inch TRD wheels that widen the track an inch, heated black leather seats, and a standard tow package.

 Photo by Toyota

Photo by Toyota

Exterior Design

For us, what makes the Toyota Tacoma great is its manageable size. It fits just as easily in a crowded parking lot spot as it does in a packed garage. But don’t mistake “compact” for wimpy—we loved the bold, muscular looks of the Tacoma Limited we tested, especially the grille, which looks aggressive without being obnoxious. We think the Tacoma’s classic good looks make it the best-looking pickup in its class. Also, we’re big fans of the solid tan “Quicksand” exterior paint color.

 Photo by Toyota

Photo by Toyota

Interior Pros and Cons

We really appreciated all of the creature comforts our Tacoma Limited model had to offer; leather seats, dual climate controls, moonroof and even Qi wireless smartphone charging capability. Although we missed Android Auto/Apple CarPlay compatibility, we don’t mind Toyota’s Entune system; we find it simple to use and it even comes with navigation and in-car apps like Yelp and Pandora. Unfortunately, we found the cabin pretty uncomfortable. The low ceiling/high floor height combo is very awkward—with the seats mounted so low, it forces your legs to stick out in front, and it always felt like our knees were being pushed up toward our chest and out to the sides. At 5-foot-4, I fear for the comfort of those less vertically challenged than I. The graphics and appearance of the controls and information also look very dated in comparison to those of the ultra-modern Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon.

 Photo by Toyota

Photo by Toyota

Tacoma: On the Road

The 2017 Toyota Tacoma has had a few tweaks and even a significant overhaul last year for 2016, but it’s still based on the same basic truck that debuted for 2005. Newer trucks like the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, and even the Honda Ridgeline have come a long way when it comes to ride quality for pickups, and they all possess a finesse that the Tacoma clearly lacks. That being said, our Limited test truck gripped the pavement well on its meaty 18-inch wheels and tires, and the steering effort had a nice heft to it, inspiring confidence through the turns. The direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 makes 278 horsepower, which makes for fairly peppy acceleration and good passing power at highway speeds. However, the Tacoma isn’t quiet and the ride can be bouncy, harsh, and even punishing on rough pavement or the bumpy Southern California highways. Most of today’s other light-duty pickups offer a much more civilized ride.

 Photo by Toyota

Photo by Toyota

Compact, but Capable

Even though the Toyota Tacoma is a compact pickup, it makes a capable adventure-seeking buddy. With our Limited model’s 1120-lb. payload, it could easily haul a few dirt bikes in the bed, and the standard 3500-lb. towing capacity would be enough for a small trailer carrying ATVs or a jet ski. If you’re serious about towing, a V6 Tow Package is available on all V6 Tacoma models. This boosts towing capability up to 6800-lb. and comes with a Class IV receiver hitch and both a 4- and 7-pin connector. Also accompanying the package is Trailer Sway Control, which aids stability in the high winds by applying pressure to individual brakes while driving.

 Photo by Toyota

Photo by Toyota

Fuel Economy

We spent one full week with the 2017 Toyota Tacoma and averaged a little over 16 mpg with mixed city and highway driving. You might assume that a smaller pickup would offer much better fuel economy than a larger one, but that’s not always true. Our 2-wheel-drive Tacoma Limited is rated by the EPA at 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway, but a fullsize Ford F-150 equipped with the 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 beats the Tacoma's stats with an impressive 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway.

The moral of the story? Don’t pick the smaller truck for its gas mileage. Pick the smaller truck if you prefer the easier maneuvering, parking, and handling that come with its more compact dimensions.

 Photo by Toyota

Photo by Toyota

Tacoma vs. the Competition

The Toyota’s stiffest competition is the Chevrolet Colorado. The starting price of the Chevy is about $4000 less than the Tacoma on the starting end, and almost $5000 less at top trim levels. The Colorado shows up the Tacoma with a more modern and connected cabin that makes the the Tacoma interior seem dated. The Colorado also offers a much more refined ride than the Tacoma. However, the Tacoma stands strong with its long-standing reputation for durability and reliability.

 Photo by Toyota and General Motors

Photo by Toyota and General Motors

Final Thoughts

Overall, the 2017 Toyota Tacoma is a wise choice for those in the market for a pickup. With so many model options and trim levels, there’s bound to be a Tacoma for every need. Although we found the ride quality a little crude compared to more modern trucks, some could argue that’s part of the fun in driving a pickup. If functionality, capability, and dependability are more important to you than frills, the Tacoma definitely delivers.

 Photo by Toyota

Photo by Toyota


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