2021 Toyota Tacoma

Toyota plans to offer excellent choices to customers in terms of the trim levels offered. The base trim is called the SR, and there are five trim levels above it. This pickup truck is also offered in the access cab configurations but that is reviewed separately. The base trim is very much well equipped in itself with 16 steel wheels, sliding rear window, power-adjustable and heated side mirrors, compass into bed, dual-zone automatic climate control, 7-inch touchscreen, and so on. These features are things that come in much higher trim levels than its competitors.

Which trim should you buy?

Since there are six trims on offer, one is offered a lot in terms of choice. However, the two base trim levels called the SR and SR5 come with the engine as standard while the 3.5 L V6 is available as an option. However, this four-cylinder engine, even though fuel-efficient, does not provide the Tacoma with enough strength for its towing and other activities. Hence, we would pick the TRD sport trim level which comes for $32,415 which is not too high a premium compared to the base model but is much more capable mechanically.

When it comes to the performance of the Toyota Tacoma, it all depends on how wisely you choose the powertrain option. The car is powered by a 2.7 L in-line four-cylinder that produces a meager 159 hp and 180 pound-feet of torque. This power output is slightly low and we recommend that you avoid this engine. However, the 3.5 L V-6 is much more powerful with 278 hp and 265 pound-feet of torque. It is also claimed to accelerate the 0 to 60 mph time in just 8.0 seconds and cover a quarter-mile and 15.8 seconds which makes it decently fast.

Transmission duties are handled by a 6-speed automatic transmission that is quite likable but the TRD trims also comes with an optional six-speed manual transmission. The drivetrain is rear-wheel drive but there is also the option of four-wheel-drive for a very small premium. All this makes it quite capable and the truck can tow about 6700 pounds which makes it decently well equipped to handle everything that is thrown at it.

Despite equipping the more powerful engine, the Toyota Tacoma is not one of the best performing vehicles in the segment. The Nissan Frontier offers both, the biggest engine as well as the most powerful numbers. And yet, it is the Ford that manages to be the fastest in the quarter-mile. In terms of towing capacity as well, the Ford Ranger has the last word. The Toyota can definitely use some improvement in terms of its performance. It however is saved by the Chevrolet Colorado which is the worst-performing car in the segment.

How well does the 2021 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab handle?

When it comes to handling, it all depends on what you choose again. But generally, we find that the Toyota Tacoma is tuned more towards being a capable off-road vehicle than a cruiser. It does not have an extremely nice ride and handling. There is also a lot of body roll and this makes it hard to corner. This would mean that it is not very enjoyable in terms of everyday driving and would perform well when it has to.

However, it is one of the most capable midsize pickup trucks you can take when you run out of the road. Some of the more expensive versions have comfortable suspension and this makes a huge difference. The lack of noise, vibration, and harshness in the car is also a big plus point. It does not feel nearly as enthusiastic to drive as some of its rivals but the existence of an off-road variant is a relief to many customers.

2021 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab Braking Performance

The braking hardware in the Toyota Tacoma is the smallest that you would find in this category. The front brake rotors are 10.8 inches in diameter while the rear brake rotors are 10 inches in diameter. The fact that it is quite heavy at 4245 pounds does not help it either. The 60 to 0 mph stopping distance is close to 132 feet which is the worst number of this category.

Toyota again lets you down in terms of performance. As we have observed in terms of engine performance, the rivals need you in a much better place. We saw that the Chevrolet was a very poorly performing truck in terms of its engine, but in terms of its brakes, it is the best in the segment. We cannot however say that about the Toyota. The Nissan Frontier is not exactly impressive in terms of braking performance either.

So far we have observed that the Tacoma does not have an advantage over its rivals. However, that is generally produced cars that have good fuel efficiency and are light on pockets. This is however not true about the Tacoma because it only has 19 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway. The fuel tank capacity is the largest in the category at 21.1 gallons. But it manages to provide a decent range of up to 506 miles on the highway.

Despite having the best numbers in terms of fuel, the only car that offers less than 500 miles of range is the Ford Ranger. This is only because its smaller fuel tank of just 18 gallons lets it down. One can observe that the Chevrolet Colorado offers the most range among the competitors. The Nissan Frontier on the other hand returns the worst numbers and can use some improvement. The Toyota falls in the middle of the pack and is not too impressive here either.

When it comes to the interior, the Tacoma is quite outdated and is in need of a refresh. It is not quite as luxurious as the rivals but its cabin is ergonomic and well-appointed. The seats are excellent and supportive, while power-adjustable seats come as a standard fitment. The noise insulation is quite nice and is one of the biggest plus points of this truck. The material quality is low and we would have liked it to have some more premium materials in the higher trims.

