Fightnfire
Moderator
I'll post more thoughts later but I picked up this 24 Tacoma in LAX and going to put about 7 to 800 mi on it over the next 3 days.
Feel like I'm in a cartoon.. 24 Tacoma Rental
- Thread starter Fightnfire
- Start date
I'll post more thoughts later but I picked up this 24 Tacoma in LAX and going to put about 7 to 800 mi on it over the next 3 days.
Fightnfire
Moderator
So first stretch of the trip was 350 mi yesterday and today.
Early thoughts:
I see how if you're coming from the third gen Tacoma experience really liking the powertrain in the 4th gen. The power is definitely better, smoother and all around better. The transmission seems fantastic with smooth shifts and never hunting for gears. I do think it's not very refined sounding... It just sounds like hell. A cross between a typical four-cylinder hyperactive rattle can sound and a lot of odd noises similar to a really small displacement diesel. I've everaged high 21 MPG on this trip, 99% hwy, but oddly it only shows my range at about 250 miles. I know these have a small tank but that's really small. The truck has just over 9,000 mi on it so I would think that would be pretty dialed in by now.
Turbo lag is noticeable and a little unpredictable but not nearly as bad as it is in some other turbo engines. Does it have enough power? I don't know. I'm coming from a 6.2 GMC. Though I don't really understand why a smaller truck can't feel equally as powerful. I'm guessing the hybrid option just makes it that much better.
I spent 10 years in a second gen Tacoma and was pretty comfortable in the previous gen seating position wise so I don't see this as some huge improvement that needed to be made but evidently it bugged a lot of people. The seat is comfortable. I still feel much lower in the truck with legs out in front of me than in a full size. I'm 6'2 and found the leg space really cramped width wise, plenty of length. My left leg is constantly up against the molly panel for the door which got really annoying after the first hundred miles and my right leg, especially with cruise control activated, presses up against the drive mode selector knob. So generally speaking I didn't find that very comfortable. Another gripe I have is the windshield or roofline where it meets the windshield seems to be much lower than in other trucks so the view out the front is oddly limited.
In a second gen Tacoma the TRDs, off road and sport, were the top of the line models. Now they honestly seem like a base trim. The TRD off-road I'm in has manual seats, no heated or cooled seats and no heated steering wheel or trailer brake controller and hard, noisy, plastics everywhere. There's a ledge on the driver's door that's the perfect height for resting your arm on and when I first got in it I thought it was pretty comfortable. After an hour or two it started making my arm sore because it's hard plastic not sure why they didn't make that soft touch. The oh shit handle on the back seat driver side is really bulky and makes it hard looking over your left shoulder changing lanes on the freeway, it blocks the majority of my view.
It has extremely light steering probably the lightest steering I've felt in a vehicle in a long time. That isn't a good thing or a bad thing just something I noticed.
I felt like the quality of the screen is fantastic really bright and crisp but the Toyota UI in general is hot garbage. I tried but haven't been able to figure out how to change the views in the instrument cluster I can only find one or two options of information inside of the tack and speedometer. I can't find a compass anywhere. I'll probably mess around with that when I get back in but I can't figure out how to change the gauge displays I'm assuming you can but maybe not?
I said cartoon in the original post because there's a lot of stuff happening on the interior.. the white trim is just odd. Everything (trim and letters) seems to be really big and bulky. Grab handles everywhere are huge, take up a lot of space. Everything nowadays is advertised as tactical, tactical flashlights, tactical backpacks, tactical tampons I'm assuming by now I feel like this truck should be advertised as a Tactical Tacoma. It's cool looking inside but a little overdone in areas where I think they could have brought a little more comfort and reality to the situation.
The Android Auto connection seems to be hit and miss after getting back in the truck and starting it up. I think I've had to restart it on two different occasions to try to get it to connect.
These are just some of my first impressions.
Early thoughts:
I see how if you're coming from the third gen Tacoma experience really liking the powertrain in the 4th gen. The power is definitely better, smoother and all around better. The transmission seems fantastic with smooth shifts and never hunting for gears. I do think it's not very refined sounding... It just sounds like hell. A cross between a typical four-cylinder hyperactive rattle can sound and a lot of odd noises similar to a really small displacement diesel. I've everaged high 21 MPG on this trip, 99% hwy, but oddly it only shows my range at about 250 miles. I know these have a small tank but that's really small. The truck has just over 9,000 mi on it so I would think that would be pretty dialed in by now.
