New Tacoma reliability...still good?

I’ve now given up on Jeeps, they look nice but are junk. So a 2020 Tacoma off road is at the top of my list. I’ve read some mixed reviews on 3.5 v6. It seems other than being a little under powered most of the issues were in the first year models. The early reviews for the 2020’s seem to say the auto trans shifts better too. So I hope that is no longer an issue. Drum breaks is kind of a cheap way to go, but not a big deal. That’s really the only bad things I’ve heard about.
I like to keep my vehicles a long time, as long as the trans doesn’t go out with 26k on the clock...Jeep. So do you think the Tacoma build quality is still there? I’m also looking at 4runners, but it is nice to have a truck at times. If you think the 4runners are significantly better I could go that way though. No one seems to have anything bad to say about the 4.0 and trans in them.
Thanks for the help!!!

 

Located in a cold weather climate?

 

I am in a cold weather climate, New Hampshire, and coming up to it 4th winter (16/17 - 17/18 - 18/19) and this truck has been perfect. I have 46,xxx mi all original except tires, swapped those out last year.

 

Real men drive pickups. Chicks drive SUVs

 

4runners are great. But if u feel u will need a truck at times, go with a tacoma then.

Yes u can get a 4runner and a trailer but me personally, nah been there done that no thanks.

 

I’m in PA, so hot as hell in summer and some cold winters. Used to get a lot of snow, but it’s been ice the last couple of years.

I thought about the 4Runner and trailer but that kinda seems like a pain too.

 

I only have 8k on my 2019, but I believe it is a solid truck. My buddy is a tech at a local Toyota dealership, and he said they are holding up well. The transmission is programmed for fuel economy, so it does want to upshift often, but so does nearly every other new vehicle. I test drove mine, before purchasing and knew what I was getting.

 

Tacomas did have some issues early on in the 3rd generation, but those issues have since been ironed out. The engine and transmission are bulletproof, and the body and chassis were heavily copied from the 2nd gen Tacomas, which were very reliable.

There are some quirks with the truck, but they are minor in the grand scheme of things. I'd definitely recommend a Taco any day over other offerings. Runner up would be a Frontier maybe.

 

Hate to scare anyone off and only time will really tell but Toyota has already released a frame rust campaign on the 3rd gens.


Why is this important? Well look at the first 2 generations and the problems a lot of owners have had. Since you plan to keep the truck for the long haul I’d take some careful considerations into the issue. This was my biggest fear buying a third gen and the first thing I did was coat my frame. After having a buddy lose his Tacoma in a buy back and having owned a 1st gen. I decided to be cautious and proactive. Doesn’t matter how reliable the truck has been if the frame rots out and isn’t driveable. To a guy in Arizona this may mean nothing. But someone in the salt belt it’s a completely different story.

 

Yeah the frame thing has me a little worried with mine, but im just keeping on top of it. I haven't heard anything negative in reliability of the third gen except for flukes. The OVtune seems to be the way to go if you get the third gen v6. 2020 ive heard might be the best yet because of shift points and the adjustable seats, but since they are brand new i would wait for discounts next year.
Im a 4 cylinder guy, but more than being ungodly slow to some, That powertrain seems to be great. The 2017 was the last year for the 4 cylinder manual however.

 

Honestly mine’s been a lemon. Still offroads well though

be warned these are pretty uncouth trucks - lacking refinement compared to the full sizers. ‘Course, you should be used to that coming out of a jeep

 

i have a 2nd gen Tacoma. I love it and it suits my personal needs perfectly, a 4Runner would not, but let me play devils advocate here.

If you need a truck, you need a truck. But if you need a truck so infrequently that you could use a small trailer or even rent a (more capable, depending on your needs) truck for a day, there are advantages I can think of to a new 4Runner over a new Tacoma.

