The Toyota Tacoma Has Undergone Significant Changes for 2016

For years, the Toyota Tacoma has remained relatively unchanged, but that all changes for 2016 this time around today is emphasizing the truck's off-road ability. To test that we're here in Tacoma, Washington to see just how capable this new truck is.

One thing you won't see with a new Tacoma is an unfamiliar face. Yes, it's new, but to clearly consider the popularity of the previous Tacoma when drawing up this new version, still there are a few visual details that really set the truck apart. The more chiseled tailgate, new wheels, and a tougher looking front end are just a few examples of what has changed. Additionally, the new truck also has a bit of that low in the back nose pointed up trophy truck look that hints at Tacomas racing heritage.

This interior moves up a few notches in terms of quality, with textures and materials that look and feel more substantial. However, we think Twitter could have taken it farther with the limited version in other trim levels like SR5 and TR d Sport. The Tacoma's cabin looks exactly what you'd expect in a modern pickup, with new interior features such as push button start, wireless phone charging, and a GoPro camera mount.

Limited versions get a JBL sound system with a subwoofer, but Toyota's updates are more than skin-deep. There are many new and improved features that make the Tacoma better on the road and more functional for everyday life. For example, the bed is deeper, the frame is stronger, there's an easy down tailgate, the suspension is new, the engines are new and more efficient, and the four-wheel drive system has been revised.

The new transmissions specifically include a 6-speed automatic and a 6-speed manual. Part of the Tacoma's more aggressive off-road attitude comes from that 4x4 system with active traction control and an adjustable crawl control feature. This gives the driver more control over the truck regardless of driving conditions. Toyota says 45% of their buyers take their trucks off road, so many of the improvements focus on that.

Including two separate TRD versions and a new V6 engine that makes 278 horsepower, which is an extra 42 horsepower compared to the previous Tacoma. Toyota dropped the standard cab pickup in 2015 saying that sales were so low it just didn't make sense to keep building it. Buyers now have a choice between 4-door double cab or a two-door access cab.

The double cab can be had with a long or a short bed. Our only complaint here is that the access cabs pillarless door configure lets more road noise into the cabin versus the double cab. Considering all the Tacoma's improvements, we expected a higher retail price. The base SR version starts at about $23,000, while the TRD versions are just above $30,000 in the top-of-the-line limited is $38,000.

If you're looking for a truck that goes off-road like crazy and it's a little bit smaller than full-size, some version of the Tacoma is already on your shopping list. But should you get the 2016 model? Although it looks a lot similar to the previous versions of Tacoma underneath, it's very different in terms of engines, interiors, and ride quality.

