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 four-wheel-drive system pulled it through situations where a two-wheel-drive truck might have gotten stuck.If we weren't expecting to bounce, slog or bound very often, though, we'd think about ordering one of the two-wheel-drive models. The four-wheel-drive truck feels a little out of its element around town with a relatively choppy ride quality. Like almost any pickup, a load in the bed improves the ride quality and handling balance considerably.
Also like most pickups, the performance and ride of a Tacoma will vary considerably from model to model. The four-cylinder engine provides adequate acceleration and the five-speed gearbox shifts well. The basic 2.4-liter engine isn't as smooth as the 2.7-liter engine in the 4X4 models.
Smoother still is the V6 that was fitted to our Limited. It provides lots of power and worked well with the automatic transmission. Next Page