The 2016 Toyota Tacoma Revealed

[Exploring Elements]

The 2016 Toyota Tacoma has a TON of new features and is packaged in a well thought out package. Toyota has also kept the off-road enthusiast in mind with the new truck. Read a first hand impression of the new truck and see all the latest details, just released today.

The 2016 Toyota Tacoma Revealed

 

[Xrunner]

Great review and writeup!

 

[Adventurous]

Small nitpick, but not all suspension for the 05+ suspension fits second gen trucks. OME rear shocks did not fit on my 2015 and I believe Toyota changed the shock mount on the axle.

Other than that I agree with the summary of the crawl control addition. Seems like drivers with more advanced skills will eschew its use but I can see a lot of novice drivers using it as a crutch.

 

[dman93]

The spec sheets list crawl control on TRD OffRoad only, but the video shows a DCLB, which I thought wasn't t available in TRD OffRoad. What's the scoop?

 

[Off-Grid Engineering]

Small nitpick, but not all suspension for the 05+ suspension fits second gen trucks. OME rear shocks did not fit on my 2015 and I believe Toyota changed the shock mount on the axle.

Other than that I agree with the summary of the crawl control addition. Seems like drivers with more advanced skills will eschew its use but I can see a lot of novice drivers using it as a crutch.

I have OME shocks on my 2015. Toyota simply beefed up the rear shock mount by leaving an extra 1/8" of metal on the mounting tab. It took all of 5 minutes with an angle grinder and a can of Rustoleum and the OME shocks fit like a glove. But you are correct... it's not simply bolt-on but it's also not a complete redesign.

 

[fredgoodsell]

The spec sheets list crawl control on TRD OffRoad only, but the video shows a DCLB, which I thought wasn't t available in TRD OffRoad. What's the scoop?

TRD Off Road now available in DCLB. For real.

 

[bijanjames]

What I like: Interior, 8.75" axle for TRD, Long bed with TRD!!, Exterior

What I don't like: Drum brakes, C channel frame, crawl control

Please truck Gods at least keep one vehicle in this technological day and age simple enough that **** doesn't break after 8 or 10 years and cost an arm and a leg to fix. Just stick with a locker. Toyota claims that a drum brake keeps mud, debris, and water out!?! Owning 3 Tacoma's, I'll tell you, that its the exact opposite...Box the frame! My ARB Bumper and bed shook like crazy on my Tacoma's. My current Nissan with a boxed frame (and disc brakes) does not.

 

[calicamper]

Surprised the mileage wasn't improved even just slightly. Thats a big bummer. My prediction is that Toyota will start adding content to make up for not really having a stand out. Better equipped lower trim models with easy add ons like locking diff on the lower trim models, Improved seat cover materials etc. Given that is all low hanging fruit and the easiest to improve vs the platform just not being "THE" truck to have etc.

 

[SDDiver5]

hahaha ahhhh not back to the C frame/Boxed frame argument!!!! This took up about 15 pages of the first thread on the 16 Taco.

 

[bijanjames]

hahaha ahhhh not back to the C frame/Boxed frame argument!!!! This took up about 15 pages of the first thread on the 16 Taco.

Missed that thread.

 

[SDDiver5]

http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...Tacoma-Debut-in-Detriot?highlight=2016+tacoma

Enjoy. I cant tell you where the argument starts but its definitely in there somewhere.

 

[dman93]

TRD Off Road now available in DCLB. For real.

Thanks - I found the Toyota chart of configs and pricing. There's certainly been a lot of criticism but honestly, Toyota has a winning formula of incremental improvement balanced by some cost-savings, which may also be considered cheapening. It's no different with Camry, Corolla, etc. for the last 10-20 years. And on paper, at least, as well as from these early reviews, it seems like most of the changes are for the best. The only thing I don't understand is why the regular cab, 4 cylinder, manual transmission has been dropped. I still see quite a few Gen2 Tacos in this config around town in both 2 and 4 wheel drive. It would be a solid price leader and could pick up fleet sales from delivery companies, pest control and tree service companies.

 

[bijanjames]

http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...Tacoma-Debut-in-Detriot?highlight=2016+tacoma
.
Enjoy. I cant tell you where the argument starts but its definitely in there somewhere.

Thanks for sharing. The Frontier received the benefit of its bigger brother getting the Alpha platform, since it was easier and more cost effective to just use the same frame across the line. I've heard all the same arguments before, for and against. I'm by know means knocking the Tacoma, I've been a loyal Toyota guy my whole life, and think highly of the Tacoma. When shopping for my current truck, I took the Frontier into consideration and found that it had some very good quality's that in my opinion were lacking in the Tacoma. They are both extremely reliable trucks, regardless of frames or brakes.

