Toyota Is Slowly Revealing the 2024 Tacoma
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma might be the hottest midsize truck that isn’t here yet. As brands like Chevy and Nissan have updated the 2023 Colorado and 2022 Frontier, the Tacoma is still in its third generation. And that means this pickup truck is starting to feel a little dated. Bit by bit, though, Toyota has slowly been dropping hints about the 2024 Tacoma.
Will 2024 bring an electric Tacoma?
As Toyota’s midsize truck, it’s been rumored that the Tacoma could go electric. Toyota has been teasing an electric Tacoma, but it is still unclear if a Tacoma EV is something that we should expect. This brand has been notably slow to put out fully electric vehicles. Instead, Toyota has long embraced hybrid technology.
With the CEO of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, stepping down, it is possible that a bigger EV push could be seen from the company. And that might mean we see an electric Tacoma enter production sooner rather than later.
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma will ride on a new platform
A new generation of Tacoma means a new platform for this midsize truck. According to MotorTrend, the 2024 Tacoma will ride on the TNGA-F platform. This is Toyota’s new global body-on-frame architecture, which several of the brand’s products use. This platform is extremely versatile, from the Toyota Hilux to the Lexus LX. And it opens up the door for a range of different powertrains.
What would be especially cool is if the new Toyota Tacoma borrowed the engine from the current Tundra. The twin-turbo V6 in that truck makes 389 horsepower. So, maybe Toyota has plans to detune it and put it in its midsize truck. As it stands, the V6 in the 2023 Tacoma is notably less powerful than the 310-hp V6 found in the Nissan Frontier.
Will the 2024 Tacoma still have a manual transmission?
As more and more trucks lose the ability for hand-made shifts, it’s fair to wonder if the fourth-gen Tacoma will still have a manual transmission. One ray of hope is the fact that Toyota spent quite a lot of resources developing a new standard transmission for the Supra.
If I were a betting man, I would wager that we still see a manual Tacoma with the new generation. Although, much like the current-gen, it will probably be limited to the TRD models. If you want to row your own gears with the 2023 Tacoma, you must look to the TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and TRD Pro Tacomas for the six-speed manual.
Toyota is taking its time with its midsize truck
The Tacoma has been in production since 1995, and the third generation has been around since 2015. Coming up on almost 10 years old now, it’s probably about time for Toyota to bring its midsize truck into a new generation.
That is especially true if these Japanese automaker wants to keep up with the other vehicles in this segment. So, hopefully, we will see a 2024 Toyota Tacoma sooner rather than later.
