2003 Toyota Tacoma Ratings
Getting firsthand information from an actual car owner is one sure way to get an idea of car performance once it leaves the lot. Autobytel features real consumer reviews that give the unbiased experience of a car.
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2003 Toyota Tacoma - Base (M5) 4x2 Regular Cab
Pros: Reliability
Cons: Lack of space
Advice: Make sure your not going to need much room
This vehicle is great I’ve owned it for a year & half -No problems. I get great gas mileage of course it’s a 4 cylinder 4X4. Great clearance, have never bottomed out. These vehicles are very flexible off road. Because it’s a single cab there is little leg room for passengers and no room at all for anything else I would recommend this particular model for any single folks. -
2003 Toyota Tacoma - Base (M5) 4x2 Xtracab
Pros: Extra Cab
Cons: suspension
Advice: watch your wheels carefully every 3k to 5k miles!!
My 2003 XtraCab 5spd 4x2 has performed superb with one exception - suspension. I am not a hard driver by any means (and who could be driving in LA during peak traffic in the AM and PC?). The shocks gave out after about 10k miles as expected (this is a common problem). But this is the first time i have had to align my tires every 5k miles. I've gone through one set before 18k miles but the warranty covered that. I am a 2nd generation Toyota owner and have many relatives that own trucks like mine. None have the alignment issue but all have had the shocks problems. -
2003 Toyota Tacoma - V6 (M5) 4x4 Xtracab
Pros: Looks and resale value
Cons: Expensive for what you get. The interior space and uncomfortable ride.
Advice: Shop around.
Unstable bouncy Ride. Needs wider wheel base for windy conditions. V6 is strong, while the 4 cylinder is quite gutless. Good looking truck but pricey for a loaded 4X4 Xcab compact. Somewhat cramped interior with average seats. -
2003 Toyota Tacoma - V6 4x2 Double-Cab
Pros: IT'S HIGH
Cons: IT'S NOT AS FAST
Advice: DON'T HESITATE- GET IT,BUY IT,OWN IT!
I LOVE THIS TRUCK-WOULDN'T TRADE FOR ANYTHING. I HAVE TWO KIDS AND IT'S VERY SPACIOUS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT HAS FOUR DOORS. THE GAS MILEGE IS GREAT!! I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS ON IT. -
2003 Toyota Tacoma - 4x4 Double-Cab
Pros: 4 door, 5 seater
Cons: gas milage, power
Advice: buy it for the reliability
2003 Double Cab, 4 x 4, 49,000 miles. Very handy and reliable. Only problem so far has been with the Snugtop shell that came with the truck. It had a set of LED's quit working and needed replaced. Gas milage is nothing to write home about. I average 15 MPG. 190 Hp is kind of on the weak side also. I would hate to see the milage if the engine could crank out 230 or 240 Hp. But it's very good looking and sporty. Fun to drive and off-road capable. It's probably one of the best small trucks out there -
2003 Toyota Tacoma - 4x4 Double-Cab
Pros: Four doors / backseat
Cons: Rattles, shuttering
Advice: Solid truck, good resale value
Very capable offroader, less so on the city street. Good use of interior space. A lot of rattles and squeaks. Poor wet weather street traction. Good use of torque at lower rpm's. Average fuel economy for size. -
2003 Toyota Tacoma - 4x4 Double-Cab
Pros: Resale value
Cons: Cruise control
Advice: Shop around if resale value is not your biggest concern
I bought this vehicle to replace my wife's 1998 Tacoma Xtra Cab to make it easier to put the kids in and out of. We looked at the Subaru Baja and Nissan Frontier as well as the Ford Explorer Sport Trac. At initial impression, we both liked the Ford and Subaru better, but chose the Toyota because of its historically high resale value. I've been disappointed in a couple of things on this truck: Hypersensitive Cruise Control that often accelerates 5+ MPH uphills while downshifting one or two gears and interior cloth that does not seem as durable or nice as our 1998 model. Both were SR5 models, I'm assuming it was some cost cutting by Toyota.