Our 4WD Tacoma seemed to be happiest when bouncing down muddy two-tracks,slogging through snow or bounding over major moguls. The suspension has
plenty of travel to deal with these hazards and the 4WD system pulled it
through situations where a 2WD probably would have gotten stuck.
If we weren't expecting to bounce, slog or bound very often, though,
we'd think about ordering the 2WD model. The 4WD truck feels a little out
of its element around town with its relatively choppy ride. And like almost
any pickup, a load in the bed improves the ride quality and handling considerably.
Also like most pickups, the performance and ride of a Tacoma will vary
considerably from model to model. The four-cylinder engine on our test
vehicle provided adequate acceleration and the five-speed gearbox shifted
well. The basic 2.4-liter engine isn't as smooth as the 2.7-liter engine.
And the V6 is smoother still. Next Page