ENGINEER EXPLAINS 25 SURPRISES ABOUT THE 2024 TACOMA 

I’d much prefer front lockers to the trd seats.

I agree on the isodynamic seats. They are really cool, but id rather save $3-4K on the purchase price and not have those available (or whatever they’ll actually cost).

This Tacoma is almost perfect, the only one more feature is that this Truck needed to have to be perfect. If Toyota can make the rear window open fully like the old Tundra. I think it would be very cool if Toyota can put that feature on this Tacoma. If you can the sunroof open and the rear window fully open with all the windows, it would feel just like a convertible. This would be the best truck of any other brand out there. I think this is the only feature Toyota missed, a full rear window open instead of just a little slide window.

Hi David, could you please compare the suspension of TRD Pro and Trail Hunter? and why would you pick Trail Hunter over TRd Pro?

Glad you corrected your previous report regarding availability of power tailgate across more model variants 👌🏽

Toyota, please offer an extended Crew Max cab (adding an additional 4-5 inches of rear leg room). There should be a Tacoma with enough room to transport 4 6' adults "comfortably."

I used to work for a winching company and we package a winch kit specifically for Toyata and ARB for many years. Not surprised to see ARB involved in the 2024 Tacoma. Can't wait to get my hands on the new Tacoma.

Thank you for your take on the new Tacoma. You always review vehicles from a different perspective than most automotive review sites. One item that was a very welcome change for me was the redesigned entry and exit door opening design! Finally Toyota listened!!!!! I really liked the fact Toyota has kept choices for cab and bed lengths available for its customers! A few things I didn’t like is the very slick bed, the front end appears to have a long overhang ( approach angle) than other mid size trucks, the spoiler on the back of the cab’s roof? and the wheel well design shape will not accept oversized tires without cutting and or grinding! My Toyota truck buying history is 87 SR5 Xtra cab 4X4 w/turbo, 90 SR5 Xtra cab 4X4 V6, 94 SR5 Xtra cab 4X4 V6 all three were equipped with manual transmissions. Might be coming back to Toyota! As always, stay safe and healthy. Ron

Tacoma’s Hugh market share position is the driving force behind many of the ‘Tacoma ONLY ‘ ( and firsts ) options , accessories and multiple model variants .

Thanks for the update 😀

Thank you David. great info.

As always amazing review and insight Thank you Sir for doing a great job and helping me make a choice on what I am looking for

Agreed with all your opinions on this new Tacoma and plan to get one. Thank you David!

👍👍thanks for the info.

@AutomotivePress Great video David! Not a single reviewer has asked yet if the wider 2024 Tacoma can now fit a sheet of plywood between the wheel wells like the new Ranger can now. I also like the new integrated brake controller and the pre-wired auxiliary switches in the top of the line models. One last cool feature is the USB on the back side of the infotainment screen for a dash cam or radar detector. 👍

The trd pro suspension is a gimmick, not the shocks but the lower control arms are the same on all models. Not like the ZR2 and ranger raptor which has more wheel travel, the “wider” trd pro is only because of the fender flares and offset, not because the geometry made it wider, such a gimmick. The wider stance is an appearance not performance

Going to be a fantastic group of products available to truck lovers. I don't like trucks, but I do like all that this one offers.

most important aspect for me is the actual payload with loaded versions like the trailhunter

Good video, it covered more areas of interest on the trucks than others out there that all seem to be in some sort of rush to get through the information like a 30-second commercial.

David, Since they all share the TNGA-F platform and will likely share powertrains, I hope Toyota 'surprises' us by offering a manual transmission for the upcoming Land Cruiser Prado and 4Runner. 😁

Great video David. I am wondering if the Limited will have full time as well as part time 4 wheel Drive? Thanks I always wait for your new videos.

What is the size of the gas tank and what would you expect in MPG for the limited series truck with hybrid max? Hopefully Toyota sees all the negative reviews for the air dam and does something different when they actually go in to production.

I’m not surprised they announced the Trail Hunter model. With all their direct competitors introducing off-road oriented models, a good plan to slow sales to them is to introduce your competing models, even if you’re months away from delivering them. Another smart move was to team up with ARB. Like GM’s move with AEV to provide high quality off-road accessories the customer would want in the future now, which can be rolled into the financing loan also. Obviously there is added profit to be gained too.

