Strengths

Enough variations to suit nearly any buyer; available 4-wheel drive; affordable entry-level truck in its base trim

 

Changes

There's only one new thing for the 2010 Tacoma: an enhanced cup holder. Otherwise, all equipment remains the same from 2009.

 

Value

With a low starting price, the Tacoma puts pickup truck utility in the hands of just about anyone who needs it. Larger cabs, larger engines, 4-wheel drive, and performance tuning offer job site performance, off-road capability or sporty driving, depending on your needs and wishes. Standard safety features and fuel economy as high as 26 mpg on the highway make it a versatile choice for work or play.

 

Overview

The variants for the Tacoma are long, and they start with a regular-cab pickup with a 2.7-liter 159-hp, 4-cylinder engine. The X-Runner and Pre-Runner editions have a more powerful 4.0-liter V6 making 236 hp. All the Tacomas are available in rear-wheel or 4-wheel drive, and most have a 5-speed manual transmission standard. A 4-speed automatic is available, and a 6-speed manual is standard in the X-Runner.

Body styles include the regular cab, access cab (extended cab) and double cab (crew cab with four doors). A 6-foot bed with liner is standard, but a shorter 5-foot bed can be had with the double cab style. No matter which configuration you choose, the Tacoma has a standard towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. Some configurations, such as the double cab with the V6 engine installed, are good for a maximum of 6,500 pounds of towing.

All the Tacomas come with the Star Safety System, which includes stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, and brake assist. They also have front driver and passenger air bags, seat-mounted and curtain air bags, active headrests and tire-pressure monitoring.

The base-level regular cab has little in the way of amenities, but it does include a tilt steering wheel and CD player with MP3 playback. The access cab adds power windows and locks, plus a few extra speakers in the cab. The double cab has features such as rear seat heater ducts and a 60/40 split rear bench. The X-runner is available only as an access cab, but it has a sliding rear window and 18-inch alloy wheels. The Pre-runner has exterior touches to add an off-road appearance -- even with 2-wheel drive. The door handles and mirrors are black, the grille is distinctive, black over-fenders are added and a skid plate is installed.

These are only a few of the packages and options available for the Tacoma. With two engines, two drive configurations, two beds and the X-Runner and Pre-Runner versions, the Tacoma's configuration possibilites are practically endless.