Toyota's compact pickup features a 3.5-liter V6 hooked up to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. A 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine, which can be mated to a five-speed manual, is also available. Both two- and four-wheel-drive models are offered. Our four-wheel-drive V6 Tacoma delivered a good 19 mpg overall. Though the truck is tough as nails and delivers impressive off-road prowess, it's primitive. The ride is stiff, handling is ponderous, the cabin is very loud, and the driving position is awkwardly low. The modern connectivity features are welcome. 2018 models got the Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P) as standard equipment, which includes forward-collision warning with automatic braking and pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Safety features such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are available.

The Tacoma comes with one of two sizes of four-cylinder engines, or a more desirable V6 engine, which in more recent examples was a 4.0-liter V6. The ride is awful, bucking and jittering constantly and the cabin is loud. Handling is clumsy, but ultimately secure. The high floor and low roof make access tricky and the low driving position is awkward. Interior materials are quite rudimentary, as befitting a work vehicle. Versions powered by the V6 are rated to tow about 6500 pounds, but payload capacity is relatively small. TRD-equipped trucks are excellent off-road.