The 2023 Toyota Tacoma Is a Good Truck You Should Skip
For years, the Toyota Tacoma has defined what it means to be a midsize truck. But in recent years, the Tacoma has started to show its age. Despite being seen as generally reliable, the 2023 Toyota Tacoma feels a bit dated compared to newer trucks. And it might be a good call to wait for the redesigned Tacoma to experience Toyota’s small pickup.
Will Toyota redesign the Tacoma?
For the 2024 model year, it looks like the Tacoma midsize truck is getting a redesign. The last time the Toyota Tacoma got a full update was back in 2016, so it certainly feels like time for a new midsize truck from the brand.
Rivals like the Nissan Frontier and Chevy Colorado have entered new generations, and an updated Ford Ranger is expected soon. If Toyota wants to keep up, the 2024 Tacoma must bring real change to the table.
Thankfully, the brand is dropping hints on what we should expect from its redesigned midsize truck. It looks like we will finally see some modern brake technology and a new powertrain.
Will the redesigned Toyota Tacoma have a V6?
If teaser shots are any indication, Toyota’s midsize truck will retain a V6 engine. It looks like it will be borrowing the twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 from its larger siblings.
The twin-turbo V6 can make up to 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque thanks to a hybrid setup. But in the Tacoma, it’s unlikely we will see that level of power. Toyota will probably give this engine a detune, making it more suited to a midsize truck. At the same time, that will give folks who want more power a reason to step up to the Tundra.
We don’t really know exactly what is happening when it comes to the base engine. I would not be surprised to see the turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine featured. It makes 275 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque.
And that would be a significant power boost from the current four-cylinder, which makes less than 200 hp.
Is Toyota’s midsize truck worth waiting for?
If you don’t need a new pickup truck right now, it might be worth waiting for the redesigned Tacoma. Having been in new Toyota products like the 2023 Sequoia and 2022 Tundra, everything seems significantly ahead of what’s in the 2023 Tacoma.
At the same time, there is something to be said about an old-school truck. With its two naturally aspirated engines, the current-gen Tacoma is known to be able to pack on the miles. And according to Car and Driver, you can still get it with a manual transmission.
We don’t know exactly when the redesigned Toyota Tacoma will be here. The brand has been slowly releasing hints and teasers of the next-gen version on social media. But it’s not like we have a set release date at the time.
Of course, I am worried that Toyota will drop the ability to row your own gears in this midsize truck. The Tacoma and Jeep Gladiator are really the only pickups you can get new with a standard transmission. Other than that, though, it’s definitely time for a redesigned Toyota Tacoma to hit the streets.
