The Toyota Tacoma has been the best-selling compact or midsize truck in America for almost two decades, and it had a long reputation for value and quality even before that. Toyota imported its first pickup truck, the Stout, way back in 1965 to challenge Datsun’s popular small trucks. It’s been building quality trucks ever since. After acquiring Japanese truckmaker Hino a year later, the two firms used their combined knowledge to create the Toyota Hilux, one of the most successful (and durable) global-market pickups of all time.
Starting in 1969, that truck came to the U.S. as the “Toyota Pickup,” and while sales were slow at first, Toyota eventually caught up to and surpassed the popularity of Datsun’s trucks, though this fierce rivalry continues today between the Tacoma and the Nissan Frontier. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the Toyota Pickup established a firm reputation for being simple, cheap, and nearly indestructible, and by the time of Back to the Future, had also become a popular off-roader.
In the 1990s, Toyota decided to upgrade the truck for better on-road performance and give it more style and more defined brand image. It also launched the larger T100 as its first assault on the larger pickup market, so in 1995 the “Pickup” became the Toyota Tacoma, with a round new shape and better on-road handling, but no loss in practicality or capability. It’s popularity has only surged since, especially after its 2005 second-generation redesign, which made it larger and more substantial.
Even at those increased dimensions, the Tacoma is still a mid-size truck, and perfect for pickup shoppers who don’t quite need the space or power of a full-size truck but do want a platform for their active lifestyles. The Tacoma has tremendous off-road capability, can support a myriad of racks, lift kits, storage units, custom suspensions, off-road wheels, and mounts for toys but is still nimble enough to make a sensible daily driver.
The Tacoma’s Achilles heel is its longevity: The generations last a long time and the trucks tend to be very dated by the time they are redesigned. But that also breeds dependability and reliability. Tacomas hold their value incredibly well, which is a benefit for owners but a challenge for shoppers, as they cost considerably more than comparable pickups from Nissan, Ford, or General Motors. But they do last and last.
Here, we’ve outlined all four generations including the most recent, which is new for 2024. We’ve also included a little bit of information on what to pay (in general terms) and some things to watch out for.
Toyota Tacoma: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Toyota Tacoma Pros and Cons
- Toyota Tacoma Generations
- Fourth Generation (2024-Present)
- Third Generation (2016-Present)
- Second Generation (2005-2015)
- First Generation (1995-2004)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Toyota Tacoma years are the best?
The Tacoma is a robust vehicle, just like the Pickup it replaced, and all of its generations boast stellar reliability records. Determining the “best” years depends on what you’re looking for. The first and third generations have higher marks than the second one for durability, but they’re pretty different vehicles. First-generation models are the simplest and the smallest, which can help if you’re modifying one or regularly using it off-road, but they can rust over time. Third-generation models come with many active safety features and desirable extras, but also cost much more than comparable trucks.
What are the worst Toyota Tacoma years?
Toyota Tacomas are famously reliable, but 2008 to 2010 models seem to have more problems than other years, and 2005 and 2006 models are known to have weak head gaskets. In the Tacoma community, the chance of those gaskets needing to be replaced is a matter of when, not if, but fortunately, replacement gaskets are more long-lived than factory ones. All early Tacomas are vulnerable to frame rust, but second-generation models especially so, and Toyota even settled at least one class-action lawsuit over the issue. Some owners also quibble with 2016 and 2017 models, which may have had more bugs when new as they were the first years of an updated design.
Is a used Toyota Tacoma a good deal?
It can be, but it pays to own long-term. Tacoma resale values are very high, to the point where during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, used models actually cost more than new ones. Because they’re very durable, all Tacomas have a great reputation for long-term value, but they also cost more than any comparable pickup. It’s possible to pickup some other more recent models, like the 2019 and newer Ford Ranger, that are better to drive or have more room, for less money.
Toyota Tacoma Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Terrific off-road capability
- Enviable reputation for reliability and durability
- Modern infotainment and safety tech in later models
Cons:
- Costs a lot, new or used
- Worrying issues in certain model years
- Underwhelming base engines, mediocre on-road handling
Toyota Tacoma Generations
Fourth Generation (2024-Present)
The fourth-generation Tacoma debuted in November of 2023 and represents the first ground-up redesign of the popular pickup since 2005. This time, the Tacoma’s totally new frame is based on a scaled-down version of the one from the full-size Tundra, and it rides the same platform as that much larger pickup. The entire interior has also been remade, with modern styling, new infotainment systems, and new engines under the hood—including the first-ever hybrid drivetrain offered in a Tacoma.
The old four-cylinder and V6 engines are gone, and a new family of 2.4-liter four-cylinder turbos are in their place. The base version makes 228 horsepower, a huge upgrade from the old 159-horsepower unit in the previous generation, but it’s only available on the entry-level SR trim. Most versions get a more powerful 278-horsepower version that turns in power and speed similar to the old V6 but with better fuel economy. Though it hasn’t hit dealerships just yet, there’s also the 326-horsepower hybrid, which mates the 2.4-liter engine with an electric motor. It should return the best fuel mileage of any Tacoma ever.
