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The 2024 Tacoma will be officially launched on May 19th, 2023. Last May 4th, after launching a month-long series of exciting teaser news and photos, Toyota Global finally confirmed the 2024 Toyota Tacoma‘s global debut date. The American automotive industry is abuzz with excitement and with good reason. After all, the new “Taco” will finally kick off the new generation of the country’s best-selling midsize pickup truck
To add to the anticipation, a leaked photo of what seems to be a 2024 Tacoma TRD Pro has circulated online (see image above). A disclaimer, though – even if this photo indeed looks like an official image, we’re still taking it with a grain of salt.
Pickup trucks represent 1 out of every 5 passenger cars sold in America in 2022. Within this segment, the Toyota Tacoma dukes it out against other midsize pickup trucks like the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Honda Ridgeline, and Ford Ranger. However, for almost twenty years now, the Tacoma has been a class favorite due to its design, utility, off-road performance, affordability, reliability, and good resale value.
The 2023 Tacoma is already the 8th installment of the nameplate’s 3rd generation, and the 2024 Toyota Tacoma will be a complete redesign model year. Prior to the new Taco’s launch, four other full-size, truck-based models from the Toyota group have had their full model updates: the Tundra, Sequoia, Land Cruiser, and the Lexus LX. All of these models share many construction, powertrain, and design elements, thanks to the group’s Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform. Based on TNGA’s vehicle categorization and implementation schedule, the 2024 Tacoma will also follow in these full-size models’ footsteps.
So what will the 2024 Tacoma adopt from these models? Based on Toyota’s teasers, a lot. Here are 10 changes – some confirmed and some highly probable – that the 2024 Toyota Tacoma is getting.
10 The 2024 Tacoma Will Be Built On The New TNGA-F Platform
Even before the leaked 2024 Tacoma image circulated the web, the Hotcars team had already released some 2024 Toyota Tacoma digital renders. Assuming that the leaked image is legitimate, then the HotCars design team was quite on point in mixing external design elements from Toyota USA’s TNGA-F (full-size) models – the Sequoia and the Tundra. The leaked 2024 Tacoma image, however, reveals a more aggressive exterior design thanks to the prominent lower bumper, contoured hood, pronounced character lines, fender flares, black roof, and the hood scoop – which is expected to be functional and not just an aesthetic addition.
Regardless of the appearance of the leaked image, it’s certain that the 2024 Tacoma will be using the TNGA-F platform, which uses lightweight and more durable frames and new powertrains to achieve a lower center of gravity, greater fuel efficiency, and better overall performance both on and off the road.
9 The 2024 Tacoma Will Adopt A New Turbocharged Engine
The 2023 Tacoma has two engine options – a 2.7-liter I-4 engine that produces 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.5-liter V6 block that churns out 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of twist. For a vehicle with the Tacoma’s weight and dimensions, the 4-cylinder engine is too underpowered, while the V6 is marginally competitive by today’s standards.
Similar to how the Tundra and the Sequoia dropped their naturally-aspirated V8 blocks in exchange for twin-turbo V6 mills, the 2024 Tacoma will likely get the TNGA’s new 2.4-liter turbocharged I-4 engine for its base and middle trims. This turbo-four mill is already in service, producing 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of twist for the current Toyota Highlander, and with a bit more aggressive tuning, 275 hp and 317 lb-ft for the 2023 Lexus RX 350 midsize crossover.
8 The 2024 Tacoma Will Have Class-Leading Power With The i-FORCE MAX Hybrid System
The new turbo-four TNGA engine will give the 2024 Toyota Tacoma enough juice to match up fairly against the current Ford Ranger (270 hp, 310 lb-ft). However, this power output is still not enough to make the Tacoma at par with the current Chevy Colorado, which gets up to 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. This time around, it seems Toyota wants the 2024 Tacoma to lead the class in terms of power. Based on Toyota Global’s teaser image above, the 2024 Tacoma TRD Pro trim will be using the i-FORCE MAX Hybrid engine technology. It remains unclear, however, which gasoline power plant the Tacoma will be using in conjunction with electric motors.
Currently, the Toyota Tundra and Sequoia use a new i-FORCE MAX hybrid system based on TNGA’s 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 engine. This hybrid system has a total output of 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque, which could be a bit too much for the smaller Tacoma. On the other hand, Lexus has already electrified the 2024 Tacoma’s expected 2.4-liter turbo-4 engine to provide 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque to the RX 500h F-Sport Performance trim. Now, whether the 2024 Tacoma i-FORCE MAX uses the Tundra’s V6 or the 2.4-liter turbo is still a puzzle, but one thing is for sure: either hybrid engine system will make the 2024 Tacoma a class leader in terms of power.