One of the other issues is that even in the Crew Cab layout, the legroom can be improved in the rear seats. This is something that people have to still get used to especially if they’re coming down from full-size pickups to mid-size pickups. Ingress and egress are very easy in this car. Cargo capacity is not too excellent either. There are not too many storage spaces inside the cabin which makes it quite annoying as well.

You will find that the rear legroom is a bit more spacious when you compare the Tacoma Double Cab to the Access Cab but it still isn’t anything great. The Ford Ranger takes it home if you are to give it a trophy. In terms of interior space, it would be the Ford that is the most spacious and that is certainly one of the advantages of the Ranger. In terms of cargo capacity, the Nissan has the least while the Chevrolet has the most. All cars offer seating for five passengers to travel in relative comfort. Some standard features include:

• Outside temperature display
• Air conditioning
• 3 USB ports
• Fabric-trimmed seats
• Power-adjustable and heated side mirrors
• 4-way adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support
• 4-way adjustable front passenger seat
• Tilt/telescoping steering wheel

What’s there to keep you entertained?

Finally, we have something good to talk about the Toyota Tacoma. Right from the base models, it offers excellent infotainment systems. The infotainment screen is 7 inches in size for the base model and everything above biscuits 8 inches. The display is crisp and the response is snappy as it is powered by the latest infotainment system. The sound system offered in this car is decent as well. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity are also offered in all the trims which makes the usage very easy. There are plenty of features and the interface is a breeze to get used to. Some features of the infotainment system include: 

• Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto
• Amazon Alexa
• Bluetooth
• SiriusXM 3-month access
• Safety Connect
• Three USB ports
• 2-inch multi-information display

The Toyota Tacoma has been in its third generation and has been in production since 2016. Its design is slightly conservative but the rest of its competition has moved on a bit from where it was. The LED headlamps add a lot of character to the pickup truck. We feel that some proportions are excellent while also providing decent functionality. However, a new model is definitely necessary to bring it the necessary refresh it needs to stay relevant.

The Toyota Tacoma is a larger and heavier car than all of its competitors which lets it down in terms of performance. It also offers the best ground clearance in the segment and is the only car that can handle some rough terrain with its off-road package. The Nissan Frontier is a slightly smaller pick-up and offers decent storage functionality. The Chevrolet Colorado also offers decent off-road performance. Some standout features include:

• Projector-beam headlights with DRLs
• Dark gray grille with black surrounds
• Color-keyed power outside mirrors
• Color-keyed door handles
• Color-keyed rear bumper
• 16-inch styled steel wheels
• Skid plates
• Color-keyed tailgate spoiler

Toyota is not exactly known to make a name in terms of safety. The Tacoma has relatively good structural engineering and is also equipped with a decent amount of driver assistance features. It offers a forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control as standard. However, it has only scored four stars out of five when it was tested by the NHTSA and the IIHS tests did not name it a Top Safety Pick. Some of the standout safety features include: 

• Toyota Safety Sense
• Traction Control
• ABS with EBD
• Pre-collision system w/Pedestrian Detection
• Lane Departure Alert
• Advanced Airbag system
• Automatic high beams
• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
• Vehicle Stability Control

2021 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab Vs. 2021 Ford Ranger Crew Cab

The Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma have constantly been at war. However, the Ford is a better performing and more enjoyable car in terms of driving dynamics. However, if you add to the off-road performance then it is the Toyota that is a much better performing car. But, if you need a well-rounded pickup truck that can do nearly everything, then you have to pick the Ranger.

2021 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab vs. 2021 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab

The Chevrolet Colorado is a car that does not have too many strengths. It is a similarly performing car when compared to the Toyota and has similar numbers in terms of fuel efficiency. It also performs decently off-road but not as well as the Tacoma. Another aspect is that its interior is slightly better than the Tacoma.

2021 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab Vs. 2021 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab

The Nissan Frontier offers the biggest engine and the highest power output but fails to impress in terms of performance. It also has very bad fuel efficiency figures while the Toyota is a little better in this aspect. If one would have to call the Toyota Tacoma outdated, then the Nissan Frontier is much more outdated. Hence, we would not buy this car in 2021.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab is not a very exciting option considering how far its rivals have moved on. It is a car with slow acceleration, a bit cramped in terms of interior space, not the most modern looks but a large number of safety features. One may not find the same kind of enjoyment in terms of driving it as compared to certain counterparts but it’s infotainment features that make sure that you are distracted. Overall, we do not see that there are too many merits to this truck and would not recommend you buy one.