Best-Selling Midsize Pickup Gets Dirty
The third-generation Toyota Tacoma has been America’s best-selling midsize pickup since 2007. Available in 32 different configurations, the Tacoma offers something for just about every truck buyer, whether they spend more time on pavement or off.
Clean Fleet Report had the opportunity to spend a week in the 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road 4X4 Double Cab, roaming Southern California freeways, but also getting in some off-roading. TRD is not a foreign term if you follow motorsports. Operating as Toyota’s performance and tuning arm, Toyota Racing Division is responsible for what you see on the race track, whether it’s on pavement or dirt, as well as factory customized Toyota vehicles that show some flash around town. Currently there are TRD models of the Avalon, Camry, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma and 4Runner, all of which cut a more striking image than their base counterparts.
Drivetrain
The 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road 4X4 is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine. Using 87 octane, the 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque hits all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. A six-speed manual is also available.
The 4WDemand part-time four-wheel drive system has an electronically controlled locking rear differential that distributes torque 40:60 front-to-rear, when wheel slippage is noticed. For off-road driving, Toyota’s five-mode Multi-Terrain Select system regulates wheel spin, as in sand or loose gravel, by automatically adjusting the engine throttle and brakes to improve traction. For even more aggressive off-roading, Crawl Control is designed for driving on difficult terrain at low speeds. It assists the driver by controlling acceleration and braking, allowing the driver to focus on steering.
Tacoma TRD Off Road shoppers will not be buying this truck because of the fuel economy, which the EPA has estimated to be 18 mpg city/22 highway/20 combined. In 329 miles we averaged 19.6 mpg, which was right in line with the estimate, giving the 21.1 gallon fuel tank a potential 420 miles of driving range before filling-up again. As is the case with most pickups, the penalty for getting 4WD is minimal, but there are 2WD Tacoma versions that can deliver 20/23/21 mpg. The mpg leaders among midsize pickups remains the diesel-powered Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Ironically, several full-size pickups get better fuel economy than their smaller brethren.
Driving Experience: On the Road
Our double cab model with a long bed measured just over 18-feet in length and weighed-in at 4,480 pounds. The 0 – 60 time, which is important when entering a freeway, was a respectable 7.9 seconds. Tromping on the accelerator sees the torque hit at about 3,500 rpms, with the transmission smoothly going up through the gears. Noticeable shifts were felt when really pushing the accelerator pedal aggressively, and when climbing a hill at a constant speed the transmission would drop down, then up again. We also noticed when running on a seemingly flat freeway at a cruise-controlled speed of 70 mph, the Tacoma would often shift down to keep-up the programmed speed. This was odd, mildly annoying, and was a contributor to the fuel economy not being better.
Clean Fleet Report’s Tacoma TRD Off Road came with 16-inch machined alloy wheels wearing 265/70R Goodyear Wrangler with Kevlar all-terrain tires. The on road ride was surprisingly calm considering the off-road tuned suspension had Bilstein shocks and was designed for roughing it. This set-up, along with the traction and vehicle stability control systems, is ideal for washboard gravel roads, such as the type going that last few miles into the wilderness or to a cabin. These roads were easily managed by using the Multi-Terrain Select wheel. By selecting different traction modes, such as Mud & Sand, Loose Rock, Mogul or Rock & Dirt, the computer automatically senses the right amount of traction for each wheel.
We found some challenging, but fun, off road driving on Forest Route 6N24 in the Sierra Pelona Mountains northwest of Los Angeles near Castaic Lake. The rutted soft dirt was no challenge for the Tacoma TRD Off Road, as when one wheel began to slip, another one would grab and dig in, all aided by the driver selectable 4-High and 4-Low 4WD. Using the hill start assist kept the Tacoma from rolling backwards until the accelerator was pushed. In all, we had excellent confidence in the Tacoma TRD Off Road 4X4 off road capabilities.
The straight and consistent stops came from front wheel ventilated disc and rear drum brakes with ABS and electronic brake force distribution. The brake pedal feel was solid and firm. The power steering had a good feel on the highway, but at slower speeds in-town and when parking, it was heavy and took extra strength.
Driving Experience: Exterior
When the TRD team touches a base Toyota car, truck or crossover, it gets performance and styling enhancements. The 2020 Tacoma TRD received exterior upgrades, including a new front grille, front skid plate, LED fog lamps, LED daytime running lights and head lights and new chrome insert tail lamps. The black contrast on the alloy wheels is accompanied by the TRD 4X4 Off Road graphics on the bed.
The overall look is rugged and attractive, but not so macho to be embarrassed when showing up at your mom’s house. Our test Tacoma TRD was painted in Cement Gray with black wheel opening brush guards. The near complete lack of chrome seemed appropriate, and the bed liner was useful when we filled the back with firewood.
Driving Experience: Interior
Clean Fleet Report was driving a 2020 Tacoma TRD Off Road 4X4 with the Premium package. This gave us black, heated leather-trimmed front seats where the driver had 10-way power adjustments. The rear seats in the Double Cab were upright and tight for adults, who will appreciate winning rock-paper-scissors for who gets to ride shotgun.
