Toyota Tacoma Is the Best-Selling Small Pickup for 16 Consecutive Years
The Toyota Tacoma is the smaller car in Toyota’s pickup truck lineup. Compared to the bigger Toyota Tundra, the Tacoma is a more appropriate truck for those in need of less-heavy-duty trucking. What makes the Tacoma a well-performing truck? Check out some of the features and ratings below.
Toyota Tacoma sales numbers by the year
The Tacoma had a good year based on the numbers put out for Toyota’s North America year-end sales report for 2020. Overall, sales for Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) were down 11.3% from 2019. In contrast, Lexus was only down 7.7%.
The Tacoma sold 238,806 units in 2020 and 248,801 in 2019. In comparison, the Toyota Tundra sold 109,203 units in 2020 and 111,673 in 2019. This makes it Toyota’s best-selling small pickup for the 16th year.
Is the Tacoma a reliable truck?
Consumer Reports gave the Tacoma a score of 51 overall. The Toyota truck was priced from $26,250 to $46,880. Out of eight compact pickup trucks, the Tacoma came in third.
In first place was the 2021 Honda Ridgeline, followed by the Jeep Gladiator. The Ridgeline received an overall score of 80, with the Gladiator getting a 65.
On the road test, the Tacoma got a score of 41. The truck received a three out of five on predicted reliability and three out of five on predicted owner satisfaction.
“While full-sized pickup trucks increasingly adopt luxury trappings, most compact trucks remain utilitarian workhorses. The Tacoma is a down-and-dirty example of function trumping form.”
Consumer Reports
The company noted that the Tacoma is great for work and play. The tough chassis and durable bed are perfect for packing up your coolers and heading to the beach or filling up with wood and plants at Home Depot.
The towing capacity is 6,800 pounds, which is respectable for a truck of its size. The Tacoma has a high resale value and tends to sell well on the used market. Many high-mileage trucks are on the road and will last well past 200,000 miles with proper maintenance.
Safety ratings and standard features
U.S. News also gave the Tacoma solid ratings. It came in at number three in compact pickup trucks, followed by the Honda Ridgeline and the 2021 Ford Ranger.
It was noted that the Tacoma has excellent off-roading capabilities, many standard features, and a user-friendly entertainment system. The truck had a firm ride, and the base engine wasn’t the strongest available. Toyota introduced new trim editions this year.
As far as safety features, it received a 9.1/10. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the truck “good” ratings for side-impact, moderate overlap front, rear crash, and roof strength.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Camry four stars for overall, frontal, and rollover safety ratings. The side crash rating received five stars.
Some of the standard safety features include brake assist, lane departure warning, electronic stability control, and traction control. These are generally fewer features than some 2021 trucks on the market.
Overall, the Tacoma is a great truck. If you are looking for more safety features or a bigger towing capacity, try the Toyota Tundra or the Honda Ridgeline.
