Factory Turbo Toyota pickups are a thing again

Was I sleeping when Toyota started bringing back turbo manual trans 4wd Tacoma trucks to the USA again? I guess it was earlier this year? I heard about the 6cyl turbo Tundra but manual/ turbo 4/ 4wd Tacoma is so good. I've been kicking around maybe a replacement truck but I just found out about these and this reminds me of a super rusty 86 turbo SR5 I had for a bit. 

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a45954715/2024-toyota-tacoma-engine-explained/

This is bringing back memories of the turbo 4runner/mini truck variants:

In order to get the turbo/manual/4wd combo I think it has to be a double cab with a 5 ft bed but still this just made the short list.

Is this the one where the people are saying it has the power of the 4-cyl, but MPG of the V6?

The general sentiment Ive been getting from Toyota for the past couple years is that they're just kinda... there.  Mediocre in all ways, except the ability to not break.  I could be misreading posts though.

Mr_Asa said:

The general sentiment Ive been getting from Toyota for the past couple years is that they're just kinda... there.  Mediocre in all ways, except the ability to not break.  

And that's not applicable to the Tundra with the new turbo V6. Apparently those are exploding at a pretty rapid rate and Toyota doesn't have a fix for it yet.

Mr_Asa said:

Is this the one where the people are saying it has the power of the 4-cyl, but MPG of the V6?

The general sentiment Ive been getting from Toyota for the past couple years is that they're just kinda... there.  Mediocre in all ways, except the ability to not break.  I could be misreading posts though.

I'm sure the MPG is low 20s real world which is the same as all of the 4wd Tacomas in the last forever but the base turbo is 228 hp and the i-force with an oil cooler in the higher trims is 278 hp. 278! I don't care about the Tundra at all since that's not my jam. I like 3 pedals.

We live in an era where you can get a turbo 4wd manual transmission Tacoma with more horsepower than an R32 GT-R. How in the world is that mediocre?

Mr_Asa said:

Is this the one where the people are saying it has the power of the 4-cyl, but MPG of the V6?

The general sentiment Ive been getting from Toyota for the past couple years is that they're just kinda... there.  Mediocre in all ways, except the ability to not break.  I could be misreading posts though.

I mean isn't this true for most Toyota trucks regardless of powerplant? I4 gets gas mileage of v6, v6 gets gas mileage of v8, v8 gets gas mileage of a gas RV. 

My 01 Sequoia gets 12mpg whether I'm towing, cruising, city, highway, etc and feels like a V6 struggling to get air. 

I went to the "build" page because I was intrigued... and yes you can only get the manual in the 4-Wheel Drive, double cab, and 5' bed configuration.  

That said, I was baffled at Page 1 when you have to pick which Tacoma to start with... there's 11 trims available!!  From base MSRP $31,500 for #1 up to base MSRP $63,900 for #11.  

So I stumbled through all of them to see if the manual trans can be added out of curiosity, and it is only an option on 3 of the trims.  The SR, the TRD Sport, and the TRD Off-Road.  

Starting with the cheapest base model SR, the website has a weird glitch in that if you only select manual trans, it says that it forces $10,800 in updates, but then if you actually click through, it only raises the Total Amount as Built to MSRP $36,195.   

I hope they improved on the 3rd gen. Those are not good...

I hate how companies are locking drivetrains down dependent on cab/bed lengths/packages. I would have looked more seriously at a Toyota if they were more open. A 4 door, 6' bed, manual transmission doesn't exist. Although my choice to buy a Jeep was more about how poorly the Toyota drove.

xflowgolf (Forum Supporter) said:

I went to the "build" page because I was intrigued... and yes you can only get the manual in the 4-Wheel Drive, double cab, and 5' bed configuration.  

That said, I was baffled at Page 1 when you have to pick which Tacoma to start with... there's 11 trims available!!  From base MSRP $31,500 for #1 up to base MSRP $63,900 for #11.  

So I stumbled through all of them to see if the manual trans can be added out of curiosity, and it is only an option on 3 of the trims.  The SR, the TRD Sport, and the TRD Off-Road.  

Starting with the cheapest base model SR, the website has a weird glitch in that if you only select manual trans, it says that it forces $10,800 in updates, but then if you actually click through, it only raises the Total Amount as Built to MSRP $36,195.   

Yep that's what I captured in my screenshot since it appears that is the absolute cheapest way you can get that combo. I have a feeling it won't last very long if they don't sell. Maybe because people might not know you can get that combo. I might mess around and check one out. 

Two friends just had these as rentals for the last race, both were really impressed, far more than I was with my rental 4xe Sahara Wrangler.  

Also if you're wanting a new manual trans truck (with a bed), there's only two to choose from.  Your options are a Tacoma, or the Jeep Gladiator.  

They're also within spitting distance of each other for starting price.  The cheapest zero option manual trans Jeep Gladiator shows a net price of $36,540 ($37,895 MSRP).  

Maybe this is why they chose the configuration they did?  The Gladiator is also only a double cab 4x4 with a 5' bed.  

crankwalk (Forum Supporter) said:

Mr_Asa said:

Is this the one where the people are saying it has the power of the 4-cyl, but MPG of the V6?

