Car & Driver's "In-Depth Review" of the 2017 Tacoma

Article Dated 4/4/2017

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2017-toyota-tacoma-in-depth-model-review

Some of the tech gained them high marks as did their warranty.

Warranty: "The Toyota Tacoma does offer the best complimentary scheduled maintenance plan in its class at two years or 25,000 miles."

Mediocre marks mostly, across the board. Also I couldn't count how many times they said to avoid the automatic or how much better the manual performs.

Powertrain:
"The lone engine is a 3.5-liter V-6 that teams with a six-speed automatic as standard or a six-speed manual as an option. The manual gearbox requires four-wheel drive, but it’s better than the finicky automatic."

"We also advise steering clear of the persnickety six-speed automatic transmission with either powerplant; stick with the six-speed manual and the V-6....Likewise, the 278-hp 3.5-liter V-6 with 265 lb-ft of torque is available with the automatic and either drivetrain; a six-speed manual can and should be chosen and only teams with four-wheel drive. The six-speed manual not only puts the driver in charge of gear choices, but in our testing, it was also quicker from zero to 60 mph."

Fuel Economy: "The V-6 Tacoma’s EPA-rated fuel economy ranks in the middle of the pack, but in our real-world highway testing, it falls short of more efficient competitors. Although the manual transmission with the V-6 has the worst fuel economy, it’s way more fun to drive."..."5 mpg less than the Honda Ridgeline and the turbodiesel GMC Canyon."

Interior: "Sticking to your roots is commendable, but it doesn’t work in the Tacoma cabin’s favor. The utilitarian layout and materials are of a different era. The absence of power-adjustable seats is disappointing, and even the higher trim levels rely heavily on hard plastics and minimalistic materials"..."Cramped quarters are a staple of the Tacoma. The Double Cab’s rear seat is where passengers in the Tacoma will have to squeeze, as legroom is an abysmal 32.6 inches."

Safety: "With average crash-test results and a lack of available active-safety assists compared with its rivals, the Tacoma disappoints in this category, especially considering it was recently redesigned."

 

OK, I want first....grabs popcorn...no time to search for gif....ughnn....brb...I need to read his post

 

Not a bad review at all.

 

So?

 

From my experience, biased toward MT cuz...thats what I got, its not far off. Now, I've never driven an auto Tacoma so...wtf do I know eh?

I'll take a bit of exception on the Interior review....I've had an 85 Runner...Toyota is KNOWN for their butt ugly interiors...it's almost Warhol-esque at this point

And the Safety...I'll endeavor to drive more defensively

 

I find it hilarious that they always mention the diesel from GM for fuel economy comparisons. Please compare apple to apples. In addition if you look at fuelly data for the ridgeline it is getting 20 mpg, which is below its combined cycle, yet no complaints from car and driver.

I always wonder if they actually sat in a Colorado? The Taco's interior is hands down better. I have never got in a Honda because I don't put my body parts in ugly, it's a personal policy.

 

Bottons

 

They repeat over and over that you should not get the auto, then complain about the lack of driver assist features. I for one like the fact that my truck doesn't beep and bing and flash nonsense lights at me like a cell phone then try and run the brakes for me when it thinks I don't know what I'm doing.

My 09 base, super stripped down, cheap as you can make it, 5 lug is so much better than almost any truck that was made before 2000 when it come to comfort and build quality. Its not a sedan with a bed, or a crossover compact car with a tall roof, its a gd truck. Why must all cars be all things? I have a truck to haul stuff, a scooter to haul me, and a S4 to haul ass, why try and combine all 3 and make a "truck" that's just meh at everything.

 

So the 3rd Gen owners are finally acknowledging the mediocrity of the 3rd gen design

 

How about those rear drum brakes tho!?

 

They sound good in a circle.

 

Got some.

 

How many pages has this gone? Am I still in on one?

 

Honda has been long known to pad the reviews of certain dirt bike magazines for "best of" xxxx year bikes

That being said I'm not saying Tacos don't have faults, and may be lacking

But I take these reviews with a grain of salt

If you were to send a test product to a client of xxx whatever, would you send a random product without inspecting it personally?

Or would you hand select it and send it with a couple of 30 racks of beer for the "test guys"

Not saying this is happening but I wouldn't leave it out

 

Those drum brakes helped provide the best breaking of the bunch.

 

All valid complaints.

Good thing I have the manual.

 

You forgot the woeful brake performance. Especially when loaded to max payload it gets spanked by all competitors in braking. And you also have to remember that the Colorado and Canyon would be heavier in this test because they are slightly larger to begin with.

 

Wrong. Read here. Worst of the bunch braking actually.


http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2016/08/whats-the-best-midsize-pickup-for-2016.html

 

Not me. I test drove a GMC canyon before I bought my Tacoma, no thanks. And you will have to forgive me if I don't feel like I am missing out on the extra 5 mpg that the $4950 diesel engine gives. I traded in an 08 Chevy so I'm not a Toyota Fanboy either. My truck has been fine and if I bought it and hated it I would get rid of it instead of carrying on and whining about it.

It is a damn shame it only does 0-60 in 7.7 seconds and runs the 1\4 in 16 seconds, I was gonna go race for pinks, but I guess I should have gone with one of the diesel twins... It really sucks I don't have power seats either, I mean since I move the seat so much. You know what else sucks? The 2016 canyon I drove that was $36 k and didn't have heated mirrors. Can you just imagine the uproar here about that? Eh, could be worse I guess, could be a second gen with a wheezy top end.

The whole point of this post is just to say "told ya so". We get it. Everyone gets it.

 

I think they whiffed with the engine and auto tranny selection