pros & cons of the gen3

I've owned (1) gen1 & (2) gen2's
recently got a gen3
so I am compiling a pros & cons list for any potential/future buyers
feel free to add to the list yo!
I will also continue to add to this list as I drive more (at 150 miles atm)

*= other members contribution to the list

PROS-
1. powered driver seat option
2. digital speedo/cluster/data/static tire pressure for each wheel
3. heated side mirror option
4. 8" touchscreen
5. light & easy to close tailgate
6. no more old school antenna
7. dual zone climate control
8. the cabin has less road noise than a gen2
9. seems just as powerful/slightly more powerful than a gen2
(bare in mind I am just breaking mine in, so I am driving modestly atm)
10. tranny (auto shifting) is as good/better than a gen2
11. sound quality & audio system is superior to the gen2
12. locking glove box & tailgate
13. powered rear window!!!!
14. improved drivers door armrest (seems more robust/well thought out)
15. -the fenders are cooler on gen 3 than 2 but gen 1 still looks best *
16. -bluetooth *
17. -safer? *
18. the bed light!
19. average gas mileage is around 21 mpg ATM
20. 4x4 use & activation is the same as the gen2 (drove on some ice for 30+ miles....totally confident)
21. center console opens so its accessible from both driver & passenger side (big improvement over gen2)

CONS-
1. no driver side A-pillar grab handle
2. motor sounds weak
3. adaptive cruise control sucks
4. no access to front under seat storage from the front
5. no more auto headlight shut off when you open driver door....now you get beeping
6. stupid looking micro shark fin on top (antenna)
7. no CD player! (damn new cars)
8. volume knob is too small
9. no gas cap holder inside of gas cover!!
10. The damn front seats are too high.
11. No OEM 'touch to unlock' passenger side front door handle to be courteous.
12. oil filter is on the bottom of the motor
13. no hood struts, *
14. no bowl lighting, *
15. no one touch back windows, *
16. no one touch rear window, *
17. no reverse S-mode shifting, *
18. no interior blackout kit, *
19. no spotter mirror, *
20. hand operated rear parking brake in center console
21. center armrest is too small, gen2 was better
22. center console should be lockable
23. -too big and bulky for the really tight trails *
24. -Wheel wells dont fit 33’s *
25. -Cab is too bright at night even with everything turned down low *
26. -this darn thing is always beeping *
27. -it tracks your movements and speed *
28. -tss is in the way if the prime spot for a bumper hoop bar *
29. -dumb looking catfish mouth grille compared to the later 2nd gen grilles which look way better *
30. -i prefer the old antenna to that awful shark fin *
31. -tiny ass cup holders wtf! *
32. driver side mirror makes everything strangely wide
33. changing direction of travel (F to R/R TO F) requires full depression of brake
pedal (gen2 tranny was not like this) not a huge deal, but takes time to adjust to the logic
34. hood alignment is off as is the cut off on the hood on one side....where is the toyota quality control?
35. the ignition is corky.....gotta really let it crank (gen2 was better) or its a redo
36. the stock toyo tires that the truck came with grab & chuck rocks BAD!
37. back seat audio is lacklaster at best, & after listening to several genres of music, the speakers suck balls (gen2 speakers/audio quality was better)
38. oil change is a big thumbs down.....so much easier on a gen2

 

I have stored my tablet computer in a case under both of the front seats?


You do have auto off headlights. By Default, they turn off in about 30sec if you shut your engine off before you open the door. This works for both the headlight and parking light settings. One of my favorite features, even on mine that doesn't have the Auto Headlight function.

 

I tried to slide my ipad under the seats yesterday with no luck...but maybe I need to take a better look to see if I can

 

All of my complaints can hopefully be fixed, it’s mostly about the audio sound and the cabin noise. Everything else I knew going into buying the truck so I can’t complain about things like the driving quality or anything. Probably the biggest Pro of this truck is all of the aftermarket support and the huge modding community. Anything I’ve done to my truck so far has been something that I found on this forum .

 

Interesting. This is the case that I use with my Surface:

$40 tomtoc 360 Protective Laptop Shoulder Bag for 13" 2025 MacBook Air M4/A3240, M3/A3113, M2/A2681, M1/A2337, MacBook Pro M2/M1, 13-in Surface Pro 11th AI/10/9, Water-Resistant Accessory Case

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075CWSFKX

It might be a difference with the powered driver seat?

 

Most all your con's can be corrected

 

I’m 11 months in with my Taco and my list of cons does not look like yours. Obviously it’s all personal preference, for example I love using Adaptive Cruise Control and I think the shark fin antenna is a lot more modern-looking then a rod growing out of the passenger-side fender. To each their own though.

 

Not to rain on your parade, but your Pro/Con list is pretty weak and contradictory.

Pro:

Con:

The adaptive cruise control is actually pretty good and having the option as standard equipment is nice.
Really, CD player?

The headlights do turn off after a certain amount of time, read the owners manual.

 

I just went & took a look.....there is space, but its only accessible from behind, unlike gen2 (which was from both directions) I will say it looks like there is a lot more room under there than the gen2

 

Yes. From behind. You really don't want the device to slide under your foot, either for control interference or possibly damaging the device.

 

Are we really complaining that there's not enough room under the seats for a tablet, yet upset there's no CD player?

 

No selection for 55-65.
Guess nobody 55-65 drives one. Ridgeliners ?

 

Stick your IPad in the seat pocket behind your Pass. seat

 

No CD player is a sign of the times not a con IMO. With all of the streaming services and every song known to man available with a touch of a button CDs were history long ago. Apple music and done.

Besides think of the increase in MPG you get not carrying around a truck load of CDs lol

 

53 and loving my 3rd gen

 

let it rain
Im just starting my list, btw....less than an hour in....give me some time & I will find all the pros & cons on this truck

honestly, Im making this list for people who are deciding whether to get a gen3 or not (that was me about 10 days ago)
its hard to find fair reviews on auto's these days....its either all good or all bad
read any review on the gen3 & at most you get 5 good points & 5 bad points
no one takes time to thoroughly review an auto

case & point on the gen3 taco...the internet is loaded with how bad the tranny on the gen3 is
& if I trusted all the BS on the net about the gen3 tranny, I would have never got one
after talking to several owners about the tranny, I came to realize its just a bunch of noise on the net
or young fist time truck owners who dont understand how a RWD truck drivetrain feel to operate at mid speeds
(as I pointed out in my pro list)

if you dont like my review list, I cant help you
this is for those who want some honest & real day to day insight on gen2 to gen3 improvements/disappointments

 

uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

real ones know my age

 

if you press and hold the cruise control button you can turn off the adaptive cruise control and have a "normal" cruise control. Also, the gen 2 could hold a nagene type water bottle, gen 3 can not

 

49 and doing fine! Not young and dumb anymore!! Well my wife does have a different opinion

 

There is no selection for 55-65