The general sentiment Ive been getting from Toyota for the past couple years is that they're just kinda... there.  Mediocre in all ways, except the ability to not break.  I could be misreading posts though.

I'm sure the MPG is low 20s real world which is the same as all of the 4wd Tacomas in the last forever but the base turbo is 228 hp and the i-force with an oil cooler in the higher trims is 278 hp. 278! I don't care about the Tundra at all since that's not my jam. I like 3 pedals.

We live in an era where you can get a turbo 4wd manual transmission Tacoma with more horsepower than an R32 GT-R. How in the world is that mediocre?

Cause the R32 is 30 years old, and a sports car?  Not sure why its being brought into this.

Not trying to yuck your yum.  Just wasnt sure if I had gathered the right viewpoint for this 

buzzboy said:

I hope they improved on the 3rd gen. Those are not good...

It sounds like they did.  Significant changes.  I found this to be a really thorough and solid review of all the changes and updates for the 2024 model:

Autopian 2024 Toyota Tacoma Review

$36k is crack pipe pricing for a base model Tacoma when you can get a 3-4 year old F150 Lariat for comparable money.  

The Tacoma Tax is unbelieveable.  

Aside from the manual, I think the Tacoma is the only mid-sized truck still offering a 6 foot bed option.

93gsxturbo said:

$36k is crack pipe pricing for a base model Tacoma when you can get a 3-4 year old F150 Lariat for comparable money.  

The Tacoma Tax is unbelieveable.  

 

apples to oranges on new vs. used.  

A new F150 Lariat MSRP starts at $63,160 

Mr_Asa said:

crankwalk (Forum Supporter) said:

Mr_Asa said:

Is this the one where the people are saying it has the power of the 4-cyl, but MPG of the V6?

The general sentiment Ive been getting from Toyota for the past couple years is that they're just kinda... there.  Mediocre in all ways, except the ability to not break.  I could be misreading posts though.

I'm sure the MPG is low 20s real world which is the same as all of the 4wd Tacomas in the last forever but the base turbo is 228 hp and the i-force with an oil cooler in the higher trims is 278 hp. 278! I don't care about the Tundra at all since that's not my jam. I like 3 pedals.

We live in an era where you can get a turbo 4wd manual transmission Tacoma with more horsepower than an R32 GT-R. How in the world is that mediocre?

Cause the R32 is 30 years old, and a sports car?  Not sure why its being brought into this.

Not trying to yuck your yum.  Just wasnt sure if I had gathered the right viewpoint for this 

I'm pointing out your statement "the power of a 4 cyl but the mileage of a v6" is surprising to me.  That sentiment was fair if it was a 110 hp 4 cyl that got 18 mpg. I brought up a 276 hp R32 GTR because it's a halo car with power numbers from a twin turbo 2.6 I6 people used to respect but now 278 hp turbo 4 cyls getting low to mid 20s mpg are "mediocre" in a base Toyota truck. That's wild to me.

$36k is a lot of money for a Tacoma but EVERYTHING is a lot of money these days.

Also F150 is irrelevant to folks that like 3 pedals unfortunately.  

xflowgolf (Forum Supporter) said:

93gsxturbo said:

$36k is crack pipe pricing for a base model Tacoma when you can get a 3-4 year old F150 Lariat for comparable money.  

The Tacoma Tax is unbelieveable.  

 

apples to oranges on new vs. used.  

A new F150 Lariat MSRP starts at $63,160 

Money is money.  If you have 40k to play with it limits the field and some compromises must be made.  What you elect to spend that money on is up to you.  I know what I would buy.

3 pedals are nice but there is nothing in the modern truck world they do better than an automatic.  Trailer towing?  Auto.  Off-roading?  Auto.  Daily driving?  Auto.  Trucks are not sports cars.  

 

93gsxturbo said:

Money is money.  If you have 40k to play with it limits the field and some compromises must be made.  What you elect to spend that money on is up to you.  I know what I would buy.

3 pedals are nice but there is nothing in the modern truck world they do better than an automatic.  Trailer towing?  Auto.  Off-roading?  Auto.  Daily driving?  Auto.  Trucks are not sports cars.  

I'm not shopping a price point and "limited to $40k" and have to make compromises. I just like these.
 

I've had a half ton Dodge since new in 2017 and that replaced my fj60 Land Cruiser with a stick. I loved that thing. As the Dodge ages, I think the Tacoma is a great combo for me. I tow a motorcycle trailer and a kayak in the bed and work from home half the week so I don't need a lot of truck.
 

Trucks aren't sports cars but I've owned more trucks with a manual transmission than not and the one thing that manual transmissions does better is not be boring. I have fast things, it's not about turning it into a hot rod, it just is a fun combo of things I like in a small truck that hasn't been really offered in the US in a while. The only thing I don't like is the price but I don't like the price of anything new.

93gsxturbo said:

Money is money.  If you have 40k to play with it limits the field and some compromises must be made.  What you elect to spend that money on is up to you.  I know what I would buy.

