2024 Tacoma released today

8323 Views 123 Replies 52 Participants Last post by kdcraven, 8 h ago

larryr

Discussion Starter · 17 d ago

CNN —

The Toyota Tacoma has been the best-selling mid-sized pickup in America for the last 20 years but its territory is getting much more competitive. To help it stay ahead in a crowded auto-industry battle for small-truck customers, Toyota just unveiled an entirely new Tacoma. It includes some options more associated with luxury SUVs and others for those who want to get far from the comforts of civilization.

The Tacoma is often affectionately referred to as just the Taco and, as with tacos, there’s a big menu of options. New Tacoma engines include a hybrid and there’s a new extra-rugged off-road model, too.

In the United States, market share for mid-size pickups, currently 3.6% of all new vehicles sold, has more than doubled over the past decade, according to data from Edmunds.com.

The average price paid for smaller trucks has also shot up a lot as buyers add on features and options, said Ivan Drury, an industry analyst with Edmunds.com. The reason is simply that buyers like the functionality. Plus, with modern, sophisticated suspension systems and plush interiors, buyers can enjoy a comfortable experience, he said.

The new Tacoma will have to compete against trucks like the recently unveiled Ford Ranger, as well as GM’s recently redesigned GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado and the Nissan Frontier.

The Tacoma’s new extra-rugged Trailhunter off-road version will go up against trucks like the Jeep Gladiator and a new GMC Canyon AT4X AEV model.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/18/business/toyota-tacoma-reveal/index.html

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RMassey

· #2 · 17 d ago (Edited)

I notice in most articles there is not even a brief mention of the Honda Ridgeline as one of the competitors.

Good for Toyota, they definitely have nailed the off road market for mid sized trucks. It shows in the sales numbers. I like the Hybrid engine option, but can only guess it'll come at a steep cost. I'd estimate Hybrid equipped models with blow right past $50k MSRP.

Honda has captured the 'Old Man' Truck market with the Ridgeline. Works for me. I still never go off road, never tow and value ride comfort and mpg over other unused features.

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Felixm79

· #3 · 17 d ago

it comes with a built in plow lol , Honda will never be a competitor, a Global truck versus a truck for the North American Market , one configuration for the Ridge , and endless combos and trims on the TACO

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longboat

· #4 · 17 d ago

Felixm79 said:
it comes with a built in plow lol , Honda will never be a competitor, a Global truck versus a truck for the North American Market , one configuration for the Ridge , and endless combos and trims on the TACO

It's easy to make multiple configurations with the cheap-to-manufacture body-on-frame trucks. And you pay for it with your body, as well as being overpriced from dealers.

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Sparkland

· #5 · 17 d ago

Now we have at least three threads mentioning the new Tacoma.

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DanielDD

· #6 · 17 d ago

I like what I see. Could be my next truck, especially since we're not due to see a new Ridgeline for quite awhile.

Nervey

· #7 · 17 d ago (Edited)

Real cup holders, Shift handle, Wide Armrest, Center removable portable Bluetooth speaker, working wireless charger... actually I don't even know if that is true, but who would ever sell you a non working wireless charger?

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Vinny in ATX

· #8 · 17 d ago

I am sure they will be great trucks ... definitely similar to the new GM midsize offering. But wow is that "Hoover Dam" sized air dam ugly!

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Soichiro1906

· #9 · 17 d ago

Three pedals FTW!

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Vincent Ridge

· #10 · 17 d ago

They look awsome.... toyota really nailed the look and style.

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Funks

· #11 · 17 d ago (Edited)

RMassey said:
Honda has captured the 'Old Man' Truck market with the Ridgeline. Works for me. I still never go off road, never tow and value ride comfort and mpg over other unused features.

Like you said, different market. majority of the Ridgeline customers are baby boomers. They aren't looking for ground clearance, capability that these other trucks can offer.

Hard pressed to find customers who'll be taking their ridgeline overlanding, riding trails (plenty of much more cable mid-size trucks in that market). Only problem is that a lot of people buy the Tacoma and never do any of those things as well - lol. Honda ain't really making enough money on this segment, specially with the recent revival of said segment and renewed competition.

Question is, won't the the money spent on developing a new platform (a lot of the current owners complain about tech on the truck which can easily be revamped but love everything else) be better spent on their transformation instead? They don't have deep pockets like Toyota.

The new TACO is a no-go for most of the people who bought the Ridgeline, legroom in the back is ridiculous (even though most of the people who have ridgelines don't have anybody riding in the back - lol).

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jseeski

· #12 · 17 d ago

Are you still sitting on the floor in the new Tacoma? I've never liked that particular Tacoma characteristic.

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Funks

· #13 · 17 d ago

jseeski said:
Are you still sitting on the floor in the new Tacoma? I've never liked that particular Tacoma characteristic.

