Toyota has taken the wraps off the 4th-gen Tacoma pickup truck, expected to go on sale later this year. The 2024 Tacoma lineup boasts—among other things—a new Trailhunter trim—a factory-developed overlanding rig built with equipment from ARB, Old Man Emu, and RIGID. The full lineup includes SR, SR5, TRD PreRunner, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, Trailhunter and TRD Pro.
The 2024 Tacoma lineup is designed by the folks at CALTY Design Center (Newport Beach, CA and Ann Arbor, MI), who apparently focused on the theme of a “Badass Adventure Machine”, and it seems like they’ve accomplished their goal. The new pickup indeed looks badass. It is built upon the TNGA-F global truck platform shared with Tundra and Sequoia, which I think plays an important role in the truck’s so-called “badass” looks. The steel-ladder frame chassis is claimed to offer numerous features that off-road enthusiasts can play with.
One of the key Highlights of the new Tacoma is a newly available multi-link rear suspension that replaces the previous gen’s leaf springs in favor of a set of coils. However, leaf springs remain standard on SR, SR5 XtraCab, and TRD PreRunner trims.
Tacoma now features suspensions tuned specifically to each trim. For instance, TRD Sport has red TRD sport-tuned shocks for a more responsive feel. The TRD Off-Road trim is equipped with monotube Bilstein remote reservoir shocks for extended wheel travel and greater heat dissipation and includes an end stop control valve (ESCV) that is said to offer increased damping force as the suspension comes closer to full bound stroke. TRD Pro comes with FOX’s new QS3 three-way adjustable internal bypass shocks with remote reservoirs for improved high-speed off-road performance and FOX Internal Floating Piston (IFP) rear bump stops to improve bottom-out feel. Trailhunter includes new Old Man Emu (OME) 4×4 Suspension by ARB that is apparently tuned for optimum levels of off-road control and load-carrying capability. Limited trim features a new Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) system that constantly adjusts damping forces based on changing road conditions.
Tacoma also now gets four-wheel disc brakes for increased braking performance compared with the previous model, while TRD models and above are equipped with a larger front brake package. TRD models and above equipped with i-FORCE MAX add a larger rear brake package. An electronic parking brake allows for low-speed radar cruise control and a brake hold function. For an improved steering feel and to facilitate the incorporation of additional safety and convenience features, Tacoma will now have electric power steering.
Tacoma Trailhunter with accessories..
Maximum towing capacity for Tacoma is rated at 2,948 kg (6,500 lbs) on SR5 i-FORCE and TRD PreRunner XtraCab trims, and maximum payload increases to 775 kg (1,709 lbs) on TRD Off-Road. A bunch of supporting features is also available, including Trailer Brake Controller, Trailer Backup Guide, Digital Display Mirror, Straight Path Assist, and 360-degree cameras for a top-down view.
Toyota said that there’s a 7% increase in bed volume. Additionally, the aluminum tailgate features an available power open and close function with jam protection, and a quick release and close button is integrated within either taillight. Gas trims offer an available 400-watt AC inverter outlet in the bed and on the rear of the center console, while i-FORCE MAX trims come standard with a 2400-watt AC inverter. A 12-volt DC power access is also available in both the bed and in the cabin. Trailhunter features an integrated air compressor.
On the inside, key highlights include a new 8-inch or available 14-inch touchscreen display; wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity; available Qi wireless charging pad; a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster standard on higher trims (7-inch for lower trims); available Digital Key, and an available 10-speaker JBL audio system. Notice that JBL Flex portable speaker that can be docked on the dashboard.
The Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite of active safety and driver assistance systems comes standard on all Tacomas, of course. These include Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection; Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist; Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control; Lane Tracing Assist; Road Sign Assist; Automatic High Beams, and Proactive Driving Assist.
Exclusively available on TRD Pro are these patent-pending IsoDynamic Performance Seats—which are claimed to offer a smooth, confidence-inspiring ride, thanks to an air-over-oil shock absorber system allowing for vertical and lateral seat movement simultaneously to dampen body movement and stabilize the head and neck to keep alignment with the spine. This dampening effect is tunable based on body mass and occupant preference and can be bypassed, if desired, via levers on the seatbacks, the company said.
Moving on to the juicy bits of the story, the 2024 Toyota Tacoma as standard is powered by a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine that pumps out 207 kW (278 bhp/281 metric hp) and 430 Nm (317 lb-ft) of torque, coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission. But do note that for entry-level models, this engine offers 170 kW (228 bhp/231 metric hp) and 329 Nm (243 lb-ft). There’s also a 6-speed manual transmission option with automatic rev-matching and anti-stall technology; in this case, the output figures are 201 kW (270 bhp/273 metric hp) and 420 Nm (310 lb-ft).
The so-called i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain, available on TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and standard on the TRD Pro and Trailhunter halo models, combines a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine and an electric motor integrated into an 8-speed automatic gearbox, offering combined figures of 243 kW (326 bhp/330 metric hp) and 630 Nm (465 lb-ft). The 36 kW (48 bhp/49 metric hp) electric motor feeds off a 1.87-kWh NiMH battery pack.
Tacomas with rear-wheel-drive feature an automatic limited-slip differential (Auto LSD), and four-wheel-drive models have an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case with high/low range along with Active Traction Control (A-TRAC) and an automatic limited-slip differential (Auto LSD). An electronic locking rear differential is standard on TRD PreRunner, TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter grades. The new Limited trim now features a full-time four-wheel-drive system with a center locking differential with the i-FORCE MAX powertrain.
Another key highlight of the new Tacoma is an available front stabilizer bar disconnect that increases flex at the push of a button. With the front stabilizer bar disconnected, Tacoma’s articulation increases by 10% compared with the previous-gen truck.
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