10 Reasons To Buy A 2024 Toyota Tacoma

With brand-new tech features and a sharper focus on off-road abilities, the 2024 Toyota Tacoma might just be the best Taco yet.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma debuted last May 19th in Hawaii, and "Taco" fans have a lot to be happy about. After going through several months of rumors, leaks, and teasers, the pickup truck community finally received concrete news about the new look, features, and specifications of the 4th-generation Tacoma's pioneer model year.

Pickup trucks make up approximately 20% of the US passenger car market, and the Toyota Tacoma has led the midsize pickup class for almost two decades now. Despite its popularity, however, the 2023 Tacoma – already the 8th installment of the nameplate's 3rd generation – is already quite an outdated model compared to current-generation rival pickup trucks like the Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, and Nissan Frontier. Fortunately, the 2024 Tacoma's debut has rekindled the market's enthusiasm, and it's only a matter of months until the first all-new Tacos roll out of North American Toyota dealerships.

Many pickup truck buyers are now trying to decide on which Taco to buy: should they get their hands on the last of the outgoing generation, or should they wait until later this year for the 2024 Tacoma? If you're one of the many Taco fans weighing these options, then this article might be the perfect read for you. Here are 10 reasons for you to save up and wait for the 2024 Toyota Tacoma.

The 2024 Tacoma uses the Toyota New Global Architecture – F (TNGA-F) platform – the same one employed by other current-generation full-size models like the Tundra, Sequoia, Land Cruiser 300, and Lexus LX. Apart from improving Toyota's manufacturing process, the TNGA platform uses lighter yet more durable body construction as well as new powertrains to give new models several real-world performance improvements. These enhancements include a lower center of gravity, better fuel efficiency, improved fuel economy, and greater on-road and off-road capability.

The 2023 Tacoma currently offers a base 2.7-liter I-4 engine (159 hp, 180 lb-ft of torque) and a top-spec 3.5-liter V6 mill (278 hp, 265 lb-ft). In today's midsize truck class, the 2023 Tacoma's V6 is barely competitive. The base 4-cylinder engine, however, is laughably underpowered.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma, on the other hand, will get a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-4 i-FORCE powerplant as its base engine option. For the entry-level SR trim, this new forced-induction engine will deliver 228 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque. For all other gas-only trims, Toyota tweaked this engine a bit more aggressively to get a maximum output of 278 hp and 317 lb-ft of twist. At this level of tuning, the i-FORCE engine will have the same horsepower but almost 20% more torque than the 2023 Tacoma's V6 engine.

The new i-FORCE engine will make the 2024 Tacoma competitive against the current Ford Ranger trims (270 hp, 310 lb-ft). However, the current Chevy Colorado (310 hp and 430 lb-ft) and the upcoming 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor (405 hp, 430 lb-ft) will be too powerful for the 2024 Tacoma's base powerplant to match. Fortunately, Toyota armed the all-new Tacoma with the i-FORCE MAX Hybrid system - a combination of the 2.4-liter i-FORCE engine and a hybrid electric motor (48 hp, 184 lb-ft) drawing power from a 1.87-kWh battery pack to produce a total system output of 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque.

An i-FORCE MAX 2024 Tacoma will have more ponies and twist than the current Chevy Colorado. Moreover, the hybrid 2024 Tacoma will have more torque than the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor.

All 2023 Tacoma trims currently sit on leaf spring rear suspension systems. Although leaf springs are well-suited for maximum hauling capabilities, they're not the best option for off-road negotiations or for on-road handling. Rear leaf springs will still buoy the 2024 Tacoma's SR, SR5 XtraCab, and TRD PreRunner trims, but the higher Tacoma grades – specializing in comfort, road handling, or off-road capability – will have available multi-link rear suspension systems.

Toyota offers several premium suspension systems tuned specifically for each of the 2024 Tacoma's special trims. The Tacoma TRD Sport will get sport-tuned TRD shocks for better on-road handling, while the TRD Off-Road will sit on Monotube Bilstein shocks for longer wheel travel and off-road performance. The 2024 Tacoma TRD Pro will come with FOX Quick Switch 3 (QS3) adjustable internal bypass shocks to handle a wide variety of terrain and off-road activities, like high-speed desert runs. Finally, the new Tacoma Trailhunter will get special Old Man Emu (OME) position-sensitive monotube shocks that Toyota co-developed with Australia's off-road specialist ARB specifically for the Trailhunter grade.