I found the driver seating position initially felt good, but after a lengthy time on the road I felt fatigue coming on. The lack of a telescoping steering column didn’t help finding a proper driving position, and the seats needed more support all the way around. Visibility is good, with a low profile and laid back windshield. In the Premium Package, which we were driving, you get a power sunroof that cuts three inches off the ceiling height. If you were much taller than my 5’ 9”, head room could easily become an issue with those 6’+ probably not enjoying the cabin size.
The cockpit design is driver-friendly and functional, but is a bit bland and simple. My guess is this is what Toyota was going for in a truck that oozes toughness, so no sissy, foo-foo baubles and bangles are found. The gauges are in easy sight and the controls in easy reach. The Toyota Total Safety Sense system (TSS) indicators, showing the driver assist technologies of pre-collision, pedestrian detection, lane departure alert and the adaptive radar cruise control, are marked clearly.
The JBL audio system with dynamic navigation and voice command, is the heart of the infotainment system, which is viewed through an 8.0-inch high resolution touchscreen. The six speakers (with subwoofer and amplifier) deliver excellent sound for the SiriusXM/FM/CD/HDAM. The AM/FM is a cache radio, which is a nice feature, and the SiriusXM service is included for 90 days. There is an auxiliary audio jack, USB ports with music streaming via Bluetooth wireless technology and hands-free phone capability. The large volume and channel knobs are very convenient, as was the Qi wireless smartphone charger. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa capability rounds out the sound options.
The dual-zone automatic climate control system accompanied the heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel, which contains audio, telephone and voice controls. The center console has an ample lower area for stowing larger items securely. The Wi-Fi—with a three-month, 2 GB trial period—was handy for streaming movies.
The 2020 Tacoma TRD Off Road is offered in nine exterior colors, including Barcelona Red, Voodoo Blue and Quicksand, along with Clean Fleet Report’s Cement.
Safety
The 2020 Tacoma came with the Toyota Star Safety Sense that included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert and adaptive cruiser control. It also included vehicle stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist and smart stop technology. One more safety package had a tire pressure monitor, rear parking sonar, rearview camera, blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert and a multi-terrain monitor.
The 2020 Toyota Tacoma earned a four out of five star Overall Safety rating by the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, or NHTSA. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, IIHS, gave the 2020 Tacoma an overall Good safety rating.
Convenience
Convenience features, some as optional equipment, on Clean Fleet Report’s Tacoma TRD, included a power tilt/slide moonroof, power sliding rear window, power windows and door locks, Class IV towing receiver hitch rated at 6,400 pounds, 120V/400-watt deck mounted AC power outlet, deck rail system with adjustable tie-down cleats, bed mat, bed step, wheel locks, front TRD-logoed skid plate and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink.
Pricing and Warranties
The 2020 Toyota Tacoma comes in 32 configurations, with 4X2 or 4X4 models in either Access or Double cab. Base prices, excluding options but including the delivery, processing, and handling fee of $1,120, range from $27,170 to $47,795. Clean Fleet Report’s 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road 4X4 Double Cab, with $8,243 in options and the $1,120 delivery, processing and handling fee, came to $46,328.
The 2020 Tacoma comes with these warranties:
Comprehensive – Three years/36,000 miles
Powertrain – Five years/60,000 miles
Roadside Assistance – Two years/25,000 miles
Maintenance Plan – Two years/25,000 miles
Observations: 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4X4 Double Cab
There is a loyal owner group for the Toyota Tacoma as it has been around since 1995. That first generation, which went through 2004, was classified as a compact pickup. The second (2005 – 2015) and third generations (2016 – current model) rate as midsize pickups. Talk with first-generation owners and they will cry about why-oh-why Toyota, as well as the other truck manufacturers, no longer offer a small pickup. The answer, of course, is the limited potential size of the market for the smaller truck, but that still won’t satisfy those that fondly remember the smaller Tacoma. Living in Southern California those small pickups are still used as every day drivers, represented by trucks from Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Jeep, Mazda, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Nissan (or Datsun pre-1986) and Toyota. These trucks were even so popular that there was a race series for them.
Clean Fleet Report’s Tacoma TRD had a good highway ride considering how hard it can be driven off-road. But the issue of the automatic dropping down a gear to maintain a cruise-controlled highway speed is a concern. This also doesn’t portend for a good towing experience. The 6,400-pound tow rating may be too optimistic, so staying around 4,000 pounds would make for a more pleasant road trip.
The interior in our Tacoma TRD was bland in color and, if not for the screen lighting up, the cabin was pretty much unadorned with any styling. The front seat head room is tight, as is needing to duck when climbing in. The rear seat isn’t an accommodating place for long trips, but when the seat is folded flat there is a nice area for hauling cargo. Plus, below the rear seat bottom are lockable compartments.
When compared to larger, full-size pickups, the Tacoma TRD is more nimble around town, is easier to park and can fit in parking garages. The Crawl Control feature is very cool, and handy when placing the Tacoma into 4-Low and choosing one of five speed settings, the system will brake, accelerate and modulate torque so all the driver needs to do is steer. It worked well in the short time we were off-road.
The 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road 4X4 Double Cab is a vehicle that truly needs to be test driven in different situation and conditions. Most dealers will not agree to any off-roading, so make sure to search out other reviews from experts on off-roading and towing. One thing for certain is that the Tacoma TRD will continue Toyota’s well-earned reputation for building reliable trucks. This is one area you will not go wrong.
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Whatever you end up buying, Happy Driving!
Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner and Toyota.
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Disclosure:
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.
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