Toyota Tacoma Double Cab V-6Toyota has a reputation for owning the small pickup marketplace. It has led with innovations such as the selectable locker, a truly off-road-tuned suspension and tire package, and even the four-door cab configuration. While this new Tacoma is good, we feel it has lost some of its advantage to the hungry and up-and-coming Nissan Frontier.
First of all, everything about the '05 Tacoma got bigger. The interior now has enough room for two grown men to ride side by side in the front seat without feeling like they are going to rub shoulders. The traditional Double Cab configuration has also grown, allowing our judges to ride comfortably in groups of five to breakfast when the Frontier we tested was only good for two people and some gear stowed under the jump seats. The only problem is that the new 4.0L engine is not up to the task of towing this newfound heft around.
Stylistically the new Tacoma still looks small until you park it next to a Tundra. The exterior appearance was received with mixed favor from our judges. Some of us preferred the more subtle looks of the Frontier, while others thought the Tacoma wasn't radical enough and really needed a hoodscoop to complete the look.
Toyota still maintains a slight advantage in the ride-and-handling department over the Frontier and the similarly sized Dakota. The suspension feels more balanced front to rear than both the Frontier and the Dakota, which makes the highway blast and pothole-dodging ride into the office much less work.
Take the Tacoma into the dirt and it's only marginally better than the Frontier, where the front suspension doesn't handle the big bumps as well as it should. That's probably why the Tacoma was a letdown for some of the judges who drove it through deep sand ruts (the manual transmission probably didn't help either) during our dune testing.
Toyota purists can relax: The Tacoma still holds its own in the rocks and feels more stable thanks to its newfound size and excellent ground clearance. Visibility is not as good as the previous Tacoma, but with the TRD package you still get all the goodies (Bilstein shocks, rear locker, BFGoodrich tires, and clutch interlock) that make these trucks such good off-roaders.
Specifications
| GENERAL |
| Manufacturer | Toyota |
| Model | Tacoma Double Cab V-6 |
| Base Price | $23,870 |
| Price as Tested | $29,782 |
| Options as Tested | TRD Off-road Package |
| w/towing hitch (off-road tuned suspension, Bilstein shocks, 16-inch aluminum wheels, P265/70R16 tires, locking rear differential, transfer case skidplate, front tow hooks, 115V/400W bed-mounted power point, foglamps, Class IV receiver hitch, oil cooler, heavy-duty battery, 130-amp alternator, 7-pin connector, remote keyless entry, cruise control, variable-speed intermitant wipers, multifunction overhead console w/compass and temperature gauge, chrome grille surround and over fenders, sliding rear window w/privacy glass, sport seats w/driver lumbar support, fabric trim, metallic-tone instrument panel trim, leather steering wheel, sunvisors w/mirrors and extenders), floor mats, JBL audio system, side curtain airbags, door sill protectors, roof rack |
| ENGINE |
| Type | DOHC 24-valve V-6 |
| Displacement (liters/cubic inches) | 4.0/246 |
| Bore & Stroke (inches) | 3.70x3.74 |
| Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 |
| Induction Type | Sequential, multiport |
| | fuel injection |
| Fuel Req. (octane)/Capacity (gal.) | 91/21 |
| SAE Peak Horsepower | 245 @ 5,200 rpm |
| SAE Peak Torque (lb-ft) | 282 @ 3,800 rpm |
| TRANSMISSION |
| Type | Six-speed manual overdrive |
| Model | Toyota |
| Ratios | First: 4.17:1; Second: 2.19:1;Third:1.49:1; Fourth: 1.19:1; Fifth: 1.00:1; Sixth: 0.85:1; Reverse: 3.61:1 |
| Transfer Case |
| Type | Two-speed part time |
| Model | Toyota |
| Low-range Ratio | 2.57:1 |
| Axles |
| Front Type | IFS |
| Rear Type | Solid axle w/selectable locker |
| Hubs | N/A |
| Ratio | 3.73:1 |
| SUSPENSION |
| Front | IFS w/upper and lower A-arms and coil springs |
| Rear | Live axle, longitudinal leaf springs |
| Steering |
| Type | Power rack-and-pinion |
| Turns Lock-to-Lock/Ratio | 3.75/17.3:1 |
| Turning Radius (feet) | 40.6 |
| Wheels |
| Size (inches) | 16x7 |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Tires |
| Size | P265/70R16 |
| Brand | BFGoodrich Rugged Trail T/A |
| Brakes |
| Front | 12.56-inch discs with ABS |
| Rear | 10-inch drums with ABS |
| 60-0 (feet) | 154 |
| ACCELERATION |
| Standing 11/44-mile | |
| (seconds @ mph) | 18.49 @ 79.07 |
| Weight (pounds) |
| Curb Weight | 4,100 |
| Advertised GVWR | 5,450 |
| Mileage |
| EPA Estimate (city/hwy. mpg) | 17/21 |
| As Tested (mpg) | 10.8 |
| Dimensions (inches) |
| Wheelbase | 127.75 |
| Overall Length | 207 |
| Overall Width | 83 |
| Overall Height | 71.5 |
| Front/Rear Track | 63.5/63.5 |
| Front/Rear Overhang | 33.25/47.75 |
| Min. Front Ground Clearance | 9 |