2022 Toyota Tacoma

　　

2022 Toyota Tacoma Review

byNick YekikianNews Editor

　　Nick Yekikian has worked in the automotive industry since 2019. He has written close to a thousand car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 200 vehicles over the course of his career. Nick is the News Editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Automobile Magazine and Super Street. When Nick isn't zipping around town in his latest used-car find, he's probably making digital art in Photoshop or playing disc golf with friends.

　　The Tacoma is not only a stalwart of the midsize truck segment but also of the off-roading community. For decades it has offered buyers a competent canvas for countless off-road upgrades, and Toyota has been steadily offering more and more aggressive off-roading options to the Tacoma lineup. For 2022, Toyota has given its relatively new Trail Edition some aesthetic as well as mechanical tweaks, while the extremely capable TRD Pro gets even more so with unique suspension parts.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Toyota Tacoma SR 4dr Access Cab 6.1 ft. SB (2.7L 4cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$179/mo  for Tacoma SR

　　Tacoma SR

　　SR 4dr Access Cab 6.1 ft. SB (2.7L 4cyl 6A) - $27,150 MSRPSR 4dr Double Cab 5.0 ft. SB (2.7L 4cyl 6A) - $27,980 MSRPSR 4dr Access Cab 6.1 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $29,410 MSRPSR 4dr Access Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (2.7L 4cyl 6A) - $30,225 MSRPSR 4dr Access Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $32,875 MSRPSR 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $33,415 MSRPSR5 4dr Access Cab 6.1 ft. SB (2.7L 4cyl 6A) - $28,940 MSRPSR5 4dr Double Cab 5.0 ft. SB (2.7L 4cyl 6A) - $29,830 MSRPSR5 4dr Access Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (2.7L 4cyl 6A) - $32,015 MSRPSR5 4dr Access Cab 6.1 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $32,085 MSRPSR5 4dr Double Cab 5.0 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $33,230 MSRPSR5 4dr Double Cab 6.1 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $33,730 MSRPSR5 4dr Access Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $35,395 MSRPSR5 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $36,305 MSRPSR5 4dr Double Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $36,805 MSRPTRD Sport 4dr Access Cab 6.1 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $34,060 MSRPTRD Sport 4dr Double Cab 5.0 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $35,315 MSRPTRD Sport 4dr Double Cab 6.1 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $35,815 MSRPTRD Sport 4dr Access Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6M) - $35,835 MSRPTRD Sport 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6M) - $36,450 MSRPTRD Sport 4dr Access Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $37,345 MSRPTRD Sport 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $38,280 MSRPTRD Sport 4dr Double Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $38,890 MSRPTRD Off Road 4dr Double Cab 5.0 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $35,340 MSRPTRD Off Road 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6M) - $36,475 MSRPTRD Off Road 4dr Access Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $37,370 MSRPTRD Off Road 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) (Most Popular) - $38,305 MSRPTRD Off Road 4dr Double Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $38,915 MSRPLimited 4dr Double Cab 5.0 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $39,905 MSRPLimited 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $42,980 MSRPLimited 4dr Double Cab 4WD 6.1 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $43,480 MSRPTRD PRO 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6M) - $46,585 MSRPTRD PRO 4dr Double Cab 4WD 5.0 ft. SB (3.5L 6cyl 6A) - $49,290 MSRP

　　vs

　　$219/mo

　　Avg. Compact Truck

　　Introduced last year, the Trail Edition was a limited-production model based on the budget SR5 trim level and featured a few off-road and practical goodies, such as lockable bed boxes. For 2022, Toyota has made a locking rear differential standard equipment and a slight suspension lift (1.1 inches of lift in front and 0.5 inch in the rear) compared to other Tacomas to give the truck a little extra capability and clearance when off-roading. It also borrows the heritage grille from the TRD Pro and adds bronze lettering. And, hey, do you like trendy bronze-colored wheels? It's got those too. As for the TRD Pro, it gets a slightly higher suspension lift than the Trail Edition (1.5 inches in front but still 0.5 inch in back) plus a new wheel-and-tire setup.

　　We think highly of this truck, but there are also solid reasons to go with the well-rounded Chevrolet Colorado, rugged Jeep Gladiator or updated Honda Ridgeline. Is the Tacoma the right midsize truck for you? Check out our Expert Rating to get our test team's in-depth take.

　　

What's it like to live with?

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, but it's the same generation truck so most of our observations apply. To learn about everything from seat comfort to reliability, check out all the details in our long-term Tacoma test.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.7

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Tacoma drive? The Tacoma steers and handles smoothly and is generally easy to drive. The main exception is the brakes, which feel grabby and can induce nosedive in hard stops. We do wish the 3.5-liter V6 felt a bit more willing, but there is enough power for daily use. The transmission shifts predictably and is able to get the most out of the engine.

　　Off-road is where the Tacoma truly shines and stands above all others except the Gladiator. The Tacoma has the clearance, gearing and traction to tackle serious terrain, and the brakes and throttle prove brilliantly precise and controllable in low-range crawling situations.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Tacoma? The Tacoma was never a disagreeable truck to ride in, but changes introduced in 2020 made it a little bit more pleasant. A fully adjustable 10-way driver's seat comes standard in V6 trucks, and this seat promotes long-range comfort for drivers of almost all shapes and sizes.

　　The thicker side-window glass cuts down the wind noise compared to prior years, though the Colorado and the Ridgeline still have an edge here. The same is true for ride quality since the Tacoma is still truckier than its smoothest-riding competitors. As for the climate system, it has effective heating and cooling and is easy to adjust.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below