Here are some of the best deals. Since the Mustang, Ruskin has driven plenty of vehicles, including Ford Explorer, Freestyle and Edge models, plus several Dodge Caravans. CDs sound good through the JBL speakers. However, the seat was comfortable, offering plenty of lumbar support and once adjusted, Ruskin had ample headroom. Day 5 Calgary is covered under a blanket of snow. The rear seats in the Access Cab model are best for children or adults on short trips, but the rear seats in the Double Cab are much better, with storage both under the seat and in a separate compartment accessed by flipping down the seatback. He was surprised, however, to find both driver and passenger seats were manually adjustable no power. Big rotary knobs make it easy to adjust cabin temperature even with gloves on; the knobs are electronic, so they're easy to twist. Access and Double Cabs also get six-speaker audio systems. The Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starts right around $18,000 for a base 2WD Regular Cab. The rear windows even go all the way down. Getting into the Tacoma proved an easy proposition for Ruskin, who is 6-feet tall. Also new for 2014 is the SR Package, which lends a sporty, monochrome look with color-keyed overfenders, door handles, bumpers, grille surround and mirrors; plus smoked headlight lenses and black-finish 16-inch Baja wheels. V6-powered Double Cabs can opt for the Entune Premium setup plus a JBL GreenEdge audio system with seven speakers ($2,330). If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine gets better mileage than does the V6. I liked the black plastic grille, the headlights and the hood scoop it looks rugged and I like it.. Ruskin credited the V6 with a throaty growl, and he says the engine made good power. The TRD Sport Package stiffens the ride and handling with a suspension that's more firmly tuned, mostly by the Bilstein shocks. For 2014, the Tacoma adds Toyota's Entune as standard equipment on all four available audio systems. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings. All models include Entune Audio, which leverages a smartphone to provide fully integrated access to navigation, entertainment and information services. Its time for an update of the trucks technology, he says. I bought from a one owner who Garage the tundra. 2.7-liter inline-4159 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm180 lb-ft of torque @ 3,800 rpmEPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/25 mpg (2WD, manual), 19/24 mpg (2WD, automatic), 18/21 mpg (4WD, manual and automatic), 4.0-liter V6236 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm266 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpmEPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/21 mpg (2WD, manual), 17/21 mpg (2WD, automatic), 16/19 mpg (4WD, manual), 16/21 mpg (4WD, automatic). Four-cylinder and V6 engines, along with manual and automatic transmissions are available, including a 5-speed manual and 6-speed manual, or 4-speed automatic and 5-speed automatic. The TRD Off-Road Package also starts with the SR5 equipment and adds or substitutes BF Goodrich P265/70R16 tires, locking rear differential, off-road suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers, ATRAC off-road traction control, engine skidplate, sport seats, overhead console with compass and outside temperature, rearview camera, heavy-duty front tow hook, 115v/400w deck-mounted power point, and unique TRD graphics. Lorraine Complains: Licence plate tom-foolery, courtesy of Doug Ford, News Roundup: Hondas hybrid CR-V and 2023 Mazda CX-5 Canadian pricing, Reader Review: 2022 Subaru BRZ Sport-Tech, Somebody just bought Tom Hanks 1975 Fiat 128 in a charity sale, tap here to see other videos from our team. Along the way the Tacoma has collected its share of awards. The Tacoma doesn't seem to generate as much head toss as earlier 4WD compact pickups, an important consideration when driving long distances over rugged terrain, because you don't want to arrive to your backcountry camp fatigued from driving. Ads can be annoying. It gets the job done but we prefer the available 4.0-liter V6 of 236 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, as its much stronger and smoother and its fuel-economy penalty is not unreasonable. And if you really dont haul much and want a smoother ride, check out the Honda Ridgeline. In addition, front airbags, front seat side-impact airbags, and side-curtain airbags are standard on all models. It handles well on rough dirt trails, something we learned while charging up a ski run at Alyeska. Its a pickup truck, and you feel the bumps and frost heaves and expansion joints thats not a bad thing but you certainly dont have a floaty feeling, either Ruskin says. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Access Cab has rear seats, with the access coming on the passenger side only, but there isn't enough room for adults. Standard equipment for the 2014 Toyota Tacoma includes the 2.7-liter 4-cylinder engine of 159 horsepower and a 5-speed manual transmission, air conditioning, an AM/FM stereo with single-disc CD system, anti-lock brakes (ABS), front side-impact and side-curtain airbags, traction and stability control, tachometer, two instrument-panel powerpoints and rear mudguards. