Class: Compact Pickup
Miles driven: 503
Fuel used: 27.4 gallons
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | B |
| Power and Performance | B+ |
| Fit and Finish | B- |
| Fuel Economy | B- |
| Value | B- |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | C |
| Tall Guy | B- |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 278-hp 3.5-liter |
| Engine Type | V6 |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| Drive Wheels | 4WD |
Real-world fuel economy: 18.4 mpg
Driving mix: 35% city, 65% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 18/22/20 (city/highway/combined)
Fuel type: Regular gas
Base price: $46,665 (not including $1095 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Desert air intake ($725), TRD air filter ($90), paint protection film ($395), bed mat ($120), door sill protector ($79), deck rail camera mount ($56), mudguards ($129), D-rings ($55), glass breakage sensor ($299)
Price as tested: $49,708
Quick Hits
The great: Peppy acceleration, off-road capability
The good: Decent ride for a serious off-road truck, control layout
The not so good: So-so interior materials, noise, limited interior space
More Tacoma price and availability information
CG Says:
As we reviewed a very similar Tacoma TRD Pro last year, we invite you to read that report for more details. Here we’ll touch on what’s new for Tacomas for the 2020 model year, and what makes the tested version a little bit special.
All Tacomas — from the base SR through mid-line SR5 and off-road TRDs to the line-topping Limited — get standard Toyota Safety Sense-P for 2020, which includes forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. They also get Apple CarPlay/Android Auto/Amazon Alexa capability through a 7-inch touchscreen on the base SR, an 8-incher on all others. All also get redesigned taillights, most get new grilles, and a power driver seat with lumbar adjustment is offered on V6 versions of the SR5 and up. Also available are a 360-degree Panoramic View Monitor, and — on off-road versions — a Multi-Terrain Monitor that provides a low-down view of what’s in front of the truck to help avoid unseen obstacles.
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The tested example — wearing new-for-2020 Army Green paint — featured an optional Desert Air Intake that brought a tall air scoop (intended to reduce the ingestion of sand/dirt particles kicked up by the truck when driving in dusty conditions) along with an optional TRD Air Filter. The combination added $815 to the bottom line, but could well be worth it if you indeed traverse sandy/dusty terrain.
But the former also caused a bit of a problem. The intake consists of a large-diameter pipe that runs up the passenger-side windshield pillar, culminating in a scoop at the top. The pipe is so large that it blocks almost as much of your front-right-corner view as the pillar itself–not great when turning left out of a parking lot across traffic. Otherwise, visibility is very good, aided by a wide-angle 180-degree rearview camera and 360-degree cameras.
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Tall ground clearance means it’s quite a hop into the interior for even average-height folks. Interior space overall isn’t great, though it’s fine if no passengers are much more than average size. Interior storage is just OK, with our tester boasting 12-volt and two USB plugs along with Qi wireless charging. The control layout is mostly good, though some right-side audio controls and most climate controls are a bit of a reach. Back in the bed, there’s a handy (though non-locking) little cargo bin along with a 120-volt (household current) outlet — both nice touches — along with a sliding rear cab window.
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The 3.5-liter V6 provides good acceleration (our tester averaging a commendable 8.17 seconds in the 0-60 dash), aided by quick kickdowns from the 6-speed automatic transmission. Although the ride gets “hoppy” at times — to the point it’s sometimes difficult to hit your chosen audio buttons — it’s fairly livable overall, particularly for a jacked-up 4×4. On the highway, wind, tire, and engine noise are more noticed than in most vehicles, though not overwhelming.
Toyota states that the Tacoma has been the best-selling compact pickup for 13 years running. Yet it doesn’t really boast anything that really sets it apart. But our tester did stand out with its Army Green paint along with jacked-up suspension and that huge air intake that tell folks you do some serious off-road driving — or at least make it look like you do.
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2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
