Tackle the trails in Toyota’s Tacoma

The small truck industry is booming. It really satisfies a lot of needs for the everyday consumer. Manufacturers love the segment’s profitability. A win for all sides.

Recently, in a Grasso’s Garage deep dive, we tested the revived Ford Ranger. Many great strengths in numerous areas. But its basic appearance, with its front grill and fascias, are looking a little uninspired.

To be a top contender in the small truck category, a lot of things have to align. First, comfort: the driver has to be comfortable so the truck could be used for everyday driving and/or for long towing trips for a trailer or camper. Second, appearance: with lots of competition in this category with similar specifications, in order to beat the rest, this is a must. Third, dependability/usage: four-wheel drive options, ride heights for off-road capabilities, reliability and most importantly, resale value.

Toyota, creator of the Tacoma, has been in this market for 25 years now. The reason is simple … they continue to dominate in all of the above categories. Highest resale value in the class, good looks and dominating off road and towing specs.

In our tester this week, we got the Tacoma TRD-PRO, its top-of-the-line off-road pickup that has all kinds of ability. Its Kevlar-enforced Goodyear tires are a good start, don’t worry about blowing out a sidewall with them when off-road.

Clearly Toyota took great strides in coming up with a pickup that will go anywhere. We took the four-wheel-drive pickup to the mountainous ranges of the Catskill Mountains and near the Rondout Reservoir in Central New York. We experienced deep trails and nicely sized inclines to prove the Tacoma could handle it and it did. It was a dream and all of the additional offroad options worked well. The TRD-PRO came with an in-bed electric hookup, sunroof, Fox shocks, skid plate, cat-back exhaust and its powerful 3.5L dual overhead cam V6 engine giving off 278 horsepower on our four-door automatic transmission version.

The Tacoma comes with six trim level options starting at $26,050 for the base level SR and going on up to $46,665 for the top model, the TRD-PRO.

After looking at my close friend Tom’s now second Tacoma, it is clear that it is the right choice. From tackling the trails in the TRD to your everyday around town cabin gogetter in the mountains, the

Tacoma has a fit for all drivers and needs. I was pretty impressed with its ability to do anything and get there easily doing it.

Toyota Tacoma

MSRP: $46,665

As Tested: $48,085

MPG: 18 city, 22 highway,19.7 as tested

MARC GRASSO — MEDIANEWS GROUP The Toyota Tacoma has been around for awhile and there’s a reason, it hits everything you’re looking for in a small pickup truck, comfort, towing capacity, appearance and dependability, plus got to love those Kevlar tires for off-road sturdiness.