Driving Impressions

On the highway, the V6 Tacoma exhibits fine manners. It is reasonably quiet and copes well with passing maneuvers and grades. Though nowhere near as economical (17 mpg city, 19 highway in our test truck) as either of the less powerful engines, its increased performance makes it attractive nonetheless. For a pickup truck, the Tacoma rides well. The coil-spring front suspension copes well with all but the worst potholes, and has enough travel to deal with off-road obstacles. Like almost all pickups, the Tacoma's rear axle's leaf springs do best when there's a load in the bed; with only a driver on board, the rear tends to react noticeably to freeway expansion joints and similar small bumps, and hops up and down over rough surfaces off road. Tacomas with power steering (all V6s, and available with the 4-cyl. models) are easy to drive. Maneuverability is good, but it's prudent to remember that Xtracab Tacomas have a considerably larger turning radius (40.0 vs. 34.4 ft.) than their shorter stablemates--not quite as handy in close quarters like parking lots. Once again, options play an important role in preparing Tacomas for their intended use. ABS is recommended for all versions, while the 4x4's off-road capabilities are much improved by ordering the 31-in. tires. Standard-cab Tacomas can be ordered with a new Off-Road package that adds a rear differential lock to the larger tires plus a shift-on-the-fly 4wd system (with V6 engine).

Final Word

There are many points in the Tacoma's favor. It is rugged, well-finished, and as comfortable as any truck in its class. When the right extras are ordered, it can be downright lavish, and looks good when dressed up. It's also a proven off-road performer, and the 4wd system is easy to use, even though it still entails a small separate transfer case shifter for engagement (some systems now have pushbuttons). It's possible to shift into high-range 4wd at speeds up to 50 mph. But when price is factored in, the Tacoma is more difficult to justify. When similarly equipped, a full-size 1997 Ford F-150--a more comfortable, civilized and versatile machine--costs little more. Trucks that compete directly with Tacoma in size generally undercut it in price. Then again, there's the T-factor--T for Toyota, of course. While there are lots of good trucks to choose from, we also know that there are very few dissatisfied Toyota owners in this world, cars, trucks or otherwise.