Things that should be standard no-brainer things Toyota didn't do for all Trim levels

[saerandy]

We all know about the difficulties in connecting to Android & CarPlay and things like that. But what are some omissions (at least in some trims) that Toyota could have done easily but chose not to? For me here are some things that are slightly annoying (on my SR5):

1) The passenger grab handle doesn’t go all the way through. Kind of defeats the purpose, at least for the vertically challenged to use to help get in.

2) No power outlet in the armrest compartment. I think some versions have this, but would it have killed them to add in a USB-C port or two in there?

3) Non-locking gas cap in some versions. This should be a no-brainer especially in 2024!

4) Rain sensing wipers. Not a hard add given all the other tech that’s right up against the windshield even in the lower trims.

5) No ability to use touch to lock & unlock the vehicle from the tailgate. I would use this on an almost daily basis.

6) Non-dual heating & cooling on some models. Why isn’t dual climate control not standard? Seems like an easy thing to do.

7) A larger fuel tank. Not a lot more, but could we at least put enough gas in there to comfortably go 300 miles on a tank?

8) LED front turn signal bulbs!

9) I wasn’t going to mention the infotainment system, but WHY can’t there be an option for adjusting the volume of the JBL center channel? It’s way too prominent and the only way to deal with it is to move the balance slightly rear and put the mid-range settings wayyyy down.

10) No turn signal indicator/lighting on both rearview mirrors. Even my 2013 Acura has this.

11) Finally, a bit controversial since some really like the idea of a bone-basic truck, but why not include power seats on the SR5? It can’t be that much more than the cost of having to run 2-3 different seat-types across all the versions? I get for some that it’s “just something else that could break” but the tech has been around for SO LONG that it’s pretty much bullet-proof by now.


OK – Rant over. Do you agree? Disagree? What did I miss???

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[Sagebrush]

We all know about the difficulties in connecting to Android & CarPlay and things like that.

I've heard a few complainers, but my iPhone 15 connects flawlessly and never drops. This tells me the problem that some are having is on the phone side, not the truck.

As to most of the other things you have listed, what you are basically asking is, why doesn't Toyota just sell Tacomas with the Premium Package?

It's about money. Some folks don't want to spend $50-55,000.

 

[saerandy]

I've heard a few complainers, but my iPhone 15 connects flawlessly and never drops. This tells me the problem that some are having is on the phone side, not the truck.

As to most of the other things you have listed, what you are basically asking is, why doesn't Toyota just sell Tacomas with the Premium Package?

It's about money. Some folks don't want to spend $50-55,000.

I def hear that, but I don't think these would cost a whole lot more at the manufacturing level than what they're currently providing. For example, from research it costs about $150 more for a power seat vs a manual one at the manufacturer level.

 

[RokeHi]

I've heard a few complainers, but my iPhone 15 connects flawlessly and never drops. This tells me the problem that some are having is on the phone side, not the truck.

As to most of the other things you have listed, what you are basically asking is, why doesn't Toyota just sell Tacomas with the Premium Package?

It's about money. Some folks don't want to spend $50-55,000.

I have an iPhone 7 and I can connect everytime via carplay. As far as anything else on the list I agree with passenger grab handle that doesn’t go all the way through or one on the driver side would be nice as it was on my other PreRunner. LASFIT T3 7440 7443 LED Turn Signal Amber Bulbs - $50.

 

[Kdbradley85]

@Sagebrush I don’t think rain sensing wipers are available on any trim levels with the Tacoma, but I could be wrong. These are not super complicated or expensive things to add. I agree with you on the connectivity issues, as I’ve never had any real issues with my iPhone 13 or my newer 15 either. I think my phone has disconnected from the truck maybe twice in the six months I’ve owned it. A lot of the other things he points out are 100% on target though. There should be a sensor on the tailgate to unlock it… even if you don’t have the “powered tailgate.” Maybe a 20-21 gallon fuel tank would be cool. I know I’d appreciate it! Especially with the “dual zone” climate controls, not including it as a basic feature seems kinda lame to me. None of this is to say the truck sucks by any means lol. I love my truck, but I also think their asks aren’t the same as looking for a free premium package upgrade. Things like moonroofs, powered leather seats with cooling, the whole inverter setup for power, the gimmicky tailgate lifter… those are perfectly fine for a premium upgrade. My truck is almost as base of a trd off road as it gets, and I don’t feel like I need anything else, but I wish there was a way to get the trail cameras without the $9K price increase!

 

[TacoFreak]

@Sagebrush I don’t think rain sensing wipers are available on any trim levels with the Tacoma, but I could be wrong.

You are right - no rain sensing wipers, even on the halo models.

