Best newer Generation Tacoma

Hey gang !
Hello from the 1st Gen forum !
So, down the road I would like to trade up into a newer Tacoma, I'm not looking to buy anytime soon, I'm just collecting data. I just wanted to know from the group what Generation of Tacoma you're all driving and what you like about em. What do you dislike, and love about your Tacoma ? What do you think is the best generation of Tacoma, and why ?
I'd love to hear from everyone !

 

@Scouterdad I think you should base your decision on forums. Do you like the chill vibe of the 2nd generation forum or enjoy the hypercaffeinated 3rd generation forum? Too little data on 4th gen forum to make a stereotype. Lol

 

Get a second gen, tough and dependable, tried and true.

 

Lots of people are going to say it's one like they own, but a couple standout years seem to be 2015 (last of the 2nd-gen) and 2023 (last of the 3rd-gen). This because Toyota has had all those previous years to find & fix whatever design flaws they might have (for similar reasons, avoid both 2016 and 2024).

2018 & 2019 are good years in that they have the TSS system (automatic collision-avoidance braking, etc) if your into that, yet don't have all the (privacy-invading) connected services that came out for 2020 models. If you're wanting CarPlay and/or Android Auto though, then 2020 was 1st-year.

2018 also I believe is 1st year for R1234yf freon in the A/C system, which with it's larger molecule size shouldn't need as much maintenance as the older R134a systems do (less loss of freon from it permeating through the rubber hoses & seals)

Some might say to avoid Covid trucks (late-2020 thru 2022) that were built during all the global supply chain disruptions, and could have issues related to that. I personally haven't seen anything standing out from that yet though.

Probably the biggest complaint I have about my 2018 is that it is not the nice practical size that is the 1994 Ford Ranger I drove previously (same would be the case with your 1996 Tacoma). Nor has modern technology made them any more fuel efficient. My 2018 got about 23-24 HWY (before lift & bigger tires) which is identical to what my Ranger's MPG was. Power-wise, it does beat the older trucks, so there is that.

 

it really comes down to what you want out of the truck. i got an '18 3rd gen specifically because it's one of the newest trucks i could get that didn't have a ton of nannies i couldn't turn off. i prefer the simplicity of the older 1st and 2nd gen's, but the rust and typical mileage issues pushed me away from those to something with a slightly better rustproofness history..

 

Thank you so much, this is great stuff.
I was able to sample a 2023 when I was in Pennsylvania, courtesy of the company I was contracting for.
I was able to make some observations while driving the 2023, besides the obvious luxury amenities the newer Tacos seemed to have gotten a little bigger but still not a full size truck. Like you were saying earlier, I think they've lost their practical size somewhere along the way.

I really enjoyed this truck, I liked the color, and all the luxuries. Plus it still felt kinda like a smaller truck, yet a bit bigger than my 1st Gen.

 

I've owned a 1980 4x4, I believe this was a Hilux model, a 1994 SR5 4x4 and my current 2020 TRD Sport. All manual transmissions. I love the 2020 but I think if I could have the 1994 brand new, I would go back to it. Smaller, less technology to go bad and just a great little truck. Drove it for 25 years, 413,764 miles on it when I traded for the 2020 and if it had not rusted out, I would probably still have it.

 

Yes,I agree. I searched for a very long time for my 96, specifically sought out an all manual truck.
I did not want any power windows, or power anything.
All manual !

 

2021 is by far the best year Tacoma, ever.

 

What quantifies that statement?

 

The 2022 was "supposed to" be the last year for Gen 3....but there was this whole pandemic thing....so I think 2022-2023 are more or less identical.
Some nice things, like thicker glass and a better sound system, from my 2018. If I recall correctly, the Vehicle Stability System only worked in 2WD on my 2018....works in 4Hi on my new one.
I have a manual, so no opinion on how the auto transmission/engine play together, but I have heard the later 3rd generations were improved.

 

I believe the fact that he has one.

 

2023 was supposed to be the first year of the 4th gen? I never heard that before.

 

I had a '24, and went to a '22 after driving the 4G for a year. I saw comments above about the size of the trucks - if that is a concern, the 4G is nearly as big as a full size truck from the late 90s (thinking OBS Chevy size 1/2 ton and F150s of that same time period). Not a small truck per se. The '22 does appear visually smaller when they were parked side by side at the dealership when I was working the deal, but haven't confirmed anything by checking measurements or specs. It feels smaller and drives smaller, if that makes sense.
The torque of the 4G is diesel like. 1700 rpms its making peak torque. Makes driving it pretty easy / lazy, but the engines themselves sound like a tractor engine compared to the smoothness of the 3G V6 and all the older 4 cylinders I've owned over the years. Lots of folks get excited about it having a turbo, but turbos have been around a long time in other applications, and while the 4G engine may not last 400k miles like the older Toyotas of yore, I'm sure they will still last a long time.
Also, if you dislike the electronic nannies, the 4G is the one to avoid. They have everything currently offered from Toyota's latest safety suite and while some are easy to disable, some aren't. I just found it overly complicated to use some basic things such as the cruise control. Or plugging in a trailer (having to answer questions on the screen when the truck thinks it has a trailer plugged in to make the brake controller work - answer wrong and it can be stuck in trailer purgatory for a bit until it resets). Or in my case, the truck didn't like my one trailer so I had to pull it a short distance w/o the trailer brakes. That was one reason I dumped it - just too difficult for its own good sometimes.
I like my new to me CPO '22. I miss the torque of the 4G, but basically like everything else better about the 3G truck - simpler, cleaner open design in the cab, and much more basic, while still getting a "like new" low miles Certified Pre Owned truck with warranty.

 

Any of them will do but the best Tacoma is the one you own outright and aren't making payments on.