The 2026 Toyota Tacoma's variety of cab and bed combinations, not to mention its near legendary off-road capability, make it a solid midsize-truck pick. Just note that compared to its competition, it has a smaller rear seat, excessive interior noise, and a lack of overall refinement.Read full review
The Tacoma, Toyota's popular midsize pickup, was fully redesigned for 2024, so it's not surprising that only minor changes were made to colors and trim for the 2026 model year, including black front logos for various TRD-labeled trims and a couple of new exterior colors. The Tacoma is the Japanese automaker's smallest truck, slotting behind the full-size Toyota Tundra. But the Tacoma is plenty capable, especially in TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro guise. It doesn't tow as much as some midsize rivals and the back row is a little cramped, but otherwise we think the 2026 Tacoma is a solid pick for a midsize truck.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
by the Edmunds Experts
Good
6.8
out of 10
We drove the 2026 Toyota Tacoma on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
Driving experience
7.5/10
How does the Toyota Tacoma drive? We've tested several models of the Tacoma, and they're all peppy enough around town. The TRD Sport hit 60 in 7.6 seconds, while a TRD Pro with the i-Force Max hybrid powertrain was only a bit quicker to 60 mph (7.4 seconds). Slightly quicker than both of these trucks was the lighter and basic PreRunner, which hit 60 in 7.1 seconds. With either powertrain, the transmission shifts quickly and smoothly with no unnecessary shifting or hunting for gears on hills.
We were also impressed by the Tacoma's on-road braking performance. The pedal is responsive but engages the brakes smoothly, making it a cinch to scrub off speed accurately at any speed. Handling usually isn't much of a concern to truck buyers, but the steering is light and accurate, and the Tacoma displays good manners on the highway no matter which trim you choose.
Standard on all Tacomas is a collection of advanced driver aids that include automatic emergency braking, lane departure alert, full-speed adaptive cruise control and more. We generally liked the helpful operation of the driver assist systems and found them neither overly cautious nor prone to false alarms.
Comfort
6.1/10
How comfortable is the Toyota Tacoma? The Tacoma's wide and somewhat flat front seats offer comfort for people of varying sizes. The cloth seats in our test truck felt a little coarse, especially compared with the optional synthetic leather upholstery, but should prove plenty durable in the long run. The rear seats aren't especially roomy, which is typical of the midsize truck segment, and taller passengers felt the seat cushions were too low and short for longer drives. Be aware that if you opt for the TRD Pro, its complicated and large IsoDynamic seats all but eliminate rear seat legroom.
How the Tacoma rides will depend largely on which trim level you choose. Lower trim levels like the SR feel more like how you expect a basic truck to ride — a bit stiff. Higher grades offer more advanced suspension systems that help smooth out the ride. All Tacomas benefit from clearly marked and easy-to-use climate control systems. The buttons and knobs are large enough to be operated easily while you're wearing gloves.
In-cabin tech
9.1/10
How’s the tech? Our test truck was equipped with the optional 14-inch touchscreen and it dominates the interior of the Tacoma. It looks a little out of place stuck atop the dash, but it packs a lot of features including wireless smartphone connectivity and helpful voice controls. The Tacoma is equipped with plenty of USB-C charge ports and offers wireless charging pads as an option. The near vertical nature of the wireless charging pads, however, raises some concerns about phones tipping over and losing their charging connection.
Storage & cargo
8.5/10
How’s storage and cargo? The Tacoma prioritizes storage and functionality. There are two cargo bed sizes and an available 400-watt household-style power outlet. Tacomas equipped with the hybrid powertrain get a boost to 2,400 watts. Inside, the Tacoma offers quite a few storage options. The front and rear doors are chock full of cubbies, as is the center console. There's a handy tray over the glovebox too.
If you opt for the XtraCab configuration, the area behind the front seats (though it's still only a two-seat truck) allows for additional storage for items, making it practical for carrying things you'd rather not keep in the bed. In the four-door Double Cab, the rear seatbacks fold down, and the seat cushions flip up to reveal additional storage.
Value
6.1/10
Is the Toyota Tacoma a good value? Toyota offers a wide range of Tacoma trims to better match various truck shopper needs and budgets. But lower-grade Tacomas make no effort to hide their lack of options, and their interiors are peppered with blank buttons and other signs of missing equipment. More basic Tacomas also lack the refinement of similarly equipped Chevy Colorados.
A midgrade (TRD Sport or TRD Off-Road) trim is the sweet spot here. You can get plenty of tech to make this a supremely usable truck without overpaying for a plasticky interior.
The Tacoma's three years/36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper and six years/60,000 miles of powertrain coverage is about average for the segment. Toyota also includes two years of free maintenance and roadside assistance.
Towing & hauling
6/10
How is the towing and hauling? The cargo bed is available in 5-foot and 6-foot lengths, depending on the trim level. The maximum payload capacity for the Tacoma is a pretty solid 1,710 pounds. Towing capacity is more average at 6,500 pounds when properly equipped — the Colorado maxes out at 7,700 pounds, for example — but the Tacoma should be able to pull most small to midsize trailers.
MPG
3/10
How’s the fuel economy? No matter which Tacoma you select, fuel economy should be similar. We drove a four-wheel-drive TRD Sport, which gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg. We managed a slightly better 22.6 mpg on our evaluation route. Even though the i-Force Max hybrid powertrain is estimated to offer similar fuel economy, it does produce considerably more horsepower and torque than the standard engine.