 

[JakeJoeBob]

Big agree on point 5. Would be so nice to lock/unlock the tailgate without pulling out my key. Also on point 1, was also a minor gripe of mine. Good write up.

 

[nurp42]

OP, right there w/ you on # 3,5,&7. #8 can be fixed easily for <$50. I wish they'd have included a driver side grab handle---- even if it was like the passenger side would have been better than nothing. As stated above, Toyota wants extra features to come w/ addition cost, which is completely understandable. If they would allow options to be purchased individually that would be nice, but since they work on the allocation model it would be more trouble than it's worth I'd imagine.

 

[WKTJR1]

Number 3 is a head scratcher. I'll put my pitch in for Memory seats and power Steering wheel adjustments. As the OP stated this tech has been used for years. The HUD is nice but I would trade it for the those two items.

 

[hoodouken]

Memory seats are my only complaint. I'm 10" taller than my wife. Sucks when we switch cars and the other has memory seats and one doesn't.

 

[TacoFreak]

Number 3 is a head scratcher. I'll put my pitch in for Memory seats and power Steering wheel adjustments. As the OP stated this tech has been used for years. The HUD is nice but I would trade it for the those two items.

Memory seats are my only complaint. I'm 10" taller than my wife. Sucks when we switch cars and the other has memory seats and one doesn't.

Yeah - the memory seats were a big let down for me too. Now the 4Runner is coming with them on some trims, and I am even more confused about why they were not included. The lack of rain sensing wipers is another mystery to me, since my truck has the tech to monitor me endlessly, but is missing that helpful feature.

 

[Taco Golfer]

We all know about the difficulties in connecting to Android & CarPlay and things like that. But what are some omissions (at least in some trims) that Toyota could have done easily but chose not to? For me here are some things that are slightly annoying (on my SR5):

1) The passenger grab handle doesn’t go all the way through. Kind of defeats the purpose, at least for the vertically challenged to use to help get in.

2) No power outlet in the armrest compartment. I think some versions have this, but would it have killed them to add in a USB-C port or two in there?

3) Non-locking gas cap in some versions. This should be a no-brainer especially in 2024!

4) Rain sensing wipers. Not a hard add given all the other tech that’s right up against the windshield even in the lower trims.

5) No ability to use touch to lock & unlock the vehicle from the tailgate. I would use this on an almost daily basis.

6) Non-dual heating & cooling on some models. Why isn’t dual climate control not standard? Seems like an easy thing to do.

7) A larger fuel tank. Not a lot more, but could we at least put enough gas in there to comfortably go 300 miles on a tank?

8) LED front turn signal bulbs!

9) I wasn’t going to mention the infotainment system, but WHY can’t there be an option for adjusting the volume of the JBL center channel? It’s way too prominent and the only way to deal with it is to move the balance slightly rear and put the mid-range settings wayyyy down.

10) No turn signal indicator/lighting on both rearview mirrors. Even my 2013 Acura has this.

11) Finally, a bit controversial since some really like the idea of a bone-basic truck, but why not include power seats on the SR5? It can’t be that much more than the cost of having to run 2-3 different seat-types across all the versions? I get for some that it’s “just something else that could break” but the tech has been around for SO LONG that it’s pretty much bullet-proof by now.with


OK – Rant over. Do you agree? Disagree? What did I miss???

Agree with most points, especially dual zone climate control. And rear seat ventilation with independent control. My wife’s 5 year old Honda Pilot has these. And definitely agree with the center stereo volume control. It steals the stereo affect the way it is now.

 

[TacoFreak]

Agree with most points, especially dual zone climate control. And rear seat ventilation with independent control. My wife’s 5 year old Honda Pilot has these. And definitely agree with the center stereo volume control. It steals the stereo affect the way it is now.

My guess is that the climate upgrades are being used to push people into higher priced trims, although none of them have any rear seat ventilation, let alone independant controls.

That center speaker is even worse IMO because it is part of an upgrade, which does not come with a simple control that would make a big difference in how well the sound system works.

 

[CanyonFisherSummitSeeker]

Agree with most of your thoughts, #2 being the least important to me. But some of these things my 25 year old Lexus sedan has, no joke. And it also has a few other things not mentioned as well that come standard on a lot of cars now. It is a little baffling.

 

[WKTJR1]

My guess is that the climate upgrades are being used to push people into higher priced trims, although none of them have any rear seat ventilation, let alone independant controls.

That center speaker is even worse IMO because it is part of an upgrade, which does not come with a simple control that would make a big difference in how well the sound system works.

I predict at least three of these items will be standard in three years. And hopefully the aftermarket can come up with some solutions for other items.

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