2016 Toyota Tacoma Road Test and Review

2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport Front 3 Quarter 01 ・ Photo by Benjamin Hunting

The 2016 Toyota Tacoma represents something rare from the Japanese giant: a direct reaction to a move made by one of its fiercest rivals. When General Motors introduced a new generation of mid-size pickups for the 2015 model year—the all-new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon models—it was clear that the Tacoma's dominance over the entry-level truck segment was being challenged. After years of staying the course, Toyota was suddenly forced to reckon with a pair of very good competitors taking a decidedly modern tack in the battle for customer loyalty. The end result was the redesigned Tacoma, a truck that's not entirely fresh but which represents the best of what was possible on Toyota's short time-to-market development schedule. In many ways, the 2016 Toyota Tacoma is more of what most owners loved about the original truck—and make no mistake, it's still the sales leader in the segment by a huge margin. Still, there are some aspects of the Tacoma that feel more like a missed opportunity than a chance to solidify its power base, indicating that Toyota's focus on its pickup's core competencies might have overlooked the changing expectations of its buyers.

In-Your-Face Styling Evokes Rugged Image

The 2016 Toyota Tacoma is no shrinking violet, and the sheer bulk of my tester—a four-door model with a six-foot cargo bed—adds fuel to the argument of those who complain that the modern crop of mid-size trucks dwarfs the full-size models of a mere 15 years ago. The big rig grille grafted onto the front of the Tacoma TRD Sport that I drove only added to this impression, what with its intricate chrome-link inlays and its chunky headlights (surrounded by LED running lights, one of the TRD Sport's unique features). The muscular shape of the Tacoma continues down each side, with an exaggerated bulge forming each rocker panel, big flares jutting out at all four corners, and even a thick lip resting at the top of the Toyota's tailgate. Everything about the mid-size pickup seems intended to emphasize its presence, almost as though it's trying to intimidate you into buying it. It works well in TRD Sport form, but those shopping for a more modest utility-focused vehicle—as offered by the entry-level SR trim—might find it a bit over-the-top.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Spartan Interior Backs That Up

The 2016 Toyota Tacoma's beefcake body shape is buttressed by a cabin that feels surprisingly spartan. I should probably put "spartan" in quotation marks, as Toyota isn't exactly know for its effusive interior design, but the Tacoma feels particularly barren, especially when compared against the warmer treatments offered by its Chevrolet and GMC rivals. Hard plastic is the order of the day inside the Tacoma, and while it's nice to have buttons and knobs that are large enough to be manipulated while wearing work gloves, it's a bit disappointing to be subjected to a sea of black and grey trim without any color to break it up. The passenger compartment itself is fairly large, even in the rear where full-size doors make it easy to access the back bench. Strangely, I found my knees constantly banging against the steering wheel while getting in and out of the truck, something that I hadn't noticed when I first drove the vehicle several months ago. Overall, however, the Tacoma's interior offers the requisite room and hard-wearing surfaces you'll need to get the job done—it's just not all that inspiring to look at.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

New V-6 Offers Adequate Power, Four-Cylinder Engin - an Afterthought

Cosmetics aside, the biggest change for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma is found under the hood, where a new 3.5-liter V-6 engine takes over for last year's 4.0-liter unit. Again, this is the direct result of GM's meddling in the mid-size order of things: Toyota couldn't continue with the reliable, yet modest output of its large and inefficient 4.0-liter mill in the face of the 305 horses offered by the six-cylinder versions of the Colorado and Canyon. The Tacoma might not be quite at the same level as the GM twins in terms of V-6 output, as it musters up 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque, but it's a worthwhile upgrade over the more it replaces. In all honestly, when it comes to straight-line speed the Toyota feels just as quick as any other mid-sizer out there, and you get better fuel economy (19-mpg city and 24-mpg highway) to go with its boost in grunt. A six-speed automatic transmission will most likely be the volume gearbox, but you can also get a six-speed manual if you desire. There's also a four-cylinder engine offered with the Tacoma, a 2.7-liter motor that generates 159 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. It too is offered with a six-speed autobox (although its manual option drops one forward gear to count five in total). I wouldn't bother. There's no fuel mileage savings to be had in the real world by opting for the smaller drivetrain, so unless you're trying to get the cheapest truck possible, it's not really worth the hit in performance (although it's worth noting that you can get four-wheel drive with either engine).

