The midsize pickup truck segment was once lacking in numbers, but over the last several years, it has once again become very important and lucrative. Once abandoned by the likes of GM and Ford, at least here in Canada, they have since returned with some fantastic products. Toyota, however, stayed the course with the Tacoma. For two generations, it remained on the same platform and proved to be a reliable option for those who wanted a pickup, but without the burden of being too big. This came at the expense of the Tacoma feeling dated compared to fresher options in the segment, but this 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro aims to fix all that. Does Toyota’s latest Taco have what it takes to stay on the podium?
Right out of the gate, the Tacoma TRD Pro is quite the looker. Everything here—the massive all-terrain tires, the visible tow hooks, the painted suspension bits, the blacked-out bits contrasting against the orange paint, and much more—grabbed the attention of so many people during our time with it. It looks the business, making the previous-generation Tacoma look tiny by comparison, and the aggressive styling front to rear elicits longing stares from owners of rival pickups. Toyota hit all the targets with the TRD Pro package, but one issue I noticed is the hood scoop’s tendency to violently shake at highway speeds. I literally pulled off at the next exit to double-check that the hood was properly closed. It was.
Inside, the 2024 Tacoma is well-equipped and feels modern—a vast departure from the previous Tacoma that you’ve grown to love. Now, the Tacoma stays competitive with the likes of the updated Ford Ranger and GMC Canyon with modern tech and better-quality materials. The Tacoma’s massive infotainment touchscreen looks great and it’s easy to use, materials feel quality and build quality is excellent, and it all looks modern yet it’s simple to use. The large knobs and buttons for climate controls are right there all the time, saving you from having to dig through submenus and dealing with finnicky on-screen controls. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, along with a wireless phone charger.
But the Tacoma TRD Pro’s front seats are the real party trick. Toyota calls them IsoDynamic Performance Seats. In a nutshell, they constantly adjust for comfort on rocky terrain, and the seat-backs themselves look incredibly cool with their exoskeleton. But in practice, the seats make a bit of noise some might find irritating during day-to-day commuting, and the aforementioned, cool-looking exoskeleton eliminates almost all rear-seat legroom. I’m six-foot-three and with the front seat set to me, the rear bench was virtually uninhabitable for any human being with legs.
Under the hood, the outgoing Tacoma’s tried-and-true V6 has been replaced by a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, either in hybrid or non-hybrid form. The TRD Pro receives the former, putting out 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque all-in, making this pickup move with authority and more potent than ever before. The hybrid can only be had with an eight-speed automatic transmission; it’s largely well-behaved but not always the smoothest operator, occasionally firing off a clunky shift. Base, non-hybrid Tacomas can be had with a six-speed manual.
Despite the hybrid powertrain and the posted fuel economy figures, the Tacoma TRD Pro is really only slightly more efficient than the V6. Toyota rates it at 10.3 L/100 km city, 9.7 highway, and 10.0 combined. I managed a rather high 12.5 L/100 km in mostly city commuting. On top of that, the 69-litre fuel tank isn’t that big for a pickup truck, meaning you’ll be filling up frequently despite being a hybrid.
One issue existing Tacoma owners have been harping on Toyota is the price. A decade ago, a loaded Tacoma topped out at $40,200, but our TRD Pro tester worked out to $80,055 as-tested. And it’s not even the most expensive Tacoma available; that title belongs to the Trailhunter. For that kind of money, you’re well into full-size pickup truck territory.
Price aside, the 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is an impressive—and competitive—product for the midsize pickup segment. Its looks are a home run, its performance is impressive, and the TRD Pro promises lots of capability. Updating a truck like the Tacoma, whose fan base is nearly a cult following at this point, is not an easy job. But Toyota pulled it off, updating it where it counts and making it feel properly fresh and modern, without losing sight of what made past Tacomas so revered.
