The new 2.7-liter VVT-i DOHC four-cylinder engine produces 164 horsepower and 183 pound-feet of torque, about average for the class but more than the old overhead-valve V6 in the Ford Ranger. Toyota recommends 87 octane. Preliminary fuel-economy estimates were 22/28 mpg City/Highway with the five-speed manual.
The Tacoma handles well, with surprisingly little body roll (lean) in corners and it feels steady in sweeping turns. The Tacoma feels big on the road when compared with older compact pickups. In fact, it is big, wider and longer than previous-generation models. Parking a long-bed crew cab pickup is particularly challenging. The Tacoma Double Cab long bed requires 44 feet to complete a circle, nearly four more feet than a Double Cab short bed. We'd vote for the shorter bed unless we really needed the long bed. A base Tacoma Regular Cab boasts a turning circle of less than 37 feet.
On pavement, the 4x4 and TRD models seemed smooth and refined. The TRD 4x4 is smooth and highly capable off road. The TRD suspension is excellent on rough, rugged terrain. It handles well on rough dirt trails, something we learned while charging up a ski run at Alyeska. It never bottomed on the rough terrain even when we pushed it well beyond socially acceptable standards. The Tacoma TRD model easily handled an off-road course that featured steep ascents and descents, moguls and a log step. We'd feel comfortable in tackling just about anything in one of these. And all of this is accomplished in relative comfort. These trucks don't generate as much uncomfortable head toss as earlier 4x4 compact pickups.
Switching into 4-wheel drive and 4WD Lo is as easy as twisting a rotary knob. We tried to confuse it by switching the knob around and succeeded. The low-range lights wouldn't turn off until we stopped, shut it off and restarted, the old Microsoft reboot.
The Tacoma's brakes are smooth and easy to modulate and can bring it to quick halt without drama. The rear brakes are drums, however, less desirable than the rear disc brakes that come on some of the other pickups in this class.
The X-Runner is a lot of fun to drive and handles like a sports car. It corners flat and generates lots of grip in corners. We drove it hard up a hill climb and were not able to reach its limits. It tracks well and is very stable in tight corners even when spinning the inside rear tire under full throttle. The ride is firm, but seems to ride better than our recollection of the SVT Lightning. However, we didn't care for the feel of the clutch pedal, the steering was vague on center, and there was that inside rear wheelspin. Wind noise seems higher in the X-Runner than in the other models. But this is a tight, sporty truck. There's no cowl shake. The exhaust sounds cool. If you want a truck that can hang with a sports car, then look no farther. Next Page