So I rented a 3rd gen the other day

So I rented a 3rd gen the other day. An almost new 2022 TRD 4x4. All in it was about $125/day. Worth every penny too 'cause we had to deal with weather. I had a few friends in town and we couldn't all fit in my 1st Gen AC. This seemed like the obvious solution.





I checked to make sure it would fit in my garage



First impressions were good. It's a good looking truck. Seems to be well put-together. I had the Entune audio system I think which was fine for the occasional radio song. Very little room behind the rear seats is a bummer but there was room for a pair of ski boots back there (one on each side). Console and cupholders are usable. There was enough room for 2 adults & 2 kids although the taller kid (6 feet) did complain about the legroom in the back.

It's really comfy although the hood does block a lot of your field of view - WAY more than my 1st gen. On the road it's not such a big deal but was uncomfortable parking it head in. Not sure how I'd like that offroad either. Turning radius is way better than mine. Power steering is a bit less effort. It's one of the most comforatable steering wheels I've ever used.

Most of the driving was in the snow. It handled really well in the snow with the winter-esque tires. I put it through the paces too - some city miles, over the Divide and back with lots of driving in various conditions. It chewed through inches of snow at high and low speeds with confidence.

Really dig the 110V outlet in the bed. Bed light is plentiful - it got used at dark in heavy snow and was easily up to the task.

RADAR cruise control was kinda cool, but stopped working when it got clogged with snow. Maybe there's an override for the RADAR, but that was kinda buddy. The heads up mirrors are a nice touch though - really appreciate those on nasty days. Mileage was about 19 no matter what, but seemed like it could get better with some trips.

No locking gas cap door though? Still? This seems like a no-brainer. Had a time with the hood latch as well. One of the kids found it, but I never saw where it was. There was also no prop rod nor any other mechanism to hold up the hood. Maybe that's a rental thing?

The automatic transmission. Wow. So bad. Clearly whoever designed it did not test it in the mountains. I switched over to "S" mode to try and shift manually, but that wasn't much help. Not only that, but I found the whole mechanism to be clunky. If I were to buy one of these, it would have to be a manual. It wasn't bad in town, but it shifts way too much on hills and the 'manual' function leavs a lot to be desired. I suspect that's due to being underpowered? Maybe this can be addressed in a firmware update down the road?

The engine sounds & feels kinda whimpy compared to my 5VZ. It makes more power, but not a lot. Sounds like a somewhat struggling 4-banger to me, although I'm pretty sure it's not.

5 foot bed is not for me. It was tricky getting 6 bags & skis neatly in there where it would have been easy in a 6 foot. Can't sleep in it either. I know - Toyota makes a 6' bed, but this didn't have one.

Backup cam could use a squirter or something - it was useless once we got into weather. Disclaimer - I'm not spoiled by backup cams, so I'm being picky here. What's the use in having one if it's covered in goop?

Overall driving experience was great. All the controls (save the shifter) are intuitive and well thought-out. Err, except for the HVAC. That I never really got used to. I got it to work, but it feels unnatrual if that makes sense.

Keeping with the spirit of my rental agreement, I didn't get it offroad much, but did have the need for 4x4 on a snowmobile rental excursion. It felt every bit as confident as my 1st gen in some rutted out icy 2-track to get in and out of the outfitter. In the deep snow they are remarkably similar - just plain good

Overall I was impressed. The new hotness has far better highway manners than its 20 year old counterpart. Modern conveniences are nice as well, but that's also the big reason I like my 1st gen so much. It's easy and cheap enough to fix if anything ever breaks. The ultra-modern not so much. Still though the road manners and safety features alone are compelling reasons to consider one of these as a stablemate for the 1st gen. There is a new 4x4 in my future. Haven't decided what just yet, but this one is a strong contender.

 

Yeah, I love everything about my truck except the way the automatic transmission shifts (especially on hills). It’s absolute garbage.

The first few weeks I had the truck, my wife would ask me why I was braking going down hills and why the truck was lurching so much. I wasn’t braking at all, it was just the way the truck was shifting.

I got the KDMax tune and that solved everything.

 

Don't hold out hope for a DCLB w/ a manual!