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. And that's our first choice for this truck: The V6 and automatic. The automatic is super smooth and very responsive, quickly downshifting when you mash the throttle, and it offers five ratios to better keep the engine at its most efficient rpm. Flared wheel wells add something, making the truck appear more substantial. Properly equipped Tacoma V6 models can to tow up to 6,500 pounds. The base engine is a 2.7-liter inline four-cylinder mated to a five-speed manual transmission; a four-speed automatic is optional ($900). And thanks for reading Autoblog. Optional packages include SR5 and TRD grades, each with a number of sub-models. TRD stands for Toyota Racing Development, but if you expect extra speed you'll be disappointed. STRONG V6 ENGINEThe Tacomas available 4.0-liter V6 engine is powerful, smooth and responsive, and works well with either the 6-speed manual or the 5-speed automatic transmission. Now having driven it around for a day or two, I too cant help but feel youre driving a bigger truck than it appears. In action, the V6 feels refined and delivers responsive performance. Oppositely, and more a reflection of driving a bigger pickup, he found the interior a bit cramped. You must be logged in to perform that action. If you like a pickup, but dont require full-size truck capability, Calgary outdoor enthusiast Glenn Ruskin thinks the mid-size 2014 Toyota Tacoma could be the practical answer. I have a TRD off road (TXPro) 4x4 and i lifted it 3 and installed 33 AT tires and it is fantastic off road . But it's not too firm. Its the thickest, chunkiest wheel Ive ever had my hands on, and I think it sends a message that the Tacoma is a durable, substantial vehicle.. Another strong point is the off road capabilities . Both engines run on regular gas. NewCarTestDrive.com editor Mitch McCullough contributed to this report. The truck is exactly what one would expect from Toyota. Select the option to run ads for autoblog.com, by clicking either "turn off for this site", "don't run on pages on this domain", "allow this site" or similar. TRD Off-Road is also available only on V6 PreRunners and on V6 model 44 Access and Double Cabs, but not on Double Cab Long Beds. I get 15-18 mpg give or take. The five-speed automatic, though, wasnt one of his favourite features. Beyond that, the options are many and are linked with cab configurations, powertrain choices and trim levels. Switching into 4WD and 4WD Lo is as easy as twisting a rotary knob. I really like the fact that the back headrests in the cab can be folded down, a great Toyota touch, providing more visibility out the back window, though this window does not have built-in defrost strips. The box has plenty of tie down points, and it looks to be a good size, capable of holding bicycles or mulch or whatever else you might need to carry, he says. For 2014 the Tacoma continues on, still clearly on top of the segment and available in any configuration of cab, powertrain and trim level imaginable. Took the vehicle out to do a little fly-fishing. Tundra buyers [], Midsize trucks can tow a trailer and carry a payload, but with lower prices than full-size models. Behind the wheel is a functional three-pod instrument configuration, with red pointers set against broad blue bands. The base version has black bumpers and grille, the PreRunner has the off-road look, and the option packages, from SR5 Extra Value to TRD Off-Road to Limited, add their own details. The Honda Ridgeline, a much more expensive vehicle, offers carlike handling, strong performance and good fuel economy, but it doesn't offer the off-road capability or toughness of the Tacoma. Instruments and controls are easy to see and use, and there are cup holders and other storage spots throughout. Flip the seat bottoms forward and fold the two sections down to form a flat platform for gear. The TRD Sport Package is available only with the V6, and only PreRunners and 44's with Access Cab ($3190) or Double Cab ($3055). I recently cleaned out the throttle body. Tacoma not only owns the segment but practically is the segment. A welcome email is on its way. Both engines feature Toyotas Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) which helps to reduce the compromise between higher-end horsepower and low-end torque. 2022 Driving, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Legions of satisfied owners have used their Tacomas for working hard and playing hard, and its popularity just keeps on growing. And free is good, right? It never bottomed on the rough terrain even when we pushed it well beyond socially acceptable standards. We found the TRD package's upgraded seats and interior nice, if costly. Or choose the top-of-the-line Limited Package, featuring 18-inch chrome-clad alloy wheels, chrome grille trim, chrome rear bumper, SofTex-trimmed front sport seats with heat, metallic tone instrument panel trim, leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio controls, dual sun visors with mirrors and extenders, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror with outside temperature gauge and HomeLink universal transceiver.