2016 TRD Sport vs other model years

I'm considering buying a used 2016 TRD Sport 4x4 double cab 20K to 30K miles. No off-roading mostly highway and dirt road use. I will tow a small boat with it. Are there any major differences between this model year and earlier model years? Please no stupid memes and gen 3 bashing unless its substantive. Thanks

 

Well an earlier model year would be a 2nd gen Tacoma, so yeah, there are a lot of differences. lol

 

Oh this should go well.

 

Interesting turn of a phrase there. If you are aware if the 3rd gen shenanigans, you have obviously been here before. There is zero tolerance for the above referenced activity, so many members are probably hesitant to reply for fear of incurring the wrath of the mods.
I would guess your best bet is to test drive different model years, 2nd gen and 3rd gen to see if you notice any discernable differences.
I like my 3rd gen SR5, fwiw.
Good luck and welcome to TW.

 

Understood, so what are the major differences between a 2015 and 2016 TRD Sports, the responses I have read range from nothing substantive to a lot upgrades. Like all Toyota's they seem to go thru a number of years with no significant changes to a significant upgrade in from one model year to the next. For Tacoma's that seems to be 2015 to 2016. Are the late gen2s that much different than the gen3 2016. I don't really care about things like crawl control and heavier shocks and springs on the off road TRD.

 

Well to start, a different engine, transmission, exterior, interior, etc. They are different trucks generations.

 

The major changes between the 2015 and 2016 are that the 2015 has a 4.0 liter engine and less tech features than the 2016. 2016 has a 3.5 liter engine. I haven't towed with my 2016 so I can't say how it does but my 2012 towed great. I like my 2016. If I could have the 4.0 in my 2016 that would have been a much better setup.

 

yup could be fun,

I read a number of your links and they are very informative you obviously know more about these trucks than I ever will but tricking out a taco is a different world for me. I have no intention of modifying my future taco with a "lift". It will be mostly a paved and hard pack road truck. Thanks anyway

 

Drive it. If you like it, buy it. If you don't like it, keep looking.

 

I suggest an EXTENDED test drive or you could be like @BeanDip buy and realize you don't really like it even though you realized during test driving it was lacking power and not shifting great. See his thread on that ...

 

Here is a TW thread that was started around when the 2016s started to hit the showrooms. Much of the information and videos around this time would compare the Gen 3 to the Gen 2.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/all-links-to-reviews-specs-and-videos-for-2016-tacoma.387342/