Is the 2020 Toyota Tacoma a Good Truck?
The 2020 Tacoma is Toyota’s midsize pickup and sells almost three times as well as the full-size Tundra. This popularity is driven by the “Taco” being a downsized truck with the advantages in off-road situations this affords. And it sits under the halo of Toyota’s reputation for quality and reliability. But it doesn’t mean that it’s perfect.
Is the 2020 Tacoma a reliable truck?
With two- and three-year leases ending, there should be a good selection of low-mile Tacomas. And with over 250,000 built each year for the past several years, that’s a lot of trucks roaming around. These reliable midsize trucks have both pros and cons so let’s see.
Being a midsize offering, the cabin of the 2020 Tacoma can seem a bit tight and could use less plastic. However, some look at the basic interior as a badge of honor that off-roaders need and want. At least the cheap interior is one reason the Tacoma is affordable.
Does the 2020 Tacoma have problems?
Engine availability was either the base 2.7-liter four-cylinder or the optional V6. Both can be a bit buzzy and seem underpowered. The 2.7-liter pumps out 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, while the V6 ups that considerably to 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. Opting for a V6 Tacoma is obviously the better choice, though backing it with the six-speed manual transmission will give you less grief.
The six-speed automatic transmission suffers from gear hunt, as well as seeming to take away some of that extra V6 horsepower and torque. The fuel economy is not great nor terrible, falling about midway for 2020 midsize pickups. Around town, you’ll see EPA-rated 20 mpg and highway 23 mpg. That averages around five mpg less than a 2020 Honda Ridgeline, but there is also a big difference in the price of the two.
Six trim levels were offered for the Toyota Tacoma in 2020 for either Access Cab two-door, or Double Cab four-door bodies. The trims are SR, R5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and TRD Pro. In our unscientific look at used Tacos on the market now, most are either SR5 versions or the top-of-the-line TRD Pro. We looked at numerous metropolitan areas in different parts of the U.S. for these observations.
Does the Tacoma have good safety features?
Safety and driver-assist features are taking a much more important role in purchasing trucks. The 2020 Tacoma has the most standard driver-assist technology for midsize trucks. These include:
- Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning
- Standard adaptive cruise control
Towing capacity hits 6,800 lbs for the rear-wheel-drive truck and 6,500 for the four-wheel version. Payload numbers range from 1,120 to 1,620 lbs. That falls short of the Ford Ranger’s capabilities, which fall between 1,609 and 1,1905 lbs.
Used 2020 prices generally range from just under $30,000 to $40,000 for offerings as of April 2022. These are low-mileage Tacomas with between 10,000 and 32,000 miles on the ticker.
