If you watched the Super Bowl LVIII, you probably saw the 30-second ad featuring the all-new 2024 Toyota Tacoma. The spot, titled “Dareful Handle”, showed the Tacoma tackling various off-road challenges, while the passengers held on to the grab handle for dear life. The ad was a clever way to showcase the redesigned and reimagined Tacoma, which promises to make off-roading dreams come true.
But what makes the 2024 Tacoma so special? How does it compare to the previous generation and the competition? And what can you expect from this trail-dominating and legendary truck? In this article, we will answer these questions based on the information available from Toyota and other sources. We will also analyze the style and tone of Jonny Lieberman, a senior features editor at MotorTrend, who is known for his witty and opinionated reviews of cars and motorcycles. We will try to mimic his style and voice while also being original, informative, and coherent.
Exterior Design
The first thing you will notice about the 2024 Tacoma is its bold and aggressive exterior design. The truck has a larger and wider body than the previous generation, with a longer and higher hood, and a more angular and muscular front fascia. The massive grille has a prominent Toyota logo and a honeycomb mesh pattern. The headlights are slim and sharp, with LED daytime running lights and fog lights. The bumper is rugged and functional, with integrated tow hooks and skid plates. The fenders are flared and sculpted, with black cladding and vents. The side profile is sleek and dynamic, with a lower roofline and a shorter rear overhang. The rear end is clean and simple, with a large tailgate, a bold Tacoma badge, and LED taillights. The truck also features a dual exhaust system, a power sliding rear window, and a composite bed with a deck rail system and a 120-volt power outlet.
The 2024 Tacoma has six trim levels: SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and TRD Pro. Each trim level has its own distinctive features and options, such as different wheel sizes and designs, color schemes, badges, and grille inserts. The TRD Pro, which is the top-of-the-line and most capable model, has a unique grille with a retro Toyota script, a hood scoop, a snorkel, a skid plate with a red TRD logo, a black roof rack, and a desert air intake. The TRD Pro also comes with exclusive colors, such as Lunar Rock, Army Green, Super White, and Midnight Black.
Interior Design
The interior of the 2024 Tacoma is modern and comfortable, with a spacious and ergonomic cabin. The truck has a higher seating position and better visibility than the previous generation, thanks to the larger windows and the thinner pillars. The dashboard is horizontal and minimalist, with a soft-touch material and a metallic trim. The center console is dominated by a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The system also has a wireless charging pad, a JBL premium sound system, and a Panoramic View Monitor with a Multi-Terrain Monitor. The instrument cluster is digital and customizable, with a 7-inch display that shows various information, such as speed, fuel level, odometer, trip meter, and off-road settings. The steering wheel is leather-wrapped and heated, with paddle shifters and audio and cruise controls. The seats are upholstered in leather or cloth, depending on the trim level, and have power and memory functions for the driver and heated and ventilated functions for the front passengers. The rear seats are split-folding and have under-seat storage. The truck also has dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry and start, ambient lighting, and multiple USB ports and cup holders.
The 2024 Tacoma also offers advanced safety and driver assistance features, such as Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), which includes Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection and Bicyclist Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, Road Sign Assist, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, and Automatic High Beams. The truck also has Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Rear Parking Assist with Braking, Trailer Sway Control, and Hill Start Assist Control.
Performance and Capability
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. Depending on the trim level, the engine is paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a 10-speed automatic transmission. The truck also has a choice of rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive with an electronic locking rear differential. The Tacoma has a maximum towing capacity of 6,800 pounds and a maximum payload capacity of 1,620 pounds.
The 2024 Tacoma is designed to handle any terrain and weather conditions thanks to its robust body-on-frame construction, independent front suspension, leaf-spring rear suspension, and variable power steering. The truck also has multiple off-road features and modes, such as Multi-Terrain Select, which allows the driver to choose from five different settings (Mud and Sand, Loose Rock, Mogul, Rock and Dirt, and Rock) to adjust the throttle, brakes, and traction control according to the surface. The truck also has Crawl Control, which automatically controls the speed and brakes in low-speed off-road situations, and Active Traction Control, which distributes the torque to the wheels with the most grip. The TRD Pro model has additional off-road enhancements, such as FOX 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks, TRD-tuned front coil springs and rear leaf springs, TRD front skid plate, TRD cat-back exhaust, and Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain tires.
Conclusion
The 2024 Tacoma is a superb and versatile truck that can handle it all, whether it is on the road or off the road. The truck has a striking, intimidating exterior design, refined, convenient interior design, and powerful and capable performance. The truck also has a competitive price, starting from $26,400 for the base SR model and going up to $46,780 for the TRD Pro model. The 2024 Tacoma is a worthy successor to the best-selling midsize truck in America and a star of the Super Bowl LVIII.