Per the reviews, they fixed that. The seats are higher up - back room though, is pretty paltry.

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wjfyfe

· #14 · 17 d ago (Edited)

RMassey said:
I notice in most articles there is not even a brief mention of the Honda Ridgeline as one of the competitors.

Good for Toyota, they definitely have nailed the off road market for mid sized trucks. It shows in the sales numbers. I like the Hybrid engine option, but can only guess it'll come at a steep cost. I'd estimate Hybrid equipped models with blow right past $50k MSRP.

Honda has captured the 'Old Man' Truck market with the Ridgeline. Works for me. I still never go off road, never tow and value ride comfort and mpg over other unused features.

You are at least correct in recognizing that the Ridgeline is unique and in a class of it’s own where I simply do not understand why folks, including Honda themselves, apparently fail to recognize, and embrace, this difference preferring to compare it to other vehicles that it has little in common with outside of having a pickup bed? Like at one time I owned both a “truck” and an El Camino, in which they mostly had their separate purposes. To have labelled the El Camino as an “old man’s truck” then would have been just as wrong and misunderstanding as labeling the Ridgeline as an “old man’s truck” today.

Honda would serve the Ridgeline much better if they would stop trying to compete the Ridgeline in the already over-populated “truck” market, and promote the Ridgeline as the unique vehicle that it actually is.

Bill

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longball2go

· #15 · 17 d ago

How hard will it be to actually land one of these in todays market? $500 down on a deposit that means absolutely nothing as far as a guarantee you will actually ever get the vehicle because dealer can still sell it out from under you and maybe a 18 month wait period?

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TXLutzy

· #16 · 17 d ago

I'm guessing 9 out 10 air dams will be removed by the owners shortly following purchase. It's an inexpensive part that positively contributes to the MPG rating.

Reactions: 3

longboat

· #17 · 17 d ago

Funks said:
Like you said, different market. majority of the Ridgeline customers are baby boomers. They aren't looking for ground clearance, capability that these other trucks can offer.

Hard pressed to find customers who'll be taking their ridgeline overlanding, riding trails (plenty of much more cable mid-size trucks in that market). Only problem is that a lot of people buy the Tacoma and never do any of those things as well - lol. Honda ain't really making enough money on this segment, specially with the recent revival of said segment and renewed competition.

Question is, won't the the money spent on developing a new platform (a lot of the current owners complain about tech on the truck which can easily be revamped but love everything else) be better spent on their transformation instead? They don't have deep pockets like Toyota.

The new TACO is a no-go for
most of the people who bought the Ridgeline, legroom in the back is ridiculous (even though most of the people who have ridgelines don't have anybody riding in the back - lol).

Honda already spent the money on the new platform, it is sitting under the MDX and new Pilot. Yeah, you're not going to get a 3" lift out of it, but few Ridgeline owners even want that much. One might expect an easy 1.5-2" out of the new platform, depending on how large of tires we can fit in the new wheel wells.

The other main goodies on the new platform are heavy duty skidplates and recovery points. Again, mostly not needed, but bring real peace-of-mind, which is a huge selling point for many truck buyers.

I myself rarely need more ground clearance... mostly for snow over twelve inches deep, which typically only happens a couple times a year. I can see where others could use a couple inches for rougher fire roads and trailheads, though. It would be nice if an easy wheel swap could give us another inch of ground clearance, then swap back to get our MPG the rest of the year.

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Mountainbiker50

· #18 · 17 d ago

My favorite new Taco detail is the manual transmission!! And the hybrid option. I didn’t see the MPG ratings released but saw that the new platform has a lower towing rating 6500 vs 7500 for previous version.

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OmahaJeff

· #19 · 17 d ago

I liked the looks of the Gen3 so much I bought one. With a manual.

I don’t know about the newer styling, but the Offroad looks much better than the Sport to me. Cladding looks better.

The old V6 is now a turbo 4. Sounds good on paper and should be better gas mileage (hope so—it was terrible before), but not as reliable for towing or hauling unless you have the higher end iForce hybrid.

But no manual with the higher trims with the hybrid. Which will probably be big $$$.

The manual sounds good in theory, especially to a guy with a Save the Manuals T shirt, but I was not a huge fan. Long throw, pokey gearing not oriented toward speed, PITA in in-town traffic. I much prefer the Ridgeline/Pilot auto transmissions.

Bottom line—if you are offroad oriented, the Tacoma should be top of the list. One of the most reliable trucks around with best resale. If you are more interested in refinement and tow ability, the Ridgeline should remain your choice, especially once it gets the upgraded light truck power train.

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stevem5215

· #20 · 16 d ago

I've always wanted a Taco with manual and some 35's on it jacked up. Maybe now's the time !

Reactions: 2

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