 

As someone with both, I agree with many of your points, although my 3rd Gen is a MT. That being said for both you absolutely need a tune to fix the weird shifts and Garbo power - so if and when you decide to get one, set $500 aside and see Adam in Denver.

 

The transmission shifting is easily fixed with a tune. And barely more power than the 5VZ? it's got almost 100hp more than the old 3.4L, way more power and way faster. It just doesn't feel like it on the low end due to the shifting logic. Again, easily fixed with a tune. I still have my old 2004 Tacoma with a supercharged 3.4 and still love driving it due to the smaller size and nimbleness, but you can't beat the tech, safety and comfort of the 3rd gens.

 

yeah with the tune my 3rd Gen could smoke my 2000 - I think you’re feeling the stupid power curves that don’t kick in until 4000 rpm on the stock tune

 

You’ll be disappointed to learn that the manual trans can only be had in the short bed double cab. I’ve been suffering with the short bed for 7 yrs…

 

Or the AC sport

 

Good write up
Maybe I got lucky, but I don’t understand the tranny complaints on the 2022. Mine drives exactly as I’d expect it to, no random shifting, holds gears when I need it to. I live in the foothills in Alberta, so plenty of hills, and have driven in the Rockies -about 30min from my house, and it’s totally normal. I wonder if the rental transmission just hasn’t had time or a chance to learn normal driving? It’s curious as I’ve heard both sides on the 2022s

 

The turd gen is perfect from the factory other than needing lower gears and a tune. It’s a completely ridiculous oversight from Toyota, and it just cannot be overlooked.

 

How many miles on it? My 21 tranny was a little clunky the first few thousand miles and shifts great now.

 

Cheers on a good, honest review. The 3rd Gen Tacoma is a fine truck with a few quirks, but heck, most things in life have a few quirks.

While it's not perfect, the Tacoma is still the best mid-sized truck on the market. Hopefully with all of the refreshes coming, the bar gets raised higher in the mid-sized segment.

**Side note: I attended the Atlanta International Auto Show earlier today with the specific mission to check out the new Frontier. Both my wife and I were totally underwhelmed with it, which surprised us. Obviously didn't get to drive it, but everything else was...meh.

 

Glad it seemed to be an honest ‘let’s try this thing out’ experience. Nearly every one of your concerns can be managed after the purchase. Tune, 3rd party hood struts, long bed, etc. S mode only locks in the top gear, it’ll still shift down and up when necessary. You can have that tuned out if you want, but you kinda lose ECT mode.

 

Yeah I was thinking it had a good bit more power, but the tranny shifts so much it makes you think it doesn't. It was pretty quick from a dead stop.

 

12k

 

The few times I’ve had to really give it the beans, it doesn’t disappoint.

 

First off, you got a rental. The pcm/ecu for the engine and transmission "learns over time" for the driver. This 3.5 high revving engine with variable valve timing LOVES to rev where it makes more hp. If you lug it around under 3000rpms, that causes the pcm/ecu to make the transmission to be shifty. I live at 7000' and drive between 4000' and 12000' and have no problems with the shifting. Yes, S mode helps hold the ratio without Up shifting. Let the engine run at higher rpms and a lot of your feelings go away. Yes, a tune does help, a lot.

IMO the stock Wrangler Kevlar tires are one of the worst AT M+S tires in the snow/slush roads where I live I have used (the Big O Bigfoot AT is worse.) They are not 3Peak rated. Every winter I swap to a dedicated winter tire on my Tacoma.

 

I have noticed the transmission making it's own decisions on shifting...thanks to reading so much about it here! lol

Almost 10K on my Sport now...still enjoying the ride.

Good write up on the rental!

 

These both make a lot of sense. If that poor computer has potentially several drivers every week, it must be terribly confused.

Oh, and I meant to comment on the lighting. This is the best factory lighting I've seen on any vehicle. I don't drive a lot of new cars at night, so that may just be a thing now, but WOW. Low beams & high beams leave nothing to be desired.

 

I have spoiled myself with many many vehicles where I have installed Hella German Ecode round and rectangle glass headlights with a relayed harness to power 80/100w H4 bulbs for decades and my Tacoma OEM halogen headlights are the best stock units I have ever had.