Toyota has a history of making good, reliable vehicles, and a lot of that reputation comes from the venerable 3rd-generation Tacoma. It’s been around for a while, and we’re pleased to say its replacement, the 2024 Toyota Tacoma, will be better in many ways, including styling.
Earlier this month, the design of the all-new Toyota mid-sized pickup truck slipped out thanks to some patent images. The 2024 Tacoma is a big deal, big enough that we can’t just wait for the official reveal to happen.
The mid-sized truck market is growing in popularity, partly because full-size vehicles are getting too expensive. But Tacoma has always been popular. Until the Jeep Gladiator arrived in early 2019, the Taco’ was the only choice for a small trail-rated truck. It’s practical and versatile with lots of configuration options: manual gearbox, TRD, short cab, you name it.
However, Toyota began seeing issues with its entire range, which it’s been fixing with brand-new vehicles. Mainly, it’s about fuel consumption and emissions. As you’re probably aware, the venerable V6 has been replaced in a number of vehicles, including the Lexus RX, and the same will happen under the hood of the 2024 Tacoma.
We’ve been saying for quite a while that the 2024 Tacoma will have the latest 2.4-liter turbocharged engine. The block is quite similar to the reliable 2.5-liter and has been designed to meet the latest emissions targets which the V6 frankly couldn’t match. The expected output is 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Yes, that’s a kind of a downgrade from the 278 horsepower of the 3.5-liter V6 currently powering Tacomas everywhere, but the torque is slightly higher.
Just like with the bigger Tundra (and 2023 Sequoia), there will also be a “Max” version of the 2024 Tacoma with hybrid technology added to its 2.4L turbo, making a total of 340 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.
Furthermore, a few major engineering upgrades have been confirmed for the 2024 Tacoma. The test prototypes suggest it will have modern independent suspension and disc brakes at all corners. Sadly, it’s possible that the manual will be dropped.
We also predict there will be a Tacoma Electric (not the real name), since Toyota has already shown a concept/prototype. It’s unclear when this will be available, but demand is clearly there. Rumor has it that Ford will launch a Ranger Lightning based on the next-gen model, and Nissan is thinking of doing the same with the Frontier.
What does the 2024 Tacoma look like?
Using the recently leaked patent photos as a blueprint, the website Kolesa was able to render this set of images, previewing the 2024 Toyota Tacoma. And we know these are accurate because some of the elements were photoshopped straight from the leaks, such as the trim for the grille and lower bumper, which would have been too complicated to render.
Obviously, this is just one of many configurations for the Tacoma, maybe the TRD based on the color and size of the wheels. It’s safe to say that the next-gen pickup looks like a slightly smaller, sportier version of the big Tundra. Even the headlights have got the same downward design element.
