America’s best-selling pickup is back at it again. While many details are still under wraps, we do expect a new powertrain and plenty of thoughtful eco-friendly features.
But will this new fourth-generation Toyota
Tacoma deliver the monstrous electric powertrain we’ve all been waiting for? Transmission and body frame
We know that Toyota already has plans to create an electric pickup truck. But will it be the Tacoma? The Tundra? Either way, we’d expect the gas-powered version to be released first.
Critics want the Tacoma’s outdated six-speed to be upgraded and would be shook if it wasn’t addressed. Gear Patrol
points out that “the Tacoma's midsize competitors all feature an eight-, nine- or 10-speed automatic transmission. Moving to one would offer benefits Toyota will be looking for in performance and fuel economy.” For its manual transmission, “TFL Truck reports that the take rate for the manual 4×4 TRD Tacoma models is just 5%,” according to MotorBiscuit
. So it’s very possible Toyota will ditch it to the curb. Drivers could still opt for the Jeep Gladiator to get their stick shift pickup thrills. It’s a bit of a mystery how Toyota will accommodate an electric motor within the truck’s frame.
According to Car and Driver
, “There’s the chance the company takes the same route Ford did with its F-150 Lightning full-size electric truck, which rides on powertrain-specific underpinnings but shares key body panels with its gas-swilling sibling.” Toyota’s new body-on-frame TNGA-F platform that debuted on the new J300 Land Cruiser is expected to underpin future Tacomas, Sequoias, 4Runners, and beyond. And if Toyota uses the same frame for electric and gas-powered Tacomas, it would save the company a big chunk of change.
2024 Toyota Tacoma interior upgrades
To be competitive, we’d say the 2024 Toyota Tacoma needs to offer at least a 200-mile driving range and an equal if not better towing range than the gas-powered version. It is also likely to share interior and exterior similarities with the 2023 model.
We’d love to see a fresh take on the interior while keeping up with the latest infotainment technology. And of course, we’re hoping for an even larger screen to help navigate our off-roading adventures.
Styling is anticipated to be inspired by the 2022 Toyota Tundra “albeit with some powertrain-specific cues aimed at improving the truck’s aerodynamics, such as a closed-off grille and distinct wheels, as well as EV-related menus within its central infotainment and digital gauge cluster displays,” Car and Driver reports.
It’s probable that the 2024 Tacoma Electrics will be offered as a four-door or crew cab. We’re hoping the automaker will focus on making the cabin more family-friendly and make fuel efficiency a top priority.
MORE: Other Midsize Trucks Simply Can't Keep Up With the Toyota Tacoma
Will there be a hybrid?
While an electric Tacoma is unclear at this point, a hybrid version is bound to happen. According to Gear Patrol, “Toyota has announced that every Toyota and Lexus mode—except the hydrogen-powered Mirai—will have at least an electrified option by 2025 at the latest.”
With the changing times, it's possible that Toyota could only offer a hybrid option. If we’ve learned anything from the Tundra's I-Force Max power plant, it’s that hybrid engines pack a bigger punch than you may think.
The specific release dates are unknown, but we’d say the 2024 model will cost you at least $50,000. According to Gear Patrol, “Reports about Toyota product planning suggest that the Tacoma will debut in 2024 after the Tundra this year, the new Sequoia in 2022 and the next 4Runner in 2023.”
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