Toyota is working to make the Tacoma pickup better than ever before. For 2024, the iconic pickup gets new turbocharged and hybrid driveline options, rear coil springs, rear disc brakes, more off-road capability including the overland-ready Trailhunter, and a stronger frame.
A new Toyota Tacoma only comes around once a decade or so. That makes this 2024 model a really big deal. Because it really is all-new, starting from those TNGA-F (Toyota’s name for the chassis) bones.
Like the frame under the Tundra, it is made from high-strength steel that is laser welded to increase rigidity. Toyota has strengthened the cross members to help increase the truck’s durability and payload. Making sure it is up to the needs of rooftop tents and big cargo like camp fridges.
Other unique features for mid-size truck owners who want to put this pickup to work include integrated roof rack attachment holes. There’s even a high lift jack point built into the rear frame.
Then there’s the design. The truck is clearly related to the Tacomas that have come before, but it also gets a bit more of the Tundra’s flair.
Our primary design goal for the all-new Tacoma was to be authentic to the way our customers use their trucks for rugged outdoor fun. We looked at our truck DNA and the Toyota Baja race trucks for inspiration to capture the extreme spirit of offroad adventure. High lift, big tires, slim body, and a powerful athletic stance define the iconic Tacoma look, referred to as ‘Tacoma-ness.’
— Kevin Hunter, President, CALTY Design Research.
2024 Tacoma Goes All Turbo
Tacoma’s new standard engine is a 2.4L turbocharged four-cylinder matched with an eight-speed automatic. On the base SR-grade trucks, this turbo engine makes 228 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque.
The next step up is a version of that 2.4L that makes even more power. Offered on SR5 through Limited models, the engine gets boosted to 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque.
On a select few grades (including TRD Off-Road), you can get the four-cylinder paired with a six-speed manual transmission. With that gearbox, the 2.4L makes 270 horses and 310 torques.
At the top of the line is the i-Force Max hybrid driveline. The hybrid system bolts a 48-horse and 184-pound-foot electric motor to the eight-speed automatic, boosting the total output to 326 horsepower and a stump-pulling 465 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid drive system is standard on TRD Pro and Trailhunter models and an option on TRD Sport, Off-Road, and Limited trucks.
All of the new engines should boost fuel economy, especially the hybrid. But Toyota isn’t ready to release those numbers yet, so we’ll have to wait and see.
Two and four-wheel drive trucks will be available, with 4×2 trucks getting an auto LSD and an optional e-locker. The 4×4 models get a two-speed transfer case with A-Trac and an available rear e-locker. Limited trucks with the hybrid system get a full-time 4×4 system with low range and a locking center differential. It’s the first time for a full-time 4×4 system on the Tacoma.
2024 Toyota Tacoma: Max Payload Way Up
Maximum towing capacity is up slightly, depending on how you look at it. The i-Force 2.4T can tow up to 6,500 pounds and the hybrid i-Force Max up to 6,000. That lets the 2.4T truck tow 100 pounds more than last year’s Double Cab 4×4 models but the figure is 300 pounds less than a 2023 4×2 Access Cab could manage. Toyota hasn’t said what other grades will be capable of, so some grades might see higher figures and we’ll need to wait for the full picture.
The Max payload for an i-Force Max hybrid is 1,709 pounds. That’s a big boost since the old Double Cab V6 was only capable of 1,155 pounds. Specs for the rest of the line aren’t available yet, but expect them to be similarly higher than the outgoing truck could handle.
Coil Springs a Tacoma First
The Tacoma gets coil springs in the back for the first time. A new multilink suspension in the rear should give the truck better suspension articulation and better ride and handling, though it is still a live axle. The coils are only on the higher-spec trucks, though, with SR, SR5, and TRD PreRunner sticking with leaf springs in the back.
Each trim gets its own shock tuning, fit for the truck’s intended role. Toyota said it wanted to make each grade of the truck feel more different than before.
