DeMello's review of the 2016 Tacoma.

Try accelerating with ECT PWR engaged and Traction Control off. It makes a world of difference. Actually slipped the rear wheels a tiny bit on dry pavement. It's no Supra, but it has plenty of power for me!

 

depends on the tube steps?

1. standard 5" tube steps
2. running boards
3. predator steps

1 & 2 are close to the body,
#3 actually sit lower for entry/exit.

 

My two cents on speed is that it has gotten better as I've put miles on the truck. Perhaps the ECU is learning a little and sharpening the engine's senses... love this truck and have no complaints on power train yet. Other than having the ability of towing larger trailers... Thanks for the review Demello.

 

I just want to say, after owning a Gen 2 Tacoma and now a Gen 3 for 2 weeks, this is the most authentic review I've read on this site to date, thank you for telling it like it is (without the bias).

 

I was underwhelmed by the 2016. I too remember the jump from the 95-04 trucks to the all new 05. It was such a big difference.

05-15 to the "all new" 16 simply did not give me the same feeling. It's not radically different. I feel like it should have been the 2012 refresh and an all new truck should be replacing it by now.

 

I would suggest the amp steps. you wont regret it.

 

I came from the 15 tundra 4x4 crew tss. Review is very good. I traded in the 15 tundra because was tired of having to go out in weather every morning and het it going. truck was too big with having another suv in garage at same time. Plus the 14 to 15 mpg average. When I test drove the new Tacoma I really love the new interior and the exterior is nice too. Love the size. Had Ridgeline from 09 to 14. Ive been in it now for 1 week 600 miles. It had 400 when I got it from dealer driving it. I wanted the trd off road in quick sand and didn't want to wait 3 to 4 months so got the sport they had in quick sand 4x4 dbl cab with tech. Took it for test ride even on hyw and city but roads were smooth and it rides great. Didn't really think anything about it and said lets do it im ready to be back in small truck and this is nice. I have no problem with the power the shifting or anything for my use but the ride when not smooth roads and I didn't notice on test drive but im ok with that because its ok and good for my commute and city driving I do. But the seat is hard and I am finding myself at what to do to get it to where it doesn't hurt. Other than the seat I am more than happy and hope somehow soon I can get used to it or something. My Tundra was supper comfortable. If any ideas please share. I drive 40 miles one way to work 5 days a week and if I can get the seats to be real comfy ill be astatic. Oh I am averaging 23.6 mpg over the 600 miles I put on and cant believe it. So if anyone has any help on seat please let me know!!!

 

I'm planning high quality sheepskin seat covers.

 

Whats a "larger trailer"?

 

Hey Jason do you have a contact number for my good Ol buddy Lyle Treend? Been trying to track him down so we can wheel like old times. Thanks Ryan Whitney

 

Sorry man, I sure don't.

 

@JDEMELLO great stuff man! I've been around since the TTORA days (Tx Chapter) and "wrench-a-thons" that filled up the street of a neighborhood. It was always awesome to hang around people that were equally interested in Toyota. Your bed bar was one of my first and best add-ons to my 99 Tacoma. Glad to see your work is still going strong. Here's to continued success to you and all the Toyota enthusiasts here.

 

I think its funny when people worry about the speed/quickness of a pick-up truck. I don't expect my 911 to pull a boat.

 

In response to the OP's specific complaint about lack of garage door openers: my Limited has three garage door openers on the bottom of the rearview mirror.

As a general response - back in October I traded in my 2014 TRD 2WD navi/tow pkg for a special-order blue 2016 Limited 4WD tow pkg with everything but the block heater. Was about $10k more, and I would do it all over again. I'm much happier with the 2016's amenities and most especially ride quality. That stupid 2014 was going away one way or another because of the bone-breaking ride. I only kept it for 15 months simply because I knew a new Taco was on the way that supposedly fixed the ride.

