Tundra ➡️ Tacoma

My 2019 Tacoma is a great vehicle. BUT, I doubt any manufacturer will ever again make as sweet a truck ride--powerful, nimble in corners, great road feel-- as the first generation Tundras (mine was a 2001). Like the older leaner Silverados, we'll never see a V8 half ton that size again. Too bad, they were the perfect size if you didn't need a true 3/4 or one ton work truck.

 

OP, 2 things that the Tundra do better than the Tacoma
1. Haul people
2. Towing and hauling 4x8 drywall or plywood. That's it.
The Tacoma is more fun to drive, good on gas, garage friendly and tons more mods you can do to it than the Tundra. People here will tell you that the engine is weak and the transmission sucks, but i find no such thing on my 2020. You hit the gas and it will go, not gonna throw you back in the seat like the Tundra but it will go.

Traded in my 2018 Tundra TRD Sport for this 2020 Tacoma Sport DCSB and absolutely love it, would never go back. So if you don't haul people and tow heavy trailers get the Tacoma, end of story....

 

I drove a 2017 tundra trd off-road for 3 yrs . Jumped to a 2020 Tacoma sport 4x4 and couldn’t be happier . Better gas mileage , easier to live with day in and out . I’m 6’2 250 and have no problems with this truck . I love the backseat storage which the Tundra has zero of . The down side nobody will sit behind me for sure but I don’t care it’s only me 99% of the time . Pulls my boat and still gets better mileage than my Tundra ever saw. I have experienced none of the tranny hunting issues people speak of .

 

Surprising considering all the mountains in Florida ;-)

 

Ah, ok...

 

Don't do it, you'll regret going from a full-size to midsize

 

Lol why the hell else would you have a vehicle except to haul people and stuff? If you don't do that then ride a bus.

 

I had my eyes on a Tacoma for a long time but affordability/practicality with younger kids made it no bueno. Once my last kid flew the coop and the reliability of my V6 Rav4 began to concern me (200K miles; 50K miles of boat towing, go figure) I took the plunge into a '19 Tacoma. Yes, its tight for passengers in the back, but I've not yet had the need to put someone more 5'8" tall back there. I'll be honest, I really like this truck and look forward to climbing in driving it every single day. Is it underpowered? I suppose, but it pulls my 3,000 lb rig w/o too many complaints and with the 6'ft bed you can get a lot of camping and fishing goodies in the back. You can also unlock pretty solid MPG if you leave it stock and drive it like a granny.

 

If you don't really need the bed consider a 4Runner I love mine and didn't have to lose the back window feature. Also back seat has a lot more room if you have kids. Haven't drove a 3rd gen but the 5-speed in the second gen and on the 4Runners are simple and awesome Imo.

 

Try the old tennis ball on a rope trick. Once it hits your windshield, you throw it in park. I haven't tried it, but have thought about a hundred times.....

 

I recently went from a 2017 Tundra CrewMax to a 2020 Tacoma DCSB and love it. Yeah the Tundra had more room and towing,but normally I only have my 8 yo grandson in the rear seat. Plus I like the drive and feel of the Sport on the road. It hangs pretty good for a truck. The Tundra felt like a smooth boat......boring. The Tacoma also has alot of bells and whistles for less money and it tows my Honda Pioneer SXS just fine. Plus I had a 2014 DCLB Sport before, so I knew what I was missing. And the gas mileage, turning radius, and parking is alot better to.

EDIT: It didn't help that my Tundra got hit 3 times in 2 years. 1st was by a deer, 2nd a teenage girl didn't look before changing lanes, and 3rd a drunk guy on a motorcycle rear-ended me. That mofo was a crash magnet. It had to go.

 

Are you suggesting you have mountains in New England?

Joking aside, I think I can speak to going from a Tundra to a Tacoma

I went from this
(2003 DC Taco)


To this (sorry, bad pic)
(2007 Crew Max Tundra)


To this
(2014 Tacoma)


To this
(2016 TRD Pro Tundra)


To this
(2018 Raptor)


Then finally to both of these
(2016 4Runner and 2020 Tacoma)



I've usually had some kind of car while also having these vehicles.

I will say the pros of the Tundra are also it's cons. I love it for the amount of space you have. I also hate it because it's so big. I love the power you have, on the flip the gas mileage (especially when lifted) sucks. If/when Toyota finally updates the Tundra, I may seriously consider one again. Of all these trucks, I liked the 2003 DC the most and hated the Raptor the most. I'm really digging my 2020. If people think the Tacomas hunt for gears, go drive a 2nd gen Raptor. You'll be so thankful for your Tacoma tranny.

 

yup, got plenty of mountains and hills here in Maine...