TRD Sport gets TRD sport-tuned shocks to make it feel more responsive. TRD Off-Road gets Bilstein remote-reservoir dampers that offer more wheel travel and better heat dissipation. Step up to Limited and you’ll find a new Adaptive Variable Suspension with constantly adjusting shocks for maximum ride comfort.
2024 Tacoma TRD Pro Gets Sway Bar Disconnect
TRD Pro gets a big upgrade with Fox QS3 three-way adjustable shocks. They have internal bypass valves and remote reservoirs for ultimate off-road performance. Toyota calls this one the go-fast truck, and it will also wear TRD upper control arms along with a 2-inch lift and a 3-inch wider stance.
Toyota’s new remote sway bar disconnect is standard on TRD Pro and Trailhunter, and optional on TRD Off-Road. Push a button and the front bar disconnects, increasing suspension articulation by 10% compared with the last-gen truck. Toyota says the disconnect will even work with Toyota-approved lift kits, and it will be an option on TRD Off-Road.
A new LED light bar is also part of the TRD Pro package. The bar is designed to work with the LED headlights and Rigid LED fog lamps. A high-clearance ARB metal bumper at the back, red recovery hooks, and an aluminum front skid plate round out the hardware upgrades.
But the TRD Pro has one cool feature inside, too. Toyota calls it the IsoDynamic Performance Seat. It’s a new seat designed to stabilize your field of vision to make you more comfortable and focused on the trail, reducing fatigue.
The IsoDynamic Performance Seat is only on the driver’s side, and it uses an air and oil shock absorber to help cushion your movement in the seat. It can be tuned to the driver or turned off using a lever on the back of the seat.
Welcome the Trailhunter
Then there’s the Trailhunter. Toyota’s new line is aimed at overlanders, and it comes loaded with gear from Australian off-road experts ARB. The truck includes position-sensitive Old Man Emu shocks. It also has 33-inch Goodyear Territory tires for a taller ride height, a high-mount air intake, a high-clearance exhaust tip, and high-strength steel skidplates.
Trailhunter cargo functionality upgrades include a utility bar in the bed with removable MOLLE panels and a 2,400-watt AC inverter with a pair of household-style plugs and pre-wired accessory switches. Toyota and ARB will offer light and heavy-duty bed racks and the Trailhunter will be offered in short and long-bed configurations.
Cosmetic upgrades for the Trailhunter include a bronze heritage grille and an integrated 20-inch light bar. The front fog lights come from Rigid and can change between yellow and white light. There will be more LEDs lighting up the truck bed and exterior scene lights for your campsite. Toyota will offer more than 100 accessories to help owners fully outfit their Trailhunter Tacoma.
2024 Toyota Tacoma Gets Latest Cabin Tech
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma gets a completely new cabin with an 8.0- or 14.0-inch center screen running Toyota’s latest multimedia system. It will have wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as well as plenty of USB ports. Base spec trucks get a 7.0-inch screen in the dash while higher grades get a 12.3-inch fully digital dash.
Toyota has made better use of the cabin for storage. There is three times more space under the rear seat and the seat back can now fold flat. There is a phone shelf in the dash for the passenger, and there are MOLLE panels on the center console. A hidden side pocket on the dash has a QR code that links owners to a site that will help them 3D print their own accessories.
Other cool cabin features include the new JBL audio system. The 10-speaker setup comes with a subwoofer but it also includes a dash-mount JBL Flex portable speaker. It charges while it’s plugged in, and then you can pull it out for 6 hours of on-site audio. It can handle 3 feet of water and be paired with other Toyota JBL Flex speakers.
The standard safety kit includes Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 with a pre-collision system, lane departure alert, radar cruise control, and the new Proactive Driving Assist system that is designed to gently brake the truck into curves. This is the latest version of Toyota’s system, and it includes enhanced sensors and capability.
Toyota says the 2024 Tacoma will go on sale later this year, with pricing to be announced. The i-Force Max hybrid system trucks will start to roll out in early 2024, meaning buyers wanting the most capable grades will need to wait.
