10 Reasons the 2019 Toyota Tacoma Won the AutoWeb Buyer’s Choice Best Small Truck Award

2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro front three quarter ・ Photo by Toyota

There’s a flurry around small trucks right now after a decade or more of near-dormancy. The new Ford Ranger is on the way, as is the new Jeep Gladiator. GM recently redesigned the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado. The Honda Ridgeline has returned, and the aging Nissan Frontier is hanging in there. But through it all, Toyota has remained on top with the Tacoma.

The Tacoma made its debut as a nameplate in 1995 in the U.S., taking over the small truck role in the Toyota lineup after five generations of a truck called simply “Toyota Pickup.” The second-generation Tacoma followed in 2005, and the current generation took over in 2016. The Tacoma has been the sales leader among small trucks for years, and it continues to be popular with AutoWeb buyers. Here are 10 reasons the 2019 Toyota Tacoma won the AutoWeb Buyer’s Choice Best Small Truck Award. 

10) The Tacoma comes with a choice of two proven powertrains.

The Tacoma comes with a choice of two engines, both proven tough and reliable. The veteran base engine is a 2.7-liter inline four-cylinder that is naturally aspirated (non-turbo). It has four valves per cylinder with variable valve timing and double overhead cams, and it mates an aluminum-alloy head with a cast-iron block. The 2.7 is tuned to produce 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, and it's rated to achieve up to 19 mpg city/23 mpg highway/21 mpg combined.

The newer 3.5-liter V6 made its debut in the 2016 Tacoma. It cranks out 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque, outdoing the 4.0-liter V6 that it replaced by 72 hp thanks to D-4S injection and four valves per cylinder operate with variable valve timing. The engine runs on the Atkinson Cycle. The V6 gets EPA ratings of up to 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway/21 mpg combined.

Photo by Toyota

9) It gets its good looks from desert racers.

Stealing a quote from Melanie Griffith’s Tess McGill in 1988’s "Working Girl," the Tacoma has “a head for business and a bod for sin.” Though the 2019 Tacoma would certainly make a capable, practical work truck, Toyota has emphasized fun and sportiness with the latest generation.

Bigger, flared and squared-off wheel arches act as display cases for beefy tires and big wheels. A big assertive grille is ready to suck in the scenery, flanked by big expressive headlamps and an underslung jaw of a bumper. The overall look and stance of the truck would be at home in the pits at the Baja 1000, especially in TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro trim levels.

Photo by Toyota

8) It retains its robust body-on-frame chassis.

When it comes to toughness, body-on-frame construction delivers. Many vehicles are built without a conventional frame today, including almost all sedans and coupes, all crossover suvs, and even the Honda Ridgeline pickup. They are all unibody designs, where the body of the vehicle is also the structure. Body-on-frame is just as it sounds — the body is connected to frame with bolts, welding, or adhesive (or all three). The suspension units and drivetrain are also mounted to the frame.

The Tacoma has always been body-on-frame, and the formula works. It has several advantages for a truck. It provides great strength and durability. It makes body repairs and modifications easier, as parts can be removed without disturbing the integrity of the rest of the vehicle. It also gives the Tacoma a truck-like character and ride, which is one of the reasons to move to a truck in the first place.

Photo by Toyota

7) Three models bring TRD engineering and design to the masses.

Toyota Racing Development (TRD) is Toyota’s in-house motorsport preparation and road-car tuning department. TRD was officially established in 1976 after 19 years of the company’s participation in racing. Toyota has been a force in Grand Prix racing, open wheel racing, and world rally car, but really come into its own in the 1990s in off-road competition. A TRD Off-Road Package was offered on the 1997 Tacoma, but the first TRD trim level appeared on the 1998 Tacoma PreRunner Xtracab. Numerous TRD models have been available since, featuring suspension, tuning, body parts, wheels, and other components developed by Toyota’s racing arm.

2019 brings three TRD models to the Tacoma lineup: TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and TRD Pro. And don’t worry — TRD accessories are still available to upgrade and modify all Tacomas if the factory-spec models don’t match your exact needs and desires.

Photo by Toyota

6) It comes with a wide range of infotainment options and packages.

Truck buyers have come to expect the same infotainment capability in their trucks, and the Tacoma delivers. Entune Audio is standard on the base SR model, with a 6.1-inch touchscreen display, AM/FM/CD, six speakers, aux and USB inputs, iPod connectivity and control, advanced voice recognition, hands-free Bluetooth and audio streaming, Siri Eyes Free, and an integrated backup camera display.

