The 2024 Toyota Tacoma is shaping up to be a key evolution of the iconic nameplate. The previous generation Tacoma was a segment leader but it was no secret that age was rapidly starting to catch up with it and Father Time was doing its dastardly magic in the face of renewed competition from the Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, and GMC Canyon. The Japanese auto giant knew that sooner or later, the Tacoma would need a major revamp. It has decided to deliver the goods for 2024 by putting the Tacoma under the knife and rebuilding everything that made it a hit with pickup buyers.
Tacoma’s Styling Shares Influences With Bigger Tundra
To find out what exactly Toyota did, we were invited to the company’s R&D Center in York Township, Michigan which has emerged as one of the key cogs in Toyota’s R&D operations especially in the development of advanced safety systems. The 2024 Tacoma underwent considerable development at this Michigan campus and it becomes evident when you look at the exterior styling of the 2024 Tacoma.
The 2024 model features a look that’s chunkier and more expressive than before with each trim level having a distinctive personality that eliminates some of the cookie-cutter vibes projected by the outgoing model. Tacoma designers used plenty of cues from the bigger Tundra with the reworked taillights being the most obvious example of this in action. LED lighting is now standard across all of the Tacoma lineup and designers from the lighting team revealed that they invested considerable time and effort into improving brightness and the width of the area illuminated without the need for costly automatic cornering headlights.
The Tacoma’s TNGA-F platform is also brand new for 2024 and it’s a version of the one used in the Sequoia and Tundra with the Taco getting a fully boxed subframe from end to end with the platform also including incorporated high-lift jacking points as well as additional reinforcements. The new platform also incorporates modern suspension for crew cab versions with these models getting coil springs. The extended cab retains traditional leaf springs with these springs being reworked to deliver improved amounts of on-road feel.
2024 Tacoma Interior Leaps Into The Modern Age
In addition to the revisions Toyota made to the exterior components, the company also invested considerable amounts of capital and time into improving the interior for Tacoma owners. Higher-quality plastics and soft-touch materials are scattered throughout the cabin and a newly optional 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system allows the Taco to finally bring the fight to similar systems offered by the Ranger and the Colorado/Canyon (an 8.0-inch screen is standard.) Buyers that go for the bigger screen will also get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard. A wireless Qi phone charging pad is also available but buyers looking to formally plug in will be able to take advantage of several USB-C charging ports. A digital instrument cluster is standard across the entire lineup with lower-grade models getting a 7-inch display while higher trims get a bigger 12.3-inch display.
A highlight that stood out to us was the upgraded JBL Premium Audio system which now includes a removable speaker for buyers that like to take their music along with them when they are out on the trail or any other type of adventure. While it may seem like Toyota is stealing a page from the Jeep Gladiator’s removable speaker at first glance, the Tacoma’s spin on this is actually better than the Jeep’s in a few key categories. For starters, the speaker is center mounted in the upper part of the dashboard (versus being buried in the rear) and it’s easily removable with the speaker popping in and out like an old-school cassette tape. In addition to its portability, the speaker was also engineered to be easy to use with paring being done via an easy to master Bluetooth pairing procedure (a stark difference to the Wrangler which infamously forced us to make this informative video on how to do it.) The speaker can run undocked for six hours and even survive in up to three feet of water.
Four-Cylinder Performance For All
A key revision for 2024 is that the V6 has been eliminated with all Tacoma models now being powered by a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. However, how much performance you get will depend on what trim level and transmission you go for. The base Tacoma makes 228 horsepower with the rest of the standard lineup getting 270 or 278 hp. Those latter numbers are where the transmission comes into play with the eight-speed getting the higher amount while the lower 270 hp figure is reserved for the six-speed manual. In addition to the core performance essentials, the Tacoma can also be equipped with several trail-ready features (depending on trim level) with the TRD Pro getting 32-inch off-road tires and reworked suspension that focuses on maximizing approach, breakover, and departure angles with these measurements checking in at 32.3, 24.7, and 26.6 degrees respectively.
The TRD Pro and Trailhunter models will also feature Toyota’s all-new isoDynamic performance front seats. These seats feature vertical and laterally mounted oil reservoir shocks in the seat backs that are designed to help reduce impacts to occupants when they engage in off-road driving. The shocks are adjustable and can be quickly manipulated via a set of valves to help optimize comfort. A prominent catch here is that occupants cannot use a traditional air compressor to fill the shocks (the chambers are small and would fill up too quickly.) Instead, Toyota will supply a small manually operated air pump that will feature a digitally mounted pressure gauge to help ensure maximum adjustability when the seats are being tweaked.
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma will be entering dealer showrooms later this year. A base Tacoma will start at $32,995 which is a noticeable bump over the outgoing model which had a base price of $28,600. This pricing is still in the thick of it with rivals but moving into higher trim levels does cause the price to climb upward with a TRD PRO model having the potential to cross the $45,000 barrier when fully equipped.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.