3 pedals are nice but there is nothing in the modern truck world they do better than an automatic.  Trailer towing?  Auto.  Off-roading?  Auto.  Daily driving?  Auto.  Trucks are not sports cars.  

Seeing what my dad paid for his 2020 F150 compared to my 2022 Gladiator is astonishing. American 1/2 ton trucks are a killer deal. I don't want one as a daily, but I get it. 

IMHO a manual trans is still king in snow/ice which is what I bought my truck to do.

In reply to buzzboy :

Low on the totem pole 1/2 tons can be a deal but if you want some stuff in one you better take lube when visiting the dealer.

 The increase from entry level to the top trims is another whole truck and then some in most cases.

 A '24 Tacoma TRD Pro is just under 80k north of the border....makes the 63k for the '22 Limited CC 4x4 Tundra I bought seem like a bargain now.

A local dealer actually had a manual trans Tacoma SR on the lot. I was intrigued enough to drive by today:

https://smartpath.kooltoyota.com/inventory/details?dealerCd=21095&vin=3TYKE5JN9RT038052&source=t3&zipcode=49525&type=new

Pretty sharp truck.  I still don't want to pay $40K for it, but I understand the appeal.  
 

also neat to compare to a TRD OffRoad next to it.  A lot of the exterior bits are the same, was surprised they all use the same headlights, taillights, etc. (as opposed to my experience with VW's where "lighting package" are not equipped on base models, or Ford trucks with their fancy lights on higher trims).  The TRD OffRoad gets unpainted fender flares, but I prefer the flareless painted fenders on the SR since the arch bulge is the same regardless (plastic flares aren't any wider, and just seem like a place to trap dirt/salt). Remove front air dam and they seem to have the same stance as well (aside from less aggressive tread pattern). The rear bumper end caps, door handles, and mirror caps aren't painted on the SR, but hardly noticeable on a black truck.  
 

93gsxturbo said:

3 pedals are nice but there is nothing in the modern truck world they do better than an automatic.  Trailer towing?  Auto.  Off-roading?  Auto.  Daily driving?  Auto.  Trucks are not sports cars.  

How about: I just want to go uphill at wide open throttle without downshifting.  Can't do that in an auto.  Even things that claim to be "manual" like the PDK and so on still love a kickdown downshift.  And I'm not talking about absurd 1,200rpm lugging situations, either.  And every damn auto that does this upsets the car, makes noise, and adds wear with a downshift/upshift cycle I didn't want.  And won't let me run in a fuel-efficient situation without throttling losses.

Not to harsh your vibe, but isn't Toyota still of the opinion they will build what they build, and you'll take what you can get?  So even if an option combo exists, it might not actually be available?  It seems that's the way it was when I was looking at 1st gen Tundras.  The dealership could not locate a low option RWD extended cab with towing package anywhere in the region.

Would be nice if they are willing to build some oddball combos, though.

When these were announced I was all excited to trade my 3rd gen Tacoma in for a new 4 cylinder turbo with the manual transmission.  And then, like you guys have pointed out, the build page made it clear that you can't get a 6 foot bed and a manual.

I won't buy a truck with a 5 foot bed. That's not a truck, that's just a dumb square box with a parcel shelf on the back for your purse.  I'm firmly of the opinion that all trucks should have an 8 foot bed.  I compromised for a 6 foot bed when I bought this one.  But 5 feet?  I don't think you can even put an 8x4 sheet of plywood in the back, safely.

I bought the truck with a singular primary mission: tow my racecars to the track.  The 3rd gen does this fine.  A 6 foot bed with a toneau cover doesn't quite have the room I'd like for the stuff I take to the track, but I make it work.  Furthermore, there's only two of us going to the track--the access cab is fine.  I honestly thought the space behind the front seats was wasted, but I've grown to appreciate it.  And the little rear doors make it easily accessible.  The new access cabs don't even let you open the rear door, instead expecting you to fold the front seat forward.

I want the turbo.  I live at 9,000ft, and tow a rally car across the mountains.  The V6 is fine at sea level, but it starts to lack power at altitude.  A 4 cylinder turbo with roughly the same power is of dubious value at sea level, but in the mountains?  That's huge.  I don't have to give up any power, just a little spool time.

But a dual cab truck with a 5' bed is just dumb. At that point, I'd rather just have a van that I can sleep in the back of.  I'm just not interested in a crappy SUV with a parcel shelf just because it has a manual transmission.

If I'm going to compromise on the transmission, it's not even remotely clear why I'd even want a Tacoma.

I checked out these trucks this morning, and they are really nice. A few things gave me pause:

- back seat leg room was tight...as my teenagers keep growing, it'll be an issue. It's a mid size truck, I know....but this thing  is still really long.

- step up into the cab  was tough for me, on the models without the step rails. I have a stiff hip, and would need the rails, for sure.  
 

I didn't drive them, at this point, but if I was to move into a new-ish truck for my DD, a slightly used domestic full size would work better for my family. Too bad, I really wanted to like the smaller taco. 
With a base Taco starting at $50k Canadian, that buys a LOT of used F150.