Toyota still offers two cabs, the extended XtraCab and the full-crew Double Cab, but no more short-bed, small-cab configurations. The cabin is much more comfortable, and the displays and design much nicer, with a standard 8.0-inch screen running Toyota’s latest software and a giant, crisp optional 14-inch unit available on higher trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard, and a host of other convenience features like wireless charging are available. Sadly, the Tacoma Double Cab’s back seat is only marginally roomier than before.
Toyota has designed two different rear suspensions for this generation, with some models getting traditional leaf springs for load carrying (like the base SR) and others getting a sophisticated multi-link rear for better on- and off-road handling. The latter, and the new Tacoma generally, offers much-improved road manners and dynamics over the old one, and the off-road models are more pleasant to drive to and from the trail. A manual transmission remains optional, but it isn’t much fun to use.
Toyota has also maintained its flotilla of standard safety features. Though other trucks now have comparable offerings, the Tacoma is still a leader in making these systems standard, and only the Nissan Frontier comes close to matching it on standard active-safety gear.
These Tacomas are still brand new and only hit dealerships in early 2024 and the Hybrid models haven’t even arrived at the time of this writing, so they aren’t generally available used right now. Their new-vehicle prices are likely to remain their asking prices for a while.
Third Generation (2016-Present)
The third-generation Tacoma debuted for the 2016 model year but it wasn’t quite “all new.” Toyota’s engineers gave this truck a bevy of new systems and a major tech upgrade, but they retained most of the second-generation model’s mechanical and structural pieces. Even some of the body panels carried over.
As in the second generation, the third-gen Tacoma offers two cab styles, the Access Cab and the Double Cab, which are Toyota’s terms for extended and crew cab models. The former has a small rear cabin with jump-seats and (nominal) seating for four. The latter provides an actual rear bench with seating for five. Both cabs are offered with five-foot and six-foot beds, in contrast to some rival trucks that only offer five-foot beds on their crew cab models. On the downside, the Tacoma’s crew cab is cramped even by the standards of small trucks.
Third-generation Tacomas comes standard with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine. It makes 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, but as in the previous generation, this base engine has been derided for being painfully underpowered. Buyers would do well to check out the 3.5-liter V6, which is much more common and satisfying. It makes 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. It still leaves many drivers wanting—especially when trying to get up to highway speeds—but it’s better than the alternative.
A six-speed automatic transmission sends Power to the rear wheels or via available four-wheel drive (4WD). In the first year of its redesign, the Tacoma offered a five-speed manual with the four-cylinder engine or a six-speed manual with the V6. This was quickly phased out, and by 2018, the only way to get a manual transmission was to opt for the six-speed with the V6 on 4x4 and Off-Road trim levels, a recognition that most buyers who want manual transmissions are using them for off-road adventure, not better fuel economy.
From the outset of the current generation, Toyota Tacoma trims included SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off Road, and Limited. The most hard-core off-road version yet, the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro joined the lineup for the 2017 model year.
The Toyota Tacoma SR featured a 6.1-inch audio touch screen in earlier model years. It also included a limited-slip differential, USB port, Bluetooth, and a backup camera. Moving up to the Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport models get a JBL premium audio system and dual-zone automatic climate control. The TRD Off-Road trim adds Crawl Control, upgraded Bilstein shocks, multiple off-road traction control drive modes, and an electronically locking rear differential. The Toyota Tacoma Limited, meanwhile, is more about comfort and convenience features like leather seats and surround-view monitoring.
The modern Tacoma benefits from a full assortment of tech and safety features. Toyota Safety Sense was made standard in 2018 and included forward-collision warning, forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and more. Further options, such as blind-spot monitoring, were also available. Notably, very few other pickup trucks of this era offer as many safety systems as the Tacoma, and none of them so many standard ones.
In 2020, the Tacoma was refreshed. In addition to its updated exterior styling, the Tacoma gained a standard touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. New options for this year included a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a 360-degree parking camera, and a multi-terrain monitor.
Third-generation Tacomas have a very good reliability record, so there isn’t much need to worry about differentiating between the years in terms of quality. 2018 and newer ones have a larger number of standard safety features, which inherently makes them a better value, but all of these trucks are pretty expensive.
With under 80,000 miles, V6 models start out around $25,000 for basic SR5 Access Cabs and range up to around $50,000 for Double Cab TRD Pro models. If you want more of the more specialized off-road models, be prepared to pay extra, but the regular 4WD Tacomas are nearly as capable and a little better to drive on the pavement. If you’re shopping for a simple work truck the Tacoma isn’t terrible, but the low-end Ford Ranger is more capable and less expensive.