Entune Audio Plus is standard on the SR5, adding connected navigation (using Scout GPS) and app suite, HD Radio, traffic and weather, and SiriusXM with a three-month free trial. Entune Premium Audio with integrated navigation is optional on the SR5 and standard on the TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and TRD Pro. This upgrades to a 7-inch touchscreen with split-screen display, and Gracenote album cover art. Entune Premium JBL Audio is standard on Limited models and optional on TRD Sport and TRD Off-Road double cab models. This upgrade uses six JBL speakers and adds a subwoofer.

Photo by Toyota

5) The Tacoma comes in 4x2 or 4x4 configurations with two transmission options.

Even though the Tacoma takes design inspiration from desert racers, Toyota recognizes that not everyone wants or needs four-wheel drive in their truck. All trim levels except TRD Pro are available in either 4x2 or 4x4 configuration. 4x4 models come with part-time four-wheel drive, which can be set for rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive high, or four-wheel drive low, depending on conditions. Auto-locking hubs are standard.

Similarly, truck buyers vary in their desire and need for manual or automatic transmissions. Toyota offers a six-speed manual transmission with TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and TRD Pro models, perfect for expert drivers who want the maximum adrenaline engagement with their trucks. Six-speed automatic transmissions are available with the TRD models, too, and are standard on all other models.

Photo by Toyota

4) Access Cab and Double Cab, short-bed and long-bed Tacoma models offer flexible utility options.

If the Tacoma is going to be your only vehicle, don’t worry — you can still carry passengers and cargo inside the cabin with ease. SR, SR5, TRD Sport, and TRD Off-Road models can be ordered with a choice of Access Cab or Double Cab, while Limited and TRD Pro are all Double Cab. Access Cab is a two-row cabin with clamshell rear doors, while Double Cab has four full doors. The Access Cab has seating for four, with 24.6 inches of legroom in the rear — fine for kids and shorter rides with adults. The Double Cab seats five, with 32.6 inches of rear legroom and SUV-like space.

Two bed lengths are available: 5 feet and 6 feet. The long bed comes with each Access Cab model, while most Double Cab models are available with a choice of the short bed or long bed.

Photo by Toyota

3) It has impressive off-road chops, especially in TRD trim.

As a body-on-frame truck, the Tacoma is ready for off-roading. Strong frame rails provide a solid basis for withstanding the twisting forces a truck must endure when it encounters uneven surfaces, and vulnerable parts are tucked up above the rails to protect them from obstacles. TRD Pro models come with a quarter-inch thick aluminum skid plate as standard equipment for additional protection.

TRD Pro and TRD Off-Road 4x4 models come with an electronically locking rear differential and Multi-terrain Select and Crawl Control to enhance four-wheel drive performance and utility, and manual transmission models of TRD Pro and Off-Road get Active Traction Control. The TRD Pro goes over the top with additional off-roading extras, like Bilstein shocks and a Desert Air Intake, an elevated snorkel that helps keep desert dust from getting into the engine.

Photo by Toyota

2) The model lineup offers a wide range of choices.

There are six models of 2019 Toyota Tacoma: SR (starting at $25,550), SR5 (starting at $27,325), TRD Sport (starting at $32,245), TRD Off-Road (starting at $33,500), TRD Pro (starting at $42,660), and Limited (starting at $37,490).

The SR and SR5 can be ordered with the I4 or V6 engine (both with six-speed automatic transmission), 4x2 or 4x4, Access Cab or Double Cab layouts, and short bed or long bed. The TRD Sport gets the same array of configurations but is V6 only, with a choice of automatic or manual transmissions. TRD Off-Road is V6-equipped with automatic or manual transmissions. All TRD Off-Road models are 4x4 except a 4x2 Double Cab model with a short bed and automatic transmission. Limited models are all V6 Double Cab/Long Bed models with automatic transmissions and either 4x2 or 4x4. TRD Pro models are all V6/Short Bed 4x4 models with either automatic or manual transmissions.

Photo by Toyota

1) The Tacoma is renowned for longevity and solid resale value.

There’s a reason why the Tacoma has changed only incrementally over three generations of production — it just plain works. It has a very loyal following and a deserved reputation for durability and reliability. This reputation leads to solid resale value. Used Tacomas are hard to find, and when they are offered for sale, the prices are high. Owners hold on to their trucks, and it’s not unusual to find well-loved trucks with over 100,000 miles on the odometer.

The competition has come on strong, and it’s only getting better with new trucks on the way. The Tacoma may not be the most advanced, best-performing, or most fuel-efficient small truck on the market. But it is the one with the best overall capability, heritage, and reputation. Perhaps that’s why we were able to list 10 reasons the 2019 Toyota Tacoma won the AutoWeb Buyer’s Choice Best Small Truck Award.

Photo by Toyota