Driving Experience
Includes acceleration and handling
What Owners Say
"Steering seams a little stiff and requires more effort than my 2013 Tundra."
Anonymous, MI (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"Low-end torque is not as strong as I would like. Toyota could improve the fuel delivery or throttle programming to improve this when shifting into 4th gear."
Gregory W., GA (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"Transmission is sometimes jerky in that it jumps into a lower gear with the slightest touch of the accelerator."
Nicholas D., NV (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"The transmission timing is poor. Seems to be slow to accelerate and shift. Surely Toyota could have done a better job on this basic function."
Fred C., TX (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"Our third Tacoma Sport V6 in the past 6 years. Each has been rough riding and in need of disc brakes on rear axle. The 2018 with the different engine suffers strange shifting characteristics and rough engine operation under slow cruising speeds. Don’t like these characteristics but live with them because the vehicle is just the right one for our needs."
Anonymous, OR (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"Great acceleration and handling. Much improved over 2014 Tacoma."
Ted P., VA (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"Great acceleration and handling. 4WD and manual transmission are great in the snow. I tach to about 3500/4000 RPM and still get 20 MPG average on a tank of gas."
Brad B., WI (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"Very comfortable on macadam roads; not so much on concrete ones."
Jim O., HI (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"On the highway...Transmission seemed much better on my 2015. Stays in gear too long before changing Tach goes up to 3000 grand at times before shifting. Acceleration is not great. Not smooth. Shifts ok in city driving"
Anonymous, OH (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"Acceleration is mediocre. Handling seems unstable at times"
Anonymous, NV (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"Handles well in traffic. The safety features are very good!"
Mike N., FL (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"Very controllable"
Anonymous, MD (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"The engine seems like its digital?? Meaning when you go to accelerate the motor doesn't ramp up very much until you get to full depression!! meaning it kicks into overdrive and takes off like a rocket?? People (I live in a college town) think I'm trying to race them when all I'm really trying to do is accelerate enough to get far enough infront of side cars to switch lanes. Also for a much newer truck than my last ( 2009 Ford Truck) that got 23 mph on the highway this one only gets 20 mph and 13 in the city (the ford got 14???)"
Anonymous, TX (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"Good"
T G., FL (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"Unsatisfied with the startup pedal on the Tacoma. It is a bit sluggish on startup; i.e. pulling out into traffic or onto a highway. When you step on the pedal, it actually feels sluggish for about 3 seconds before it actually starts to kick in. I've read about this issue in the car rags and they speak of the same issue with the Tacoma's. Where'as the Chevy Colorado (the Tacoma's closest competition) has a very strong pedal all around and, surprisingly, slightly better gas mileage than the Tacoma! If it wasn't for the better trade-in values for Toyota's, I very well might have tried something else this time. FYI, I had a 2010 Tacoma before the current 2018 purchase, but lost that vehicle to storm damage!!"
Anonymous, MA (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"The new style transmission compared to my 2015 is prohibits acceleration to an extent. Vehicle moves through multiple gearing to often."
Lebarron D., NY (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"It drives great. Drives like a truck, which is what I want. CR's rating system appears to want everything to drive like a car."
Anonymous, IN (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"Very good acceleration. Rides like a truck due to the off road suspension (I got what I expected). Controls are laid out well and easy to access. I give this truck my highest marks for off road driving with good ground clearance, locking differentials and the Smart Trac assistance. My biggest criticism is that the the transmission spends too much time in 4th gear when ever the cruse control is engaged. It jumps from 6th to 4th on any small incline and wants to stay in 4th until I tap the accelerator. With 278 horsepower this should not happen. When not using the cruse control the transmission functions fine."
John M., NE (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"Responds very quickly and easy to drive"
Anonymous, FL (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"Terrible gas mileage. Reverse is next to first gear which is dangerous and frustrating."
Matthew W., NY (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"Transmission programming still has work to do"
Jon K., MN (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"Very cohesive. Feels like a very solid vehicle."
Jim L., KY (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"The 4 cyl. Does not accelerate as quickly as I would like. Should have bought the 6 cyl."
Joe D., TX (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"shifts to often"
Larry P., WI (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"I have the 6 speed auto and I don't care for how it shifts while accelerating. It doesn't accelerate continuously, but downshifts. I have a towing package and maybe there's not a good balance of speed and torque. Otherwise very happy with all other aspects."
Anonymous, NH (2018 Toyota Tacoma)"This truck has a very solid feel when driving in mountains with lots of curves. It seems to downshift more than I think it should when in cruise control."
Allen V., CA (2018 Toyota Tacoma)
"The ride comfort is excellent and surprised. I drive full-size trucks and have owned Tacomas in the past. This 2018 Off Road is very impressive so far."
Michael B., PA (2018 Toyota Tacoma)