DeMello's review of the 2016 Tacoma.

I sure am glad to hear the next gen GT3 will be offered with the proper gearbox for us purists.

 

These cars are getting to fast and iam getting to old to be moving my leg and one hand off the steering wheel. The GT3 never misses with the PDK, just my preference. A manual is fun in a pick-up and feels right. The MT Tacoma will be a 5th car for making deliveries. Not an everyday driver. Hell if i get tired of the MT , ill sell it and fetch top dollar since they are almost non existent in the South!!.

 

I pulled a 5000lb trailer into and over the Pocono Mt. with no problems what so ever... It was a 2016 trd sport double cab with tow package...

 

I see a lot of comments about the 3.5 being gutless. I once owned a 98 PreRunner with the 2.7. If you want to feel a gutless Tacoma give that a try. It was great for just running around town at speeds of 30 to 50 mph but on the highway it was pathetic. I have not as yet bought my next Tacoma but I have driven the new 3.5 and I didn't have any complaints. I can tell you that I live just about 15 minutes away from the engine assembly plant where they build the 3.5 and someone that works out at my gym works at the plant. When the motor first came out my friend told me wait awhile as they were having teething issues which is normal with any new engine / vehicle. I asked again just last week and the response was that yes everything is all squared away and the motor is good to go.

 

I absolutely LOVE my new 2016 Toyota Tacoma. I have had Toyotas from the 80's, 90', 2000's. Trucks, Landcruisers....
This new truck is awesome! I was thinking maybe a little gutless at first but now she is broken in and when I punch the throttle to get on the freeway?? She glides smoothly through the gears and is at 100kmh/60mph in seconds. Took it on a 1000km trip to see if there are any issues? NONE? Frickin' LOVE IT!!! Nice pull, great fuel mileage and great options. This truck is a winner!!!

 

This review was way to kind to the Toyota engineers who should be embarrassed with the gutless, low torque truck they designed. I had a Nissan Frontier that I put 197,400 miles on and it could have outperformed my new 2016 Tacoma. I had always admired the Tacomas and thought long and hard before ordering mine. It's not that I expected perfection, but after plunking down almost $40k and listening to the engine do it's transmission "I can't decide which gear I should be in" shifting up and down and up and down and up and down, I realized that it didn't have any bottom end or what a truck should have TORQUE. It was as if Toyota put a 2 Liter hi rev automobile engine in it and then figured out later that it needed 6 speeds to get up a hill. Then, after trying to get used to listening to the engine running at 1200rpm or 4500rpm (depending on which gear it was in) the cruise control decided that when you have more than 20mph differential when you hit the "resume" it will down shift two gears and lock itself in the lower gear until you start hearing the engine scream and have to manually disengage it. Yes! I took it back to the dealer twice and after the second visit and telling them how to duplicate the cruise control fault they were able to "duplicate the problem" and turned in a "field report". I would like to say something positive about this new Tacoma and so I'll say that the audio system is great and the seats are comfortable. I just drove this Tacoma to Nevada on a photoshoot and listening to it shift down at 70mph on a slight grade on I-40 made me feel like I was driving a ball-less wonder, it's a TRUCK, not a sports car. Buyer's remorse can't begin to cover my dissappoiintment in waiting all this time to get a Tacoma and then after finally getting it......

 

I love my 2016 Tacoma but I also feel the need for electric seat positioners. Seems like the truck is built for people under 6' tall

 

GOOD REVIEW. CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION VS AUTO. AUTOMATIC HAS ZERO LOW-END TORQUE. THE MANUAL HAS PLENTY…I DRIVE MINE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND THE MANUAL IS A MUST. THANK YOU.
ONLY NEW COMPLAINT IS THE EXCESSIVE ROAD NOISE ABOVE 70 MPH. I HAVE THE EXTENDED CAB AND PERHAPS THE 4 DOOR IS QUIETER.

 

3rd gen is the slowest of the group, at least in this review. I got real close to buying a Tacoma but instead went with 2013 Ford F-150 FX4 5.0L V8. I wasn't about to pay nearly 40k for a motor I have to rev out merging in traffic.

People, stop making excuses like its a truck, last time I checked trucks are supposed to torque and they can ride smooth.

http://youtu.be/jbmOYTMirrw

 

Was gonna buy a 16 but saw.. "new motor".. so got a new 15. I am I happy! Ain't gonna win no Baja with no 16. Toyota is even having to advertise the new 16 on TV. Means the sales are in the toilet. They should call the 16 the "Obama Wagon".

 

Thanks Joe,

My first was a 99 as well. I now drive a 2013, Baja, manual trans, one of the only ones they made that year. I have your rock crusher sliders on it. After reading your review, I'm glad I got the 2013 Baja version. I like the suspension and slight lift AND that it's all covered by the extended warranty. I'm an archaeologist and must get into some hairy places sometimes, and it's never failed me. I picked mine up in Portland, OR and drove it back to Albuquerque. I suggest everyone do something like that if possible. It's a great way to get into the groove with a new Tacoma.

I'll keep my 2013 Baja for awhile and see if Toyota improves the stock suspension and/or engine in the future, or just keep it and it will be worth a bundle someday since they only made about 700 of them that year.

 

excellent review!
it is unfortunate that Toyota decided to put that weak ass engine in their newly redesigned truck. I left Toyota 3 years ago and got a GMC sierra 1500 with the 6.2l i have since upgraded to the 2015 Denali version and noted a 1 mpg (highway) improvement with the 8 speed transmission.
I find it strange that the 3.5l engine in a light duty Toyota truck can only manage 20 MPG highway when I consistently get 23MPG plus on the highway with my V8. my best averages are currently 40.7 mpg 25 mile average and 36 mpg 50 mile average at 400 miles my best average was 23 mpg.
say what you like that you done believe me but you really cannot fake 50 mile and 400 mile averages!
my 25 mile is not necessarily real world because i likely set that while headed down a pass. I also live in colorado so i do a lot of mountain driving.
if you ask me i think it is pathetic that Toyota can't match the fuel economy of a full sized 6.2l V8 truck that weighs almost 6,000 lbs and has a tow capacity of almost 12,000 lbs
I have 420 hp and 460 tq and my truck can go 0-60 in just 4 seconds!

