In this age of hyper-tech vehicles filled with adaptive cruise control, automatic parking or 360 degree sensors – cars that seemingly long to drive themselves and remove that connection between driver and road – there’s something wonderful about driving a pickup truck.
Even though all modern trucks are light years away from the old straight axle, read wheel drive Neanderthals of decades past, a basic pickup still offers that feel of functional driving and purpose that the more numbed, comfort-obsessed cars.
The Toyota Tacoma has always been one of my favorite entries in the smaller pickup class. In the past, I’ve described it as punky – with flashy stylings, a tight set-up and cocky power.
The 2014 entry sticks with that formula – keeping the aggressiveness and front-loaded power hat sets it apart. It doesn’t have the brute power of a larger Dodge Ram or Ford F-150, but it gets off the line quicker and responds tighter in turns. Toyota front loads the power from the V6 engine. That gearing is what provides the aggression and a little extra growl.
To unpack a canine metaphor, if the Tacoma was a dog, it’d be a bull terrier – small, eager, loyal and stronger than it looks. That strength comes from the Tacoma’s standard issue four wheel drive on demand, rack and pinion steering, coil spring double wishbone front suspension and rear leaf spring suspension with staggered outboard-mounted gas shock absorbers.
As always, seeing even a smaller, tough, modern truck like the Tacoma still scares the bloodless turnips of the world as they skulk about in their e-boxes. You shouldn’t care because there’s some visceral and satisfying about buzzing your way down any highway in a pickup. The Tacoma fits that bill nicely.
Depending on the kit level, the driver gets a healthy collection of in-car comforts like AM/FM CD stereo with Sirius XM with subscription and satellite navigation, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, ABS with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Force Distribution.
As for gas mileage, the Tacoma isn’t as demanding as larger V8 trucks with a city MPG of 21 and 25 highway – a significant improvement over last year’s efforts.
Still, with all the above listed bangs and whistles, the primary selling point for the Tacoma is its price tag. Depending on selected equipment, the truck ranges from just under $18,000 to about $28,000. Sure, that’s a sizable, $10,000 price range – and the $18 grand version is stripped down to a basic interior and stripped down towing and payload functions.
But, the point is Toyota made it possible for buyers to take home a very serviceable truck that’s also fun to drive for less than $20,000. I can name scores of basic equipped cars selling for more than the Tacoma goes for that aren’t half as enjoyable or as effective in their class as Toyota’s entry-level Tacoma.
