2020 Toyota Tacoma

The 2020 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab is available in three major trims which are named SR, SR5, and Limited, and there’s also a lineup of TRD trim options as well which we will review later. The SR is the base trim level that starts at $26,880 and comes with a 2.7 L naturally aspirated inline-4 as the base powertrain option along with RWD. The costliest option, on the other hand, is the Limited trim level with a 3.5L naturally aspirated V6 engine with an AWD drivetrain system, costing right above the $40,000 mark. The complete distribution of features across the three trims is given in the table below.

Which trim should you buy?

The SR5 trim with the V6 engine and AWD might be the right choice in the lineup to go for as not only does it offer you a V6 engine unit as well as an AWD drivetrain, it also seems to be priced right around the $35,000 mark, which makes it both affordable and practical pickup truck choice. It gets some interesting features such as LED projector-beam headlights as well as LED DRLs along with power-adjustable front seats and a lot more at an affordable price tag.

Having a naturally aspirated inline-4 engine certainly proves to be less efficient for the Tacoma Double Cab as its rivals offer more fuel economy with their turbocharged engines with lower displacement. A poor fuel economy is certainly one of the drawbacks caused due to the outdated engine unit. It delivers a combined fuel economy of 21 miles per gallon and offers 20 and 23 MPG in city and highway conditions, respectively. It does get a large fuel tank capacity of 21.1-gallon which helps it offer a combined range of 443.1 miles and a maximum range of 485.3 miles on the highway.

When it comes to range, the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon are clear winners in the segment, thanks to their good fuel economy and impressive fuel tank capacity. The Ford Ranger fails to offer the best range in the segment despite having the best fuel economy figures, mainly due to the fact that it has the smallest fuel tank capacity in the segment. The pickup from Toyota stays at very back in the fuel economy but manages to offer a better range than the Ford, all thanks to its bigger fitted fuel tank.

The 2020 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab’s interior is a practical and utilitarian one with not many features that you would find soothing or extremely comfortable. The interior does seem to have loads of hard plastic and rubberized surfaces which further suggest that the interior is meant for utilitarian purposes, and hence it does complement its exterior looks. The dashboard is a simple one that is tall just like any other pickup truck’s dashboard. Circular HVAC vents and the infotainment screen in between them do give it a very distinctive look inside. It gets manual air conditioning in the lower trim levels, while the top Limited trim level gets a dual-zone automatic climate control unit and some other premium interior features.

The front seats are manually adjustable in the base SR trim level, while the upper trims get a 10-way power-adjustable cloth driver seat. The front passenger seat in all trim levels is manually adjustable. The seats are wide and comfortable and offer a good level of confidence and support along with being comfortable enough for long journeys. Features like a leather steering wheel and plenty of storage spaces inside further add to the comfort and practicality of the interior. The second-row seats are 60-40 split-bench seats that have enough space for three occupants to be seated, but the legroom does feel cramped. There aren’t any storage spaces in the rear apart from the center console bin.

The Tacoma Double Cab does have a good cargo bed in the back, but there isn’t any data available regarding its volume, whether it be the 5 or 6-foot beds. The Tacoma does offer the best shoulder room in the second row in its class when compared to the rest of the rivals, but the legroom seems to make the second row feel cramped despite having adequate headroom and shoulder room. The GM twins offer the best-in-class cargo of 49.9 cubic feet. Some of the standout interior features are:

• Optional dual-zone automatic front climate control unit 
• 10-way power-adjustable driver seat
• Front and rear cup holders
• Leather steering wheel

What’s there to keep you entertained?

Speaking of the infotainment system, the base SR trim level offers a 7-inch touchscreen display unit along with a 6-speaker sound system and features like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth phone connectivity, WiFi hotspot internet access, and Amazon Alexa as standard. This shows that Toyota has certainly emphasized adding infotainment features for the 2020 Tacoma Double Cab. You can also avail an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment screen as well as a JBL premium surround sound system with 6 speakers and subwoofers on opting for the higher trim levels. Some of the standout infotainment features are:

• In-built navigation
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• 7-inch touchscreen infotainment display 
• Optional 8-inch touchscreen infotainment screen
• 6-speaker audio system as standard
• Optional JBL premium surround sound system with 6 speakers and subwoofers
• Bluetooth phone connectivity 
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Amazon Alexa and Apple Siri compatibility
• 4G internet access WiFi hotspot

The Tacoma has definitely received some impressive exterior updates as far as the 2020 model year is concerned. The redesigned grille up front along with new LED DRLs as well as LED projector-beam headlamps and tail lamps add to the modern and rugged look of the Tacoma Double Cab. The wheel designs too have been revised and updated for 2020 and 16-inch alloy wheels definitely complement the rugged and utilitarian look of the exterior. The pickup weighs 4,095 lbs, which is close to the rivals in the competition.

The Tacoma finally receives a design update that lets it compete with its rivals that look quite modern and rugged. It gives the Ford Ranger a tough competition when it comes to its looks, and its proportions certainly are aesthetically appealing unlike the Chevy Colorado and the GMC Canyon. When comparing the wheelbase, the GM twins offer the longest wheelbase at 128.3 inches. Some of the standout exterior features are:

• 16-inch redesigned and updated alloy wheels 
• Auto on/off LED projector headlamps 
• LED tail lamps
• LED Daytime Running Lights
• Tow hook
• Black grille with chrome surrounds

The Tacoma receives a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and similar ratings from agencies like the IIHS. It does have a strong chassis and structural integrity that helps it have the rugged and utilitarian persona which gives you the confidence to bash it around in rough terrains. When it comes to the list of safety features, Toyota doesn’t disappoint you as the Tacoma gets some advanced safety features standard such as the Toyota Safety Sense Package, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Front Collision Mitigation, Driver Monitoring System, and a lot more. Some of the notable safety features include:

• Low Tire Pressure Warning 
• Side Impact beams
• Front Collision Mitigation
• Lane Keep Assist
• Lane Departure Warning
• Toyota Safety Sense Package
• Backup Camera

2020 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab vs. 2020 Ford Ranger SuperCrew

The Ford Ranger is arguably one of the toughest competitors to the Toyota Tacoma as it costs less, has more power and utilitarian capabilities on offer, and is just worth the money that you spend on it. On the other hand, the Toyota Tacoma offers to be a reliable truck with the best in class infotainment and safety features on offer. The choice between the two comes down to what you want from your pickup.

2020 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab vs. 2020 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab

The Chevrolet Colorado proves to be a good all-rounder as it has a handsome price tag, has good amounts of power and torque on offer, and offers the best in class range. The Tacoma, on the other hand, has better off-road capabilities and also offers a great deal of impressive infotainment and safety features as standard, which further prove to be useful and worth the money being spent.

2020 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab vs. 2020 GMC Canyon Crew Cab

The Chevy Colorado and the GMC Canyon seem to be exact copies of each other except for the way they look inside out. As brand-badged trucks from General Motors, both of them offer the exact powertrain, drivetrain, infotainment, and other features along with their platform, and everything that applied to the Chevy Colorado applies to the GMC Canyon when you compare it with the Toyota Tacoma Double Cab.

The 2020 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab might have its list of drawbacks when it comes to the pricing, performance of the base engine, fuel economy, and so on, but if you are looking for a rugged pickup truck with a strong reliability quotient, best in class infotainment, and safety features along with some really good looks, then the Tacoma might be just the right choice for you. The rivals are also capable in the segment, thus you get a lot of options if you want a truck in this segment.