Everyone laughed when the first Toyota Hilux came to Canada in the early 1960s. It was such a small truck that it could hardly get out of its own way. With the 2005 Tacoma, no one is laughing.
This is one serious new truck and what makes it important is that the Tacoma does not break new technological ground. It combines existing technologies in new ways so the result is better than you would think.
Start with the optional V6, which follows the old hot rod creed of “if some is good, more is better.”
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This four litre, DOHC engine uses variable valve timing with intelligence that means valve timing can vary with engine load as well as rpm. Add to that electronic throttle control with intelligence, stir in a few other hot rod tricks such as tuned intake and exhaust manifolds and then fine tune the whole package to get a horsepower reading of 245 and a peak torque of 282 pound feet. This is 55 hp more than before and a touch more than the 4.7 litre V8 used in the Dakota.
Engineers then provided a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional five-speed electronically controlled automatic that has uphill and downhill shift logic to maximize performance.
If you prefer a more mundane truck, the Tacoma can be ordered with a 164 hp, DOHC, in-line four-cylinder engine that uses a five-speed manual or optional four-speed electronically controlled automatic that includes the uphill and downhill logic program.
Once you have the engine and transmission sorted out, you still need to decide if you want two- or four-wheel drive. Opting for the 4X4 gets you a part-time, shift-on-the-fly system that uses the regular 2Hi, 4Hi, 4Lo system with a two-speed transfer case. Next, decide on a locking rear differential, which has limited availability, or a more conventional limited slip rear unit.
Various cab sizes
As for options, you can order an access cab (extended) or a double cab. There are three box lengths: access cab truck box is 187 centimetres; the double cab box is 153 cm and the double cab long box is 187 cm. It should go without saying that the wheelbase also depends on which configuration you order.
Toyota still uses modified double wishbone suspension up front and leaf springs in the rear. The coil spring over gas shock in the front actually makes the suspension look like a combination of MacPherson strut and double wishbone. This blending of suspension types provides longer front suspension travel, which is good for off road, and better control of the front wheels, which is great for on road cornering and straight line driving.
Rear leaf springs are more compliant without losing the ability to carry a load. Shocks have been moved to provide better control of the rear axle, which in turn means better all round drivability. Think of it as car-like ride meets Baja racer.
Inside, you have to face that option sheet again. This time it is to pick trim levels and features to make life easier such as heated front seats.
Choices include off road or sport package, depending on the model, and more mundane features such as a towing package. In some cases this can be a bit confusing because what is optional on one might be standard on another.
No matter what, Toyota has a full slate of factory and dealer installed options to dress up your Tacoma. Little things like tool boxes, bed liners and box tie down points never go out of style. Items such as a roof rack on the double cab with removable cross rails to reduce wind noise are a good idea, but if you have the whole truck bed to haul stuff, why would you need to put more on the roof?
The new Tacoma makes the best use of Toyota technology at competitive prices, to bring you a “new” truck that outperforms the old one and can put a serious dent in competitors’ claims. Toyota has just served Detroit with notice that it is in the truck business – the real truck business.
Charles Renny is a freelance automotive columnist and a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. The opinions expressed in this column are the personal views of the writer.