Turbo lag is noticeable and a little unpredictable but not nearly as bad as it is in some other turbo engines. Does it have enough power? I don't know. I'm coming from a 6.2 GMC. Though I don't really understand why a smaller truck can't feel equally as powerful. I'm guessing the hybrid option just makes it that much better.
I spent 10 years in a second gen Tacoma and was pretty comfortable in the previous gen seating position wise so I don't see this as some huge improvement that needed to be made but evidently it bugged a lot of people. The seat is comfortable. I still feel much lower in the truck with legs out in front of me than in a full size. I'm 6'2 and found the leg space really cramped width wise, plenty of length. My left leg is constantly up against the molly panel for the door which got really annoying after the first hundred miles and my right leg, especially with cruise control activated, presses up against the drive mode selector knob. So generally speaking I didn't find that very comfortable. Another gripe I have is the windshield or roofline where it meets the windshield seems to be much lower than in other trucks so the view out the front is oddly limited.
In a second gen Tacoma the TRDs, off road and sport, were the top of the line models. Now they honestly seem like a base trim. The TRD off-road I'm in has manual seats, no heated or cooled seats and no heated steering wheel or trailer brake controller and hard, noisy, plastics everywhere. There's a ledge on the driver's door that's the perfect height for resting your arm on and when I first got in it I thought it was pretty comfortable. After an hour or two it started making my arm sore because it's hard plastic not sure why they didn't make that soft touch. The oh shit handle on the back seat driver side is really bulky and makes it hard looking over your left shoulder changing lanes on the freeway, it blocks the majority of my view.
It has extremely light steering probably the lightest steering I've felt in a vehicle in a long time. That isn't a good thing or a bad thing just something I noticed.
I felt like the quality of the screen is fantastic really bright and crisp but the Toyota UI in general is hot garbage. I tried but haven't been able to figure out how to change the views in the instrument cluster I can only find one or two options of information inside of the tack and speedometer. I can't find a compass anywhere. I'll probably mess around with that when I get back in but I can't figure out how to change the gauge displays I'm assuming you can but maybe not?
I said cartoon in the original post because there's a lot of stuff happening on the interior.. the white trim is just odd. Everything (trim and letters) seems to be really big and bulky. Grab handles everywhere are huge, take up a lot of space. Everything nowadays is advertised as tactical, tactical flashlights, tactical backpacks, tactical tampons I'm assuming by now I feel like this truck should be advertised as a Tactical Tacoma. It's cool looking inside but a little overdone in areas where I think they could have brought a little more comfort and reality to the situation.
The Android Auto connection seems to be hit and miss after getting back in the truck and starting it up. I think I've had to restart it on two different occasions to try to get it to connect.
These are just some of my first impressions.
Last edited:
Fightnfire
Moderator
Edit to this, after watching the turbo pressure gauge a little I realized you have to get into the pedal quite a bit for the turbo to kick in especially when starting from a stop, I did notice it while cruising too It takes a little more pedal than I would think to kick down the transmission and spool up the turbo. I think I was feeling that as turbo lag but in truth once it kicks in it comes on pretty quick.
Beninbeta
Well-known member
Nice synopsis @Fightnfire! Is it a work trip or fun trip? With Android Auto, I've found the cable the best method to stay connected. My Pixel 9 Pro is much much better in this regard than the 8, but once in a while will still have issues via wireless. You can also long press the infotainment button to reset the system so you don't have to turn off the vehicle and that works pretty well. I just watched a video about the iPhone 16 not even connecting to the Toyota system so they have some work to do there.
The gauge cluster is a not a ton of fun to look through and setup either, but once I've set it up, I don't change it really. You must have the very base trim on the Off-Road which is like $43k I think. Makes you miss creature features for sure. I'm glad you got a chance to drive one, but I'm sure you miss your truck too. Travel safe!
