The 2020 Toyota Tacoma is updated this year, but that may not be enough to fend off pickup truck competitors that have sprung up in recent years.
With standard active safety tech, muscular good looks, and excellent off-road ability the Tacoma stays right in the thick of it, but a bouncy ride and tight interior may be off-putting to potential buyers. We rate it 5.3 out of 10 overall. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
For 2020, the Tacoma finally gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability along with Amazon Alexa integration on an updated audio and infotainment system. Other updates include a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat replacing the old manual seat on SR5 trims and higher, a surround-view camera system on top-tier models and under-vehicle camera for TRD Off-Road and Pro trucks, and styling tweaks like new wheels and LED daytime running lights on most models. The off-road ready TRD Pro model also gets revised suspension, which we hope will improve the bouncy ride quality over last year.
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Available in SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Limited trims, there’s a Tacoma for nearly every buyer, from tradesfolks to trail-bashers. The Tacoma is also available in extended- or crew-cab configurations, either with a 6-foot bed on both models and a 5-foot bed on the crew cab.
The Tacoma is still one of the best-looking midsize trucks to our eyes, especially in extreme TRD Pro form, and features a no-nonsense interior that emphasizes material durability over luxury. It’s somewhat cramped inside, however, with even crew cab models providing less-than-average passenger space.
Power comes from a 2.7-liter inline-4 rated at 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque as standard as well as rear-wheel-drive, but most buyers will opt for four-wheel-drive and the uprated 3.5-liter V-6 that makes 278 hp and 265 lb-ft. Buyers can have either a 6-speed automatic or manual transmission across the range with the V-6, though the base engine is available only with the automatic. For 2020, a trailer package with a Class IV hitch and upgraded cooling comes standard, increasing towing capacity to 6,800 pounds for V-6 models.
Stellar resale values and an active safety technology suite as standard that includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and more make the Tacoma a compelling option, but the competition is stronger than ever.