I do not own a canyon or colorado but I am pretty sure its numbers are also quite a bit more favorable. my friend has a fully loaded colorado and i believe he gets 26+ mpg, a higher towing capacity and more standard features than the tacoma.
i honestly feel Toyota got lazy, they had the only decent light duty truck on the market as Nissan was no competitor and they stretched out the 2nd gen truck for far too long!
the only good thing about my 2009 tacoma was how well it held it's value because at the time i sold it there were no other light duty trucks to compete with it once Gm stopped making their small trucks.
now that they took the time to step up and play in this arena, Toyota better take notice and make some more revisions or they will just be playing 2nd fiddle to GM.

I also think Toyota needs to do a drivetrain update to the Tundra, the Tundra can't hold a candle to the likes of Chevy, Ford or Dodge whom have all gone Gas direct injection. they all make gobs more torque and HP than anything Toyota offers.
I thought Toyota was making some really great products a few years ago and I couldn't be more disappointed with the latest offerings and i think they should have done more homework.

I think Toyota as always did a great Job on refining the new trucks interiors and comfort along with the new styling as expected! but when i heard they went down in CC and HP i was very glad i switched to GM i would have been really pissed to have waited 3 years for the new tacoma to find i could have been driving something that has the HP and TQ a truck should have.
but alas, i know a lot of people buy trucks to drive and use like cars so for those folks who just like to have a pickup bed and never put anything in it, i think Honda also makes a nice truck for that purpose. if you want to tow something, Haul something the Toyota will get the job done but the big boys get the job done better in a ford, chevy or dodge.
another friend of mine just got the new eco diesel and he gets every bit of the advertised 30 mpg highway. it's slower than my truck and tows less but it is packed with features and a killer stereo, extra convenience lighting and air ride suspension that changes while your driving.
my truck has the Magnetic ride suspension which is a night/ day difference to the previous Sierra without it.

anyway those are my observations..

 

I am enjoying my 16 Tacoma. Works for what I want in a truck. I probably not the first to point out to the author the TRD Sport has a garage opener. Other than that a good review. This truck will ne around for a log time. Now getting over 20 MPG (Imperial) so happy withthat.

Take Care

Bob

 

Just last Saturday I traded a 2014 GMC Sierra SLE w/American Luxury Coach pkg,(Z92) ie., 6" lift, wheels, Mickey Thompson tires, exhaust, embroidered seats for a 2016 Tacoma Limited RWD.

I got tired of the chore getting in and out of a truck with a 6" lift. Not to mention it was just more truck than I wanted to drive on a daily basis. I considered a Tundra but hell it's just as big! Also, the GMC had developed a squeak under the dash that the dealer couldn't find and on one or 2 occasions when I'd shift from reverse back to drive the display went dark for longer than it should. It was a good truck and it was a head-turner in white Diamond, but I began to wonder how well it would age.

So far I'm digging the Tacoma. It's MUCH smaller than the GMC, but hey I knew that going in...right? I owned a 2000 Tundra for 15 years and it was plenty big for me and the new Tacoma is not much smaller than it so I feel the Tacoma is a keeper. Although, I tend to agree with the masses that the lack of torque and the at times "confused transmission" sullied what otherwise is a great truck!

Oh yeah...TOYOTA IS JUST A PLAIN EMBARRASSMENT THAT THE TACOMA IN 2016 DOESN'T OFFER POWER SEATS ESPECIALLY ON THE SR-5 AND IT SHOULD BE STANDARD ON THE LIMITED! That's gotta be my biggest pet-peeve!!!

 

[QUOTE="JQ3, post:
Oh yeah...TOYOTA IS JUST A PLAIN EMBARRASSMENT THAT THE TACOMA IN 2016 DOESN'T OFFER POWER SEATS ESPECIALLY ON THE SR-5 AND IT SHOULD BE STANDARD ON THE LIMITED! That's gotta be my biggest pet-peeve!!![/QUOTE]

This truly is a 1st world problem. If this is your biggest peeve you must be pretty happy with your new truck. You should be.

Bob

 

[/QUOTE]

This truly is a 1st world problem. If this is your biggest peeve you must be pretty happy with your new truck. You should be.

Bob[/QUOTE]

As it stands right now today I swear that's my biggest issue! The lack of the bottom cushion being able to angle up has begun to aggravate my back a little. I'm keeping the truck so I guess I better get use to it!!!!

Oh yeah, nice review!!!

 

Great review, does anybody know if 2016's will come with 6 Speed Manual? Thanks!

 

TACOMA 17,687 15,885 3.1 11.3
file:///C:/Users/Rob/Downloads/TMS_March_2016_sales_chart.pdf


The truck is up 11% over last year and still the sales leader in the segment. With the new motor it is slower than the outgoing 4.0 with an a 0 to 60 time of about 8.1. Frankly I don't buy trucks for their ability to race and 8.1 seconds to 60 mph is fine with me.

 

I dont understand why people are saying the 2016 is slower than the previous gen. Maybe its the MT i have in my 2016. I had the auto in my 2008. When you wind the gears out my truck moves out. Iam very impressed with the power all ovet the rev range. I do know what fast is, have had several 911"s and currently own a 991-GT3. Its a heavy pick up truck. But its no slouch!! I"am really enjoying my truck also!! I think Toyota did a great job.