The gauge cluster is a not a ton of fun to look through and setup either, but once I've set it up, I don't change it really. You must have the very base trim on the Off-Road which is like $43k I think. Makes you miss creature features for sure. I'm glad you got a chance to drive one, but I'm sure you miss your truck too. Travel safe!
TheDo114
Well-known member
Same here. It's one of my problems with vehicle that have things like handles or buttons in that area. It gets really uncomfortable after a while.
You can change them, but it's so cumbersome and not intuitive. This video explains it better than I can write it.
Fightnfire
Moderator
Unfortunately, it's a work trip we have a few locations spread around SoCal that I try to get to once a year. Usually the lady comes with me and we stay for several extra days but didn't work out this time she's crazy busy at work
Good tip on resetting the cluster definitely try that next time.
Really good writeup. Maybe you need a new job working for me?? 
I pay in peanuts. Sometimes whole peanut bags...
I pay in peanuts. Sometimes whole peanut bags...
Fightnfire
Moderator
I don't think you can afford me or I can't afford to start a new career at 43 with 4 kids at home. However... I do like peanuts. Are they salted?Really good writeup. Maybe you need a new job working for me??
For you buddy, they can be anyway you want. LOL
Fightnfire
Moderator
I need some time to sit down and lay out more thoughts but I have to get this major gripe off my chest. It's one that would seriously push me away from even considering the truck.
The range.
I still haven't looked up the tank size but I was consistently only getting 250-275 per tank of range at 22ish mpg. WTF.
I was really frustrated with how many times I had to stop and get gas. In a place I wasn't familiar with, that's a pain in the ass. Really glad I prepaid fuel on the rental. I find that really annoying. In my head 375 is a decent number for range. If I'm all hwy in my 6.2 I can get 425 easy on 24 gallons. When I tow my travel trailer I'm at 225-250. What's the range towing 4-5k with the Tacoma...ouch.
The range.
I still haven't looked up the tank size but I was consistently only getting 250-275 per tank of range at 22ish mpg. WTF.
I was really frustrated with how many times I had to stop and get gas. In a place I wasn't familiar with, that's a pain in the ass. Really glad I prepaid fuel on the rental. I find that really annoying. In my head 375 is a decent number for range. If I'm all hwy in my 6.2 I can get 425 easy on 24 gallons. When I tow my travel trailer I'm at 225-250. What's the range towing 4-5k with the Tacoma...ouch.
Fightnfire
Moderator
It's 229 miles from (Riverside) Perris, CA to Santa Maria, CA. I left Perris above 3/4 tank and didn't even think about filling up on the way. I thought no problem I'll get into town get the hotel situated and then get gas when I head out the morning. I had to stop a little more than halfway and find a station, irritating.
Fightnfire
Moderator
It's just odd, the truck would be telling me I had 50-75 miles of range left and when I would fill up it would take 12ish gallons. Even figuring a 2 gallon reserve that should still give a range of 335ish (16 @ 21mpg) but I would be around 275ish when full.
Weird.
TheDo114
Well-known member
Toyota's are notorious for leaving a lot in reserve and making it seems like you need to stop soon or you'll run out. Almost as bad as Nissan.
Fightnfire
Moderator
Hits and misses:
Hits:
Transmission - Smooth shifting and never hunting for gears
Engine - Power and torque were ok, or fine, it is a REALLY noisy or rattly unit but it gets the job done.
Interior comfort specifically seat (for lil fellers or women)
Screen quality - Even the smaller screen is bright, crisp and worked well. It does look a little silly becasue the surround is so big but I'm not a huge screen guy and it worked great.
Ride quality - In the TRD OR I didn't notice any jarring and it hugged the twisty highways on the CA coast well.
Adaptive cruise - Just included because on a "base" truck it's nice. I don't like the lane tracing or maybe how Toyota does it but I think that can be turned off.
Not tested but the 4WD system is a winner in the OR.
Misses or concerns I had: (I'm picky)
Powertrain noise
Interior comfort for bigger/taller guys - seat is good just a man spread issue, very narrow leg space.
Interior layout and quality of components - hard plastics everywhere, the grab bar in the middle takes up a ton of space and creates lots of little nooks and crannies that are hard to reach in the center console. Most touch point are hard.
