Toyota Tacoma fans have a holiday present in store.
Toyota announced Tuesday that the redesigned 2024 Toyota Tacoma will go on sale in December, although pricing still hasn’t been revealed. The new pickup truck should reach showrooms at about the same time as the new Lexus TX, the luxury brand’s three-row crossover SUV. The new products are sure to enhance Toyota’s strong sales momentum, which is up 27.9% calendar year-to-date versus last year.
But it’s the 2024 Toyota Tacoma that’s sure to stoke sales the most.
Based on the TNGA-F global truck platform used for the full-size Tundra pickup and Sequoia SUV, the Tacoma returns as a four-door Double Cab or the two-door XtraCab with either a 5- or 6-foot bed. And there’s no shortage of models, starting with the well-known SR and SR5, and ascending through TRD PreRunner, TRD Sport, TRD Off Road, Limited, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter trim.
The standard engine for the SR and SR-5 is the i-Force turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder rated at 228 horsepower and 243 lb.-ft. of torque, although other Tacomas get 278 horsepower and 317 lb.-ft. of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is offered alongside a six-speed manual transmission. But the manual has slightly less power: 270 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. Toyota will also offer a hybrid i-Force Max powertrain, mating a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder to a 48-hp electric motor to produce 326 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque.
Rear-wheel drive models feature an automatic limited-slip differential, and four-wheel-drive models have an electronically-controlled two-speed transfer case with high/low range along with Active Traction Control and an automatic limited-slip differential. An electronic locking rear differential is standard on TRD PreRunner, TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter trim, while the Limited has a full-time four-wheel-drive system with a center locking differential on i-Force Max models.
Maximum towing capacity is 6,500 pounds on SR5 i-Force and TRD PreRunner XtraCab models, with a maximum payload increases to 1,709 lbs. on the Tacoma TRD Off-Road.
Still, the Tacoma will face some of its fiercest competition yet, as Chevrolet, GMC, and Ford all introduce brand-new midsize vehicles this year.
Look for pricing to be announced sometime before its launch.