Things I love about my 2016 over the 2014:

• Quieter than the 2016
• The ride is infinitely better (even better than our Accord EX)
• Leather interior now available (try vacuuming dog hair out of the 2014's fishnet fabric or whatever that crap was)
• Climate control now available
• Instrumentation
• The infotainment system is easier to navigate and hasn't crashed (unlike the POS JVC navi in the 2014)
• Soft-open tailgate
• Sunroof
• The doors shut without slamming them
• Automatic headlights
• Key fob start
• The seat heaters are excellent

Things I'm not crazy about my 2016:

• The constantly-shifting transmission
• The gawd-awful transmission
• The transmission
• The mileage. Running about 20.7 on average, mix of in-town and highway. In this day and age, and with a clean-sheet engine, this is just not competitive
• The throttle response. I don't want to dent the firewall just to get it moving, no matter how good it is with my toes in the radiator.
• The exhaust is noisier than I'd like
• The rear sliding window is still manual only, with no power option
• No power seat option. My wife has 36" inseam (not a typo) but a tiny torso. By the time she can fit her legs in it looks like she's sitting on the floor.
• Still can't enter destination in the GPS while moving. This is beyond stupid when you have a passenger and there is A PASSENGER DETECTION SENSOR
• No rear-seat power outlet option
• Having a fob and two different keys (one glove compartment, a different one to the tailgate) to one truck. Seriously, this is worse than the GM vehicles of old, and I thought those were stupid. Runner-up dumb: having ONE key supplied to the tailgate
• No A/C seat option

Clearly, the likes and don't likes are subjective and some are downright piddly. The two worst don't likes are the transmission and mileage. The best likes are ride improvement and doors that shut easily.

YMMV

 

The transmission shifts better as the miles roll on.

 

I hope so. We're at 5,000 miles and I can't tell a difference.

 

When I die, I will be buried in my '02 4x4 trd. Thing is, gotta get permission I think to bury it, with me in it, here on my ranch in NE WA State.
Love all the comments and postings about the gen3 . But I don't want an underpowered rig. And certainly not for 40K! My first taco was new '99, used it to camp in deserts of northern Death Valley, nearly froze to death, climbed couple peaks, found an old bottle, got jeered at by idiot city tourists. Bought '98 T-100 used, loved it too, little bit big, switched back to new yoda in '02. NO modifs, except had to get rid of the factory tires made of used bubblegum and get tires for abandoned roads in AZ and East CA. No post seems to speak of the Diff Lock, if they had to use it and why.
My '02 in awful Seattle city driving gets 20 mpg, on freeway at 65-70 mph 20 mpg, and on abandoned roads at 3-5 miles per hour with rocks size of watermelons, 20 mpg. Must be secretly built into engine. Now 113 k miles, after 13 years. Check-engine light is permanently On, (also something designed and built-in, by factory, to terrorize the faint of heart.) I avoid dealers. I peeked into the Forbidden Work Zone once and looked at the employees… .
Interior comforts? Well, the only ones that matter are the Heater and the AC, right? Wouldn't mind heated mirrors. I just ordered a Snowplow for my '02, not many plows made for a yoda, but mine's coming from Ontario where they know about such things. We are buried in the white stuff now in WA, 4 miles to plow to get out. Btw we use the lo-range 4x4 frequently - in every yoda i ever had, from my '84 Tercel wagon onward.
I liked post #52 from the rancher SE Arizona, we hiked in most of the mountains in his territory, had a few heart-stopping moments on the abandoned roads. I don't believe in "off road driving", but there was funny incident: What do you do when on old unknown unmarked unmapped road takes you to a freeway… which is fenced and no entry? You talk nicely to your yoda, then drive right Through the fence and onto freeway and scamper away. I never wrecked, but have backed into so many trees and stumps the bumper has given up. The rancher guy has sleek canopy, I bought a crummy aluminum one cuz I wanted it to look… crummy. I lived in it snug as a bug during the summer Wildfires when we had to flee. Now you all know why I want my '02 for my Burial Arrangement.
Also, we must use her for a Work Truck. Mine has been taught to haul firewood, rock, cement, lumber, refers, topsoil, all without complaint. She will soon have to learn about the snowplow.
Thanks to you all who wrote posts about the 2016! I found all of them intelligent and informative. Toyota Corp remains arrogant and distant, but… what else would we own?

 

Great review Jason. The 2016 is slowly growing on me and I hate the huge grill less every day. Post up some customer build pictures so everyone can see the quality work that comes out of your shop.

 

I love my new Tacoma, but I will have to disagree on the acceleration issue. I test drove several new GM twins (Canyon/Colorado) and believe me, those things are fast/quick !! They get up and go with no effort on the foot pedal. My new taco is sluggish compared to them.
But, OVERALL I'm still glad I got my new Tacoma

 

Good review. So far my only complaints are the transmission (as others have mentioned) and a rattle on the passenger's side door or seat belt pillar. I noticed the trans when I test drove it at the dealership, but thought I just needed to get her on the open road. Hopefully it settles as others have mentioned. As for the rattle, I'll eventually take her to the dealer to have it looked into, but I'm assuming the turnout will be without resolve.