Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4X4 V-6

Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4X4 V-6 - We had several such epiphanies over the 15 months and 40,000 miles we spent with this mid-size Toyota Tacoma. The first came about five months and 15,000 miles into the test, when then road warrior Jared Gall and the Tacoma were dispatched to New York to retrieve a 3744-pound Mercedes 300SD that we had purchased and entered in our diesel-beater cross-country race to Los Angeles [“Battle of the Diesel Beaters,” C/D, April 2006].

We had the longest model in the lineup, the Double Cab with the long bed. It had four forward-hinged doors, almost as much interior room as a Camry, and that exceptionally long, 73.5-inch bed. Although the Tacoma is not as wide or tall as a full-size pickup (and thus is categorized as mid-size), our stretched version’s 221.3-inch length was in full-size territoy. Thanks to that $2965 SR5 package that also included cruise control, a leather steering wheel, and a limited-slip rear differential, our four-wheel-drive Tacoma rang in at $29,389 and was not hurting for features.

Further evidence was provided at the fuel stops. At the 15,000-mile mark, the Tacoma had averaged 18 mpg, 26 percent better than we averaged over 40,000 miles with a full-size Nissan Titan. What’s more, the Tacoma was quicker than the V-8 Titan. When new, the Tacoma ran to 60 mph in only 6.9 seconds, 0.4 second sooner than the Titan.

The first was the spongy brake-pedal feel that plagued the Tacoma throughout the test. As is our procedure, we ran the Tacoma through our standard battery of performance tests when it was new and after 40,000 miles. While performing the 70-mph-to-standstill test soon after the Tacoma arrived here, we could not get the brakes to release after we took our foot off the pedal until we had pumped the pedal several times.

We visited the dealer often, not because the Tacoma didn’t live up to Toyota’s reputation for reliability, but because it required a service every 5000 miles. The minor services — an oil and filter change and a tire rotation — ran about $50; the more involved services at 15,000 and 30,000 miles cost $77 and $182, respectively. We spent a total of $527 for this maintenance, which was $209 less than the service for the Titan’s five stops. Other than the two unscheduled stops for the brakes and a windshield wiper that came loose, the Tacoma was trouble-free.

There was praise, however, for the large rear seat that has a slightly reclined seatback and accommodates adults in comfort. The truck bed drew positive remarks, too. It’s lined with a durable-feeling, slightly textured plastic that kept items from sliding around and has handy movable tie-down points.

Drivers of this pickup never reached a unanimous verdict. Those who could look past the squeaking door seals and squishy brake pedal thought the Tacoma’s size was a good compromise; others noted it was such a pain to maneuver that you might as well have a full-size truck.

Still, the Toyota got better fuel economy than any full-size pickup we’ve shepherded for 40,000 miles, and over the course of the test, it retained a 17-mpg average.