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| The 2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited. |
How good, how dominant in its category, was the last-generation Toyota Tacoma? The answer is that it sold, largely unchanged, in good numbers for a decade. Now it's time for a new one and while there are several significant changes, Toyota is smart enough not to alter the basic recipe,.
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| 2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited. |
Let's start with the outside. Both styling and ground clearance---all models, regardless of whether they are two-wheel or four-wheel drive, now have 9.2 inches of clearance---have been adjusted to make the Tacoma look more substantial and every big as tough as the best-selling full-size pickups.
Power? The previous generation's base 159 horsepower four-cylinder is still available, but the Limited, which we drove, comes standard with a new 3.5-liter V6 producing 278 horsepower. It's 40 horsepower more than the 4.0-liter V6 it replaces and feels much more refined. It is also more economical, with an EPA-estimated 18 miles per gallon city and 23 highway, thanks in part to a new six-speed automatic.
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| 2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited interior. |
The interior is completely re-done, with large, substantial controls and surfaces that continue to telegraph the feel of the Tacoma as a big rig. The Limited 4X4 Double Cab starts at $37,820, and features the nicest materials and color combinations ever in a Tacoma. There's also
a lengthy list of standard equipment.
Our test vehicle had optional equipment as well, a tonneau cover ($650) and a towing package (also $650). With $900 delivery processing and handling fee, the as-tested price of our vehicle was $40,020. That may be something of a high-water mark for a midsize pickup, but this is a fine one, and is sure to continue the Toyota Tacoma reputation of ruggedness and reliability.
