The Limited trim grade of the new 2016 Toyota Tacoma has its own unique look and feel from the others like the TRD Off-Road and SR-5. Of note, being a more luxuriously appointed truck it has more chrome and bright work.
You most notice this in its unique grill and front fascia which has chrome rings around the fog lights. Door handles are a combination of body color and chrome, and its 18-inch wheels while chrome looking are actually polished aluminum.
Styling changes from the 2015 Tacoma are mostly self evident at first look. It got a complete re-skin sharing only the roof stamping with last year’s truck. Though the green house appears identical the doors are actually new, with a slightly higher window line. The 5-foot composite rear cargo box also got 1-inch taller.
Our tester here in case you were wondering is Blazing Blue Pearl and has the 5-foot cargo box. And while a 6-foot box is available in other trim grades, curiously Toyota doesn’t offer it with the Limited for some reason.
Moving inside, the cabin is all new in its design with a horizontal layout to the dash. Depending on the trim grade, accent colors are found on the panel above the glove box and door panels. In the limited, the accent trim match its Hickory leather seats.
The instrument cluster is new with a TFT display between two large dials and it’s easy to read at a glance. The steering wheel mounted controls let you navigate that information in addition to audio adjustments.
The center stack I thought was well laid out with the infotainment system up high at eye level, the HVAC controls below, and multiple other ancillary buttons and knobs further down. Ours had the Qi wireless phone charging pad too. Even if you don’t have the, the cubby is just the right place for your phone.
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In addition to a good sound and easy to use audio navigation controls, the Limited also has driver-aids like a high-resolution backup camera, rear parking sonar, and blind spot monitor – all of which worked quite well. For these things, it earns 4 of 5 stars in the technology department.
The Tacoma Limited leather seats up front are manually adjustable, not power which you would hope for at its $40,000 price tag. The were however comfortable enough once adjusted and are heated.
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Once folded down there is a cargo deck which is lined with a robust plastic. And while the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon’s rear seat is easier to fold and has more versatile folding options, its cargo deck is carpet and therefore not so rugged.
In the larger picture the interior is a good improvement over the last one in design and ergonomics. Fit and finish are benchmark Toyota which means there isn’t much to pick at aside from some hard plastics here and there. It earns 4 of 5 stars overall.
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Motivating the 2016 Toyota Tacoma is a new 3.5-liter V6 and a six-speed automatic transmission. Replacing the larger 4.0-liter engine of last year, this powertrain offers 278 horsepower and higher fuel economy than before.
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As tested, the 2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited 4×4 we have here is rated by the EPA at 18 mpg city, 23 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined. In my week with it I achieved 21 mpg combined with a 50/50 mix of city and highway and using the AC at times.
While it’s not as powerful as the General Motors twins, the new Tacoma’s powertrain is a big enough step up in drivability, power, and efficiency to make it impressive none the less. This earns it 4 of 5 stars in this area.
Chassis improvements for the new 2016 Toyota Tacoma are mostly of the tuning variety, the frame and hard components being largely the same as last year’s model. Changes came to the springs rates and damper settings along with heaping helpings of new sound deadening to give the Tacoma a quieter demeanor.
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The Limited trim grade is indeed meant for the road mostly and not so much geared for off-roading such as the TRD Off-Road which has all kinds of unique suspension and hardware for it. But this is a truck and a 4×4 at that, so I still had to leave the pavement at least once.
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The chassis did impress with its mild retuning in at least the perception of refinement for its old design. It’s polished up and continues to offer what many buyers will want, capability and livability that feels of quality. This earns it 4 of 5 stars in this arena.
When it comes to safety ratings, we usually quote the IIHS with their more comprehensive testing than the Federal Government. But as of this video, the IIHS hasn’t yet tested the new 2016 Tacoma. Ratings are likely to be improved over the 2015 model due to increased use of high-strength steels in the cab structure. So we’re gonna have to wait for that.
And that cab structure, its quieter feel, and impeccable fit and finish are what keeps Toyota customers coming back time after time. You still get that hollow tinniness when slamming the doors, but quality feel still comes in at 4 of 5 stars.
With its price as tested hovering at $40,020 I thought quite a few things were missing, and not even optional at any price. These are things like power seats for instance, which competitors offer. Therefore value comes in at 3 of 5 stars.
That puts our total test drive score at 4 of 5 stars.
