Toyota Tacoma's Fourth Generation Reaches 1,000 Miles Mark for Owner, Despite Improvements, Certain Preferences from Third Generation Persist
In the automotive world, the latest Toyota Tacoma has been a hot topic of conversation among owners, with a mix of praises and criticisms. Anoni Muss, one such owner, recently crossed the 1,000-mile milestone with the new Tacoma and shared his impressions.
Anoni, like many others, considers the Tacoma a significant upgrade over the third generation. He appreciates the comfort, power, and tech features, calling it a "whole different truck." However, he has noticed some minor annoyances, such as the loudness of the AC compressor and rattles in the interior, particularly in the driver door when playing music with bass.
Brad Eden, another Tacoma owner, echoes these sentiments. He praises the truck's performance, noting its impressive fuel efficiency with an average of 22.5-23.5 mpg. Yet, he too has experienced odd cycling of the AC/Heat/Fan/Compressor, which he finds annoying but only notices when idling.
The issue of the AC compressor has been a point of discussion within the Tacoma community. Some owners have reported similar issues, but others have acknowledged that the cooling performance is strong. A few have even claimed improvements in fuel economy after break-in or with modifications.
Brad's comment about a chirp from the compressor at start-up and sometimes constantly, adds to the community voices that show not every quirk is universal. However, his speculation about a future TSB or recall on the compressor issue points to potential action Toyota may need to take.
One area where the new Tacoma falls short compared to the third generation is backseat space. Anoni noted this decrease, but some owners, like Brad, have not found it to be significantly smaller.
The discussion about the Tacoma's fourth generation also includes the i-FORCE powertrain. Owners appreciate the balance it delivers between power and efficiency. However, the choice of the i-FORCE MAX Hybrid variant for increased rear seat space has been met with criticism. It offers less legroom compared to non-hybrid models, limiting comfort and practicality.
Despite these issues, many Tacoma owners, including Brad, have no regrets making the switch. The appreciation for what the fourth generation brings is balanced with a touch of nostalgia for the simplicity and dependability of the third generation. Brad, for instance, expressed nostalgia for the 3rd gen's reliability, but acknowledged that it also had issues like the timing chain cover gasket seepage/leak.
In conclusion, the new Toyota Tacoma continues to be a popular choice among pickup truck enthusiasts. While it offers significant upgrades, it also presents some challenges that Toyota may need to address. As always, potential buyers are encouraged to test drive and research thoroughly before making a decision.
