Driving Experience
Includes acceleration and handling
What Owners Say
"The Tacoma is a truck. It drives like a truck, handles like a truck, corners like a truck. It is what it is. But it is also tough as nails - nothing bothers it. It just keeps on keeping on."
Steve P., CA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Tacoma is optimized for reliability. The four cylinder engine is just enough to move this vehicle and nothing more. Each gear works for a specific speed range only. Those ranges do not overlap much. This it's not fun. Handling for a truck is typical. It does ride like a car as far as suspension goes. That is a very good quality."
Daniel M., NY (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Poor gas mileage! Manuel transmission not right. 2nd gear is too fast eg must shift to first gear going around a corner."
Richard S., WA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"turning radius is large for the size of the vehicle"
Anonymous, LA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Acceptable acceleration,at times rough ride, but I expect that from a pickup truck,"
David M., CA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Excellent acceleration best vehicle I have ever owned"
Anonymous, TX (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"I have the 4.0 litre V6. in my Tacoma. Plenty of power to pull medium trailer and great acceleration. Responsive steering,"
Anonymous, AL (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Good acceleration but engine sounds like it is straining at times during acceleration. Sometimes I feel like I am driving a "boat""
Tina W., NC (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Good acceleration and handles well for a truck."
Barbara H., NH (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"It can't get out of its own way. It's extremely underpowered."
Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Although its a 4 cylinder truck, the acceleration is good and handling is very good"
Anonymous, NC (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"I would not get a standard transmission next time. makes it uncomfortable to drive in stop and go traffic"
Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Clutch pressure extremely high, difficult in traffic"
JAMES T., TX (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"When towing our travel trailer, this truck becomes a 3-legged dog. The rest of the time, it's peppy."
LARRY P., NC (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Very comfortable, good acceleration,power"
Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Love the tight turn around radius."
FRED R., TX (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Pretty economical to run, and the engine system is excellent."
Anonymous, HI (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"2 wheel drive 4 cyl; generally pretty gutless for towing anything heavy and poor in snow."
Anonymous, MD (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"This is a 4 cylinder motor. The acceleration could be better."
PAIGE T., NC (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"the one thing that stands out in the Tacoma has to do with acceleration. and not in a good way.... during the use and operation of the cruise control system, the vehicle will suddenly and unexpectedly accelerate at a rapid rate. seemingly uneccessarily"
LOY H., OK (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Vehicle is equipped with a towing package. I regularly tow a travel trailer and am very satisfied with its performance under tow."
JOHN M., CO (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"The only thing I have been disappointed with this vehicle is the blind spots. It's terrible to see around in parking lots especially. There seems to be so many areas where you can't tell what is around or close to the vehicle. Adjusting the mirrors doesn't seem to help this."
Anonymous, NC (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"A V6 would be so much better"
Anonymous, WA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Drives great in the snow. We get a lot of snow."
RICHARD S., MI (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Under powered"
Anonymous, MD (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Excellent power & acceleration. Handles superbly."
Anonymous, GA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"For a truck its size, it has amazing towing capacity and acceleration.Very stable, great tough driving capability in DEEP (Lake effect) snow."
RANDY K., NY (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Husband loves this truck. He says it drives like a dream."
SUSANA M., LA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"very reliable and practical, but rides and drives like a threshing machine; noisy, surging, hesitating, awkward and abrupt shifts; gas mileage should be better"
JACK C., VA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Excellent acceleration with the V-6 but does not compromise gal mileage"
Ed D., TX (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Have to be careful when pulling out into traffic, only has a 4 cylinder 150 hp engine Truck handles well and the steering is tight especially with better tires. Purchased this truck with 4 cylinder as the 6 cylinder in 2008 required premium fuel."
Anonymous, PA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"It is satisfactory for me"
Anonymous, NS (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Have had about a half-dozen incidents of unexpected acceleration and the company denies any knowledge of this ever happening. Service analysis cannot pinpoint the problem and I know it is not me."
Linda B., MD (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"So far I don't have any problems at all."
Conran B., BC (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"It has good acceleration with the 4 liter six but it does handle like a ponderous beast. If I go above 72mph handling gets very vague and the ride and feel of control suffers. Driving 35000 to 37000 miles a year, I frequently am on the interstates. This is perhaps where tis vehicle is the most vulnerable if you push it above 72mph. Anything below that it handles ok. If they offered the vehicle I have new I would buy it again as it does what I want it to do as far as hauling stuff, towing stuff, and it is awesome on the beach."
Anonymous, MD (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Gutless"
Anonymous, GA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"The four cylinder engine is way underpowered for the weight and size of this truck"
Stev D., WA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Dash instruments are difficult to read (speedometer) unless it is night time and dash is lit up brightly. Definitely a design flaw."
Larry H., KS (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Tacoma has begun to ride rougher over irregular surfaces. Haven't been able to determine whether if it is simply that the shocks/struts have worn out after 270,000 miles."
Anonymous, NC (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"I am very comfortable with the driving/handling of my 2008 Tacoma. The acceleration on inclines is very good for a 4-cylinder engine."
Anonymous, WA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Acceleration is a week spot in this truck. It's not deficient in power, but it is what I would call mushy -- the response from the engine lacks the press of the accelerator, sometimes up to a full second. Handling is also a bit mushy, but not enough to bother me."
Daryl L., CT (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Good acceleration, firm steering and handles very well in 2 wheel and 4 wheel in the snow. Easily switches between the two."
David L., AZ (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"The truck handles just fine - most issues are creature comforts. I should have taken cruise, intermittent wipers and electric windows. Even with the four banger it powers up just fine and handles nicely."
John F., CA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"The Tacoma handles very well in both 2 and 4 wheel drive. But still nothing as good as a car."
Jack C., IN (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Nothing fancy about this truck..It is a TRUCK. I looked for a used V6 with a manual shift 6 speed. Kind of rare. But it is so fun to drive. It goes fast and still gives me almost 20 mpg overall. Great truck."
Steve P., CA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"still very responsive acceleration and maneuverability"
Rusty L., OK (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Great acceleration."
Anonymous, VA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"I have to remember it is only a four cylinder engine and can't expect high performance from a vehicle like that."
Anonymous, NV (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Acceleration is adequate, handling is no problem, but it rides harsher than my Audi."
Ronald M., IL (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"4wheel drive handling in snow and on primitive roads is excellent"
Anonymous, WA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"drives like a truck"
Anonymous, VA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"This has a standard transmission that has stood up to my abuse for all these years. The mileage is good and it lets me haul stuff from the Stone Center and Home Depot whenever necessary. Otherwise I never drive it if I don't have to. I prefer the Camry."
Anonymous, IL (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"For a truck it handles great. But, each driver is different"
Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Great truck I use for work. Reliable, dependable and cost efficient to operate. 4 cylinder has more than adequate power and it is easy to park"
Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"Compared to my 2008 Rav 4 (v-6) this one is very under powered (4 cyl.) . I will not buy another Rav 4 unless it has a 6 cyl engine it."
Anonymous, MN (2008 Toyota Tacoma)"X Runner model that drives and handles more like a sports car than a truck. Well powered with large V6 engine and 6 speed manual transmission."
Anonymous, TX (2008 Toyota Tacoma)
"Dependable Toyota product"
Jeff E., WA (2008 Toyota Tacoma)