It's amazing they still offer the long bed option. The American midsize trucks don't offer that for 2024 models.

Good review, thank you

Hey David, In a previous interview you mentioned that at Toyota has a longer product development time. You said it was about a year longer than other manufactures, to make sure those designs and products are reliable. Do you know how long Kia/Hyundai test their products for before releasing them?

David, thanks for the video. Indeed you’ve predicted some of these. Limited with full time 4WD would be my choice.

Tacoma, frontier and the coming Ram Rampage are so eye stunning

Regarding the Xtra cab: I think that they planned it as an Access cab even at quite late stages of development. There are still cup holders for the rear passengers, pockets in the non-existent "rear doors," and construction for the foldable rear seat... Before finalizing it, someone probably found that it's too tiny for real people, and as a workaround, they decided to delete the rear door and call it Xtra cab :-) We will probably never know more about how this could happen.

Hi David, checking your review on mazda cx 90 phev, how do you compare this with grand highlander hybrid max?

The biggest surprise for me is that they eliminated the Access Cab. I have always bought Tacoma trucks but without an Access Cab I have to look at others.

That Trail Hunter is SWEET !! I do wish they made it a little bigger especially the rear seat area. I have a 2015 TRD SPORT long bed and have to move the front seats up to get someone in back. My second Tacoma love them. My first a 2001 had 350,000 miles when I traded for the 2015 new. Indestructible tanks.

David, I think I already know, but which model are you thinking you will order? I'm looking at a Limited myself

#26: Trailhunter: Wheel & tire package to widen vehicle = Gimmick. Competition has long travel in their lineup. #27: Disk brakes on all 4 corners = Practical. Long awaited upgrade.

What a nice ride! I agree that the ‘iso’ seats are maybe a bit gimmicky but, sure do look cool ! Love this truck, wanna get one

Brilliant review David!

like it , the trd prerunner extra cab is the one id buy

Hi David, no one can see to tell me. I read the manual is only available with the crew cab (not sure this is true), but if true is it only available with the 5' bed or also the 6' bed. I need a 6' bed and would only buy a manual and 6' bed.

Nice and informative video

The 26th surprise will be the price 😂 The 27th surprise will be the dealership markups and their add ons

Great analysis. I have a 2016 TRD Off-road 4wd ACCESS CAB. It’s been a great truck. Chief Tacoma engineer mentioned that over half of consumers wanted the access cab gone. The Access cab with the suicide doors is a great, practical setup in my opinion. I’m sorry gen 4 won’t offer this configuration any longer. Agreed on the front air damn. Looks horrible, but maybe boosted their EPA mpg numbers by a small fraction. I’ve heard that the air damn can be easily removed. The other surprise is that Toyota has not yet released anything on the 2024 TRD Off-road yet. That’s sort of their bread and butter truck. Will it have an air damn or not? I suspect the vehicle that you spied in Michigan a while back may have been a TRD Off-road due to lack of front air damn on the test vehicle.

The SR5 is the model for me. With the T24A-FTS engine is good for me.

Great info

David, I would be curious how you would redesign the air dam on the new Tacoma!

Nice truck like it great video

I hope they offer the iso seats as an option for the other trims, at least for trailhunter and TRD offroad. I'd go for a TRD offroad in manual with the iso seats just for funsies.

I love this truck, I understand about owners wanting to fit inside their garages but honestly the second row still seems a bit tight, definitely could have used an extra two inches of legroom at least, and only because of that I may prefer the 4Runner although I really would like this to be my first truck. The Trailhunter seems more appealing, but I must say I’m a sucker for the sporty and beautiful red interior looks of the TRD pro.

I’m wanting to see an Extra Cab 6’ bed 4X4 in either a SR5 or TRD Sport. Will these trim levels be offered in a hybrid?

Good video!

