My Full Owner's Review (2024 Toyota Tacoma)

[dvolman93]

Fantastic to hear! Been a long time Toyota guy , I just went with Ford for 0% financing and give them another shot. I love the truck but I do not trust it past 50K miles. That's why I am moving on. My favorite truck I ever had was a 04 Tundra Access cab. About the same size of a new Tacoma. I have 3 kids that will be getting their Drivers License in the next 4 years. So this next truck needs to last , ill be buying their cars not me new ones haha.. A couple months (8) back my parents needed to borrow my truck for the weekend. So I took their 2023 Camry and I loved how agile it was, I could park anywhere , couple kids can fit in the back and the MPG was way better than my 17 in my ford. So thought to myself man if it only had a bed. Fast foward through many test drives with the 23 Tacoma and 24 Tundra. I just didn't love the look of the tundra , and it's huge I really want a smaller vehicle. I liked the 23 Tacoma just needed updated. But I loved the tech inside the tundra so I really feel 24 Taco is the best of both worlds for me. If I'm going on short trip I can throw a couple kids in back and they will survive for an hour or so. When traveling far we take the Sienna anyways. How is the lane centering on the Tacoma? the wife's Sienna is not very good but its also a couple versions older. its a 21 Sienna. Excited for Key Card and all the tech.

The Tacoma has a lot of the safety features with the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. I don’t use them all though. I had them on for the first couple of weeks to test. The lane center feature only works when you have adaptive cruise control active and you’re using it. The lane assist feature is not and has never been my feature. I don’t like the computer driving for me and sometimes I do get over without a blinker (sue me lol) and it tries to kick me back and I don’t like it. There’s a PDA feature that senses your surroundings and will break for you based on the car in front of you. It’ll break for you when you come up to a stop sign. It doesn’t fully break but it slows down for you. It’ll also help you when driving through curving roads and if you’re driving next to parked cars. I turned that off too because it wasn’t always accurate and would try and stop for me when there wasn’t a car around. What I do like is that it has a million sensors front and back and and the cameras will activate and show on the screen when something comes close to the car or if you’re driving and get close to something.

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[crepr12]

I appreciate the heck out of you first adapters...No complaints about my 3rd gen...just with 75K its getting long in the tooth for me...I'm trying to wait for the Hybrid...But who knows

 

[NHTaco]

Great review. I'm enjoying my Sport premium that I picked up on Saturday. Just ordered a new set of wheels and tires last night that should arrive Friday or Monday then I'll post some pics with the new setup. Enjoy your new Tacoma.

 

[Jevans77]

I really enjoyed reading your review. I've always been a Honda guy and recently purchased my first Tacoma almost 3 weeks ago. This is this first truck I have owned in almost 18 years and have driven sedans due to using my vehicle for travel with my job. I have been so impressed with my truck and not sure why there has been so much negativity. The ride is exceptionally smooth and it doesn't handle like a truck which is a plus to me. My only com

plaint is going from 34mpg to almost 20mpg but I knew that before I made my purchase. I realize this is a new vehicle but I really look forward to driving this truck and hope this Gen lives up to the reliability of the previous ones.

 

[Flyfish007]

Does the digital key give you memory seats? Thought I read that somewhere.

 

[fightforfood247]

Before I get into it I'd like to start by saying that I am not a professional reviewer. I don't have a YouTube channel where I do this. I don't get paid to do this. I simply want to give my full thoughts, opinions, likes and dislikes about the new 2024 Toyota Tacoma. Here we go.

I came from own a 2021 Tacoma for three years before I traded it in for the 2024 Tacoma. I waited almost two months to get the truck after it was allocated to my dealership and reserved for me, so don't to be surprised if it's taking a while for you to get yours. Be patient (because I know I wasn't), it's worth the wait!

I'll start with my thoughts when I first walked up to it and saw it in person for the first knowing it was mine and not just another prototype I've seen at many auto shows. I get the Ice Cap (White) color. I had the metallic gray color for my 2021 and decided to go with the white this time around for one reason, you could easily and definitely was different from its predecessor. I looked at the 2024 in black and underground and to me it looked the same as the old truck and for that reason I wanted something different. I owned a white car in the past (2020 Corolla) and didn't like it for various reasons. Even told myself I'd never get a white vehicle again but there was something different about the white on a truck, especially that truck being the 2024 Toyota Tacoma.

