Thanks to certain countries requiring design patents for new vehicles, we get to see the 2024 Toyota Tacoma midsize pickup before we’re supposed to. In this case, the images are courtesy of Brazil, and no camouflage hides the details. And though the new model shares some of its bigger sibling’s design elements, it’s decidedly the next Tacoma, not a Tundra.

How important is the Tacoma midsize pickup for Toyota?

Toyota’s body-on-frame midsize pickup leads all other models in this segment, including the Ford Ranger and Chevy Colorado. So it’s a vital cog in the Japanese auto giant’s U.S. domination. Toyota regularly sells 250,000 Tacomas yearly in the United States, GoodCarBadCar reports. That’s more than twice the number of Tundra trucks the company sells annually. And it’s far more than the 57,000 Rangers that Ford sold in 2022. 

Overall, the next Tacoma has a slimmer profile than the Tundra but picks up specific features like the vents under the headlights. And the general shape of the grille is the same but not dominant as it is on the Tundra. In fact, the Tacoma’s upper grille shares an equal landscape with the lower grille, with the body-color break evenly bisecting the two.

What are some of the differences between the 2024 Tacoma and Tundra?

The square-shaped wheel openings are also similar but much bolder on the new Tacoma. So, too, is the design break at the lower part of the body. And carrying over from the Tundra and the previous model is the kink of the rear window line. It almost makes one think the body might be just a facelift of the previous Tacoma, but it’s not. 

Unique to the 2024 Tacoma are the lower vents in the front wheel surrounds. The body also tucks in more dramatically at the rockers than other pickups. And that design break takes an abrupt angle down as it transitions from the door into the front fender. 

How many engine options will the 2024 Toyota Tacoma have?

If the patent renderings are accurate, nothing hangs below the wheel centerlines. With 31-inch tires, the 2024 Tacoma would have 15 inches of ground clearance. We know it rides on Toyota’s new TNGA-F platform, the same as the Tundra’s. It will also be the basis for the Sequoia and 4Runner. 

As for engines, we expect a choice between a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder or a V6 hybrid version. The 2.4 will be similar to the engine in the Lexus NX 350 but with an expected increase to just under 300 hp. It will be hooked to an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

Will there be an all-electric Tacoma?

It’s too early for much information from Toyota. So without interior renderings to go with these exterior peeks, we have no idea what the cabin will look like. But because the exterior takes on a general Tundra vibe, we expect the same inside too.

Regarding an electric version, we know Toyota has been slow to develop EVs across the board. So all-electric Tundra and Tacoma models are still a ways out. But thanks to the company’s pioneering hybrid technology, the Tacoma hybrid should be well-thought-out and offer excellent fuel economy.

As we find out more, we’ll bring it to you on our Tacoma page.