The Tacoma, introduced in 1995, is a mid-size pickup truck that is Toyota's answer to the Ford Ranger and Nissan Frontier. By 2004, the Tacoma was ahead of the Frontier and just slightly behind the Ranger in sales. It is available in both two-door regular cab and four-door crew cab versions, and features a multitude of options for both on- and off-road traveling.
The first generation Toyota Tacoma was classified as a compact pickup truck. Upon the introduction of the second generation in 2005, however, it was reclassified as a mid-size pickup truck due to its larger body. Still, the Tacoma is much smaller than its Toyota Tundra counterpart is. At its base level, the Tacoma is equipped with a 2.7-liter I4 engine that is capable of producing 159 horsepower. The larger 4.0-liter V6... View more available on the second generation model produces 236 horsepower and 266 foot-pounds of torque.
From 1995 to 2004, the first generation of Toyota Tacoma made headway in the truck market. It was created with the intention of focusing heavily on ride quality and comfort rather than its payload capacity. The 2.4-liter I4 engine produced 142 horsepower, but it also had a 3.4-liter V6 option that produced 190 horsepower. The second and current generation began in 2005 and featured over 18 various configurations of the truck from two engine sizes, four transmissions and three cab lengths.
Regarding safety and features, every Tacoma comes standard with ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution. Included in the structural integrity of the truck is a rollover sensor that deploys side curtain airbags if the Tacoma rolls over. Active head restraints were also added. A TRD Sport model, which stands for Toyota Racing Development, comes standard with ceiling mounted speakers, auxiliary audio and an available backup monitor. With plenty of legroom in the extended cab, the Tacoma is a reliable vehicle for the family or work crew.
Because of Toyota's intense focus on safety given to the Tacoma, it earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award in 2009. After the redesign and improvements made to the 2005 second generation Tacoma, it had earned Motor Trend Magazine's Truck of the Year Award. To add to the long list of awards given to the Tacoma, it also earned the 2005 Automobile All-Star Award for Best Pickup, including being named the Best Compact Pickup by IntelliChoice in 2006. View less
