The all-new 2024 Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks are arriving imminently. While all the crowds are talking and excited about the new top trim grades, the reality is that Toyota plans to sell the most of the bread and butter SR5. And with the healthy pricing for the new 2024 Tacoma, the modest SR5 will be the most popular focus for most consumers.
The SR5 trim is just one step up from the base level SR work-a-day Tacoma. Starting at $36,200 the SR5 will be available in three cab and bed configurations starting with the XtraCab with a 6-foot box and 131.9-inch wheelbase. A Double Cab will be available in two lengths with either a 5-foot box with the same 131.9-inch wheelbase or a 6-foot box long wheelbase of 145.1-inches.
When it comes to the chassis, the XtraCab features a front stabilizer bar and a conventional leaf spring and solid axle rear suspension. When you step up to the Double Cab you get a new coil spring multi-link rear suspension and stabilizer bars at both the front and rear. Another notable item, four-wheel disc brakes have finally come to the Tacoma. Welcome to the 21st century Toyota, it only took you 24 years.
Powering the Tacoma SR5 regardless of which cab or box configuration you choose is the new 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission only. You can choose either 2WD or 4WD with all.
EPA fuel economy is as high as 21 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined on 2WD models. That represents a 2 mpg improvement over the previous generation 3.5-liter V6 in spite of having significantly more torque. All models come with an 18.2 gallon fuel tank.
Payload ranges from 1230 to 1460 pounds for the XtraCab and up to 1705 pounds for the Double Cab depending on the configuration. Maximum towing is 6400 pounds for XtraCab and 6500 pounds for Double Cab.
Those numbers are all slightly lower than the 2023 models. One of the reasons for the reduced capacities is likely the corresponding increase in curb weight which ranges between 170 and 230 pounds depending on the model. It almost lines up with the reductions in payload and towing.
So what do you get with the new SR5 in the way of equipment? Well quite a lot in terms of features and essentials. Headlights are LED with auto on/off and daytime running lights. LED fog lights are including in the various SR5 Upgrade Packages.
The cargo box continues to be a composite construction with 44.7-inches between the wheel wells. On SR5 the rear bumper is body color. At that bumper you will find a standard Class-IV towing hitch receiver and 7-pin/4-pin connector. The rear tailgate is steel with TACOMA stamped into it. If you want the fancy damping action version you have to step up to one of the SR5 Upgrade Packages.
Of note, the SR5 XtraCab cargo box comes only with four fixed cargo bed tie-down points. If you want the deck rail system adjustable tie-down cleats that can only be optioned on the Double Cab. LED Lighting can be had in both. Again these things are found in the SR5 Upgrade Packages.
Inside you will find a cabin that looks a lot like a scaled down Tundra in its design, a taller more roomy cab layout and the best part is you’re no longer sitting on the floor. It feels like a more contemporary truck from behind the wheel.
As you look at the video keep in mind this is a pre-production truck so the plastics and finishes shown are not entirely up to snuff. So yes it looks a little cheap and shiny here, it’s not what they will look like when they arrive at dealership lots rest assured.
XtraCab models will come with black cloth seats with 6-way manually adjustable driver and passenger seats. The driver seat does have a 2-way power adjustable lumbar support and the passenger seat has a fold flat feature. There are no jump seats in the back, this is strictly a two-passenger cab. In the back are a lockable rear storage panel and a lockable floor storage compartment.
Stepping up to the Double Cab gets you a choice of either black or gray cloth interiors. You get the same 6-way manually adjustable front seats with lumbar for the driver but no fold down passenger seat. In the back the rear seat features a 60/40 folding split feature with under-seat storage.
As far as features go the basics start with a urethane steering wheel, 8-inch digital instrument cluster with fuel and temperature gauge, push button start with smart key, auto-dimming rear view mirror. There are lots of USB ports around including one at the top center of the dash perfect for powering a dash cam or radar detector.
At the center is an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with features like wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, SiriusXM, AM/FM, and Bluetooth connectivity. You get a 4-speaker set with XtraCab and 6-speakers with Double Cab. An upgraded 10-speaker JBL audio system and expanded feature content is available – however only on Double Cab
Options like? Most of the upgrades are found in the SR5 Upgrade Package which comes in a variety of levels. On the XtraCab the package includes niceties like a leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob, a Qi wireless charger, climate control. Most importantly you get the upgraded 12.3-in digital instrument cluster with expanded array of custom features and data. A Cold Weather version of the Upgrade Package also adds heated seats and steering wheel.
Functionally SR5 Upgrade Packages also bring the aforementioned LED bed lights and damped rear gate, parking assist with automatic braking, and an integrated trailer brake controller. On Double Cab models the Upgrade Package adds the aforementioned Deck rail system with four adjustable tie-down cleats and power sliding rear window with privacy glass – a feature notably not available on XtraCab.
Like before the 2024 Toyota Tacoma SR5 comes in an abbreviated palette of colors. If you want the bright and hero shades, you need to step up into one of the higher trim grades. Here you get a choice of Celestial Silver Metallic, Black, Supersonic Red, and Underground which is essentially charcoal metallic. The most eye catching shade of Blue Crush Metallic is only available on the Double Cab.
