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| North America's best selling compact truck is hardly compact anymore... more midsize than anything. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press) |
The Tacoma didn't always own the compact to midsize truck segment. No, prior to Dodge dropping the ball on styling and producing one of the most unattractive trucks ever created (2005-present), the Dakota was number one in this segment. Now sales are so slow that the domestic manufacturer is considering whether or not to drop it altogether, while Toyota continues to enjoy top-of-class sales results.
For 2010 Toyota has dropped its sporty rear-drive X-Runner model, clearly the most frivolous of Tacomas and, in this day and age of sobering economic woes, the slowest seller. The rest of the Tacoma lineup remains the same, however, which is probably smart being that this truck continues to be so well received by the masses. So, what does it have going for it that previous best sellers, like Dakota and Ranger, don't?
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| The Tacoma makes a person question whether they really need a full-size pickup truck. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press) |
While there's a lot to be said for the Toyota brand name from a quality standpoint and, specifically in the truck segment, almost legendary ruggedness and dependability, styling is what gets a lot of people, especially new conquest sales, into the showroom. The Tacoma simply looks better than most if not all of its competitors, and don't underestimate the importance of aesthetics to buyers, even in the supposedly down to earth truck market. After all, styling transformed the Dodge Ram from an also-ran into a mainstream player, and likewise has caused the aforementioned Dakota to slip away into obscurity.
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| Plenty of room in the Tacoma... a midsize offering that's not shy of serious work! (Photo: Canadian Auto Press) |
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| The Tacoma has a nice interior with better than average materials quality, fit and finish, and features. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press) |
The Tacoma has more than good looks going for it, mind you, a lot more. With a variety of body styles, trim levels and powertrain configurations, it leads the way in a similar manner to how the domestics control the full-size truck segment. Starting with the Access Cab, abbreviated rear-hinged rear doors that can only be opened when the front doors are already ajar can be a bit aggravating when parked in a tight spot, but this is common practice in the pickup truck segment so most of us are used to living with this inconvenience. If you tend to use your pickup like a family car, Toyota offers its Double Cab, what has traditionally been call a crew cab. The Access Cab utilizes a six-foot box while the Double Cab lops some capability off the back in standard trim, thanks to a five-foot box, but can be had with a six-foot box too, if you don't mind the extra overall length. All boxes are comprised of composite material, so they won't rust out like Toyota pickups of old, and they're double-walled for added strength and so you won't dent the outer panel if you throw something heavy inside. Tie-downs are included too, of course, and the tailgate is removable if needed.
