Toyota Tacoma review for Colorado buyers

The Tacoma for Colorado buyers

Which Tacoma generation makes sense here

If you're shopping used in Colorado, you're mostly choosing between the 2016-2023 truck and the 2024 and newer one. The older truck uses a naturally aspirated 3.5L V6 rated at 278 hp. The newer truck dropped the V6 for a 2.4L turbo four, and the top option is the i-FORCE MAX hybrid at up to 326 hp and 465 lb-ft, with Toyota saying peak torque arrives around 1,700 rpm.

The newer truck also moved to a multi-link coil-spring rear suspension, and Toyota tunes the suspension by grade. That matters if you'll spend hours on washboard roads to a trailhead. The older truck is simpler and there are far more of them on the market, so you'll have more choice in trim, mileage and color.

One catch on the new trucks: the base engine isn't the same everywhere. The automatic SR is rated at 228 hp, manual trucks at 270 hp, and SR5 and higher at 278 hp. Read the window sticker or build sheet, and if you want help confirming exactly what a truck has, use our find a specific vehicle request.

Altitude: turbo four and hybrid vs the old V6

Thin air hurts naturally aspirated engines. Turbo maker Garrett cites a rule of thumb of about 3 percent power loss per 1,000 feet of elevation for a non-turbo engine, and explains that a turbo can make up much of that by compressing more air into the cylinders. That's the case for the 2016-2023 V6: it's a proven engine, but it is breathing Denver air or Eisenhower Tunnel air, not sea-level air.

Every 2024 and newer Tacoma is turbocharged, including the hybrid. On paper that should help on long climbs like I-70 west of Georgetown or US-285 over Kenosha Pass. We haven't measured it, so treat this as physics plus published ratings, not a test result.

If you're mostly driving the Front Range and only hit the mountains on weekends, a well-kept V6 truck is still a perfectly reasonable buy. If you're towing up high or live at elevation, the turbo trucks deserve a serious look.

4WD, lockers and Colorado snow

Most 4x4 Tacomas use part-time 4WD with a two-speed transfer case and low range. That's the right tool for a snowy dirt road or a steep trail, but part-time 4WD isn't meant to stay engaged on dry pavement. On a highway that goes from wet to dry to icy, you'll be switching in and out.

The exception on the newer truck is the Limited i-FORCE MAX, which Toyota equips with full-time 4WD and a locking center differential. For someone who drives I-70 every week and doesn't need a rear locker, that's the most set-and-forget setup in the lineup.

The TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro and Trailhunter grades come with an electronic locking rear differential. Whatever you buy, tires matter as much as 4WD. CDOT's Traction Law on I-70 between Morrison and Dotsero is in effect from September 1 through May 31 and calls for adequate tread and the right tire rating, so budget for good tires. Our guide to buying a used car for Colorado winters covers what to check.

Towing and payload: be honest about the numbers

Toyota rates the 2024 and newer Tacoma at up to 6,500 pounds, and that maximum applies to specific grades such as the SR5 i-FORCE and TRD PreRunner XtraCab. The i-FORCE MAX hybrid is rated at 6,000 pounds. The 2016-2023 V6 could reach 6,800 pounds only in certain configurations with the tow package, and the four-cylinder was rated at about 3,500 pounds.

Maximum payload on the new truck is 1,709 pounds on the TRD Off-Road. Payload shrinks as you add a heavier trim, a crew cab, accessories, people and tongue weight. The yellow tire and loading sticker on the driver's door jamb tells you what that exact truck can carry, and that number beats any brochure.

For Colorado, a Tacoma is a good match for a teardrop, a pop-up, a small utility trailer or a pair of dirt bikes. A 25-foot travel trailer over Vail Pass is a different job. Read our notes on towing a camper in the mountains before you match a truck to a trailer, and if your trailer is heavier, compare the Ford F-150.

What to check on a used Tacoma

Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup. The big one for recent trucks is the early-2024 recall of about 381,000 2022-2023 Tacomas: Toyota said welding debris on the rear axle could let retaining nuts loosen over time, and dealers inspect the axle and retighten the nuts.

Tacomas hold their value, so sellers sometimes gloss over hard use. Look under the truck for skid plate damage, bent rock rails, scraped differentials and rust from mag chloride. Check that 4WD high and low both engage, and on off-road grades, that the rear locker light comes on when you press the button.

Colorado hail is another reason to look closely at the roof, hood and bed rails. Our article on hail damage and used cars explains how to spot repaired panels. If you'd rather hand off the search, our vehicle finder does the legwork.