William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

January 4, 2013

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the first Cheers & Gears Interactive Review of 2013: The 2013 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab 4x4.

This particular Tacoma stickers at $30,580 (originally $31,005, but Toyota takes off $425.00 due to value package) thanks to the SR5 Extra Value package, towing package, an optional radio with USB and AUX, running boards, and a few odds and ends.

Power comes from a 4.0L V6 producing 236 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. That is sent through a five-speed automatic down to either the rear or all four wheels thanks to a part-time 4WD system.

Positives

• The 4.0L V6 has a surprising amount of low end grunt and gets up to speed at a surprising rate.
  
• 4WD system is quick to engage and disengage.
  
• Very comfortable and well-built interior
  

Negatives

• I forgot how bouncy a truck's ride can be. The Tacoma is a prime example of this.
  
• 16 City/21 Highway/18 Combined is the EPA rating for the Tacoma's V6. The full-size F-150 when equipped with the 3.5L EcoBoost is only one MPG off in the city and combined, and matches the highway.
  

I have the Tacoma until January 10th and will update as my time goes on. In the meantime, drop your questions and I'll do my best to answer them.

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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would a full sizer be better overall and the same on gas mostly?

How the structural steel / frame seem- any initial flash rust already? How about along sheet metal seams?

How's their Roadside Assistance program? Are they prompt?

I test drove a base model 4X4 Tacoma and it almost rattled my teeth out. I've never driven a light duty pickup that rode so much like a buckboard in my life.

What's an 'Access Cab'? Never heard that name.

Edit: apparently it's Toyotaese for 'extended cab'.

Edited January 7, 201313 yr by Cubical-aka-Moltar

would a full sizer be better overall and the same on gas mostly?

I think in certain situations a full size would be better. Same on gas? I think for certain full-sizes, the answer would be yes.

How the structural steel / frame seem- any initial flash rust already? How about along sheet metal seams?

No. But this truck only has around 2900 miles on the odo.

How's their Roadside Assistance program? Are they prompt?

I test drove a base model 4X4 Tacoma and it almost rattled my teeth out. I've never driven a light duty pickup that rode so much like a buckboard in my life.

Yeah, the Tacoma's ride is terrible. I feel like I'm riding on a bucking bronco.

Are the exterior doors and interior still so tinny? One pull of the handle and wrap of the knuckles on a 2010 had me running for the full size big 3 trucks. The number of swapped rotted out Tacoma frames behind every upstate, NY dealer scares the crap out of me!

I don't think all trucks are so bouncy.... I think that is a Tacoma specific trait

Are the exterior doors and interior still so tinny? One pull of the handle and wrap of the knuckles on a 2010 had me running for the full size big 3 trucks. The number of swapped rotted out Tacoma frames behind every upstate, NY dealer scares the crap out of me!

No.

The Tacoma frames I think dealt with the last-generation model. Don't know if that was extended into the current model.

When was the frame updated? That has to be a huge concern to (knowledgable) potential buyers (it would be a deal breaker to me, until a fat chunk of time proved otherwise).

Maybe I spoke a bit too soon. I know Toyota issued a recall on the 95-2000 and 2001-2004 Tacoma because of the frames - http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/autosblogpost.aspx?post=87e1d0d5-d392-48c9-969b-ca0ea4bbd554

I don't fully know if the 2005-current model have the same problem or not.. Trying to find out.