When I saw it for the first time I got excited. To finally see it in person knowing I'll be sitting it in soon and driving it off the lot and it's all mine. The 18" inch rims stood out. The new body style made it look tougher, meaner, like a beast. Many reviewers on YouTube and even Toyota's own website say it's about the same size of the previous generation but it definitely doesn't not look or feel that way. It could just be me but I came from a 2021 Tacoma so I'd know better someone who has never owned a Tacoma. Maybe I'm tripping but I stand by it when I saw it feels and looks bigger. From the fenders to the new way the hood scope looks (no, the hood scope doesn't do anything still. More for looks and show you it's a TRD Sport. The TRD Pro is the only other trim that comes withe scope) to the the fin (or whatever you wanna call it) sticks out a little at the top back like the Tundra. THIS TRUCK WAS AND IS DIFFERENT. The only thing I didn't like was the ugly ass chin at the front of the truck or as it's properly called, the air dam. I took like that thing off as soon as I got home the same night. I'm willing to sacrifice that extra mpg for looks. My truck doesn't have the mid guards but based on previous experience with them on my 2021 Tacoma, I love the way it looks without it. My truck also didn't come with the side rails, something my 2021 did have. It was convenient to have, especially have little children of my own, and so I may buy them later on. All this to say that the new truck looks like it sits higher and it does. Especially with the bigger rim and tires.

The next thing I looked at was the back tires. Finally! No more drum brakes. Now I know everyone will have their own opinion and that's okay. I'm not knocking anyone who may like drum brakes but for three years on my 2021 Tacoma every single time I braked it always felt like the front brakes were doing all the work. I know you could have pushed the ECT button and it was supposed to help with that but I never pushed it. Having disc brakes all the way around was one of the two biggest things I was looking forward to. The second biggest thing I was looking forward was... NO MORE LEAF SPRINGS! Now I know the SR still has them but I didn't get the SR, I got the TRD Sport and that fact that it has a real suspension in the back it amazing. The next day I drove around for three hours to test the drive on it. Not caring that gas in my state is a thousand dollars per gallon, I wanted to really feel the difference on this truck. My 2021 Tacoma leaf springs squeaked so loud and no matter what I did they wouldn't stop. But with thew 2024 I had a quiet ride (besides the sound of the turbo whistling, which isn't loud). I'll get to the driving experience later.

Moving on. The next thing I looked at was the new tailgate. Having the buttons on both taillights and being able to have it lower and raise with the push of a button (literally!). I know it's nothing new for a Tundra owner but it was for a Tacoma fanboy. *Side note: I showed my four year old son the buttons and regret it to this day. But anyways, also having the ability to sorta just tap the tailgate with my knee and it goes up it sorta cool too. If you get the power tailgate you'll notice there are two buttons instead of an actual handle. One button will unlock the truck while the other locks the truck. Pretty neat to lock it from the tailgate if you ask me. My truck has the power supply plug in the back as well as the USB-C and USB-A ports. When you looks up you'll notice two cameras on the stop light at the top. One is for looking into the bed of the truck and the other is for the digital rear view mirror.

And that is where we get in to the inside of the truck. I opened the door and that new car smell it me. Softex seats, leather steering wheel, giant 14" display all hits you in the face. I hoped in the truck and turned it on and it came to life. Not as loud the V6 on my 2021 Tacoma but it roared to life. The digital cluster pops ready to be configured to your liking. The 14" display welcomes you ready to be set up with your wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto or neither. Whatever you prefer. I didn't quite set up anything yet, I waited until I got home to do that.

