The Toyota Tacoma is a pickup truck manufactured by Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota since 1995. The first-generation Tacoma (model years 1995 through 2004) was classified as a compact pickup. The second generation (model years 2005 through 2015) and third generation (in production since 2015) models are classified as mid-sized pickups. The Tacoma was Motor Trends Truck of the Year for 2005.
As of 2015, the Tacoma was sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Bermuda, and the French overseas collectivity of New Caledonia. Most markets across the world receive the Toyota Hilux in lieu of the Tacoma.
The name "Tacoma" was derived from the Coast Salish peoples' name for Mount Rainier in the U.S. state of Washington.
First generation (N140/N150/N160/N170/N190; 1995)
The Tacoma was introduced in the US in February 1995 (with a market launch in March 1995) as a replacement for the Toyota Pickup (which was the name used for the Hilux in the North American market). When comparing with the Hilux, the Tacoma receives engineering with greater priority on ride quality, handling, comfort, and safety over ruggedness and payload capacity. The design intends to better suit the needs of the US and Canadian market, where pickup trucks are used as personal vehicles rather than for commercial, agricultural, and off-road purposes.
Development
Development began in 1989, following the launch of the fifth-generation Toyota Pickup in late 1988 and concluded in 1994. Design work was done at Calty Design Research in California from 1990 to 1992, when Kevin Hunter's exterior design proposal was chosen in the autumn of 1991 and in final form, frozen for production in 1992. Patents for the production design were filed in Japan in April 1993 and October 28, 1993, in the United States.
Technical
Three engines were available for the Tacoma:
Notes
Two-wheel drive (2WD) Tacomas (excluding PreRunner models) had five-stud wheel-lug patterns and either the 2.4-L or 3.4-L engine. Four-wheel drive (4WD) and PreRunner Tacomas had six-stud wheel-lug patterns and were available with either the 2.7-L or 3.4-L engine. Initially, the 2.4 L was limited to the 2WD models (both regular and Xtracab), while the 2.7 L was the standard engine for 4WD models, and the 3.4 L V6, shared with the larger T100 truck, was an option for the 2WD (Xtracab only) and 4WD (regular and Xtracab). The top-of-the-line SR5 trim was available for the 4WD Xtracab V6. From 1997 on, the 3.4 L V6 was dropped as an option for the regular cab models, which were available only with a 2.4-L or a 2.7-L four-cylinder engine.
An aftermarket Toyota Racing Development (TRD) supercharger kit was available for the 3.4-L V6, raising output to and . The V6 supercharger kit was specified for model years 1997 and later, as the earlier engine control units (ECUs) had limitations. A kit to add a 7th fuel injector was available, including a replacement ECU, boosting performance further to and . In addition, TRD supercharger kits were available for the 4-cylinder engines (2.4 L and 2.7 L) as well.
A five-speed manual transmission was standard for all models initially, with a four-speed automatic transmission available as an option except for the 4WD V6 regular cab. The PreRunner (MY98–04) and Double Cab (01–04) models were available only with an automatic transmission for the first generation. The 3.4 L V6 was paired with the R150F manual transmission or the A340F (4WD) or A340E (2WD) Aisin automatic transmission; the A340F code is 30-40LE.
The first-generation Tacoma has a fully-boxed frame (meaning the main frame rails have a closed rectangular cross-section) until immediately after the rear leaf spring mounting bracket, where the frame transitions into a C-shaped cross-section. The TRD Off-Road package was introduced in 1998. This package added a locking rear differential and was only available to PreRunner and four-wheel drive models that were equipped with the 3.4-L V6. Antilock brakes were made standard across the Tacoma line for the 2003 model year.
Updates
The first-generation Tacoma underwent its first minor update in October 1996, switching from recessed sealed beam headlamps to a flush design on 2WD models. There were two more cosmetic facelifts: the first in July 1997 and the second in October 2000. The most visible changes were in the modified front grilles (both facelifts, for model years 1998 and 2001) and tailgate badging and emblems (first facelift, MY1998). The MY1998 facelift included distinct grilles for the 2WD and 4WD models; 2WD models featured a prominent horizontal bar splitting the grille. A StepSide bed was added as an option for MY2000.