Used 2021 Toyota Tacoma

Winner: 2021 Best Resale Value Award
Winner: 2021 Best Buy Award

Price: The 2021 Toyota Tacoma starts at $26,150.

The Toyota Tacoma is the best-selling midsize truck available, and has been for the past 15 years. There are good reasons for this, namely the Tacoma’s reputation for high quality, high resale value, and a vast variety of engine/cab/bed choices. In fact, with 33 configurations, there’s a Tacoma to suit a wide range of needs and tastes, from an economical work truck to an off-road beast with optional manual transmission.

Today’s Tacoma faces a resurgence in the midsize truck market, with the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon reborn a few years ago, an all-new Ford Ranger also re-entering the market, a new Nissan Frontier around the corner, and the just-arrived Jeep Gladiator appealing to off-road enthusiasts. In the face of these challengers, the 2021 Tacoma remains more than competitive.

The Tacoma got a freshening last year that gave it standard tech like Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, and all models include Toyota’s suite of active safety and driver-assist features like automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. This year it gets minor updates like standard dual-zone climate control on V6 models, and the introduction of special editions.

The Tacoma isn’t quite as fresh as its competitors, but it’s still the go-to recommendation for the majority of midsize truck buyers.

For most drivers, the Tacoma’s 159-horsepower 2.7-liter 4-cylinder base engine can get the job done, but don’t look for stellar passing power when towing or climbing steep grades. While at first glance, fuel-economy figures may seem attractive, they’re not all that much better than what the V6 delivers. This leads us to suggest that if you can afford the extra cost, the V6 is the better choice.

With 278 horsepower on tap, the 3.5-liter V6 moves the Tacoma with brisk bursts of acceleration and also enables it to tow up to 6,800 pounds. The 6-speed automatic is an older design, but it gets the job done. We know that in today’s world, the manual transmission is seen as an oddity, but if you’re still a fan of three pedals, the Tacoma is the rare truck that offers one. And it’s a surprisingly good one. The 6-speed manual connected to the V6 is offered in all TRD models, and it’s a joy to use.

The cat-back exhaust in the TRD Pro models may sound cool at first, but it can tend to drone on longer treks. Thankfully this model also includes a premium audio system.

Seating is comfortable, especially with the new power-adjustable seat, and the cabin logically arranged with all the most important switchgear within easy reach. We found the Tacoma’s ride firm but not nearly as jarring as the Ford Ranger. The steering is impressively responsive. We do think the Tacoma’s steering-wheel-and-pedal placement may prove challenging for drivers with long legs, but otherwise, we have no gripes with the cabin layout.

Depending on cab configuration, the Tacoma seats either four or five passengers. Access Cab models have just two small rear seats. If you plan to use the Tacoma as a family vehicle or to regularly accommodate rear-seat passengers, you’ll want the Double Cab. This provides a roomy bench seat that can accommodate three passengers and has plenty of legroom.

As is Toyota’s tradition, build quality in the 2021 Tacoma is excellent. The interior uses high-quality materials on the doors, dash, seats, and everywhere else. Overall the Chevy Colorado’s interior is more car-like, and it’s quieter, but the dynamic design of the Tacoma’s dash and controls is more interesting.

All 2021 Tacoma models include a central touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, and available in either the standard 7-inch or larger 8-inch variety. As we noted in Favorite Features, the 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat that’s standard on SR5 and above models makes a big difference in comfort and accommodating a variety of body sizes. Otherwise, base models retain the old 4-way manual adjust driver’s seat – with no height adjustment.

Now in its third generation, the 2021 Toyota Tacoma was redesigned extensively in 2015. Still, we think the Tacoma’s design has held up well. Last year it got some new details, including a redesigned grille and a new taillight design. The SR5 and above have optional day-running headlights.