The 2023 Tacoma offers a 6-speed M/T and a 6-speed Electronically Controlled automatic Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i). The A/T option is a must for just about any pickup truck and SUV today, but the Tacoma's stick-shift option is a big come-on for many pickup truck purists and hardcore off-road enthusiasts. Toyota has done a great job in keeping these two transmission options alive for the Tacoma, but there's always room for improvement.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma offers a new 8-speed ECT-i as well as an upgraded 6-speed intelligent manual transmission (iMT2) system. The new TNGA-based M/T system will come with automatic rev-matching and anti-stall features. With the new M/T system's "clutch start cancel" feature, the 2024 Tacoma can start while in gear. This feature will be very helpful in hairy off-road situations because the driver doesn't need to step on the clutch to start the engine.

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Toyota teased the market with a new Trailhunter truck grade at the 2022 Specialty Equipment Market Association Show (SEMA). The Trailhunter Concept – specifically designed for Overlanding – was a Toyota Tundra that had Trailhunter-exclusive features such as a new suspension system, skid plates, bumpers, exterior lighting, a roof rack, a rooftop tent, and a refrigerator. According to Toyota, the Trailhunter grade will be a complete overlanding package right out of the showroom, and all the Trailhunter's dealer-installed accessories will be covered by the vehicle warranty.

The new 2024 Tacoma Trailhunter is not as big as the concept vehicle, but it delivers Toyota's promises. Available exclusively with the i-FORCE MAX hybrid system, the Tacoma Trailhunter sits 2 inches higher at the front and 1.5 inches at the back thanks to the OME monotube shocks and the new 33-inch tires (265/70/R18, 32.6-inch diameter, 10.4-inch tread width). Trail capabilities are enhanced by several features, including a high-mount air intake, high-clearance exhaust tips, high-strength skid plates, rock rails, a bed utility bar, a steel rear bumper, a rear recovery point, and color-switching RIGID LED fog lamps.

With the overlanding customer base now covered by the new Tacoma Trailhunter, Toyota optimized the 2024 Tacoma TRD Pro's capabilities further for competitive off-road activities like rock crawling, mudding, and desert running. The 2024 Tacoma TRD Pro comes standard with the i-FORCE MAX hybrid engine and gets additional ride height (2 inches at the front, 1.5 inches at the back) from the Fox QS3 shocks and the new 33-inch Goodyear Territory rugged terrain (R/T) tires wrapped around 18-inch TRD wheels. FOX Internal Floating Piston (IFP) bump stops also help soften the jarring impact from the nastiest terrains. For low-visibility scenarios, a new grille-integrated LED bar and new RIGID white LED fog lamps help the LED headlights produce a well-aimed beam pattern.

Inside the cabin, Toyota gave the 2024 Tacoma TRD Pro a pair of IsoDynamic Performance Seats for the driver and front passenger. These patent-pending, segment-first seats use air-over-oil shock absorbers that dampen both vertical and lateral body movements to help drivers and navigators stay focused on even the most rugged terrain.

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To give Tacoma owners the freedom to enjoy their music outside the vehicle (e.g. during tailgate parties or at campsites), the 2024 Tacoma comes with an available 10-speaker JBL premium audio system with an externally-coupled subwoofer and a JBL Flex portable Bluetooth speaker. While docked on the dashboard, the JBL Flex unit functions as the center channel speaker. When taken out of its dock, the portable speaker can run for a maximum of 6 hours, can pair with other Toyota JBL Flex portable speakers, and can operate while submerged in up to 3 feet of water.

A top-spec 2023 Tacoma uses an analog instrument cluster (with a 4.2-inch multi-information display), an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen unit, and an auto-dimming mirror. Although these are still very practical features, they are outdated by today's automotive interior standards.

Thankfully, the 2024 Toyota Tacoma doesn't skimp on the latest interior technology features. A 7-inch digital instrument cluster comes standard for lower trims, while a 12.3-inch programmable digital cluster will greet drivers of higher Taco grades. Lower Tacoma trims get a standard 8-inch audio multimedia touchscreen unit, while top 2024 Tacoma grades adopt the Tundra's 14-inch infotainment touchscreen display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard features, and Qi wireless phone charging is optional. USB-C charging ports are standard for the front row, and available for the rear passengers. The Limited trim gets a digital rearview mirror, and all 2024 Tacoma models get Toyota's Smart Key system with push-button start as a standard feature.

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All 2024 Tacoma trims come with Toyota's most advanced safety system – the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0). The TSS suite uses the Tacoma's cameras and sensors – in conjunction with the body control module (BCM) and infotainment system - to provide the highest level of safety and driver assistance features such as Pre-collision with Pedestrian Detection, Automatic Braking, Automatic High Beams, Road Sign Assist, Full Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, and the new Proactive Driving Assist.

Other available features include the Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), and Hill Start Assist Control (HAC).

Ron has worked in the strategy and marketing departments of a few automotive brands. When he's not writing about cars, he likes to analyze auto industry data to share with fellow enthusiasts.. or his pet dogs.