X factor
7/10
In most of its trim levels, the Tacoma is designed to be more of a workhorse than it is to be particularly engaging. But there's an underrated satisfaction to a vehicle that can do so much without trouble. The Tacoma's styling proved more divisive than we expected. Some of our editors like the aggressive look of this midsize truck, while others found it a bit cartoonish and over-the-top. The capabilities of the TRD Pro and Trailhunter trims go a long way toward backing up the Tacoma's aggressive styling, but there's something to be said for a no-frills Tacoma. It's almost an American institution.
The 2026 Toyota Tacoma is a midsize pickup available in either a two-seat, two-door extended cab (XtraCab) with generous storage behind the seats or a five-passenger, four-door crew cab (Double Cab). The extended cab comes with a 6-foot bed, while the crew cab offers a choice of a 5-foot or 6-foot bed. From there, Toyota offers the Tacoma in eight trim levels: SR, SR5, TRD PreRunner, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, TRD Pro and Trailhunter. Compare the 2026 Toyota Tacoma trim levels in-depth.
Which Tacoma trim does Edmunds recommend?
Given that the changes to the 2026 Tacoma are so minor, we still think the TRD Sport is the best pick. It has a smoother ride quality than the TRD Off-Road and still looks pretty cool. Of course, if you plan on regularly hitting up dirt roads and trails, something like the Tacoma TRD Off-Road or TRD Pro will be a more suitable choice.
Competitors to consider
There's never been a better time to buy a midsize truck. The lineup is stacked, from the Ford Ranger to the Chevrolet Colorado to the Honda Ridgeline. If you're looking for a traditional body-on-frame truck with high towing and payload limits, you can't go wrong with either the Ranger or the Colorado. But the Ridgeline offers a smoother ride while delivering the convenience of a pickup truck's bed. If you don't need quite as much off-road capability but still need to haul dirty things now and then, the smaller Ford Maverick is worth a look, and less expensive to boot.
Edmunds spotlight: Thoroughly modern
The previous Tacoma generation was getting long in the tooth before the 2024 Toyota Tacoma debuted. Thankfully, Toyota gave its midsize truck a major overhaul in the tech department. The optional 14-inch infotainment screen is large, clear and easy to use. The interior is modern and, despite the upgraded screen, still packs big knobs and buttons for everything from climate to audio controls.
What’s it like to live with?
Edmunds' editors are fully testing a 2024 Tacoma TRD Off-Road with the standard 2.4-liter turbocharged engine. Check out our Tacoma One-Year Road Test page to learn about our real-world experiences with the Tacoma's fuel economy, performance, maintenance, comfort and utility. The 2026 Tacoma is a couple of years newer, but the majority of our impressions from our 2024 truck will still apply.
2026 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (2.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A)
Pros: Looks so awesome, fast and tons of low-end torque. build quality feels good. Love the interior look and materials. love the quality bumper, shocks, etc..
Cons: GAS MILEAGE - WTF?! Unacceptable for a vehicle to have a hybrid engine and get sub 15mg. Big part is probably the tires, roof rack/snorkel/extra weight from body protection that the trailhunter comes with but its PAINFUL … to drive because of fuel consumption and has a TINY tank (feel like im at the gas station every other day).
Also found that the tech is actually somewhat lacking compared to previous ford. limited options to modify settings, settings frequently reset to base. need to give permission to phone everytime i enter vehicle to use apple play. Cheap plastic key fob for a 60k+ vehicle? no designated auto start stop (more important in cold climate). When you do manage to autostart, lights will blink but will not remain on, so its impossible to look out the window and see if its running or not.
Noise is also irritating. The snorkel on the trailhunter is LOUD. With windows closed, its pretty minimal but you literally can't drive with windows open without feeling like you're resting your head on the engine.
Some basic things are also goofy. Cupholders? too small for standard size yeti mugs, etc.? not sure why people are saying ample storage space. dash could have had indents for storage? center bin could be deeper. interior practicality just doesn't seem quite there.
rear seating is useable for short distances but almost comically small. could have added 1-2 more inches which would have made a world of difference in the rear. Front seats are quite comfortable and supportive.
Again it looks awesome, fun to drive. completely tailored to off roading. hard to stomach going off road in a truck that expensive ha! probably my fault for buying this trim but also valid concerns for anyone that's going to drive on an actual road at any point in time.
Awesome Truck
5 out of 5 stars
Don , 12/15/2025
2026 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (2.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A)
The Edmunds experts tested the 2026 Tacoma both on the road and at the track, giving it a 6.8 out of 10. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Toyota Tacoma. Learn more
Is the Toyota Tacoma reliable?
To determine whether the Toyota Tacoma is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Tacoma. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Tacoma's average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2026 Toyota Tacoma a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2026 Toyota Tacoma is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2026 Tacoma and gave it a 6.8 out of 10. Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2026 Tacoma is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2026 Toyota Tacoma?
The least-expensive 2026 Toyota Tacoma is the 2026 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (2.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $47,235.
Other versions include:
TRD Sport 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (2.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A) which starts at $47,235
TRD Off-Road 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (2.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A) which starts at $47,535
Limited 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (2.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A) which starts at $56,795
Trailhunter 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (2.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A) which starts at $63,650
Trailhunter 4dr Double Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (2.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A) which starts at $64,150
TRD Pro 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (2.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A) which starts at $64,650
If you're interested in the Toyota Tacoma, the next question is, which Tacoma model is right for you? Tacoma variants include TRD Sport 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (2.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A), TRD Off-Road 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (2.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A), Limited 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (2.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A), and Trailhunter 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (2.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A). For a full list of Tacoma models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more