So let's get to that. Once I got home and after I took of that ugly ass air dam I jumped right into the set up. I started with the 14" display. I already had the Toyota app on my phone so I got started by creating a profile on the truck. It asked questions and I answered. Got the app connected to the truck. Wireless Apple CarPlay set up and I was done. The set up wasn't too bad, some might have an issue but if you're patient you'll get it. Having the app is cool. Comes with some free trials like Remote Connect with Digital Key. Oh yeah, it's got the digital key. You're able to of course, turn the truck on and off. Lock and unlock. Control the climate, lights and various other things. You can download the digital key and it'll add it to your bluetooth and you can use your phone to lock, unlock and start your truck. No need for a key. But if you prefer the key fob it comes with two of those AND it comes a credit card key or wallet key or whatever you wanna call it. I personally use that. I keep it in my wallet and don't carry around the fob. The downside to that is I can only lock and unlock the truck from the handle since the wallet key doesn't have buttons on it but I've also got it set up on my Apple Watch to lock and unlock so I'm good without the fob.

Seeing CarPlay on a giant 14" screen is amazing. The screen so clear compared the 8" screen I had in the 2021 Tacoma. It's also surprisingly fingerprint resistant. Not sure if it was actually made that way, don't remember reading or seeing anything about that but I use to daily and no fingerprints. There isn't much more from me to say about the screen because I'm not using Toyota's system since I do use the CarPlay. As far as the connectivity, it's fast. Like turn the truck on and CarPlay is connected instantly fast.

Next, I went through the cluster. There are so many "widgets" you can set up. Three types of meter types. You can have the RPM and MPH dials like a normal car but it shows the MPH digitally in the center no matter what you pick so I have it set up to show the RPM dial in the middle with the MPH in the middle of that dial. You can pick from many "widgets" to have the sides it's actually insane. I didn't know what I wanted and I'm still messing with to this day to get to what I like. There are three screens you click through so you can have something different if you want the push of a button. Just up to you how you wanna make it look.

Then there is Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. So many icons popped up on my cluster I didn't know what a lot of them meant because I didn't have the TSS 3.0. I actually had to open the manual to see what these symbols were. I won't go through all of them but one that sticks out to me that the PSD. This one does a few things but the biggest one is if I let off the gas and the truck senses a car in front of my or sees a stop sign it'll actually apply the brakes for me to start slowing me down before I apply the brakes myself. There is of course the Adaptive Cruise Control, lane tracing, lane departure assistance and more.

One thing I forgot to mentions is, WHOLLY CAMERAS. With three cameras total in the back, one on each side mirror and one in the front you have so many views. Having that 14" display with that the cameras is crazy cool. The camera that is used for the digital rear view mirror is neat. Never had one before and it took a minute to get used to but that's what I use now and it's cool. You can also add your garage door opener to it.

A few other features my truck has are the eight way power control on both driver and passenger seats. Heated and cooling seats. Heated steering wheel. Dual climate control. Three AUX buttons for add ons. Two USB-C ports in the back and a normal power plug. A wireless charging pad, which is way better than the one in my 2021 Tacoma. Two more USB-C ports in the front, each capable of 45W charging. The removable bluetooth speaker in the center of dashboard. I won't go on but if you wanna know just ask.

Now onto the driving experience. I haven't used this off road yet (I did get a 4x4) but driving it on the streets to so much better than the 2021 Tacoma. The truck has power for not having that V6 engine. The Turbo 4 cylinder has power no matter what anyone says (haters gonna hate). Without sports mode I can take off really good. Smooth and not forced. With sports mode, well damn. it just goes. This truck with this engine does not feel forced at all. I've seen people say that this truck with a 4 cylinder turbo won't last 200k or even 300k but those people aren't Tacoma owners. Toyota knows what they are doing and I've never met a Tacoma owner who has kept a truck for that long that isn't an original SR5 before it was called Tacoma or if you've got the first generation Tacoma. I'd like to be your friend if you've got either one. I'm looking to buy.

I love my this truck and I don't just say that as a Tacoma fan. I say that as a consumer who sat here for two hours to type this out. So if you don't agree with me that's fine. Your opinions are your own and mine are my own. I've got a lot about this truck in my head and I wanted to tell people things about that Youtube reviews didn't talk about. If I missed anything or if there is anything you wanna know I didn't go over, please ask! I’ll always respond.

Thank you.

-David

My trd off road with 2700 miles is at the dealer with transmission problems. Best of luck brotha

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