David, another great video! Great time for the mid-size truck. I am buying at the end of 2024. Considering a 1/2 ton or mid-size. We prefer a mid-size, but will consider a 1/2 ton for functionality. Currently, all mid-size brands are on our list. We tow a small camper that weighs 2,900 lbs, so literally all mid-size trucks will tow our camper, including the Honda Ridgeline. At less than 3,000 lbs, our Casita can be towed by an SUV rated to tow 5,000 lbs; however, I prefer the functionality of a truck. The other major variable is payload. We carry a fair amount of camping gear with us and plan to carry more as we transition to more travel. My benchmark for payload is 1,500 lbs for a mid size truck (1,800 lbs for a 1/2 ton). Just about any Ridgeline will provide approximately 1,500 lbs of payload. I am fine with the Tacoma’s tow ratings (but surprised the Tacoma is not more competitive) and I am impressed with the max payload rating; HOWEVER, I want to see the real world payload of the Tacoma. Currently, the 2023 Tacoma is weak regarding payload. I also value reliability and safety. Historically, the Tacoma has been very reliable. I am impressed that the new Tacoma will include its safety suite with all models. I still want to see the crash ratings, though. I also appreciate the variety and options associated across the line up for the Tacoma. If Toyota can provide me the option of a Tacoma that is safe, reliable, ideally with a 6 ft bed, 6,000 plus pounds of tow capacity, and 1,500 lbs of payload in the $42K to $48K price range, SWEET! Ultimately, price is the deciding factor. If the Tacoma is price prohibitive or so popular that it will drive down the negotiated price of another truck (Ranger, Frontier, Canyon/Colorado, Gladiator, Ridgeline), then I will use the popularity of the Tacoma to buy a different truck.

Does its rear window goes down? I really love it in my Tundra

All I see so far are segments on the higher trim levels. For work truck and fleet vehicle applications, the SR has always been a practical mainstay and high seller. Focusing almost exclusively on the weekend warrior trim levels that I'll never need as a everyday driver and work truck gets old.

A few of the suprises that are things currently on the 4runner is indicative to me that the two will be far more similar this generation

Did they change the bed depth? You've commented on the shallow depth previously. Not being able to fit your cooler under the tonneau cover when closed.

David do you have any news on the new Hilux?

Loved the video. I think the smaller rear windshield window is gimicky and think the retracing rear glass like in the crewmax tundra should’ve been added.

I was really looking forward for this new Tacoma for exchanging my ‘19 Highlander SE, since I thought it would be a really better towing vehicle for my 4000 pound camping trailer. Even though the hybrid version has a lot of torque, bigger brakes and integrated brake controller, I thought that this new Tacoma would be on par with Rangers and Canyons for towing capacity. At 6000 pounds for hybrid, it’s surprisingly low to me. I know that full size pickups are better towers anyway but I just don’t want a big truck cause I find these too cumbersome the rest of the time while not towing. So I wonder if this new hybrid Tacoma would tow better than the new 2.7 V6 twin turbo Ranger for my particular need. I just want a more practical vehicle for camping and some relatively light off-road, and a better tower than my Highlander.

Awesome Toyota all the way up Cape Town South Africa 🌍♥️

TRD Off-Road with i-Force Max for me. Now lets talk cost and estimated MPG. I will say I look at most of the new highlighted features as gimmicky. I ended up with a stripped down 2023 Colorado Trailboss for this year and quickly realized I don't miss most of the higher trim options or want things highlighted here.

Good list

Thank you

My favorite thing about the Tacoma is you gotta pay brand new price for one with 60k miles.

I like the funky high tech front seats if they solve the rough ride even a bit more. Getting old! 😂. Great video. Do you think the body roll will be lessened with the independent rear suspension? Any sway bar type kit?

Great content like always, thanks for all info! But I'm wondering is the 4 cylinder turbos will it last, like the standard gas version. I hear alot of chatter turbos is not gonna last, Don't buy! Is this accurate, What do you guys think? I feel if any company figure out making great turbo engine toyota can.

What about the 3 sharkfins - one is an antenna and the other 2 are for a trailering camera feature...

I love it minus 1 thing and it’s an eyesore. If you don’t get a trd pro or trailhunter- you get a massive nascar looking front plastic lip

great review David , sad to hear that Canada will not get the Pre Runner , i would of liked to put down a deposit on one which now looks like its not going to happen , unless in 2025 they change that and make it a 3 door and would make it more attractive to several buyers across North America 👍

My biggest concern is longevity of hybrid motor and maintenance cost. Never thrilled about buying a first gen of a new design.

