The 2011 Toyota Tacoma rules the road – and the off-road – in the world of compact and midsize pickup trucks, as it has for years. The Tacoma has regularly pulled about a 40 percent share of the market segment, and nothing indicates any change ahead in the vehicle’s popularity.

The 2011 Tacoma features, as always, a wide array of trims offering Regular, Access, and Double cabs with assorted engine packages, most available with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The Tacoma’s willingness to get off-road and its versatility add to its appeal and set it up nicely as a small work truck ready and able to tackle larger chores, fun runs, and family duties as well.

Trims range from the down-to-the-basics Regular Cab and its four-cylinder engine with five-speed manual transmission to the X-Runner with its V6. An automatic transmission is now available for all trims.

Most Tacomas come standard with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. The four-cylinder, teamed with an automatic transmission, gets 19 miles per gallon in the city and 25 on the highway in RWD versions. The numbers for 4WDs slip to 18/21.

A 4.0-liter V6 comes standard in the Double Cab 4WD and is an option in other trims. That engine bumps things up to 236 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. Mileage figures dip at that point to 17/21 with RWD and 16/20 with 4WD. The V6 boosts the 2011 Toyota Tacoma’s towing capacity, when properly equipped, to 6,500 pounds, up substantially from the four-cylinder’s 3,500 pounds. Maximum payload with Access and Double Cab versions is 1,570 pounds.

The Tacoma grades well with reviewers in most aspects, including comfort, design, and quality of materials in the truck’s cabin. Some refer to it as luxurious, although others think the Tacoma’s front seats sit a little too low. And while the Double Cab (with four full-size doors) offers plenty of room for back seat passengers, some find the rear accommodations in the Access Cab (with its small, rear-hinged doors) too cramped. Both Regular and Access Cabs come with a 6-foot bed. The Double Cab gets a 5-footer as standard fare, but the 6-foot bed is available.

Updates for 2011 include standard air conditioning for all trims and a new set of packages designed for off-road users. All trims, except for the Regular Cab 4WD, get bucket seats. A heavy-duty suspension, a locking rear differential, skid plates, sport seats, and 16-inch alloy wheels highlight the TRD Off-Road setup, which also offers an optional 115-volt electrical outlet mounted in the truck’s bed. T/X and T/X Pro packages add to the choices for fans of off-roading and offer all-terrain tires, black alloy wheels, and unique badging.

The 2011 Toyota Tacoma collects good scores in safety tests. Stability and traction control, antilock brakes with brake assist, and side-impact and side curtain airbags are all standard features. Hill-start assist and hill-descent assist are both available in 4WD models delivered with automatic transmissions.