Toyota->ke88 announced the 2014 Tacoma's updates and revised pricing this week, and the best-selling Tacoma line actually has some meaningful interior tech for the new model year. Very modest price increases average only about $100 per model, so this is still one of the toughest-ever pickup trucks in its price range of $17,875 up to $28,000.

Available with three cab lengths, multiple bed sizes and plenty of trim levels: buying a Tacoma still takes some research to identify the best one for your needs. From stripped-out white work trucks up to the Baja-ready TRD Sport and TRD Off-road Double Cab models, the Tacoma range has something for everybody.

On the market since 2005 with a few nips/tucks along the way, the current-generation Tacoma is nicely styled but showing its age a bit with the giant clear headlamps and much less chrome up front than the F-150 and Silverado offer customers. The Tacoma is one of the top five most-supported vehicles on the aftermarket, with dozens of firms offering catalogs full of upgraded parts and equipment - so the lights are easily updated that way.

Toyota->ke88 even gets involved heavily with the accessories and post-sale modifications, which means there is a bolt-on TRD Supercharger that can be bought and installed right from any local Toyota->ke88 dealer - giving this pickup truck 320 pound-feet of torque and 296 horsepower from the 4.0 V-6 engine.

How does the refreshed Tacoma's cabin tech rank versus the cheapest Ford F-150's or the Nissan Frontier?

Click past the jump for all the official updates and info about the 2014 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck line, which seats up to five people in its largest body style.

toyota-tacoma

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: toyota-tacoma
Pros
Cons

2014 Toyota Tacoma

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Toyota Tacoma
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 159
  • Torque: 180
  • Transmission: 5-speed Manual, 4-speed Auto Opt.
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The Tacoma's big exterior news is the availability of a new SR Package, which upgrades the cheapest Tacoma PreRunner and 4x4 Access Cab with body-color bumpers, wheel arches and fog lights on the V-6 models. The SR package also brings body-color door handles, mirrors and other trim pieces that are typically black plastic on the cheaper Tacoma versions.

The headlights are also dark tinted on the SR, and the three levels of TRD Sport and TRD Off-road are still worthwhile additions for extra off-road potential.

The Double cab convenience package is also necessary for keyless entry and a sliding back window.

The very cool Baja trim package is not on the official price books for 2014, but this exact Baja Tacoma can be built with TRD aftermarket accessories.

2014 Toyota Tacoma - Body Styles:

2014 Toyota Tacoma - Exterior Options:

Interior

The Tacoma's most significant updates are inside, where the midsize truck now offers a vastly upgraded infotainment, navigation and backup camera system.

Four levels of Entune are available, up to the top functionality with all the latest bells and whistles for smartphone integration and vastly superior graphics. Please note: the above photo shows the 2013 model, as Toyota has not yet released any 2014 interior photos.

2014 Toyota Tacoma - Interior Packages:

Drivetrain, Suspension and Brakes

The Tacoma's powerplants are carryover for 2014. This means a standard 2.7-liter four-banger mated to a five-speed manual in the lowest possible specification. The four-banger can also be equipped with 4x4 and an automatic box, but it loses a gear to the five-speed auto offered on the V-6.

The 4.0-liter V-6 is a stout workhorse, tuned for low-end torque and extreme durability. This is a fantastic engine, with big potential for power upgrades via the TRD Supercharger upgrade. The sportiest Tacoma was the X-Runner, which ran a rear-drive V-6 with a six-speed manual transmission.

The Tacoma X-Runner model is discontinued for 2014, but the performance and style can all be achieved using TRD aftermarket parts. The V-6 comes in rear or four-wheel-drive, with the aforementioned six-speed manual and five-speed auto choices for buyers.

These engines are actually one of the Tacoma's strong suits, because of how robust and tunable they are to make more power. Performance via sprint times, hauling weight and fuel economy is all over the board depending on the drive layout, engine, body style and transmission.

Even so, besting full-size pickup fuel economy comes standard with both engines.

2014 Toyota Tacoma - Standard Mechanical Features:

- Coil Spring Double Wishbone Suspension

- Rear leaf spring suspension with staggered outboard-mounted gas shock absorbers

- Automatic Limited Slip Differential (Auto LSD)

- Variable Assist Power Rack & Pinion Steering

- Gated automatic transmission shifter (automatic transmission only)

- Clutch-start cancel (4x4 manual transmission only)

2014 Toyota Tacoma - Performance Details:

Engine

2.7-liter 16-valve I-4 With Direct Injection, DOHC And VVT-i

4.0-liter 24-valve V-6 With Direct Injection, DOHC And VVT-i

4.0-liter Supercharged 24-valve V-6 With Direct Injection, DOHC And VVT-i

Transmission

5-Speed Manual (4-Speed Auto Opt.)

