The 2025 Toyota Tacoma: A Modern Marvel
For two decades, the Toyota Tacoma has reigned supreme as America’s top-selling small pickup truck. The model has consistently outsold rivals like the Nissan Frontier and Ford Ranger. The latest generation, which debuted in 2024, boasts a significant power upgrade and a wealth of new technology. This means the Tacoma has a new hybrid powertrain, a welcome advancement, but it risks losing the qualities that made it so popular.
I recently spent a week behind the wheel of a 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Double Cab 4×4, and here are my thoughts:
The base Tacoma SR XtraCab 4×2 starts at a price of $31,590, while the top-of-the-line Tacoma TRD Pro Double Cab 4×4 I tested had a starting price of $63,900. With shipping fees and optional extras added, the total price of the truck was $68,093.
The Tacoma lineup ranges from the basic work truck to the premium Limited trim.
Design and Customization
The Tacoma is known for its configurability, offering a variety of front grilles and fascias. The Heritage grille, found on my test truck, is styled after the brand’s iconic pickups from the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Its two cab types are the two-passenger XtraCab and the five-passenger Double Cab. It is available with both a 5-foot and a 6-foot bed. Most of its competitors, aside from the Nissan Frontier, only offer a five-passenger crew cab with a 5-foot bed.
TRD Pro: Ready for Adventure
The TRD Pro trim is inspired by Toyota’s off-road racing trucks and is designed for high-speed runs across the deserts of Baja California. TRD, which stands for Toyota Racing Development, is the company’s North American performance tuning division.
This means it includes several off-road enhancements, like Fox adjustable shocks, a performance air intake, and massive 33-inch Goodyear all-terrain tires with 18-inch black alloy wheels. The truck also features beefed-up aluminum skid plates and underbody protection for the transfer case and fuel tank.
The IsoDynamic front seats are an exclusive feature on the TRD Pro.
These seats feature a system of air-over-oil shock absorbers that absorb the impact of rough terrain. A special air pump adjusts the firmness of the shocks.
Power and Performance
All Tacoma models are powered by versions of Toyota’s T24A-FTS turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The new turbo engines offer a stark contrast to the previous Tacoma’s 159-horsepower four-cylinder and 278-horsepower V6.
My test truck had a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four-cylinder engine combined with a hybrid system. This includes a 48-horsepower electric drive motor and a 1.87-kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack. Together, this setup produces a robust 326 total horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. A non-hybrid version of the same engine is available with 228 horsepower, 270 horsepower (manual transmission), and 278 horsepower.
My test truck achieved fuel economy ratings of 22 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined, which is solid for a high-performance truck of this size, although not spectacular for a hybrid.
It’s the Toyota Hybrid that doesn’t drive like a hybrid.
The Driving Experience
The old Toyota Tacoma wasn’t always the most pleasant vehicle to drive. The V6 lacked power, and the driving position was uncomfortable. Now, Toyota has addressed both issues. The turbo four provides strong and immediate power, with the electric drive motor adding an extra boost of torque.
Despite being a Toyota hybrid, the Tacoma retains its torque converter and conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. It avoids the e-CVT found in the Prius or Camry, so it drives more like a traditional pickup with an aggressive auto start-stop feature. At one point, I even forgot I was driving a hybrid and looked for the button to turn off the start-stop.
The engine also produces a surprisingly throaty rumble, a standout among four-cylinder engines.
The Tacoma’s interior is both stylish and functional. Despite its upgraded presentation, the Tacoma maintains its solid material and build quality.
Traditional Tacoma interiors were pretty straightforward. This one takes a full 180-degree turn. It has all the creature comforts you could want in a truck and some you didn’t even know you needed, like seats with shock absorbers and a detachable JBL Bluetooth speaker.
This tech content is impressive, a massive improvement over the previous generation. The Tacoma offers a head-up display, digital rearview mirror, and an advanced 360-degree multi-terrain camera system.
The centerpiece of the Tacoma’s tech package is its optional 14-inch touchscreen (8-inch unit on base models) using Toyota’s latest infotainment system, one of the easiest to use on the market.
Interior Space
The design of the front seats does take away from the rear legroom. However, the back seats in Tacomas without the IsoDynamic seats are roomy enough to be in line with competitors like the Ranger and Frontier.
As a result, the back seats in my test truck might be uncomfortable for most adults. This is especially true if the front seat occupants are taller than 6 feet.
Practicality
Opening the power tailgate reveals a versatile bed with ample LED lighting and adjustable tie-down points. The Tacoma TRD Pro has a 5-foot bed.
There are also USB, 12V, and AC power sockets. Some models even have a built-in air compressor.
The Tacoma can tow up to 6,500 pounds. Hybrid Tacomas max out at 6,000 pounds of towing weight, which falls short of the Chevrolet Colorado’s 7,700-pound and Nissan Frontier’s 7,150-pound ratings.
Final Thoughts
The new Toyota Tacoma is better in nearly every way. Toyota has addressed most of the issues I had with the previous model, delivering more power, improved driving dynamics, and updated tech.
However, the Tacoma’s success was always built on its reputation for no-nonsense dependability at a reasonable price. This is a key reason that consumers have preferred it. But, with power, tech, and luxury added, the price tag has increased to levels that may push loyal customers toward competing trucks.
As good as the new Tacoma is, I’m left wondering if Toyota has compromised the core values that made it such a beloved truck in the first place.