The engines are new, with improved power and efficiency. The interiors have been upgraded with more premium materials and features. And the ride quality has been significantly improved, making this truck a top contender in its class. Like we saw it goes off-road, it's enough to move the Tacoma from just on your list to the top of your list.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enfor years the toyota tacoma has remained relatively unchanged but that all changes for 2016 this time around toda is emphasizing the trucks off-road ability so to test that we're here in Tacoma Washington to see just how capable this new truck is one thing you won't see with a new Tacoma is an unfamiliar face yes it's new but to clearly consider the popularity of the previous Tacoma when drawing up this new version still there are a few visual details that really set the truck apart the more chiseled tailgate new wheels a tougher looking front end and an upgraded interior the new truck also has a bit of that low in the back nose pointed up trophy truck look that hints at Tacomas racing heritage that interior moves up a few notches in terms of quality the textures and materials look and feel more substantial however we think Twitter could have taken it farther with the limited version in other trim levels like sr5 and TR d Sport the tacomas cabin looks exactly like what you'd expect in a modern pickup new interior features include push button start wireless phone charging and a GoPro camera mount so you can capture all your off-road adventures limited versions get a JBL sound system with a subwoofer but Toyota's updates are more than skin-deep there are many new and improved features that make the Tacoma better on the road and more functional for everyday life for example the bed is deeper the frame is stronger there's an easy down tailgate the suspension is new the engines are new and more efficient the four-wheel drive system has been revised and there are new transmissions specifically a 6-speed automatic and a 6-speed manual part of the Tacoma is more aggressive off-road attitude comes from that 4x4 system with active traction control and an adjustable crawl control feature this gives the driver more control over the truck regardless of driving conditions toyota says 45% of their buyers take their trucks off road so many of the improvements focus on that including two separate TRD versions and a new v6 engine that makes 278 horsepower that's an extra 42 horsepower compared to the previous Tacoma Toyota dropped the standard cab pickup in 2015 saying that sales were so low it just didn't make sense to keep building it buyers now have a choice between 4-door double cab or a two-door access cab the double cab can be had with a long or a short bed our only complaint here is that the access cabs pillarless door configure let's more road noise into the cabin versus the double cab considering all the tacoma's improvements we expected a higher retail price the bass SR version starts at about $23,000 the TRD versions are just above $30,000 in the top-of-the-line limited is $38,000 you know if you're looking for a truck that goes offroad like crazy and it's a little bit smaller than full-size obviously some version of the Tacoma is already on your shopping list but should you get the 2016 model although it looks a lot similar to the previous versions of Tacoma underneath it's very different the engines are new the interiors of higher quality and the ride quality is much better and like we saw it goes offroad it's enough to move the Tacoma from just on your list to the top of your listfor years the toyota tacoma has remained relatively unchanged but that all changes for 2016 this time around toda is emphasizing the trucks off-road ability so to test that we're here in Tacoma Washington to see just how capable this new truck is one thing you won't see with a new Tacoma is an unfamiliar face yes it's new but to clearly consider the popularity of the previous Tacoma when drawing up this new version still there are a few visual details that really set the truck apart the more chiseled tailgate new wheels a tougher looking front end and an upgraded interior the new truck also has a bit of that low in the back nose pointed up trophy truck look that hints at Tacomas racing heritage that interior moves up a few notches in terms of quality the textures and materials look and feel more substantial however we think Twitter could have taken it farther with the limited version in other trim levels like sr5 and TR d Sport the tacomas cabin looks exactly like what you'd expect in a modern pickup new interior features include push button start wireless phone charging and a GoPro camera mount so you can capture all your off-road adventures limited versions get a JBL sound system with a subwoofer but Toyota's updates are more than skin-deep there are many new and improved features that make the Tacoma better on the road and more functional for everyday life for example the bed is deeper the frame is stronger there's an easy down tailgate the suspension is new the engines are new and more efficient the four-wheel drive system has been revised and there are new transmissions specifically a 6-speed automatic and a 6-speed manual part of the Tacoma is more aggressive off-road attitude comes from that 4x4 system with active traction control and an adjustable crawl control feature this gives the driver more control over the truck regardless of driving conditions toyota says 45% of their buyers take their trucks off road so many of the improvements focus on that including two separate TRD versions and a new v6 engine that makes 278 horsepower that's an extra 42 horsepower compared to the previous Tacoma Toyota dropped the standard cab pickup in 2015 saying that sales were so low it just didn't make sense to keep building it buyers now have a choice between 4-door double cab or a two-door access cab the double cab can be had with a long or a short bed our only complaint here is that the access cabs pillarless door configure let's more road noise into the cabin versus the double cab considering all the tacoma's improvements we expected a higher retail price the bass SR version starts at about $23,000 the TRD versions are just above $30,000 in the top-of-the-line limited is $38,000 you know if you're looking for a truck that goes offroad like crazy and it's a little bit smaller than full-size obviously some version of the Tacoma is already on your shopping list but should you get the 2016 model although it looks a lot similar to the previous versions of Tacoma underneath it's very different the engines are new the interiors of higher quality and the ride quality is much better and like we saw it goes offroad it's enough to move the Tacoma from just on your list to the top of your list\n"