Taco for Family

Hi I am in the market for a new car and I am falling in love with the new 2020 Tacoma, but I have a 3 and 4 year old and I am concerned over their comfort in the vehicle. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with young kids and whether or not they recommend getting a Tacoma.

 

Depends how tall you are. I found at 6'1" it was too tight with kids in the back. Ok for an occasional drive here and there, but not for full time use.

 

My nieces like it and are comfortable. Ages 10 and 16

Yeah, I'm 6'1'' and have to put the 10 year old behind me

 

im 6'1 and the backseat behind me is pretty tight. Im a single dad so its just my 13yr and me so its perfect. if i had a wife and a couple of kids i would have most likely got a 4runner.

 

Tundra. The Tacoma will be a tight fit if you plan on camping or longer road trips.

 

^

 

I have a 2 and 4 year old and they never get in the Tacoma because it’s not comfortable for the two front seat passengers with car seats and I’m only 5’10

If it’s your primary family car there are much better choices. I bought the wife a Subaru ascent that has a third row and captain chairs for the same price as my Tacoma OR. Now If we do family runs we don’t even touch my truck.

but if you really want it I know of folks who have made it work, just not the best choice in my opinion

 

5'8" here, kids are as tall or taller than me and haven't complained but we also haven't gone on very long drives yet.

With a 3 and 4 year old, you won't have issues with them fitting, just kicking the back of your seat!

Personally, I say go for it. By the time they "don't fit" it'll be time for a new vehicle anyway. Or they'll be driving.

 

edit: we also drive 4hr from dallas to houston to see family at least once a month.

 

I had a 2019 4Runner and now have a 2020 Taco. the 4R is more roomy inside, and fit me and 4 friends (all between 5'9" and 6"3) when we go camping with all of our gear in the trunk/roof rack. I've only taken the Taco on one camping trip, but my friends immediately started complaining that it was smaller than the 4R in the cabin.

 

My experience with young kids it that they typically grow larger. As a family vehicle, the Tacoma is slightly ahead of say, a motorcycle for family practicability.

Get a Tundra or 4Runner. Better yet, how about a new RAV-4? Under NO circumstances take the family to look at a Ridgeline. Wife and kids will love it and you will be heartbroken....

 

I can't get over how hideous the Ridgeline is. And this is coming from an '05 Pilot owner.

 

The Tacoma is not for you.

 

My teenagers fit in the back of my ACLB with no problems. Hell, I fit back there nicely (6ft / 235lb), but no one has offered to take me for a ride back there yet.

A couple times, I installed a full size car seat, forward facing, for a friend and had no reduction in front seat room. We've had booster seats back there several times with no issues.

There is not much more room in a DC, but with your kids at those ages, I would expect no issues.

 

LoL! The Taco is the family vehicle after a motorcycle. The kids are grateful to not have to ride with me in the rain.

The Taco replaced this:


I credit the fam for putting up with that experiment for 4yrs.

 

It's all relative. How much junk do you travel with? do your kids hate each other? are they big boned?

Our kids are 6 and 8, we travel a lot in the Tacoma, I'm 6'1", we pull a trailer, 11 hour trips, etc etc.. apparently it's impossible but yet somehow here we are..
They love the Tacoma, it has more room than our SG Forester. I grew up traveling around in a Corolla Wagon, when I check the back seat in the Tacoma it's twice as much room.

 

Accurate.

 

Little kids should be no problem (but you WILL feel their feet kicking you in the back). We have a rather tall 5yr old son. He LOVES daddy’s Tacoma and honestly there’s plenty of room for him in the back. I believe this truck will become his high school truck!

I started out intending to buy an F-150, primarily because of the roominess. Before buying I promised myself I’d at least “look” at the Tacoma’s (lifelong Toyota fan). For my price range and feature preferences it was between the F-150 “STX” and Taco TRD off-road. I was literally ready to pull the trigger on the F-150 but I’m so glad I did stick to my guns and decide to at least sit in and look at the Taco. I was immediately “sold” on the Toyota. The quality difference is noticeable and the taco will be way more capable off-road than the F-150 I was looking at. When it comes time to upgrade I’ll probably be in a position to afford a well equipped Tundra. But for right now, with the TRD off-road, I think you really do get a lot of truck for the money. The only thing you sacrifice is a little room.

 

And your Tacoma will be worth more than the F-150 would have been.

 

I have a 6 and 7 year old who fit in the double-cab just fine- I actually upgraded to the Tacoma because we have a 3rd kid on the way. It's not a main travel vehicle for us though, just need to be able to squeeze them in for the 3 mile trips around town and home from school.... I think I'd go to a Tundra or other full size truck if it's going to be used for long trips or if you plan to keep it around while they grow into their teens....my wife has an SUV with a 3rd row..