2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter
About the Car
2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter
After nearly two decades as the champion of the mid-size pickup truck market, the Toyota Tacoma is ready for its next chapter. This go-anywhere truck is entirely new for 2024 with epic adventures in mind, improving upon every winning aspect that has made it a stalwart for truck buyers for years along with Toyota's legendary quality, durability, and reliability and much, much more.
Redesigned from the ground up and built upon the TNGA-F global truck platform shared with Tundra and Sequoia, the all-new Toyota Tacoma was designed and engineered for the U.S. market. For its fourth generation, Tacoma utilizes a new high-strength boxed, steel-ladder frame; adds numerous features that off-road enthusiasts can play with; features an available fully redesigned multi-link coil rear suspension that improves ride and handling; and offers two powerful and efficient turbocharged four-cylinder powertrains including a top-of-the-line i-FORCE MAX hybrid producing 326 horsepower and a massive 465 lb.-ft. of torque. Tacoma will also introduce the world to Toyota's all-new Trailhunter grade, first revealed at the 2022 SEMA show as a Trailhunter concept, that's a purpose-built overlanding rig available right off the dealer lot.
The all-new 2024 Toyota Tacoma will go on sale in late 2023 with i-FORCE MAX models arriving in early 2024.
Design and Development Driven by "Tacoma-ness"
Toyota's North American-based CALTY Design Center located in Newport Beach, California and Ann Arbor, Michigan led the design efforts for the new Tacoma, as they did with the Tundra and Sequoia that launched last year.
"Our primary design goal for the all-new Tacoma was to be authentic to the way our customers use their trucks for rugged outdoor fun," says Kevin Hunter, president, CALTY Design Research. "We looked at our truck DNA and the Toyota Baja race trucks for inspiration to capture the extreme spirit of offroad adventure. High lift, big tires, slim body, and a powerful athletic stance define the iconic Tacoma look, referred to as 'Tacoma-ness'."
The CALTY team of designers focused on the theme of a "Badass Adventure Machine" when defining the essence of the new Tacoma. This refers to Tacoma's engineered toughness along with its athletic attitude. The design team strives for Toyota trucks to have a family resemblance, each with unique personalities defined by each one's purpose. For Tacoma, its narrow body and wide upper grille are a nod to the original HiLux, with features like the aggressive skid plates expressing the extreme ruggedness of Tacoma. Other signature design elements include the high-mount headlamps, side functional air intakes, hexagonal grille motif, as well as integrated roof and tailgate spoilers.
Engineering research and development was conducted at Toyota Technical Centers in Michigan, Arizona, and California. The collective engineering teams embraced the "Tacoma-ness" concept and worked tirelessly to develop the next-generation Tacoma as an extremely capable multipurpose vehicle that can go almost anywhere. Improvements were made across all grades. The team enhanced Tacoma's off-road capability, from severe rock crawling to high-speed desert racing. As a result, Tacomas will perform in widely varied environments, on road and off. This includes everything from a luxurious night out in the Limited grade or traversing Black Bear Pass in the Tacoma TRD Off-Road that is more capable than ever.
Rugged Construction and Capability
The new Tacoma utilizes Toyota's TNGA-F global truck platform shared with the all-new Tundra and Sequoia. Much like its full-size brethren, high-strength steel with blanking and laser welds is used throughout the chassis to increase rigidity over the previous generation, and aluminum is used on the upper body to reduce weight. Frame crossmembers are also strengthened to increase durability and carry Toyota-available overlanding gear such as rooftop tents and camp fridges. Additionally, the roof is equipped with integrated attachment holes that allow the ability to easily add roof rack rails on all models combined with a roof channel sealer to ensure a watertight seal. A new front cross member was constructed for the steering gear box, which adds rigidity via additional cross member support while enhancing steering input for the driver and handling dynamics. A new high lift jack point is also integrated into the rear frame end.
Also enhancing ride and handling characteristics on Toyota Tacoma is a newly available multi-link rear suspension. This system replaces the previous model's leaf springs in favor of a set of coils. However, leaf springs remain standard on SR, SR5 XtraCab, and TRD PreRunner grades. Tacoma also now gets four-wheel disc brakes for increased braking performance compared to the previous model, while TRD models and above are equipped with a larger front brake package. TRD models and above equipped with i-FORCE MAX add a larger rear brake package. An electronic parking brake allows for low-speed radar cruise control and a brake hold function. To provide improved steering feel and facilitate the incorporation of additional safety and convenience features, Tacoma will now have electric power steering.
Tacoma now features suspensions tuned specifically to each grade. For instance, TRD Sport has red TRD sport-tuned shocks for a more responsive feel. The TRD Off-Road grade is equipped with monotube Bilstein remote reservoir shocks for extended wheel travel and greater heat dissipation and includes an end stop control valve (ESCV) that provides increased damping force as the suspension comes closer to full bound stroke. TRD Pro comes fitted with FOX's new QS3 three-way adjustable internal bypass shocks with remote reservoirs for improved high speed off-road performance and FOX Internal Floating Piston (IFP) rear bump stops to improve bottom out feel. Trailhunter includes new Old Man Emu (OME) 4×4 Suspension by ARB that is tuned for optimum levels of off-road control and load carrying capability. Limited grade features a new Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) system that constantly adjusts damping forces based on changing road conditions. The linear-solenoid-type AVS system features built-in actuators in the front and rear shock absorbers to continuously change damping force based on road conditions to give the new Tacoma a smooth and luxurious ride.
