2024 Toyota Tacoma: What a grand slam [First Drive]

Seat belt click, seat adjusted, foot on clutch, shifter into gear, and I’m off in one of the most highly anticipated first drives of the year behind the wheel of the all-new 2024 Toyota Tacoma.

[Related content: 2024 Toyota Tacoma by the specs]

Is it good or bad? Does the engine have enough power? A hundred questions hit my brain all at once, and I push the gas pedal to the floor to find out.

What’s different with the 2024 Toyota Tacoma?

Before I get into the driving impressions let’s recap. The 2024 Toyota Tacoma isn’t just a refreshed version of the midsize truck, it is completely redone. And I mean completely.

For many consumers, the most obvious change is going to be the new powertrain. The old 3.5-liter V-6 and 6-speed automatic or manual transmission is gone. Instead, there are two different powertrains.

The new engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine in either a hybrid or non-hybrid version mated to either a 8-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual transmission with “automatic rev matching and anti-stall technology available.” Anti-stall technology FTW!

Yup, a four-banger. Don’t worry this isn’t 1993 and this four-banger actually has a lot of power. Toyota says the non-hybrid version produces 278 horsepower, 317 pound-feet of torque while the hybrid produces 326 horsepower, 465 pound-feet of torque. Base level SR and manual transmission models see a drop in power output with the SR rated at 228 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque and the manual transmission at 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque.

[Also of interest: 2024 Toyota Tacoma price shocks with $55k TRD Off-Road]

Not bad for a four-banger especially considering it outperforms the outgoing 3.5-liter V-6 that produced 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque.

Plus, turbos. Those turbos help the truck reach max torque at 1,600 RPMs meaning it is going to feel like a rocket ship off the line versus the prior-gen Tacoma.

Other big changes include a cabin you can actually sit in without feeling like you are sitting on the floor (even a 6-foot, 8-inch guy); an XtraCab model (think: extended cab) with a rear door that doesn’t open; all-new styling inside and out; new Trailhunter model and a completely revamped chassis, suspension; and a much, much quieter crawl control.

Yeah, but how does it drive?!

Ok, enough about what’s new. Is it still sluggish like many prior-gen owners have told me? In a word: no.

Simply put, the performance is rock solid for the non-hybrid model.

Heck even Managing Editor Jill Ciminillo, the aggressive Chicago driver herself, had good things to say after we got into a version of the Tacoma with a powered seat. The manual seat made it tough for “the 5-foot wonder” to reach the pedals easily.

Also, those manual seats weren’t a big hit for me. I mean once you get the seat in the position you want, it’s fine. However, if you have multiple drivers with different heights, like I do and will in the future, it is a minor aggravation.

But back to the drive. When I got behind the wheel. It was everything I expected and then some. The torque curve on the non-hybrid model didn’t give me any turbo lag concerns, and shifting got better the more I drove the manual.

During this event we drove a manual transmission Tacoma on the winding Mulholland Drive in California to get to a hub with a short off-road course and some on-road drive loops. We were able to test both manual and automatic transmissions, but the hybrid engine was missing because it won’t be available until next Spring.

On the off-road course, I chose to drive the automatic version to see how it performed.

Climbing up a hill, down another, through a rough section then back up and down again, the truck and the transmission felt great. No hunting for gears or lacking for power even in 2Hi, 4 Hi or 4 Lo.

Plus, I used the Crawl Control many times and was pleasantly surprised. This is basically an off-road cruise control, which was first improved on the 2022 Toyota Tundra. It uses a software program that activates the brakes and gas to hold a consistent speed much quicker and better than a driver can do themselves. In year’s past, the loud, grinding sound from this system made the owner feel like something was broken. Not anymore.

Heading back to the hotel in the rain, the Tacoma felt solid with the tires holding the grip on the twisty roads. I sat in the passenger seat and watched Ciminillo attack the corners at speed, as she does, and never noticed any concern on her face.

Dropping it off with the event staff, I was satisfied with my first drive, and I’m still excited to spend more time behind the wheel. Soon, I tell myself, soon.

How about fuel economy?

Real-world fuel economy is, frankly, an absurd thing to report on for a first-drive event.

You have different drivers all driving aggressively on different days in different weather conditions. Basically, a recipe for the worst MPG numbers you can achieve.

The only real number to go by right now is the manufacturer’s EPA estimated fuel economy.

Here are the official numbers from the trucks at the event. Remember production is barely getting started so not every version and trim of Tacoma is available. All numbers are in city/highway/combined format.

SR XtraCab 4WD (detuned engine): 20/26/23

SR5 XtraCab 4WD: 19/24/21

SR5 Double Cab 4WD: 19/23/21

TRD Sport Double Cab 4WD manual: 19/23/20

Prerunner XtraCab 2WD: 20/24/22

Double Cab TRD Off Road 4WD: 19/22/20

Double Cab TRD Off Road 4WD manual: 18/23/20

Double Cab Limited 4WD: 20/23/21

The bottom line

I’ve been an automotive journalist for over a decade and drove the heck out of the prior-gen Toyota Tacoma. For me, I simply can’t think of any completely redesigned midsize truck that just nailed it. I am a pretty critical reviewer, IMO, and I’m struggling to find anything I don’t like about it except for, well, I don’t have one in my driveway right now. It is that good.

Editor’s note: Driving impressions in this “First Drive” review are from an invitation-only automaker launch event that allowed special access to the vehicle and executives. Toyota Motor Sales covered our accommodations, meals and transportation costs.