2020 Toyota Tacoma Review

The midsize pickup truck market has been growing, but it's fair to say that the Toyota Tacoma is still the odds-on favorite for a lot of shoppers. From its basic work-truck configuration to luxury-oriented or off-road variants, the Tacoma is simply one of the most well-rounded pickups on sale today. Improvements for the 2020 model, combined with historically strong resale prices, make this year's Tacoma a better value proposition than ever.

It starts on the inside where it gets a larger touchscreen and a new infotainment system that finally features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. These additions make it a lot easier to avoid using Toyota's proprietary Entune software, which isn't particularly intuitive. Other modifications include a recalibrated automatic transmission — which helps reduce the sluggish feel that plagued last year's Tacoma — and a power driver's seat that offers greater adjustability for improved comfort.

As before, a relatively tall ride height may inhibit entry into the cabin, but it also means every Tacoma is ready to head off the beaten path at a moment's notice. The same is especially true of the two off-road trims that feature a superior approach angle, beefy shock absorbers and a lockable center differential to increase its adventuring potential. New downward-facing cameras further help you avoid any frame-bending obstacles you may come across.

These adjustments fix the most significant complaints we've had about past Tacomas. The Tacoma has a slightly rougher ride than rivals such as the Chevrolet Colorado and the Honda Ridgeline. And if you want the ultimate rock-crawling pickup, the new Jeep Gladiator ekes out a slight edge. But the Toyota Tacoma represents a nice balance between on- and off-road adventuring, and its solid resale value only sweetens the pot.

What's it like to live with the Tacoma?

When the Tacoma was redesigned in 2016, we wanted to know what it was like to live with, so we bought one. Specifically, we purchased the 2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road and lived with it in our long-term fleet for nearly two years, putting over 40,000 miles on the odometer. The Tacoma has received some updates since its redesign in 2016, including additional standard safety features and smartphone integration capability, but it's the same generation truck so most of our observations still apply. To learn more about the Toyota Tacoma, check out all the details in our long-term test, where we cover everything from seat comfort to real-world fuel economy.