Used 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road Double Cab Review
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road Double Cab.
Most helpful consumer reviews
Reliable
John, Sparks, NV, 06/22/2018
2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
When I picked up the new Tacoma it pulled to the right and the steering wheel was clocked way low to the left. Took two trips to the dealer to get the alignment fixed. The sill guards all stated to bubble and peel off within the first two months. At 5,000 miles the truck was almost unstoppable. When you pressed on the brake pedal it pulsated and the truck vibrated like it had hit a curb. … The rear drums were out of round. Dealer said mos 2018's are like that. Refused to put new drums on, instead turned the original ones.
Driving with no one in front of the vehicle and the dash shows "BRAKE" and the buzzer screams. Dealer says false alarms are common. Brakes are still not great. Heater control makes no sense. Turn the knob to heat the floor and it has multiple positions between dash heat and floor heat. Dash vents always have air even if the knob is in the floor position.
The hvac controls are still a problem, but at 38000 miles the truck has proven to be reliable. Once the glitches were fixed, it hasn’t had any problems. Getting the recalls fixed was a problem until the dealer secured the necessary parts to fix the fuel pump and the cargo bed light.
So Far So Good
Andrew Cooper , Homeworth, OH, 02/18/2018
2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
I purchased my truck about 3 months ago and have put approximately 5k miles on it, no complaints.
The exterior looks awesome, it really stands out and I have gotten several compliments on it.
The interior looks rugged and appealing and is well laid out. The touchscreen interface is very nice and relatively easy to use for anyone with basic tablet skills. My only issue with the … interior would be that the leg room in the back seat is a little lacking.
I haven’t had the truck for very long so the jury is still out on long term reliability. However, I have had zero issues so far in regard to initial build quality or reliability.
Comfort and ride quality are very good, for a truck especially. But it’s still a truck and therefore does ride and handle somewhat like a truck. If you want the ride quality and handling of a luxury sedan then go buy one of those.
When it comes to performance the truck is decent. It is not terrible or amazing, like I said just ok. If you want the truck that has the fastest top speed or best acceleration then this isn’t it. Now having said that I have yet to encounter a time when I didn’t feel like I had enough power to do what I wanted to do, it just doesn’t always feel like you have a bunch of excess power.
Once in a great while I will notice the transmission seemly “hunting” for a gear but in my experience if you are deliberate in your use of the throttle then you will not notice that problem. It’s when you hesitate with the throttle that you occasionally notice the truck trying to decide whether it should give you power or lean towards fuel economy.
When it comes to off-road performance the Tacoma can in almost all cases hold its own or out perform similarly equipped competitors, so if you are looking for a solid midsize truck to take off-road from time to time then I think that the Tacoma is probably your best bet in its class, if you select an appropriate sub-model of course.
Don't buy a Tacoma
Jeff, El Paso, TX, 01/01/2019
2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
I had this truck as a rental for a couple of days and took it through the ringer. I used it on steep grades, high speed highway (80-90 mph), off road and for hauling a couple of hundred pounds of camping gear. The truck has problems with power, ability to maintain speed and shifting to the point of driving you crazy. The transmission will downshift and rev to nearly redline to … maintain speed on grades that aren't excessive, other small cars will be passing you like it's no big thing and the Tacoma will be at nearly redline engine speeds to keep up with traffic. Off road the thing is great and everything you could imagine it to be, as long as you don't need big engine power that is. Seems well put together, front seats are not all that comfortable nor is the seating position. In a nut shell, not a proper truck for any type of cargo, towing or hauling despite inflated claims by Toyota about payload, towing, etc., terrible power. Great off roader with no load in it and low power requirements. Will be buying Nissan Frontier later in 2019, torque with 5 speed. It gets bashed online but 5 speed with the 4 liter is a good mix. 6 speed transmissions work great if the engine, vehicle weight, etc. are balanced out. In the case of the Tacoma it is not. Spend some time w/the Tacoma before you buy it.
First 1k miles “Love It”
Apollo, Des Moines, IA, 07/01/2018
2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
After reading reviews for a few weeks and watching videos, I bought my first Tacoma. I absolutely love it and couldn’t be happier. No regrets and I would definitely recommend this truck.
Edmunds Summary Review of the 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road Double Cab
What’s new
- Newly standard advanced driver safety aids (Toyota Safety Sense P)
- Four-cylinder engine's five-speed manual transmission no longer offered
- Part of the third Tacoma generation introduced for 2016
Pros & Cons
- Pro:Rugged off-pavement capability
- Pro:Easily understood controls inside
- Pro:Composite truck bed has movable tie-down cleats and power outlet
- Pro:Top-level V6 can be paired with a six-speed manual transmission
- Con:Economy-oriented shift programming makes it feel sluggish
- Con:Driving position not ideally suited for taller drivers
- Con:Off-road emphasis produces tall step-up height
Which Tacoma does Edmunds recommend?
If we were putting down our own money for an off-road-capable small truck, we'd opt for the TRD Off-Road V6 4WD. It provides an impressive amount of capability without the sticker shock. The cabin is equipped with enough creature comforts (heated seats, a 7-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone charging, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and a sunroof) to make it an acceptable companion for a daily commute.
Full Edmunds Review: 2018 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab
Driving
7.5The Tacoma steers and handles with quiet confidence on the road, but the V6 engine and its automatic transmission don't always respond quickly to inputs. All 4WD Tacomas benefit from Toyota's off-road design emphasis, but the TRD Off-Road is particularly capable when the pavement ends.
Comfort
8.0The Tacoma has an agreeable ride quality, and the seats are accommodating. But the high floor tends to make tall drivers wish for more adjustability.
Interior
8.5The interior is nicely laid out, with easily understood and effective controls. The cabin has plenty of space up front, but tall folks might disagree. The biggest shortcomings are the relatively tall step up to the cab and an odd driving position.
Utility
9.5The Tacoma's composite bed has lots of smart cargo management features, and there's a decent number of places for items in and around the cab. Its tow rating isn't quite class-leading, but it isn't far off the mark. Child seat fitment in the crew cab favors forward-facing seats and boosters.
Technology
We generally like the touchscreen audio system because it has large virtual buttons and employs knobs for volume and tuning chores. Supports smartphones with a proprietary Entune app instead of the more universal Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Lags behind Honda Ridgeline in advanced driver aids.
Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2018 Toyota Tacoma in Idaho is:
not availableLegal