At the end of the day it's only a 4 cylinder.

Excellent overview that I would deem practical😉 TY. Q :Can the 2024 Tacoma be flat towed behind an RV? I hope Toyota has not continued to ignore this popular segment of usage in the U.S. that is currently dominated by Jeep.

The stock tow hooks on the trail hunter version. Watch other videos, you would have to upgrade the front bumper which you can order from Toyota.

Please comment on interior space changes, if any. Hopefully improved and not cramped like current one.

All good improvements and class leading 465 lbft, now just offer the the 3.4 gas only and have class leading hp/torque without taking away rear under seat storage and have rated power available all the time.

hi, Nice video. Can you make one where you can get input from japanese car makers on their battle against Tesla and BYD?

Bro, that running board on the Limited absolutely nice for the wives to go to Costco.

TrailHunter is the one I go for. Two main reasons are because they have longer bed and full body protection. And of course it’s cheaper than TRD Pro.

I’m looking forward to the new Tacoma. I’m just not too thrilled about small engine w/turbo. I’ve always been impressed with the off-road capabilities and usefulness of a small truck for hunting over full size trucks.

Don’t remember hearing it in the video, but I believe that rear brakes are rotar instead of drum. Could be for all trims or maybe higher end. It was shown in per release teaser pictures.

Your an engineer what kind of mpg can the hybrid get???

It's gonna sell like crazy.

I liked your video. The need to classify as either practical or gimmicky was sort of gimmicky itself ;) . But I still liked your video 😅. A B + C

Does it ride better- (driver seating position) and is it less fatiguing on long trips?

Another great video, David! I think Toyota hit a homerun with this new Tacoma. 👍

I'm really happy what toyota has done with the tacoma. Have you heard of any changes to the 2024 tundra? Trailhunter is on my list for sure

Nice lovely car ❤❤

Is the New Tacoma flat towable to appeal to RV owners as well ?

I found it odd that they put these fancy seats in the TRD Pro but don't offer it in the Trailhunter. The Trailhunter most off road capable but you still get to bounce around the cab on washboard roads. I would think the most practical move would be to only offer it in the Trailhunter.

Toyota should offer the manual transmission on the Trail Hunter with the 6’ bed and 4 door.

nice review - would have like to see a list at the end. And perhaps you could have gone with a third CAT - as useless or poor idea?? Thanks for the review.

Do they offer a fuel efficient hybrid model?

I'm surprised the Taco has more features than the Tundra. Also, disappointing Toyota didn't increase rear passenger space. I get people complaining about the Tundra not fitting in their garage, but a mere 3 inches more for rear passenger legroom would've been amazing. Sad they didn't put a lower tuned version of the Tundra engine in there to keep the v6. Overall, they fixed most of the issues I had with my Taco but the Ranger Raptor is checking a lot of my boxes as well. Just gotta see how each drives for myself.

No options for naturally-aspirated, manual transmission Tacoma? 🤯 Some of us don't care for turbo.

I'm surprised that the Trainhunter does not have it's own tailgate stamp. It uses the Tacoma brand, like the rest of the lineup, south of the TRD Pro. That's how you know the TRD Pro is the top of the heap, and the Trailhunter is just another trim If the Trailhunter had its own tailgate, I'd probably get it, over the TRD Pro.

Good car video

It would have been nice to see the X-Runner make a return.

The air dam being so massive and out of place looking, its making me wonder it the Taco 4 cylinder turbo is going to come with a massive drop in mpgs, like the Canyon/Colorado 4 cylinder. I want a midsize truck for the better fuel economy, which lately seems to be coming more from the full size trucks

The new Taco cabs are jokes, especially the extra cab. The features are pretty good.

I'm interested in pricing. What will the price difference between a TRD OR and TRD Pro be ? I have a 2021 TRD OR and I will be buying this new Tacoma in either OR or Pro.

What engine do you expect in new Lexus GX ?

I thought they said the pre runner was coming to Canada at a later date