6-Speed Manual (5-Speed Auto Opt.)

6-Speed Manual (5-Speed Auto Opt.)

Powertrain Layout

Front-engine, Rear-drive (4x4 Opt.)

Front-engine, Rear-drive (4x4 Opt.)

Front-engine, Rear-drive (4x4 Opt.)

Power

159

236

296

Torque

180

266

320

0-60 mph (seconds)

9.8, est

8.2, est

6.8 seconds, est

Top Speed

115, est

115, est

115, est

Max Tow Rating (Pounds)

3500

6500

6500

EPA Fuel Economy MPG (City/Highway/Combined) - Manual

21/25/23 4x2, 18/20/19 4x4

16/21/18 4x2, 15/19/17 4x4

16/21/18 4x2, 15/19/17 4x4

EPA Fuel Economy MPG (City/Highway/Combined) - Automatic

19/24/21 4x2, 18/21/19 4x4

17/21/19 4x2, 16/21/18 4x4

17/21/19 4x2, 16/21/18 4x4


Safety

Despite lacking any active safety technology, the Tacoma is a quite safe vehicle with a robust standard safety features list. Adding off-road equipment raises the center of gravity dramatically, so be careful on big tires.

2014 Toyota Tacoma - Standard Safety Features:

- Star Safety System - includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock

- Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), & Brake Assist

- Driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System

- Driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags, front and rear side curtain airbags

- Driver and front passenger active headrests

- Driver and front passenger seatbelts with pretensioner, force limiters and adjustable shoulder anchors

- 3-point seatbelts for all seating positions; Driver-side Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) and

- Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR) on all passenger belts

- Side-impact door beams in all doors

Pricing and Availability

The Tacoma is available this week at Toyota->ke88 dealers nationwide, with the 2014 updates only increasing the price by less than a few hundred dollars, at most, versus 2013.

2014 Toyota Tacoma Pricing

MSRP 2013

MSRP 2014

MSRP Chg ($)

MSRP Chg (%)

Tacoma REGULAR CAB 4X2

$17,625

$17,875

$250

1.40%

Tacoma REGULAR CAB 4X2

$18,525

$18,775

$250

1.30%

Tacoma 4X2 ACCESS CAB

$20,415

$20,515

$100

0.50%

Tacoma 4X2 ACCESS CAB

$21,315

$21,415

$100

0.50%

Tacoma PRERUNNER ACCESS CAB

$22,075

$22,125

$50

0.20%

Tacoma PRERUNNER ACCESS CAB V6

$23,510

$23,560

$50

0.20%

Tacoma DOUBLE CAB 4X2

$22,525

$22,625

$100

0.40%

Tacoma PRERUNNER DOUBLE CAB 4X2

$23,175

$23,225

$50

0.20%

Tacoma PRERUNNER DOUBLE CAB 4X2 V6

$24,610

$24,660

$50

0.20%

Tacoma PRERUNNER DBL CAB 4X2 V6 L/B

$25,110

$25,160

$50

0.20%

Tacoma REGULAR CAB 4X4

$21,475

$21,725

$250

1.20%

TACOMA REGULAR CAB 4X4

$22,605

$22,855

$250

1.10%

TACOMA 4X4 ACCESS CAB

$24,250

$24,350

$100

0.40%

TACOMA 4X4 ACCESS CAB

$25,150

$25,250

$100

0.40%

TACOMA 4X4 ACCESS CAB V6

$25,805

$25,905

$100

0.40%

TACOMA 4X4 ACCESS CAB V6

$26,685

$26,785

$100

0.40%

TACOMA DOUBLE CAB 4X4 V6

$26,805

$26,905

$100

0.40%

TACOMA DOUBLE CAB 4X4 V6

$27,685

$27,785

$100

0.40%

Tacoma DBL CAB 4X4 V6 L/B

$28,185

$28,285

$100

0.40%


Competition

Nissan Frontier

Has anyone checked the Frontier's pulse lately? As much as the Frontier, the larger Titan (and Tundra) have failed to gain a foothold in this gigantic segment - the Tacoma is a reliable sales engine for Toyota, with extremely loyal owners who swear by the midsize truck's charms.

Conclusion

So the Tacoma has been around for a while. So what? We bet that one sold today, September 6, 2013 will still be rolling somewhere on earth 30 years from now. Not a claim that many would refute about this 'invincible' machine.

This truck feels like it will outlive us all, which is both a real advantage of Toyota->ke88 assembly/engineering quality. It is also a nice bit of reassuring information when doing hard work. A truck with a million-pound towing capacity would be worthless if it was likely to get you stuck or stranded in a remote and desolate place.

So for the most customizable and best-respected global pickup truck all-stars: look no further than the Toyota Tacoma.