Maximum towing capacity for Toyota Tacoma is rated at 6,500 lbs. on SR5 i-FORCE and TRD PreRunner XtraCab grades, and maximum payload increases to 1,709 lbs. on TRD Off-Road. To help make towing a breeze, Tacoma is available with a variety of supporting features including a trailer brake controller, trailer backup guide, and digital display mirror. Trailer Back Up Guidance aids in overall maneuvering of trailers, while the available Straight Path Assist feature is designed to help your truck and trailer back up in a straight line. The available 360-degree cameras create a top-down view to aid overall visibility, including tough-to-see areas around the truck and trailer. When operating with Toyota's integrated trailer brake controller, the Blind Spot Monitor is designed to recognize blind spots for not only the truck, but certain trailers as well.
To make things even easier for truck duty, there is a 7-percent increase in bed volume that is useful for loading necessary gear under an available tonneau cover. Additionally, the aluminum tailgate features an available power open and close function with jam protection, and a quick release and close button is integrated within either taillight. Gas grades offer an available 400W AC inverter outlet in the bed and on the rear of the center console, while i-FORCE MAX grades come standard with a 2400W AC inverter. 12V DC power access is also available in both the bed and in the cabin. Trailhunter features an integrated high output air compressor in the bed for airing large diameter tires back up quickly after airing down for spending days, or weeks, on the trail.
Taking Tacoma to the MAX
Toyota Tacoma will offer two powerful and efficient powertrains using a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. For entry-level SR grades, this engine produces 228 horsepower and 243 lb.-ft. of torque. For all other grades, output increases to 278 horsepower and 317 lb.-ft. of torque when paired with the new eight-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with intelligence (ECT-i). Enthusiasts rejoice: a six-speed intelligent manual transmission (iMT2) with automatic rev matching and anti-stall technology is available. Manual transmission models produce 270 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque.
New to the mid-size, body-on-frame pickup segment is Tacoma's i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain, the most powerful powertrain ever offered on Tacoma. Available on TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and standard on the TRD Pro and Trailhunter halo models, i-FORCE MAX pairs the 2.4-liter engine with a 48-hp electric motor integrated into the eight-speed transmission feeding off a 1.87-kWh NiMH battery pack that creates a total system output of 326 horsepower and a whopping 465 lb.-ft. of torque, nearly doubling the torque output of the current-gen truck with the V-6 engine. When equipped with i-FORCE MAX, Tacoma can ascend an 8-percent interstate grade without the need to downshift, making long road trips more pleasant than ever in a Tacoma. Fuel economy estimates for all powertrains will be announced closer to their on-sale dates.
Tacomas with rear-wheel drive feature an automatic limited-slip differential (Auto LSD), and four-wheel-drive models have an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case with high/low range along with Active Traction Control (A-TRAC) and an automatic limited-slip differential (Auto LSD). An electronic locking rear differential is standard on TRD PreRunner, TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter grades. The new and luxurious Limited grade now features a full-time four-wheel-drive system with a center locking differential on i-FORCE MAX models.
The Ultimate Adventure Machine
Toyota Tacoma's legendary off-road capability is taken to the next level for its new generation, making it the ultimate adventure machine. An all-new available front stabilizer bar disconnect increases flex at the push of a button. With the front stabilizer bar disconnected, Tacoma's articulation increases by 10 percent compared to the previous-gen truck. The electronic stabilizer bar disconnect will even be compatible with Toyota-approved lift kits.
Tacoma has up to 33.8-degree approach, 23.5-degree breakover, and 25.7-degree departure angles on TRD Pro without the tow package. Running ground clearance maxes out at 11 inches on TRD Pro. And with tons of available cameras installed on the new Tacoma, TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter drivers can view potential obstacles that are looming on the trail via the Multi-Terrain Monitor that can display crisply on the available 14-inch touchscreen. For the sketchiest of situations, Tacoma offers standard front and optional rear recovery hooks and underbody protection.
Multi-Terrain Select, which is now functional in both 4WD-High and 4WD-Low, offers adjustable settings to help control wheel spin on a variety of terrain such as Mud, Dirt, and Sand. Tacoma also adopts the new, significantly quieter CRAWL Control function that acts as a low-speed, off-road cruise control that allows the driver to focus on steering while the system maintains one of five selectable speeds. When traction is extremely limited, the available electronically activated locking rear differential can help split power 50/50 to the rear wheels. Downhill Assist Control is another off-road feature available and helps the driver navigate descents by limiting the speed of the vehicle. Manual-equipped Tacomas get a standard clutch start cancel that allows the truck to sta