2020 Toyota Tacoma - A smaller but better pickup

Toyota’s 2020 Tacoma midsize truck can almost match a full-size American pickup but costs less and fits in more garages

When the American automakers abandoned the midsize pickup market in the late 2000s, Toyota kept on trucking. The Tacoma remains the best-selling midsize truck in the US—it's more popular than the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, and Nissan Frontier combined. The Tacoma’s capability, size, and dependable off-road features keep buyers satisfied. For 2020, it gets few but important design and technology updates to push this rough-and-tumble pickup into modern times.

The Tacoma's body, in either extended Access or four-door Double Cab form, is rounded enough to feel like it’s not a Jeep but still coated with enough upright lines and chiseled panels to remind viewers this is not some cushy Highlander. With most Tacoma models, you choose efficiency over embellishments. The Limited trim has 18-inch wheels, and that’s about as glitzy as it gets.

Not so with the TRD Pro I drove. For 2020, Toyota redesigned the LED headlights so they light up with “TRD” on the left, “PRO” on the right, and sequential turn signals on both sides. With the new grille—chunkier than ever, the TRD models swap the “T” circular badge for the classic “TOYOTA” printed in all caps—the Tacoma is ready to pounce. An aluminum skid plate with a red TRD logo and exposed red shocks from Fox Racing, not to mention the 16-inch black TRD wheels and all-terrain tires, announce the TRD Pro’s intent as a curb-hopper in the city and a backwoods champ on the trail.

Presenter: Clifford Atiyeh
Cinematography: Venn Creative Media

[frankuribe]

At the end of the day what you’re mainly purchasing with Toyota is reliability

[razorchuckles]

I've been driving my 2010 Tacoma for ten years, and my next vehicle? Toyota Tacoma :)

[dominicphillips]

What I like most about the Tacoma is that it's appears to be a tough, capable vehicle without the overtly boisterous footprint as a full sized truck. It's like the nimble guy in the back of the room who doesn't feel the need to prove himself because he knows what he's capable of.

... but yeah, dude that price, idk...

[snotellekS]

"the tacoma is difficult to keep centered"

This guy would lose his mind driving a jeep.

[endlessnameless]

The exhaust sounds awesome for a factory system. How loud does this guy think it's supposed to be?

[youonlyliveonce_maybetwice]

Is this Pauley Shore? I wondered what he was up to.

[janetairlines]

I love how they got rid of the legendary 4.0 v6 just to save about 1 mpg

[carlitoswayz-Okan]

I bought my 2017 trdpro because it came in a manual. Fun truck and hasn't let me down

[j.r.]

The TRD Pro and TRD Off Road are built for 1 main purpose. Off road on any terrain but with Toyota reliability. I don’t care about the gas mileage or rougher ride on the road.

I had a 1997 Toyota Tacoma that was an extra cab 4 cylinder. That truck had unreal capabilities and I still wish I owned it to this day. It was a 5 speed manual and in the 4 years that I owned it I put 218, 000 miles on it. All of those miles were either off roading in the desert, or rock crawling in the mountains. The truck was also my work truck when I worked for my Uncles drywall company. I used to haul and tow well past its recommended capacities. The only thing that I ever did to that truck was a new clutch at I think either 172, 000 miles or maybe it was 176, 000? I couldn’t believe it lasted that long though. The power steering pump went out a month after buying it new but that was a warranty issue. And then the passenger front brake went metal to metal at only 9, 000 miles and would always wear much faster than the drivers side. I think years later there was a recall on the calipers sticking. When I put 4 PIAA 80 Racing Series off road lights and a pre runner bumper on the truck the shop accidentally drilled through the radiator. They ended up putting a new aftermarket radiator that was bigger in it but it kept the truck running slightly cooler too. I then snapped a leaf spring at work one day hauling a pallet of boxes of drywall mud. Each box weighed 5 lbs. and I think there were 60 boxes on a pallet. I then had other materials loaded as well. My Dad was friends with a guy that custom built a lot of suspensions for vehicles that race in the Baja 1000. He put custom made heavy duty leaf springs under my truck and then leveled the front as well. I ended up having better ground clearance and off road capabilities in addition to being able to hall more weight too. He swapped out the stock shocks front and rear for adjustable, custom made reservoir shocks and I never again had another suspension issue. That truck was a really good truck. I even got married in it at the Drive Thru Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.

My next Tacoma was a 2007 TRD Off Road extra cab with a 6 speed manual. The rear locker in it made that truck also a very good off road capable truck. I got rid of it in I think 2014 or 2015? I needed a full size truck because none of my kids fit in the back seat. I also really miss that truck a lot! Because of that and my really liking the new TRD Pro Tacoma’s, I am thinking about keeping my full size truck for family stuff but buying one of those. We live in Colorado now and I know tons of places a few hours away that I can go off roading. All that I would need to do on that truck is ditch the stock tires for some 10 ply BFG All Terrain TKO’s and add some off road lights to it and it would be ready to go. Put a Baja Design ONYX 6, 50” light bar on it and it’s good to go. Maybe a winch as well.

[ronmac]

He's right about hunting gears. My 2018 TRD OR did the same, but somehow I've adjusted my brain or my right foot. I average 22 mpg with 50% of my driving at 60 mph. What is weird is that if I'm going steady 55-60 mph it gets 28 mpg. Above 65mph, mpg drops fast. It's not fast, smooth, good on gas or cheap ... but I'm keeping it.

[slocavky]

I picked up a 2020 trd sport 6 speed the other day. absolutely LOVE it.

[robertom]

I don’t get why some people complain about the price on the TRD pro. At the end of the day you are buying it because you want it NOT because you need it

[simonassouline]

Best Truck in the World, Nothing even comes Close!

[kushagra]

this guy low-key looks like Loki from Avengers

[cesarreynoso]

TRD Pro over the gladiator hands down. Jeeps dont do so well with reliability. 😂

[henrym]

At least guy admits mileage is really bad, when I had my 2018 TRD Off road Tacoma it was so uncomfortable to drive terrible seating for a 6ft 215 pound guy. Not really using all the off road features which has its place for serious enthusiast but  Sold it and went with the Ford F-150 XLT with Coyote 5.0 litre actually better mileage towing and on a long trip like sitting in my lazy boy chair at home, absolutely zero fatigue.

[atl]

I have an 09 Tacoma with 72, 000 miles. Works and runs beautifully

[austinradtke]

“Gas milage isn’t great.” Who expects stellar gas milage with a lifted truck? I’m lucky to get 15mpg with my 1st gen. Want gas milage? Get one of those stupid crossovers.

[JDCPA]

Trucks have not improved in mpgs for 3 decades. I remember my dad bitching about his blazers mpg in the 80s.

[Edmiesta]

I bought a 2019 ram rebel fully loaded for $48k. Coming from a previous 2017-2018 tacoma owner i would never spend more than $32k for one ever again. SUPER GREAT truck, the problem is its sluggish on the throttle, outdated specs, and fuel economy is practically the same as my 19 ram rebel, and that monster is a v8!