The third generation of the Toyota Tacoma mid-size pickup truck turned out to be extremely successful: even eight years after entering the American market, the model is the leader in sales in its segment. This year, the struggle will be hot: just eight days ago, sales of the new Ford Ranger began in the United States, and today the Japanese declassified the fourth generation of the Tacoma on the TNGA-F frame platform.
The same architecture is used by the larger Tundra pickup truck and the Sequoia SUV. The Californian studio CALTY was responsible for the appearance (she also painted the new Tundra and a number of other models), whose task was to combine the muscular silhouette with the aesthetics of the first Hilux. Like its full-size sibling, the Tacoma will be available with a spring-loaded rear suspension, but only in expensive versions. A total of eight equipment options are announced: SR, SR5, TRD PreRunner, TRD Sport, TRD Off Road, Limited, TRD Pro and Trailhunter.
Tacoma TRD PreRunner
The first three configurations are offered with a rear leaf spring suspension, but the rear brakes are disc anyway. Starting with the TRD configuration, larger brake discs and productive mechanisms are used. Another fundamental innovation for the Tacoma is an electric power steering instead of a hydraulic one.
Only for SR, SR5, TRD PreRunner, a one-and-a-half two-door XtraCab is available: instead of rear seats, it has an additional compartment for luggage. The XtraCab is only available with a long (six-foot or 1.8 m) cargo area and rear-wheel drive with a limited-slip differential, while a full double cab in expensive versions can also be combined with a smaller body (five feet or 1.5 m).
Under the hood of all versions, a 2.4-liter turbo engine with the i-Force system works (the atmospheric V6 was abandoned with a generation change), but the degree of forcing varies depending on the configuration. On the SR and SR5, it develops 231 hp. With. and 329 Nm and is available in conjunction with the “mechanics” iMT2. It can be selected for more expensive trim levels. The return of the “turbo four” in this case will be lower than that of pickups with an 8-speed “automatic” (274 hp and 420 Nm versus 282 hp and 430 Nm), but the manual box can adjust the crankshaft speed when changing gears and is equipped with a clutch pedal servo.
The most expensive Tundras are hybrid ones. A 36-kilowatt electric motor is built into the body of the “machine”, which is powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery with a capacity of 1.87 kWh, due to which the peak output of the system is 331 hp. With. and 630 Nm. Charging from the network is not provided, but the built-in socket is already designed for a power of 2400 watts, while gasoline pickups only have 400 watts.
The TRD PreRunner version already offers a positive locking rear differential, as well as higher ground clearance and off-road tires. With black 18-inch wheels and passive suspension, the TRD Sport is the most “asphalt” modification of a pickup truck.
Tacoma TRD Sport and Limited
The Tacoma TRD Pro is designed for fast cross-country riding with different aluminum front arms, suspension with Fox shock absorbers with three stiffness levels, Goodyear Territory R / T tires, an LED “chandelier” and special IsoDynamic Performance seats that can dampen shocks thanks to hydraulic shock absorbers. This is the highest version of the new “Tacoma” (clearance – 279 mm), which will be available only with a hybrid power plant. The TRD Pro does not have an aerodynamic “visor” on the front bumper, due to which the approach angle reaches 33.8 °, and the exit angle is 25.7 °.
Tacoma TRD Pro
To conquer off-road, the range includes TRD Off-Road versions (with Bilstein shock absorbers and increased suspension travel, due to which the best load capacity among all modifications is achieved – 775 kg) and Trailhunter. The Tacoma Trailhunter was first shown at the SEMA tuning show, but at the request of customers, the American division of Toyota decided to add it to the factory range. The Trailhunter version is fitted with Australia’s ARB Old Man Emu suspension, the same Fox adaptive dampers and Goodyear Territory R/T tires as the Tacoma TRD Pro, a steel front bumper and a wheel inflation compressor located in the cargo area.
Tacoma trail hunter
Suspension modifications TRD Pro (left) and Trailhunter
The interior of the new Tacoma is made in the style of “Tundra”. In expensive versions, the front panel has a 14-inch touch screen multimedia system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay wireless interfaces, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (in simple trim levels there will be displays with a diagonal of 8 and 7 inches, respectively), keyless access and start are standardly provided engine with a button, as well as a full set of Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 driver assistants.
For an extra charge – all-round cameras (with the “transparent hood” function), a digital interior rear-view mirror, wireless smartphone charging, a JBL audio system with ten speakers and a removable JBL Flex Bluetooth speaker (attached to the front panel) that can be submerged in water almost a metre.
Production of the new Tacoma in Mexico will begin shortly. The first cars will appear at American dealers in the autumn, and hybrid versions will enter the local market in early 2024. For the third generation Tacoma in the US, they ask from 28.3 to 47.7 thousand dollars (excluding taxes) depending on the configuration, so we will not be surprised at the starting price of a new car of 30 thousand dollars or a little higher.
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