Welcome to Critic's Notebook, a quick and off-the-cuff car review consisting of impressions, jottings, and marginalia regarding whatever The Drive writers happen to be driving. Today's edition: the 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road.
A tough midsize pickup ready for Armageddons both real and metaphorical.
Oct 13, 2018 Today I recorded this video of driving my 2018 Tacoma TRD Offroad 6-speed manual 4x4. The truck has about 1600 miles on it at this time and I have had it for about five months. This was a request.
There's nothing like an off-road drive for a little post-apocalyptic roleplaying. Up there in the mountains, away from the smoggy tendrils of civilization, it's easy to imagine yourself a lone survivor plunging through the wilderness. And after giving it a fair amount of thought, I reached the following conclusion: After the nukes fall, all that will remain are the ruins of our cities, cockroaches, and people selling 10-year-old Toyota Tacomas for $25,000.
The Tacoma has a well-earned reputation for being a stupendously reliable, no-nonsense midsize pickup truck that can bend the forces of depreciation to its will. It's also known for not changing a whole lot in the two decades since the model first rolled out of the factory—from the available six-speed manual transmission to its rear drum brakes, the Toyota Tacoma remains one of the more honest, workmanlike trucks you can buy today.
Depending on your perspective, this next bit is either a weird anomaly or a foregone conclusion. Since the latest generation was introduced in 2015, the Tacoma has exploded in popularity at the same time that sedans have plummeted. Toyota sold nearly 200,000 Tacomas last year amidst the ongoing carpocalypse—a record—and sales this year have outpaced 2017. It's even outselling the Toyota Highlander right now. So what gives? Is this a case of crossover fatigue? Is it a side effect of cheap gas? Is the Tacoma really that good?
To find out, The Drive borrowed a 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road for a week of adventures around our West Coast bureau in Los Angeles. And I learned that when it's time to rebuild civilization, our future will probably ride on the back of this humble midsize truck.
The Pros
The Cons
The 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road, Ranked
Performance: 4/5 Toyota camry factory service manual.
Comfort: 3/5
Luxury: 2/5
Hauling people: 4/5
Hauling stuff: 4/5
Curb appeal: 3/5
“Wow” factor: 3.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5
The Bottom Line
So back to our essential question: Why is the Toyota Tacoma so dang popular all of a sudden? As with many existential queries, the answer is a swirl of reasons. Part of it is that, as Counting Crows once opined, you don't really know what you've got 'till it's gone. [Don't you dare give the Counting Crows credit for Joni Mitchell's genius, you son of a bitch. —Ed.] Just about every major manufacturer used to make something hardy and off-road focused like the Tacoma (if not necessarily a pickup), but nearly all of them faded away over the last 20 years as people turned to crossovers. But it would appear the market overcorrected and squashed out a few too many rugged 4x4s; survivors like the Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, and the Jeep Wrangler have enjoyed record sales over the past few years, while other manufacturers are making no secret about their desire to get back in on the 'authentic' off-road truck game.
Cheap gas has certainly helped boost its popularity, but that too isn't the sole reason for the Tacoma's success. 2000 kia sportage repair manual free download. Its EPA fuel economy numbers sit at about 20 miles per gallon combined, which is neither low enough to make it a real detriment nor high enough to draw in people who are looking for a fuel-efficient rig. Where can i download toyota oem shop service manuals. And sales have continued their climb in the last few months even as gas prices are creeping up to a three-year high.
So what we're left with is the Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road standing on its own merits. Yes, you can go elsewhere to find a nicer cabin, a smoother ride, and a more luxurious experience—all of which become more important to more people with each passing year. What you can't find is the combination of real off-road chops, legendary reliability, and a six-speed manual transmission seen on the Taco. There are certainly flashier ways to play in the dirt—but when the bombs start to fall, is anyone going to be looking at you anyway?
![]() ![]() The 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road, By the Numbers
Price (as tested): $36,115 ($40,505)
Powertrain: 3.5-liter V-6 engine; 278 horsepower, 265 pound-feet of torque; six-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel-drive with part-time four-wheel-drive and low range; electronically-locking rear differential
Fuel Economy: 18mpg city/23 highway/20 combined
Curb Weight: 4,425pounds
Payload Capacity: 1,175 pounds
Towing Capacity: 6,400 pounds
Ground Clearance: 9.4 inches
Amount of money spent on a day-use off-roading permit to escape the smog of Los Angeles: $5
2018 Toyota Tacoma Trd Off Road Manual Review Youtube
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