Seems many people seem to think the fit and finish of the 4Runners is higher than the Tacoma but that’s up to you to decide upon, the 4.0 1GR engine and A750 transmission it shares with the 2nd gen Tacoma are well liked and proven solid, 4 runner offers covered cargo space, which is valuable for rain and snow season (you could also get a cap for the tacoma, but that’s more $$, but worth their weight in gold.) 4Runner has a fully boxed frame and actually has decent towing capacity. You can tow way more with a 4 runner than you could ever haul in the bed of a Tacoma, especially since most people opt for the short bed, and our payload capacity certainly isn’t anything to boast about. 4Runner has shorter wheelbase and tighter turn radius.

pros for the Tacoma are, it being a pickup, the cargo area is separate from the cab which is great for messy loads. many people want a Tacoma simply because it’s a Tacoma, which is heralded as one of the most reliable and highest resale value vehicles around, but really, extending that claim to the 3rd gen is hopeful still, not enough time to prove itself, I’m not saying it won’t, I’m just saying it hasnt. The 1st gens gave Tacoma their glowing reputation, then the 2nd gens were a completely different truck from the ground up, even a different and bigger class of truck. so different that they could have even come up with a new name for this new truck but they wanted to keep rolling in the Tacoma cash. The only thing they really have in common is frame rust....and that other than the rust issue they’ve both since proven themselves. 3rd gens are now again a completely different truck other than some body styling continuations essentially. Lots of fits and starts so far, especially with the transmission, but hopefully they prove themselves as well.

 

Actually I just looked it up real quick and didn’t realize....4Runner actually has a higher payload capacity than the Tacoma, which is crazy.

So really as far as practicality is concerned, I guess the decision really comes down to whether or not a bed that is separate from the cab area is regularly useful enough for you to own and drive on a daily basis.

 

There’s no substitute for long test drives.
Drum brakes work fine. Build quality is fine. Don’t let the internet pre-saturate your thinking. People complained about the 4.0 too. I’m expecting my 2017 to give me twenty years unless I get in a crash or my needs change dramatically.

 

Don't have a Taco yet, aiming for next year. I would like the TRD OR.

So what I'm getting is that the Taco is solid, but not as solid as a 4Runner.

As I've been reading, the 2020 shifts much better than the ones before. Only issue can be the BSM sensors.

I wanted a 4Runner TRD OR badly, but isn't it heavier than a Taco? I also read it drives like a bigger truck than a Taco.

 

both those questions can be easily answered with a good long test drive of both vehicles. whats it matter if the 4runner is heavier anyway??

i thought i read here that the programming on the 2020 was no different then previous years. again go take one on a long test drive. you won't notice it on a short around town test drive. need to get it on the highway (preferably not all flat) and at speed...

in the end only you will be able to tell if the lil quirks these trucks have will bother you or not.

 

idk what weight has to do with anything but the 4runner drives like a tahoe really. kinda floaty, my mom has a trd or 4runner and I drive it occasionally.
the tacoma drives alot stiffer and way less body roll.
my 17 shifts perfectly fine but I am in texas and its flat so I dont have any issues.

I have a honda pilot and really wanted to trade it in for a 4runner but the pilot drives and handles way better so I use that for the kids and stuff.

 

Chew, Did your friend say if they were doing any tsb software upgrades on the 2019's transmission?

 

As someone who owns both a Taco and a 4runner I can personally attest to the fact that the 4runner and Tacoma are about equal - solidity wise. I drove from SF to LA in September in the Tacoma and last weekend in the 4runner. The 4runner is a fucking pig in the mountains. Let me repeat that - a pig.

You can post here until this thread hits 40 pages, and you get hundreds of conflicting opinions.

Or you can take both on long test drives...wherein the majority of your questions will be answered.

 

I didn’t know they still was an issue with the frames rusting...more than any other brand. The crap they use on the roads in PA is nasty. I can walk through the parking lot at work and everything seems to be rusting no matter what it is. I was already planing to use fluid film on whatever I get.
I do like both the 4Runner and taco. There seem to be a lot more of the taco trd OR around than 4Runner OR though.