Toyota has unveiled its new Tacoma pickup truck, and while it might look like an early version of the next-generation Hilux, it’s not a model we’ll be getting in the UK.
In the US, the Tacoma is celebrating its 30th birthday, and its longevity hasn’t affected its sales, where it remains the best-selling midsize truck, shifting more than 230,000 units last year — the entire UK pickup market was just under 30,000 units. The all-new 2024 Tacoma is expected to build on that success, with features new to the segment, including a hybrid powertrain.
The entry-level model is fitted with a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine delivering 231hp and 329Nm of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The range then goes to a 274hp and 420Nm model, with a six-speed manual transmission with automatic rev-matching — a boon for traditionalists. This same upgraded engine with the eight-speed automatic adds even more power, with the output rising to 282hp and 430Nm.
A new hybrid powerplant is also available, branded, hyperbolically, as i-FORCE MAX. The same 2.4-litre engine is paired with a 48hp electric motor powered by a 1.9kWh battery pack. All working together, it’s good for 331hp and an impressive 630Nm of torque.
Toyota continues to offer rear-wheel or four-wheel drive models, each with a limited-slip differential, while higher specification models also receive a locking rear diff. Only the hybrid-powered pickup gets a centre-locking differential.
The Tacoma’s underlying TNGA-F platform
incorporates high-strength steel for chassis rigidity and aluminium for upper-body weight reduction, with coil-sprung independent suspension all around. The Tacoma TRD Pro adds Fox shock absorbers and off-road cameras, while the Trailhunter specification is designed specifically for overlanding, featuring Old Man Emu shocks from ARB.
Externally, the Tacoma carries a bolder, more Americanised aesthetic than previous Toyota pickups. The front bumper is enhanced by slim headlights and faux vents cascading toward the lower grille, while the TRD Pro and Trailhunter models gain retro ‘TOYOTA’ badging across the grille, as well as a front skid plate, LED running lights, and distinctive alloy wheels.
The cabin design is anchored around a bold horizontal beam, which houses an 8.0-inch infotainment screen on lower models, expanding to 14.0 inches on higher specification vehicles. There’s wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with wireless phone charging.
Each model is fitted with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which includes automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, and camera and radar-controlled adaptive cruise control.
The new 2024 model year Toyota Tacoma should arrive at US dealerships before the end of the year, but it won’t make it over to the UK.
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