Interview with the chief Engineer for the 2016 Tacoma

[brianjwilson]

Meh I would still take a 5 or 6 speed. Every 8 speed auto I've driven is completely obnoxious in mountainous terrain. Constantly shifting and hunting, lagging, etc. I'm sure it's overall good for economy but the normal driving characteristics are horrible to live with IMO.

 

[SIZZLE]

So if you've knocked off your e-locker and couldn't find one possible way to mount a go-pro, this is the truck for you. Those were the biggest complaints? I call BS.

I just can't get over a front end that's 4" longer and 1" higher. Anyone else look at the truck and see an elephant seal?

 

[calicamper]

So if you've knocked off your e-locker and couldn't find one possible way to mount a go-pro, this is the truck for you. Those were the biggest complaints? I call BS.

I just can't get over a front end that's 4" longer and 1" higher. Anyone else look at the truck and see an elephant seal?

Pedestrian safety regs play a role in the big snout fad now.

 

[deadbeat son]

So if you've knocked off your e-locker and couldn't find one possible way to mount a go-pro, this is the truck for you. Those were the biggest complaints? I call BS.

When I got the survey from Toyota, I asked for an optional winter package with heated seats, heated mirrors, and headlamp washers. No more, no less.

But the GoPro mount makes up for it, I'm buying a new truck.

 

[SigSense]

I'm currently driving a 2nd Gen Taco, and still own a 1st Gen. Toyota improvements come slowly, but their reliability has always been legendary. When I get a chance to test-drive the 3rd Gen I'll see the incremental improvements. The noise in the 2nd Gen never really bothered me.

 

[Mrknowitall]

Why does everything need to look different for something to be entirely new? They will all have four wheels after all. If something ain't broken don't change it radically. And yes, the interior is new with slightly more room and quite a few different amenities.



Seems like essentially every part of the drive train is changed except for the engine of the 4 cyl. The frame is entirely new as well. Materials changes on many parts of the body. Personally I think they kept what worked in the 2nd gen and made a lot of important changes under the skin. I'm really glad they didn't give it a wedgie with the ridiculously high bedsides most new models have been coming out with.

Anyway, was interesting to hear a few more details compared to the previous Q&A from months ago! Thanks OP for posting!

Though for me it is academic as I just bought a 2015 and don't plan on buying another truck until 2035 or later!

I had a chance at NAIAS to loaf around underneath the tan one, un-disturbed for a good while. Everything looks pretty much the same. The cross-over pipe hangs down horribly, but not as bad as the spare tire on the Colorado. This is NOT a ground-up new truck, like the Hilux or Navara. Time will tell, but I would bet that the J150 tooling is moving from Japan to North America to build these. Remember, the 150 is "different" from the 120, but only in small details.
Yes, the door openings are different than before- double seals now. Shape of the cab is identical, as are all other key dimensions.
I can appreciate the improvements, but I still think an Americanized Hilux would have been better. Come up with a unique front end to use on the Tacoma AND a Fortuner based 4Runner.

 

[calicamper]

Waiting for the new Frontier not in a rush. But this past weekend was a future indicator that I would ideally like to have a roomy midsized pickup with car like safety standards for hauling my family on camping trips. The 2010 OB was awesome! Even having to haul gear for 8 people not just our family of 4. We took some newbies camping so nearly all of our camping gear extra big tent, and extra sleeping bags and chairs etc were loaded on for this trip. Even stacked on two nights of fire wood. OB was great zero complaints easily handled 65mph speeds. The suspension was just compressed to the point I was watching it on driveways etc not as bad as the drag factor on our boat trailer which sits much lower than the life time trailer but a nice 4dr midsized truck which gets good mileage would be the Subaru replacement. 23mpg average this past weekend over 190mile round trip to the CA Coast.