Auto review by Veeno Dewan

The Toyota Tacoma is Canada’s best-selling model in the midsize truck segment. And it is not hard to see why, the”Tac” has always offered an excellent combination of good looks, performance, reliability, and good  resale. The 20222 Tacoma is still available as an Access Cab, Double Cab or four -door crew cab. There is no more four-cylinder option, just V6-power and four-wheel-drive. No more two-wheel drive either. The Crew Cabs seat five in excellent comfort.  For the 2022 model year, he Trail Edition, TRD Pro and  TRD Sport Premium  all sit a half-inch taller in the back and 1.1 – 1.5 inches taller  up front. Other changes include the Special Edition Trail’s rear differential lock, increased track width, skid plate, and bronze wheels. The TRD Pro also has an increased track, plus machine-forged upper control arms, embossed TRD Pro bedside stamping, new black wheels, and available Electric Lime Metallic paint.

Across the range, the Tacoma is powered by a 3.5L V6 that makes 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. All models are four-wheel-drive, with a choice of six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.  Some models include Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control for off-road driving. Pricing for the Tacoma starts at $38,350- for the Access Cab short bed, at five feet, while other models offer longer 6-foot beds such as the Double Cab Crew starting at MSRP $40,350 – $53,390. We had  the TRD PRO model with a whopping $9,390 worth of options, incusing such goodies as:   Heated Front Seats, Power Slide / Tilt Moonroof, Wireless Charging, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, 8″Touch Screen, LED Headlamps, Embedded Navigation, Blind Spot, Monitor System, Embedded Traffic and Weather,  TRD Pro Leather Seats, electrochromic Rear View Mirror, TRD Shift Knob, Multi Terrain View, Monitor, Heritage “TOYOTA” Front Grille, Remove: Black Badging, Overlays, Black Fender Flares, “Rigid Industries” LED Foglamps, uprated TRD Rear suspension and the arresting looking  “Electric Lime” metallic paint finish.

The Tacoma is a superb work and play truck, with a cargo bed depth of 485 mm (19.1 inches), a maximum towing capacity of 2,900 kg (6,393 lb) and top payload of 450 kg (992 lb). It can tow 3,470 kg (7,650 lb) and haul 726 kg (1,600 lb). The tailgate is damped, locks and is removable.

Standard Interior features include Voice Activated Audio and  Phone systems, Apple Carplay, Android, USB, and Bluetooth connectivity.  In terms of safety, the Tacoma comes standard with numerous features, including Emergency front braking, Adaptive cruise control, Lane Departure Alert, multiple airbags, Anti-Collision System, Blind spot Monitor, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Roll Stability Control and Hill Holder function.

Inside, there is a lot of rather hard black plastic in neat, simple designs, but the cabin does look very durable and well finished.  Simple logical controls have glove handed friendly large dials for the climate control (automatic dual-zone on the  TRD package), and an elegant  touch screen with nice bright menus and icons, There are  also sensible dials for the volume and tuning, and hard buttons for different functions. The front cabin has decent enough storage space, and the front seats are comfortable for long drives. At the back there is an adequate cabin with a  rear split bench seat that folds and stows.  Handy hidden stealth compartments are also a nice touch in the rear. There’s a dial for switching from rear-wheel to four-wheel drive, while terrain select, a locking rear differential, and crawl control are handled by buttons and dials in the overhead console.

On the road the Tacoma is an easy to drive, satisfying truck. Yes there is some truck rumble and the harsher steering feedback than a sedan, but that is too be expected really. In contrast the Tacoma excels on rough trails and gravel. Four-wheel drive and the multi-mode function adjusts for different terrain such as loose rocks, snow, or  mud. Tackle rougher ground and the crawl control feature comes into play, allowing for constant lower control without having to always  juggle with the throttle. The lift kit on some models is an advantage giving better approach, breakover, and departure angles for off-roading or rough terrain. Our six manual equipped tester was lot of fun to drive with firm precise shifts and lively acceleration.

Downsides are few, to be expected with a truck that is refined, updated, and improved with every generation. Yes, the options packs can make the Tacoma quite pricy, but even the base trucks come pretty well equipped. It is all there, in this high resale, high value truck. The Tacoma line and is highly recommended for work and play.

2022 Toyota Tacoma: priced from:  MSRP $40,350 – $53,390.

Price as tested-  $55,730 including options plus freight and PDI. 

WEBSITE: Toyota.ca