The Most Truck-Like Mid-Size Option

The 2016 Toyota Tacoma handles and rides exactly like you'd expect a traditional truck would, which makes sense given that it's marketed as a utility-focused pickup and sits on a full frame platform. The Tacoma also imports all of the standard truck suspension components you'd expect, including leaf springs out back, as well as a few you'd think would have been left behind (such as rear drum brakes). In short, from behind the wheel it feels solid, if occasionally unwilling to corner quickly, and you notice every single inch of its long wheelbase when trying to park or make it through urban traffic. The Tacoma is clearly targeted at existing customers, which is a smart strategy considering that last year 180,000 people brought one home from the dealership. At the same time it fails to address the upgrades in handling and comfort brought on by the Canyon and Colorado, which are aimed squarely at buyers who might have previously considered a crossover but are interested in the open bed practicality of a similarly-sized pickup. Toyota has laid its bet and doubled-down on traditional truck dynamics. It's a safe move, but it's not one that pushes the segment forward.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

TRD Sport Looks Sharp, but Where's the Fun?

As I mentioned above, the TRD Sport is an eye-catching edition of the 2016 Toyota Tacoma, especially in its Blazing Blue Pearl paint job. With a hood scoop, special 17-inch rims, unique seats, and shock absorbers that have been tuned for a bit more road-holding than the standard model, the TRD Sport is supposed to be the in-house custom truck of the bunch. Unfortunately, it's really not that fun to drive. There's nothing particularly rewarding about pushing the Tacoma TRD Sport hard in any particular on-road situation, and its tall ride height and standard gearing pretty much nixes any handling bonus associated with its suspension tuning. If anything, the TRD Sport made me miss the X-Runner, that low-to-the-ground, body kit-wearing ghost from the Toyota Tacoma's past which also came with thicker swaybars and sticky rubber. It was a fun street performance truck that didn't look anything at all like the off-road warrior the new TRD Sport evokes. Here's hoping we get something similar in the near future from the brand.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Entune Infotainment Interface Still Not World-Class

There are two different infotainment systems that can be ordered with the 2016 Toyota Tacoma, and the TRD Sport model that I drove happens to feature the larger, more fully-featured version. With an LCD screen measuring seven inches across, it offers HD radio, navigation, and a suite of apps under the Entune banner. Functionally, all the basics are there, but the execution of Entune still leaves something to be desired. The flat, 90-degree mounting of the screen makes it tough to hit menu options while in motion, with my fingers falling off the glass precipice and striking random tiles on a regular basis. The graphics are also far behind what we've come to expect from systems like Chrysler's Uconnect or even GM's IntelliLink, but it's what Toyota has decided is most appropriate for its entire line of vehicles. It's a bit disappointing for a company with such a vast store of resources to present Entune as its final product.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Minimal Active Safety Equipment

Another, more unusual aspect of the 2016 Toyota Tacoma's tech quotient is the relative paucity of active safety features. The Tacoma offers a blind spot monitoring feature, but that's the only piece of advanced safety equipment—no forward collision warning, no lane departure warning, and no adaptive cruise control. Both the Canyon and the Colorado feature lane departure warning and forward collision alert systems, as do many full-size trucks on the market, which makes the Tacoma somewhat of an outlier. The absence can most likely be linked to the fact that Toyota didn't scrap its old mid-size Tacoma platform in favor of an all-new design for 2016, which means some legacy systems are still hanging around and making it difficult, or at the very least not cost effective, to implement current safety technologies.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

You'll Pay a Premium for the Tacoma Name

As it stands now the least expensive member of the mid-size pickup club is the Nissan Frontier, a vehicle that has seen many years pass since it was last given any attention from the mothership. It starts at $18,290, which is almost $5k less than the $23,300 you'll pay for an entry-level 2016 Toyota Tacoma. In fact, the Tacoma is the most expensive ticket to small truck ownership, as both the Chevrolet Colorado (MSRP $20,995) and the GMC Canyon (MSRP $20,955) undercut it as well. Fully loaded, you'll pay close to $40k for a Limited trim edition of the Toyota. Keep in mind that the higher purchase price of the Toyota Tacoma is softened somewhat by the exceptionally strong re-sale value that's associated with the truck. It's very hard to pry a used Tacoma from the hands of its owner, and recent secondhand models sell for figures quite close to their as-new price. In some ways a Tacoma is an investment, as it seems immune to the depreciation curve that afflicts most vehicles.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

2016 Toyota Tacoma Pros / Cons

Pros: •    Strong re-sale value •    Very reliable •    Improved efficiency from new V-6 engine •    Better V-6 power •    Macho styling •    Spacious cabin Cons: •    Driving dynamics remain basic •    Entune infotainment system could be better •    Lack of advanced safety gear •    Four-cylinder engine feels like an afterthought

Photo by Benjamin Hunting