 

[calicamper]

Thanks - I found the Toyota chart of configs and pricing. There's certainly been a lot of criticism but honestly, Toyota has a winning formula of incremental improvement balanced by some cost-savings, which may also be considered cheapening. It's no different with Camry, Corolla, etc. for the last 10-20 years. And on paper, at least, as well as from these early reviews, it seems like most of the changes are for the best. The only thing I don't understand is why the regular cab, 4 cylinder, manual transmission has been dropped. I still see quite a few Gen2 Tacos in this config around town in both 2 and 4 wheel drive. It would be a solid price leader and could pick up fleet sales from delivery companies, pest control and tree service companies.

I'm sorta in the same camp as I was with Ford from the late 80's through just recently - boring not very creative or interesting models nothing of interest or reason to purchase new over used etc. Today Toyota is like this you don't gain much if anything buying a new Camry - Tacoma Toyota whatever vs simply buying a used one given so little has been done regarding style, tech etc its sort of pointless to purchase new. I own a Toyota and bought it used because well the new one didn't offer anything much improved or different than a clean used one for half the price. Especially mileage!!! LOL

I wouldn't consider that a winning formula I would consider that a failure to generate creative fresh design and Toyota has struggled with this for the past 15yrs especially with their trucks. And the cars are really only marginally slightly better regarding the creative refresh etc.

I see a strong argument for people to just purchase a 2-3yr old Taco with known running gear/engine etc and more or less the same cabin and suspension as the new Taco with the unproven engine which returns possibly less mileage as the prior gen! Safety might be improved but the Taco was never the poster child for passenger safety stars so its not like your gaining a whole lot there regarding crash safety either. I predict that once the reworked new Frontier shows up we will see Toyota either start playing the loaded it with content game to avoid actually getting serious about a ground up modern design or Toyota might dump some money into engine development and platform development and body design and generate a modern Taco that competes with the modern trucks. Today I would say its a dinosaur trying to hide behind some minor fixes and tweaks and I'm not sure thats going to cut it anymore. All the major makers are building pretty good trucks with lots of very modern tech and design I personally do not see the value in Toyota products like I have in the past. My 07 Sequoia is a nice machine but I don't think its superior to the other options I could have gone with.

The crawl logic is just computer code hell Subaru has been selling their cheap forrester with it for a few years now calling it Xmode. Its just computer logic tied to the systems this stuff will be like airbags in a year or so and be found on just about every vehicle even front wheel drive vehicles can gain some advantages with the traction hunting and management logic to help keep the car square in slick conditions.

 

[toylandcruiser]

I'm sorta in the same camp as I was with Ford from the late 80's through just recently - boring not very creative or interesting models nothing of interest or reason to purchase new over used etc. Today Toyota is like this you don't gain much if anything buying a new Camry - Tacoma Toyota whatever vs simply buying a used one given so little has been done regarding style, tech etc its sort of pointless to purchase new. I own a Toyota and bought it used because well the new one didn't offer anything much improved or different than a clean used one for half the price. Especially mileage!!! LOL

I wouldn't consider that a winning formula I would consider that a failure to generate creative fresh design and Toyota has struggled with this for the past 15yrs especially with their trucks. And the cars are really only marginally slightly better regarding the creative refresh etc.

I see a strong argument for people to just purchase a 2-3yr old Taco with known running gear/engine etc and more or less the same cabin and suspension as the new Taco with the unproven engine which returns possibly less mileage as the prior gen! Safety might be improved but the Taco was never the poster child for passenger safety stars so its not like your gaining a whole lot there regarding crash safety either. I predict that once the reworked new Frontier shows up we will see Toyota either start playing the loaded it with content game to avoid actually getting serious about a ground up modern design or Toyota might dump some money into engine development and platform development and body design and generate a modern Taco that competes with the modern trucks. Today I would say its a dinosaur trying to hide behind some minor fixes and tweaks and I'm not sure thats going to cut it anymore. All the major makers are building pretty good trucks with lots of very modern tech and design I personally do not see the value in Toyota products like I have in the past. My 07 Sequoia is a nice machine but I don't think its superior to the other options I could have gone with.

The crawl logic is just computer code hell Subaru has been selling their cheap forrester with it for a few years now calling it Xmode. Its just computer logic tied to the systems this stuff will be like airbags in a year or so and be found on just about every vehicle even front wheel drive vehicles can gain some advantages with the traction hunting and management logic to help keep the car square in slick conditions.

Crawl control has been around for at least 8 years now. It's not some new fangeled contraption.


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