Tailgate - The lightest tailgate I've lifted in a long time. Reminds me of all of the problems they had with the 2nd gen tailgate. Could be perfectly fine in the long run but I wouldn't sit on it.
Range - MPG and tank size. There may be a large reserve but I'm not a person that pushes into the reserve. 250-275 mile range is the biggest miss of the truck IMO.
Toyota UI - I finally found the "trip" information in the main screen but it didn't show me the information I wanted like how many miles etc. Generally glitchy and hard to navigate.
Body panel gaps and flexing - At highway speeds the hood up near the windshield flexes constantly in the wind which is really distracting when the sun is bouncing off of if.
Not hits or misses just things I noticed:
MPG was low in comparison to the sticker, bone stock TRD OR with 9k miles on it. I was 99.9% hwy with speeds between 55-74. Mid to High 21 MPG. That's lower than the 23 Toyota says and makes that range that much worse.
2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD OR: Price as equipped, $44,395. I say equipped but this is a base TRD OR, no options or cost addons other than the AT.
2025 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 MSRP starts $5k less - $39,435.
2024 Chevy Colorado LT 4x4 MSRP - $37,095 ($7,300 less)
TrailBoss 4x4 MSRP - $39,195 ($5,200 less)
Z71 4x4 - $42,095 ($2,300 less)
Hits:
Transmission - Smooth shifting and never hunting for gears
Engine - Power and torque were ok, or fine, it is a REALLY noisy or rattly unit but it gets the job done.
Interior comfort specifically seat (for lil fellers or women)
Screen quality - Even the smaller screen is bright, crisp and worked well. It does look a little silly becasue the surround is so big but I'm not a huge screen guy and it worked great.
Ride quality - In the TRD OR I didn't notice any jarring and it hugged the twisty highways on the CA coast well.
Adaptive cruise - Just included because on a "base" truck it's nice. I don't like the lane tracing or maybe how Toyota does it but I think that can be turned off.
Not tested but the 4WD system is a winner in the OR.
Misses or concerns I had: (I'm picky)
Powertrain noise
Interior comfort for bigger/taller guys - seat is good just a man spread issue, very narrow leg space.
Interior layout and quality of components - hard plastics everywhere, the grab bar in the middle takes up a ton of space and creates lots of little nooks and crannies that are hard to reach in the center console. Most touch point are hard.
Tailgate - The lightest tailgate I've lifted in a long time. Reminds me of all of the problems they had with the 2nd gen tailgate. Could be perfectly fine in the long run but I wouldn't sit on it.
Range - MPG and tank size. There may be a large reserve but I'm not a person that pushes into the reserve. 250-275 mile range is the biggest miss of the truck IMO.
Toyota UI - I finally found the "trip" information in the main screen but it didn't show me the information I wanted like how many miles etc. Generally glitchy and hard to navigate.
Body panel gaps and flexing - At highway speeds the hood up near the windshield flexes constantly in the wind which is really distracting when the sun is bouncing off of if.
Not hits or misses just things I noticed:
MPG was low in comparison to the sticker, bone stock TRD OR with 9k miles on it. I was 99.9% hwy with speeds between 55-74. Mid to High 21 MPG. That's lower than the 23 Toyota says and makes that range that much worse.
2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD OR: Price as equipped, $44,395. I say equipped but this is a base TRD OR, no options or cost addons other than the AT.
2025 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 MSRP starts $5k less - $39,435.
2024 Chevy Colorado LT 4x4 MSRP - $37,095 ($7,300 less)
TrailBoss 4x4 MSRP - $39,195 ($5,200 less)
Z71 4x4 - $42,095 ($2,300 less)
TheDo114
Well-known member
Excellent summary. I agree with most of your points, especially with the one quoted here. The grab bar makes it uncomfortable and makes it complicated to access your stuff in there. I don't mind hard plastics, they clean well and usually lasts for the long haul.
Fightnfire
Moderator
I agree on the hard plastics typically but the new soft touch stuff is pretty nice, at least put it on the arm rest or go away from the shelf design entirely and round it off so the corner doesn't dig into your arm.
