The Toyota Tacoma has a reputation for being a quality pickup. It’s rugged, capable, and is known for its resale value. But when it comes to this year’s model? The 2021 Toyota Tacoma leaves a lot to be desired.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma isn’t that great to drive

In fact, according to Consumer Reports, the 2021 Toyota Tacoma “drives like a primitive, agricultural-era relic.” It certainly didn’t help that when Consumer Reports took the new Toyota Tacoma out for a spin, it felt unresponsive and clumsy. But Consumer Reports wasn’t the only one left less than impressed after driving the 2021 Toyota Tacoma.

According to Car and Driver, the Tacoma’s base four-cylinder engine feels underpowered and might as well be avoided. Car and Driver said much of the same about the Tacoma’s available six-speed automatic transmission. But no matter which Tacoma you wind up with, Car and Driver reports that this year’s model isn’t very quick and is “far from the first choice for ride quality and handling.”

Its interior isn’t all that impressive either

Most pickup interiors don’t scream luxury. But, there are more than a few of them that offer interiors that could pass for, say, a premium SUV. Unfortunately, the 2021 Toyota Tacoma isn’t one of those pickups. Rather, the interior of this year’s Tacoma stays pretty true to the truck’s roots. It’s built more so for ruggedness, and less so for lavish finishes. Consumer Reports says that when it comes to this year’s model, the Tacoma’s “silver-painted plastic accents are about as fancy as things get.”

MotorTrend wasn’t all that impressed with the interior of the 2021 Tacoma either. “It’s hard to get comfortable in the cabin due to the cramped, awkward seating position and firm seat cushioning,” MotorTrend reported after taking this year’s model out for a test drive. Car and Driver said much of the same, adding that legroom in this pickup is pretty abysmal too.

Fortunately, it’s not all bad news when it comes to the interior of the 2021 Toyota Tacoma. This year’s model does come standard with a 7-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s also available with several USB ports and wireless device charging. 

Does the 2021 Toyota Tacoma have anything going for it?

Of course it does. When it comes to the 2021 Toyota Tacoma, it’s not all bad. Car and Driver reports that this year’s new Tacoma has the most standard driver-assistance technology in its class. Even when you opt for a base model Tacoma, you can expect it to come well-equipped with safety features like forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this year’s model also earned a four out of five-star overall safety rating.

Fortunately for the Tacoma, it also offers a pretty strong resale value. According to Kelley Blue Book, the Toyota Tacoma has offered the ‘Best Resale Value’ among its segment for 11 years in a row. All things considered, that’s pretty impressive. 

Is the 2021 Toyota Tacoma a bad truck to buy?

Not at all. Things like ride quality and interior finishes can be pretty subjective. For some, the Tacoma’s well-known resale value might even make up for such disappointing qualities. All in all, if you’re curious about the 2021 Toyota Tacoma, we recommend taking it out for a spin.