Affordable Trucks: 2018 Toyota Tacoma

As a midsize pickup truck, the 2018 Toyota Tacoma is much more affordable than larger models, but it still delivers everything most drivers need from a pickup. To make it an even better deal, Toyota Safety Sense-P now comes standard across the lineup, meaning every Tacoma has the means to keep you safe. In addition to its affordable pricing, the Tacoma is capable, offers a manual transmission, and can go off-road with ease, particularly if you chose an off-road-oriented trim.

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Impressive Performance for a Low Price

If your goal is affordability, then the 2.7-liter 4-cylinder engine with a torque of 180 pound-feet and 159 horsepower is the way to go. However, most drivers will choose to spend a little bit more to configure their 2018 Tacoma with the 3.5-liter V6 with 265 pound-feet and 278 horsepower. This engine lets you choose from a 6-speed automatic and manual.

Low Price for Off-Roading

Although the off-road-oriented trim levels cost a bit more than the base configuration of the 2018 Toyota Tacoma, they are still highly affordable by anyone’s assessment. The TRD Sport will be good enough for the occasional trip off the beaten path, while the TRD Off-Road or TRD Pro is ideal if you want to hit the trail on a regular basis. For not too much of an increase in cost, these trims deliver things like Fox internal bypass shocks and adjustments to the suspension. They also get a multi-terrain switch, which adjusts power distribution, traction settings, throttle, and hill-descent control.

Comfortable Interior

Despite the affordable price tag, the interior of the 2018 Tacoma is comfortable, if not as nice as larger models. Don’t expect for an adult to comfortably fit in the second row of the Access Cab models; there are only 24.6 inches of legroom in the rear. The Double Cab, however, increases this to 32.6 inches. Although a bit cramped, an adult can fit for an extended drive; tall adults should stick to the front seats. While the rear legroom is less than ideal, it fits in with other pickups of a similar size and price. Interior comfort goes above and beyond in other areas, more than making up for it. The Tacoma has acoustic windshields and plenty of sound deadening, giving you a quiet cabin. All models also have a 6.1-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and more.

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Practical Truck Bed

The Tacoma can come with one of two truck beds, measuring 5 or 6 feet long. Either way, the bed will be 19.1 inches deep. It measures 53.4 inches wide by the tailgate and 41.5 inches between wheel wells. This truck bed was designed with practicality in mind, including tie-down points and a deck rail system. The tailgate is also damped, making it easier to open and close.

Above-Average Safety

With the addition of the Toyota Safety Sense-P suite as the standard for the 2018 Toyota Tacoma, this pickup definitely provides a better value than the competition. Now, all models have automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning, in addition to a rearview camera.



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