Second Generation (2005-2015)
The second-generation Tacoma was largely designed by Hino, Toyota’s truck-making Japanese subsidiary, which also played a major role in the design and production of the FJ Cruiser and the Tacoma’s international-market sibling, the Hilux. As you’d expect from such a group of engineers, it was rock tough and very capable if not necessarily the prettiest truck.
Throughout its life, the second-gen Tacoma was powered by a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine (retained from the first-generation model) or 4.0-liter V6. The former put out 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, while the V6 engine offered 236 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque as well as a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds. Originally just five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmissions were offered with these engines, but six-speed automatic and manual gearboxes were eventually added to the options list for V6 versions.
Toyota offered this version in three cabs, a traditional regular cab, an extended Access Cab, and the full-crew Double Cab. They could also be had with five or six-foot beds. Stability and traction control became standard for '09, along with other safety considerations such as front, side, and side curtain airbags. This Tacoma was the first to integrate infotainment features, slowly at first, with an optional 6.1-inch navigation and touchscreen reserved for the top trims. It was also the first to get a backup camera with a 3.3-inch display. Toyota also began offering hill descent control in this generation.
The second-generation Tacoma offered a wide range of trims and special models, including TRD Pro and Ironman off-road models and the unusual X-Runner street truck, a performance Tacoma aimed at on-road enthusiasm. Many of the rarer models aren’t easy to find today. They all have fairly basic and very gray interiors, and the back seat isn’t huge, but they’re comfy and hard-wearing inside, at least in front. Gas mileage from either engine is strictly mediocre, even compared with aging rivals like the old pre-2011 Ford Ranger.
Unfortunately, this generation is the most problematic Tacoma from a reliability standpoint. Early models from 2005 and 2006, are known to have head gasket issues, and 2005 to 2010 models are also known for premature frame rust and fuel pump problems. Fuel pumps are pretty easy to deal with, but if the frame is rusty, the truck is worthless. In dry places like Arizona, this shouldn’t be a problem, and they don’t all rust out, but Toyota actually settled a lawsuit over this, so inspect carefully.
Drivers looking for a four-cylinder will be in luck—these Tacoma models lose their value quickly, so they make cheap work trucks or off-road toys, even if they’re pretty slow. V6s cost more, but the extra power (and better gearboxes) are worth it.
Second-generation Tacoma prices run the gamut since it was on sale for so long. Early four-cylinder models in decent shape with under 120,000 miles can be had for as little as $9,000, but later models and more specialized off-road ones can run up $20,000 or even $25,000. That’s really a big bill, considering that early fourth-gen models are approaching those prices now and generally have more features and cooler styling.
On average, expect one of these to cost about $15,000 in good shape and with a fair number of options. Rarer versions like the Ironman or X-Runner might cost more, as will specialized off-road builds. Since many of those have been used hard, inspect carefully if you’re buying a modified version.
First Generation (1995-2004)
The original Tacoma arrived for the 1995 model year, but aside from the name it kept all of the traditions and personality of the “Toyota Pickup” it replaced. It was designed with more of an eye to on-road drivability and style, but only just. Initially, like the old Pickup, it offered only regular and extended (Access) cab bodies, though a four-door crew cab was sold in other countries as the Hilux. In 2001, Toyota finally added this body, called Double Cab, to the U.S. lineup. They’re expensive today, since the two-door Tacomas of this era are more common.
Those early Double Cabs also came only with a four-speed automatic transmission, while the others could have a five-speed manual, which more buyers chose in the 1990s. Three engines were offered: a basic 144-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder confined only to low-trim rear-wheel-drive models, a 150-horsepower 2.7-liter four-cylinder offered on rear—or four-wheel-drive models, and a 190-horsepower 3.4-liter V6, again on both driveline configurations. Today, the V6 is the one to have as it’s much more powerful than the other two.
Passenger-side airbags debuted for 1998, a year before they were mandated, and a rear-drive-only PreRunner trim joined the lineup. Like the 2001 and later Double Cabs, the PreRunner was automatic only. Those Double Cabs also only offered the Tacoma’s short bed.
First-generation Tacomas are very reliable, but they do have some issues, mainly due to age and use. Valve cover and head gaskets can leak, and so can oil seals in the engine and transfer case. The 2.7-liter four-cylinder engines tend to have the most issues. Also, like the second-generation models, they’re vulnerable to rust, both on the frame and the body. If you can see plenty of rust, there’s certainly more lurking, so inspect very carefully. 2001 and newer models also tend to have more features and be slightly better made.
Unfortunately, these trucks are not cheap despite their age. You can expect to pay a minimum of $8,000 for a decent rear-wheel drive one, even with fairly high mileage. Four-wheel drive models are more expensive, and really clean low-mileage ones can go for $18,000 or more. Most good examples should fall between $11,000 and $15,000. Rare colors (like Paradise Blue) and early models are already seeing considerable collector interest.