Are you happy with your 4th Gen?

Love my 24. 14 inch screen is awesome. Would change the infotainment to have a home button.
Digital rear view camera is useful. Adaptive cruise is great in traffic. Rides like a car, so nice.
Would like memory seats. And not sure why the hybrid has a locking gas door but not the regular tacoma.
Only issue I have, one of the CV boots wasn't clamped from factory. Waiting on a new axle from Toyota for the last 2 weeks.

 

6000 miles in and absolutely in love with my truck. I've never owned a Tacoma but I came from a 2021 4Runner ORP. Hated the 4Runner. Don't get me wrong, it was good looking and highly capable off road BUT... worse fuel economy and a comparably horrible driving experience. I can accept poor fuel economy if the power is there but that wasn't the case with the 4Runner. Hell, my mom's Cummins dually got better fuel economy.

The 4th gen Taco fixes every complaint I had about my 4Runner. Better fuel economy combined with WAY better performance and drivability. And, unlike the 3rd gen, very little off road compromise between the new Taco, and the 5th or upcoming 6th gen 4Runner.

 

Why won’t he carpool with you lol

 

What did you have to deal with?

 

I’m coming from a 2022 PRO that was stolen. Been driving a Trailhunter for a week. It’s amazing. Super smooth and powerful drivetrain and all the little comforts of my old E550 Mercedes. It feels more solid than the 3G. The leather is nice, cabin is so refined and quiet on long rides. Shocks soak up bumps. Tech is fantastic.

My only “complaint” if you can call it that is I miss how “trucky” my 3G was. I actually enjoyed how unrefined it was in a way. When I would take it out to my ranch, that truck was in its element. I felt comfortable blasting down dirt trails and watching a plume of dust whip up behind me as the bed jostled over the leaf springs.

I’m sure the Trailhunter will do great out there but it is a bit of a fancy man truck versus a country vehicle like the old taco was. I’m still happy I got the 4g as it’s leagues better for the 99% city and highway driving I do. When I get it out to the ranch I’ll see how well it handles off-roading. One last thing is that it’s super heavy and you can feel that. Again, I’ll report back if that hurts off-road performance.

 

I just drove a 4th gen for a few days while my 3rd gen was in the shop. Upgrading the front coils to 650 (Kings) .. the best .

Some notable differences with the new generation:

- The engine is more responsive and the transmission is smoother.
- The suspension is stiffer and the shocks feel good.
- The chassis is very stiff.
- The steering is much lighter. But that's a negative for me. Also, the new adaptive cruise control steers in the corners .. and is utterly terrifying! It feels like someone is grabbing the wheel.
- The interior is fine. Everything is styled with hard angles.
- The seat position is THE UTTER WORST! You sit extremely low. Visibility is terrible. I am 5"10" and needed a seat cushion to see over the dash and it still felt low. I wouldn't buy the truck for this reason. It's that bad. The 3rd generation's seat is much higher and I can see the end of the hood comfortably. In reverse, it is also harder to see although the new camera is a higher resolution.
- The tailgate is feather-light and feels very cheap. I assume it's weight saving but it doesn't feel good.

They took a few steps back with the new design and not enough steps forward IMO. More power and a bigger screen is not enough. It feels less like a truck now and more like an SUV.

 

I am 5’ 8” and can see great and I sit very high. The seat adjusts. So I think you’re off there. The other criticisms are fair. The tailgate feels like dogshit compared to the super heavy 3G one. And yeah it does drive more like an SUV. But I can promise you it’s WAY more comfortable on long drives .. like it’s not even close. As I mentioned in my post above, the 3G feels infinitely more “trucky” and many people want that. I did enjoy that as well about the 3g.

 

Agreed. Part of the charm with the old school Tacomas. My 3gen shines in the back country exploring on and off road. As soon as I get in the shit show of the city it becomes a bit of drag in stop and go traffic and shit drivers.

I want to turn around and go back to the backroads.

I can see the benefit of the changes of the 4th gen in a city environment. The torque around town, the more comfortable ride on coils, more modern cabin amenities etc.

 

I believe the tailgate was designed to be as light and durable as possible due to the powered auto open and close feature.

 

Exactly. If I had unlimited budget I’d buy a ‘23 PRO and leave it at the ranch and drive a Porsche in the city and on the highway. But the TH will do fine on double duty. I just need to see how it does off-road. But I will always, always miss my 3G. The hydraulic steering, bouncy rear, light build, and absolutely perfect geometry will never be matched in my book for old school country driving.

 

It feels like shit but I have no reason to think it won’t last.

 

I see a lot of 4G to 3G comparisons which is fine the trucks are worlds apart which you don't need to drive one to see. I recall Toyota saying they want to target 1st time truck buyers with the 4G, Toyota also said they were specifically targeting women when it comes to the 4G. I have no idea what kind of vehicle these customers are coming from? Maybe Jeep Wranglers?

I'm wondering what someone who is happy with their 3G Tundra would tink about going from that Tundra to a 4G Taco, or any fullsize for that matter? Using the Tundra to keep it in the family.

The Tacoma could be the best fit for someone coming from a fullsize, especially a Tundra. The current crop of midsize trucks excluding the Frontier are very similar. Making the progression from full to midsize the same across the board, outside of taste brand loyalty and pricing.

I don't really see Toyota marketing doing much to get wonen, or first time buyers into the Tacoma, there's a bit of a disconnect there pun intended. I see where Toyota is using the world small to discribe the Tacoma, best selling, best reasle small truck language right in the add.

 

If I payed 60 large for a Tacoma I would have to tell everyone I love it. Just like people with kids telling those who don’t have kids to have some “you don’t know what you’re missing”.

 

Right. And people who always feel the need to take digs at others or point out why what they have have sucks.. those folks are super secure in themselves.

 

Mixed feelings on 24 TRD Sport……..

first Taco was 2 gen, 2010 TRD Sport……great truck, made it easily to 245K without major issues…….2nd Taco was 3 gen 21 TRD Sport……missed my 2gen until I upgraded suspension and did OTT tune (highly recommend) to improve performance, transmission shifting issues, but Hurricane Beryl totaled it…….

so, I bought the 24 TRD sport a year early…….

everything about the 4 gen is about weight savings, (lighter hood, lighter rear lid) and Toyota making $$$……..(every option is extra)….

drive train is great (4 cyl turbo) power/torque…….fuel economy is disappointing (should be 24/25) considering weight savings, and smaller tank …….

biggest plus so far…….suspension……great to drive…..

biggest con……cost……plain Jane TRD Sport is low 40s, another $10k for premium model for items (like electric seat) that should be STANDARD……

Seriously, no way, the 4 gens make it to 200k like the earlier Tacos

 

Great truck does everything I want it to do.

 

We shall see on the reliability aspect my friend. I’m in Houston and Beryl / Derecho really smacked us. Saw an FJ totally flattened by a tree.

 

Saying that about a ‘23 Tacoma Pro made me laugh. You kids are funny.

Old school country driving is done in a 70s 2WD Ford F250

 

Not sure where you are getting this one from.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the Toyota product engineer guy say that they deliberately re-designed the 4G seats to be 3 cm taller than those in the 3G, as well as increasing the headroom clearance by the same amount to compensate?

 

I’m 5’7” and can see just fine out of my 4g without any cushion. I have my seat about halfway up of what it’s capable of, it goes much higher but isn’t needed.