7 The 2024 Tacoma Will Get The TNGA 10-Speed A/T System
The 2023 Tacoma offers a 6-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) option. This A/T system is still viable for many on-road and off-road applications, but the TNGA portfolio of new powertrains has a newer transmission system that can maximize the new engines’ power outputs better. As a replacement for the old 6-speed A/T, the 2024 Tacoma will probably adopt the new 10-speed ECT-i system – the same transmission currently used by the 2023 Tundra and Sequoia.
6 The 2024 Tacoma Will Still Offer Three Pedals
Let’s face it – in the rugged, testosterone-dominated off-road pickup truck market, many enthusiasts still prefer rowing gears manually rather than just mashing the gas pedal or tripping some paddles. These manual transmission purists are becoming a rare breed, but they are still very influential role models for younger autosport drivers. Since its introduction decades ago, the Tacoma has satisfied this traditional pickup truck requirement – and it still does today with its 6-speed M/T option.
The Tacoma will not break tradition, as Toyota’s official teaser confirms that the 2024 Toyota Tacoma will use TNGA’s 6-speed M/T system as a parallel option to the 10-speed ECT-i.
5 The 2024 Tacoma Will Come With The New Trailhunter Edition
In the 2022 Specialty Equipment Market Association Show (SEMA), Toyota whetted the market’s appetite with an announcement about a new Trailhunter grade for its pickup truck lineup. The Trailhunter Concept – based on the Toyota Tundra – had an exclusive suspension setup, exterior lighting, a roof rack, special skid plates and bumpers, a roof-mounted tent, and even a refrigerator. According to Toyota, these Toyota Genuine and Associated Accessory Products will all be covered by the vehicle’s warranty, meaning that a Trailhunter pickup truck will be a complete overlanding package that buyers can get straight out of Toyota’s showrooms.
Just last April 11, Toyota released a teaser photo of the 2024 Tacoma Trailhunter. This new Tacoma variant will have an exclusive rear bumper, skid plate, and rear recovery hook made by ARB – Australia’s largest 4×4 accessories brand. We have yet to see how faithful the production Tacoma Trailhunter will be to the concept version, but silhouette teasers suggest that this overlanding variant will have a longer bed with integrated frames.
4 The New Tacoma EV May Join The 2024 Tacoma Lineup
The Toyota Tacoma EV is another much-anticipated addition to the 2024 Tacoma lineup. Toyota has yet to reveal any specifications about the fully-electric Tacoma’s battery size, power output, and driving range. However, based on the electric pickup truck concept that Toyota showcased in December 2021, we know that the Tacoma EV will also be based on the TNGA-F platform, and its body will be very similar to the “production” Tacoma in the leaked image.
As the Tacoma EV will have a midsize pickup truck body, its closest competitor will be the Rivian R1t. Current full-size EV pickup trucks like the F-150 Lightning and the Hummer EV may need help from their midsize stablemates eventually because the Tacoma EV will be smaller, more affordable, and more environment-friendly to drive.
3 The 2024 Tacoma Will Get New Exterior Lighting
Based on teaser images, digital renders, and the recently-leaked image, the 2024 Tacoma will have redesigned LED headlights, daytime running lights, fog lamps, and an optional grille-integrated LED bar similar to that of the current Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. This is a great addition, especially for Tacoma buyers who often bring their trusty Tacos to dark mountain roads, foggy forests, snowy streets, and other remote locations that require additional visibility. Moreover, 2024 Tacoma buyers will not have to worry about getting their vehicle warranties voided by the lighting upgrade products and processes of some aftermarket installers.
2 The 2024 Tacoma Will Get Bigger Digital Screens
The 2023 Tacoma offers a dated 8-inch touchscreen head unit and an analog instrument cluster. Although these driver-oriented displays are still functional for the current model year, they will not have the firmware and hardware sophistication to handle the new hybrid and fully-electric propulsion systems of the 2024 Tacoma. As an example, there’s no way for the analog instrument cluster to inform the driver about the real-time electric motor power output as well as the traction battery state of charge of the hybrid and fully-electric 2024 Tacoma variants.
Toyota will probably provide the 2024 Tacoma with an optional 12.3-inch programmable digital instrument cluster like that in 2023 Highlander Hybrid. Moreover, Toyota will likely offer a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system option with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, also similar to that of the 2023 Highlander. Aside from getting more useful information for on-road vehicle performance, 2024 Tacoma buyers also get a larger and clearer display for the camera-based Panoramic View and Multi-Terrain features.
1 The 2024 Tacoma Will Feature Portable JBL Flex Speakers
The 2024 Tacoma will still feature a premium JBL audio system just like the Tundra, Sequoia, and many other Toyota models. However, Toyota will also include a detachable JBL Flex speaker to allow 2024 Tacoma buyers to bring their music out to the tailgate area or even to the nearby campsite. Check out the teaser photo above of the 2024 Tacoma’s JBL Flex speaker resting on the Taco’s bed walls.
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