Test Drive and Thoughts - Blazing Blue Pearl DCSB Sport 4x2 V6 Auto

Today was my day to test out the new Tacoma. I'm creating this separate thread so everyone can have a chance to get a nice review without having to dig through the mountains of posts piling up on the third gen forum. I'm comparing this new 2016 Tacoma review against my current stock 2015 Tacoma DCSB TRD Sport 4.0L V6 Auto, so it should be helpful to most here. Here is the rig I got to test out, a DCSB Sport 4x2 V6 Auto in Blazing Blue Pearl excluding any Premium and Technology package.










Got to "feel" a lot of the inside of the truck. I noticed a lot of test drive reviews included comments about the interior feeling cheap, flimsy, and of overall lower quality than second gens. I understand that they are cranking these trucks out currently, and I really hope Toyota doesn't deviate off from their award winning quality control, but the third gen felt far superior in terms of interior quality. Everything was tight, felt of higher quality than my (still new) 2015, and was extremely pleasant to be in. The chairs roll seamlessly along the track without popping into place while driving, the center console hinge and lid were solid and tight, the giant LCD screen really pops at you, everything was perfect. The interior really reflects what a modern vehicle should be composed of. If you are a third gen hater and are hating on the interior redesign after seeing it in person, GTFO. I started my test drive, and my first thoughts are remembering the underpowered, low end of the engine everyone seems to be talking about. Pulling out of the dealership is a straight away, and I gunned it. It's true, the new 3.5L motor without the ECT button engaged is less powerful than my 4.0L in the first 0-15 MPH, but not by much. If you're not upgrading to this truck from a 4.0L, you wouldn't notice it at all. I did not get to drive on the freeway today, as it was raining (a rare occurrence in San Diego,) and also that it was the height of traffic with clogged freeways. I did however reach speeds of 50 MPH. The transmission is as smooth as butter, an incredible upgrade from the 5 speed automatic in my 2015. The truck has identical power to the 4.0L at speeds above 20 MPH without ECT. After getting a good feel without ECT engaged, I flipped the switch and started driving with it. What a substantial difference in power, as a result of holding the gears a tad bit longer. I can say with confidence that the truck is almost identical to the 4.0L with ECT engaged in the first 0-15 MPH. There was a slight, slight, slight difference in power however. There is an innocuous, irrelevant, negligible amount of power difference. Like I mentioned above, if you're not coming from a 4.0L you would never notice it. If you were to drag race this truck against a 4.0L, I think this truck would win. Other reviews mentioned that the motor struggled with gaining speed and increased RPMs. The motor did not struggle at all, even with the throttle pinned. I believe I would rather have the 3.5L than the 4.0L in my truck if I could choose. Back to the driving experience, the truck was uncommonly quiet by a substantial amount. I couldn't believe it, I didn't hear a feather of road noise. The steering was much tighter than my 2015, and I would go as far to say the suspension was nicer too. The driving experience difference between my truck and this truck was phenomenal. Getting back into my truck after being in this one was like getting in a time machine and traveling to 2005. Dated interior, noisy, etc.

Things I love about the truck:
- A similarly powerful motor with increased fuel economy.
- The interior, absolutely everything about it.
- The exterior design minus the cheese grater, pedestrian smasher grill
- The overall fit and finish of the truck. Well done Toyota.

Things I dislike about the truck:
- Driver side grab handle has been removed.
- Downgraded, incandescent tail lights.
- Reflector housing hi-beams, fog lamps, and turn signals.
- The price increase.

I don't have a lot of negative things to say about the third gen. It's a phenomenal upgrade from the second gen. I would wager a large sum of cash that if the cab had been redesigned a little better to include new character lines and not resemble a second gen cab so much, there wouldn't be a fifth of the number of third gen haters. Here is the truck I drove next to mine, as well as the sticker. Enjoy.

 

Thanks for the review. My DCLB sport is still in the queue, but this helps pass the time waiting for it.

 

Thanks for sharing your impression.

 

Thank you for the review. Good to have the comparison to your 2015.

 

Reported for drag racing discussion.

 

Thanks for your vehicle assessment. I still struggle with the oem sport wheels. I may opt for the TRD bead wheels when I attain my sport.

 

Did you feel any driveline vibes? Thanks for the review.

 

Thanks for the review. Very rare to have a 2015 owner review a 2016 without being cynical or biased against the 2016.

 

Good review!

I also need to add I don't like that the sport doesn't have bilstein shocks anymore. I also dislike the price hike especially for how much of the truck is carried over.

 

Great honest review. Thank you for sharing.

 

There wasn't a single driveline vibration. The drive was tight, quiet and smooth.

I agree. They are "Sport Tuned Shocks." However, they felt nicer than the "Toyota Bilsteins" on my truck.

 

Oh really? To me the just looked like base model ones lol.
I haven't driven the 2nd or 3rd gen long enough to really see any difference.

 

Is that engine bay already dirty?

 

And do they all come with the bed covers?

 

Why is the engine bay so dirty? Looks like someone shoveled some dirt in there. . .

 

Has there been any second gen owners review the 2016s? All I've seen are 1st gen guys buying the 2016s or guys who have never owned a Tacoma before do a review.

I would be very curious to read the other reviews of this kind

 

It's probably because was built in Mexico lol

 

In one of the last photos, of the white and blue trucks, look and the grill on the 3rd gen. It's a good example of what some people have been saying about the grill being grey and not chrome. Just throwin it out there. Excellent review btw.

 

This was a great review. I harken back to a 2014 that I drove about a year ago for a week on vacation as my only Tacoma experience. However, I can still remember how the acceleration differed from the cars I drive. I had never driven a truck before. I liked it enough to take a chance. I was nervous that the new engine might somehow lack what I experienced with the 4.0. This review makes me more confident that it is a good choice for me with the 2016...I appreciate it!

 

Reported for "drag" racisting.