3rd Gen with Diesel spotted!!

I wouldn't say there is zero interest.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...-diesel-trucks-after-vw-scandal-idUSKBN1F42C9

Until recently about a quarter of VW's US sales were diesel. A large percentage of full-size trucks that tow are diesel.

One factor is US government policy which favors regular gas (and ethanol) over diesel:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-european-diesel-cars/

As far as emissions--not a huge issue IMO with modern diesels, especially compared to the mass of poorly-maintained, oil-burning non-diesels. VW emissions scandal notwithstanding.

I'm not banging the drum for diesel, I've never had a diesel car (did have a diesel RV). But I did live in Germany where they're commonplace. I think the combo of better mileage, more torque and lower fuel prices would be successful if government policy were fair and diesels were marketed properly.

 

great show, and they beat the $#it out of their trucks and they take it, most of the time.....
Hoping someday Toyota will offer up a factory diesel taco....

 

I was reading many cities in Europe are now banning diesel cars in their cities.

Diesel is done. The pollution controls don’t work and are onerous to maintain. Diesel cars without pollution controls pump out poison that no ethical person should be ok with, unless you hate your kids. Enjoy your gas Tacomas and look forward to the electric ones, which will be superior in many ways.

 

Exactly. Western Europe was diesel's last hold out, and it's rapidly getting banned there. Deisil is dead. It's time for people to stop living in the 70's.

 

A) Diesel isn't dead in Europe by a long shot.

https://www.fleeteurope.com/en/fleet-strategy/europe/analysis/diesel-dead-long-live-diesel

And B) I don't think you should generalize from Europe's situation to the US. We have a LOT of diesel in our big trucks (semis), so it's not like we don't have diesel, though it's only 3% in passenger cars/trucks compared to 50% in Europe. I think there is a niche for a diesel option for light trucks specifically for towing and hauling.

The current diesels are nothing like diesel in the 70's. My experience with a diesel RV was that except for having to add DEF every 2500 miles or so it was identical to gas except much better gas mileage. No dirty smoke or emissions whatsoever.

Turbo, hybrid and electric are all great, but look the Tacoma still uses a 3.6 NA engine. There's no chance we will all suddenly convert to electric overnight. Toyota sells a ton of diesel HiLuxes all over the world. Something like that would be a reasonable stopgap until we have other engines.

BTW I have no idea whether turbo, hybrid or electric engines are actually better for towing and hauling, but obviously this is where diesel shines, along with better gas mileage.

 

Out of all the options I think a mild hybrid with the current 3.6 would be awesome in these trucks. When accelerating kick in with the electric to boost the low rpm power band. When on the highway use the electric for hills instead of dropping into 4th. A good hybrid should add minimal maintenance upkeep but lots of drivability and economy gains.