The Toyota Tacoma looks rugged and carries the kind of swagger most pickup truck buyers appreciate. But it’s no wallflower, and it certainly isn’t old-school. It is available with either the smaller Access Cab that has half-size rear-hinged doors or the Double Cab with standard-size doors. Two bed lengths are available. All Access Cab models have the longer 6-foot bed, while Double Cab models have a choice of the 5-foot short bed or long bed. Note that even as a “midsize” pickup, the Tacoma is substantial. An Access Cab model stretches 212.3 inches, while a Double Cab long-bed model spans 225.5 inches. If you plan to park your Tacoma in the garage, take some measurements first.

Modern cues include LED daytime running lights, and the separate models — SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-road, TRD Pro and Limited — each get different front-end styling, making it easy to tell which is which at a glance. Our Tacoma TRD Pro drew a crowd at gas stations and thumbs-up from other truck enthusiasts.

A new special edition for 2021, the Trail Edition, includes built-in lockable storage bins on each side of the truck bed. The one on the driver’s side can also act as a cooler thanks to its drain plugs for when the ice melts.

STANDARD SAFETY SYSTEMS
Like other new Toyotas – and unlike this one’s GM competitors — every Tacoma includes a full suite of active safety systems. Called Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), it bundles lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control.

10-WAY POWER-ADJUSTED DRIVER’S SEAT
Last year Toyota finally rectified one of the Tacoma’s faults, giving it a power-adjustable front seat. This 10-way adjuster with lumbar support is standard beginning in TRD Sport trims.

The Toyota Tacoma is available in half a dozen main trims: SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and TRD Pro.

At its most basic, an SR model includes 16-inch steel wheels, composite bed, heated exterior mirrors, 4-way manual-adjust driver’s seat, 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and the TSS-P safety system.

We suggest stepping up to at least an SR5 trim. This level adds 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift lever, 4.2-inch information display, more advanced tire-pressure monitor, keyless entry, fog lights, and auto-dimming rearview mirror.

TRD Sport models are even more recommendable, adding the V6 as standard, a 120-volt power outlet in the bed, wireless phone charger, premium audio with navigation, LED daytime running lights, and the ability to add more options.

Continuing the trim climb, TRD Off-Road models include alloy wheels, Crawl Control and terrain select on automatic transmission models, and locking rear differential. Tacoma Limited models have leather interior, 18-inch polished alloy wheels, silver grille, LED headlights, power moonroof, premium JBL audio system, surround camera system, and blind-spot monitoring. TRD Pro models have their own special wheels, heritage Toyota logo in the grille and other special badging, leather interior with heated front seats, Fox shocks, skid plate, cat-back exhaust, and multi-terrain camera system.

Options vary by trim, and they can vary a lot depending on all the dozens of configurations available. They include the V6 in SR and SR5 models, 4-wheel-drive in models that don’t already have it as standard, power moonroof, blind-spot monitoring, and JBL audio system. Of course, there are many accessories available, too, from a tonneau cover to a Desert Air Intake (aka, a snorkel).

The new Trail Edition is based on the SR5 Double Cab, while the new Nightshade with its darkened aesthetics is based on the Limited Double Cab.

Power for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma comes from a choice of two engines. Standard is a 2.7-liter 4-cylinder engine good for a modest 159 horsepower. Power can be routed to the rear wheels (2WD) or all four (4WD) but only via a 6-speed automatic transmission. A better choice is the 3.5-liter V6 that offers nearly 120 more horses and a significant boost in torque, yet delivers nearly identical fuel-economy figures as the smaller 4-cylinder. You’ll also get a choice between the 6-speed automatic and 6-speed manual transmission.

2.7-liter inline-4
159 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm
180 lb-ft of torque @ 3,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy, est.: 20/23 mpg (2WD, automatic), 19/22 mpg (4WD, automatic)

3.5-liter V6
278 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
265 lb-ft of torque @ 4,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy, est.: 19/24 mpg (2WD, automatic), 18/22 mpg (4WD, automatic), 17/21 mpg (4WD, manual), 17/20 mpg (4WD, manual, Double Cab)

Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.

We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.

Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.

Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)

We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.