New Toyota Tacoma is Adventure Ready
TORONTO: The Toyota Tacoma has dominated the mid-size pickup truck segment for over 10 years in Canada, and the all-new 2024 Tacoma aims to set a new standard for modern trucks.
Completely redesigned and reimagined for model year 2024, the Tacoma is ready to help drivers tackle their ambitious adventure bucket lists. For this new generation of Tacoma, Toyota engineers focused on its rich history of quality, durability and reliability – while incorporating modern tech, rugged styling and go-anywhere capability.
“We introduced the Toyota Tacoma back in 1995 and it quickly became a truck to be reckoned with. Its rock-solid reliability, power, comfort, versatility, and style made it a dominant player in the mid-size pick-up market, and we’ve never looked back – which is why Tacoma has been the undisputed market leader in this segment for almost two decades,” said Cyril Dimitris, Vice President, Toyota Canada Inc.
“That success meant Toyota’s designers and engineers faced a huge challenge as they set out to create the next-generation Tacoma: How could they improve a truck that already punches well above its weight, no matter how it’s measured? We’re thrilled they did, and we’re excited for Canadian truck fans to experience it first-hand. We’re sure they’ll agree this all-new Tacoma raises an already high bar.”
For 2024, Tacoma is completely redesigned from the ground up. Built on the TNGA-F global truck platform shared with Tundra, Sequoia and Land Cruiser, the all-new Tacoma was designed and engineered specifically for the North American market. Constructed from a high-strength boxed, steel-ladder frame, it adds numerous features that off-road enthusiasts will love.
One leap forward for the new generation Tacoma is a fully redesigned coil spring multi-link rear suspension. Standard on all Canadian grades, this new suspension improves overall ride and handling for a new Tacoma for excellent on- or off-road manners. The new Tacoma also diversifies its powertrain choices, with two options that improve both power and efficiency. The turbocharged i-FORCE 2.4-liter engine produces up to 278 horsepower and 317 lb.-ft. of torque. The available i-FORCE MAX hybrid is a showstopper, producing up to 326 horsepower and a massive 465 lb.-ft. of torque, the most torque in the mid-size truck segment.
Homegrown: For Adventure
Interior and exterior design work was done by Toyota’s CALTY Design Research Centre, located in Newport Beach, California, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, the same team who led the design efforts for the recently launched Tundra and Sequoia models.
“Badass adventure machine, that says it all about what this new Tacoma is,” said Kevin Hunter, president, CALTY Design
Research. “There was a lot of close collaboration between engineering, planning, marketing and design. We worked together as a North American unit to make this all-new Tacoma come to life. From design sketches to this fully built truck, what a journey.”
The CALTY team focused on Toyota’s truck DNA and the Toyota Baja race trucks for inspiration to capture the extreme spirit of off-road adventure. High lift, big tires, slim body and a powerful athletic stance define the iconic Tacoma look, referred to as ”Tacoma-ness”.
The design team strived for Toyota trucks to have a family resemblance, each with unique personalities defined by their purpose. For Tacoma, its narrow body and wide upper grille are a nod to the original HiLux, with features like the aggressive skid plates as an outward expression of extreme ruggedness. .
Improvements were made across all grades, as the team enhanced Tacoma’s on and off-road capability, from daily driving around town, to long trips, to severe rock crawling, to high-speed desert racing. As a result of the engineers’ efforts, this truck will perform in widely varied environments, from paved roads to trails.
Over-Built to Perform
The 2024 Tacoma utilizes Toyota’s TNGA-F global truck platform shared with the Tundra, Sequoia and upcoming Land Cruiser. Like its brethren, highstrength steel with blanking and laser welds is used throughout the chassis to increase rigidity.
Aluminum has been incorporated into the upper body for weight reduction. Frame crossmembers are also strengthened to increase durability and carry Toyota dealer-available accessories gear, such as rooftop tents, high lift jacks and camp fridges.
Attention to detail is evident throughout the platform, but the incorporation of high-lift jack point into the rear frame end is a unique detail that demonstrates the engineers’ thoughtfulness and understanding of the customers’ adventurous spirit.
Rear disc brakes are now standard on Tacoma for increased braking performance, and TRD models and higher grades are equipped with an even larger front brake package. TRD models and above equipped with iFORCE MAX include a larger rear brake package as well. An electronic parking brake can be synced to engage when the truck is put in park. This feature also allows for low-speed radar cruise control and a brake hold function. To provide improved steering feel and facilitate the incorporation of additional safety and convenience features, Tacoma will now have electric power steering.
Smart Towing Tech
Tacoma buyers need their truck to meet a wide variety of demands. Needing to pull a trailer, boat or ATVs means towing capability is a crucial feature. Fortunately, Tacoma is up to the challenge thanks to its maximum towing capacity of 6,400 lbs. on SR5 i-FORCE, while its maximum payload increases on the new model to 1,710 lbs. for i-FORCE Max models.
The available Trailer Back Up Guidance is an available feature that aids in overall maneuvering of trailers, while the available Straight Path Assist feature can provide a hands-free experience to help guide the trailer in a straight line when backing up.
To make things even easier for truck duty, bed volume is increased seven percent to help make loading gear a cinch, even when loading under the available tonneau cover. The lightweight but sturdy aluminum tailgate features an available power open and close function with jam protection.
From styling to features, each Tacoma model is purposefully designed by Toyota engineers to have unique characteristics. The truck now features suspensions tuned specifically to each grade. TRD Sport has red TRD sport-tuned shocks for a more responsive feel for road-hugging curves, while the TRD Off-Road grade features monotube Bilstein remote reservoir shocks that are well suited to rough off-road adventures thanks to the extended wheel travel and greater heat dissipation.
Tacoma will provide customers with two robust and efficient powertrain options; both use a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
Tacoma’s legendary off-road capability is taken to the next level for the latest generation, making it the ultimate adventure machine. An all-new available front stabilizer bar disconnect system increases suspension flex at the push of a button. With the front stabilizer bar disconnected, Tacoma’s articulation increases significantly compared to the current generation truck.
i-FORCE Tacoma’s have up to 34.4-degree approach, 26.1-degree breakover and 26.1-degree departure angles. Running ground clearance maxes out at 11.5 inches (292 mm) on TRD Off-Road. And with tons of available cameras installed on the new Tacoma, TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter, drivers can view potential obstacles looming on the trail via the Multi-Terrain Monitor that displays crisply on the 14-inch touchscreen.