Optionally available Hybrid Makes Stick-Shift Pointless: Handbook 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Highway Assessment

The fourth-generation Toyota Tacoma arrived this 12 months with choices together with a hybrid engine, fancy new seats, and adjustable shocks. The infotainment system additionally took an enormous step ahead, inside a barely extra ergonomic dashboard. And, diehard Taco followers will little question respect {that a} handbook transmission nonetheless exists within the lineup.

However the Tacoma has at all times been extra about easy functionality than an inventory of elective options, even for the highest TRD trims. That ought to make the stick-shift and turbo-4 a fascinating mixture.

The handbook is accessible with the TRD Off-Highway package deal, and as quickly as I heard the information, I instantly began wanting ahead to testing out this new era. So when a handbook TRD Off-Highway loaner arrived this summer season, I promptly headed out on a protracted highway journey with 2 nights of tenting within the Sierra Nevada mountains, together with some stable filth trails.

In brief: Toyota surprisingly nonetheless provides the fourth-gen Tacoma with a stick shift. However, unlucky gear ratios and computerized management of different options render the handbook pointless, particularly whereas off-roading. And, gasoline financial system numbers matter much less given the supply of the hybrid engine choice.

2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Highway Handbook Assessment

Revisiting the Earlier Tacoma

One of many essential causes I needed to check out the brand new Tacoma in a handbook was due to how a lot I believed the stick shift helped the third-gen. The automated merely paired badly with the V6, which short-shifted for gasoline financial system and hunted for gears continuously.

The handbook’s lengthy shift lever featured a crisp throw and optimistic engagement. Plus, the clutch pedal firmness and journey matched completely. Driving the stick shift, I held gears farther into the torque curve of the V6, the place the engine began feeling peppy. In brief, the handbook reworked that pickup truck right into a sports activities automotive.

Not so for this fourth-gen, which I sadly found fairly shortly.

Adjusting to the New Stick Shift

In distinction to the outgoing truck, the fourth-gen’s shift lever virtually feels flimsy and versatile. It does enter the shift gates simply nonetheless, however the clutch pedal is much lighter too. This is likely to be good for stop-and-go site visitors, however not for assured shifting. And the clutch itself made unhealthy noises frequently anytime I attempted to shift shortly.

The sound from the engine bay wasn’t fairly a grind and never fairly a rattle, but it surely undoubtedly precipitated concern. And it solely obtained worse once I tried to feather in energy whereas letting out the clutch at pace, too.

The engine itself lacks low-end grunt, and desires the turbo desperately to construct enhance. As soon as previous about 2,500 rpm, the torque begins to construct strongly towards the 317-pound-feet most. However the redline is barely simply previous 5,000 rpm — for a contemporary inline-4, that’s virtually laughable. In the meantime, downright perplexing gear ratios exacerbate the impression that the engine merely lacks fortitude.

To search out energy in first gear, I wanted to rev up effectively previous 4,000 rpm. However then, partially as a result of I realized to keep away from shifting shortly to stop the clutch from making the bizarre noises, I wound up letting out the clutch pedal with the transmission now in second gear, effectively beneath 2,000 rpm. And there, the four-banger’s lack of energy precipitated a disconcerting ahead lurch. Each single time, regardless of how easily I set free the clutch.

Third gear feels extra cheap, and the third to fourth shift is that this Tacoma’s joyful place. However the ratios from fifth to sixth are so shut as to be virtually ineffective. A taller sixth gear for freeway cruising would have made way more sense.

Off-Roading the Handbook TRD Off-Highway

As soon as I reached the beginning of the primary path out to Monache Meadows, I ended to air down the BFGoodrich Path Terrain T/A tires to about 22 psi. This might be my first time off-roading on this route, and I didn’t know fairly what to anticipate. However a buddy informed me he had seen nothing too technical earlier in the summertime.

I began out in 4-Excessive, however discovered myself continuously shifting between first and second gear on slower segments. As an alternative, I most well-liked protecting the switch case to low vary in order that I spent more often than not shifting between third and fourth. The gearing doesn’t fairly match a Wrangler/Gladiator or Bronco for crawling, so second gear did the trick on any of the reasonably technical elements of this path out to the campsite.

Discovering Some Bizarre Choices

On the best way again to asphalt the following morning, I found a serious flaw. To begin with, each handbook automotive ought to include a handbook handbrake. We all know this for drifting sports activities automobiles but additionally for hill begins. The latter applies doubly whereas off-roading, so it’s unhappy that the stick-shift Taco solely comes with an electrical parking brake.

However even worse, I found that the parking brake won’t activate on steep inclines. A warning pops up on the sprint saying “Steep Slope / Park on Flat Highway” as a substitute. This occurred once I tried to pose the truck on probably the most dramatic portion of the path for images. However extra importantly, if I had truly gotten caught, the e-brake would now be ineffective.

No hope of getting out to identify my line prematurely with out turning the truck off and utilizing the transmission to maintain it in place. And no utilizing my left foot on the clutch and proper foot on the fuel, whereas letting out the hand brake to get going. That is actually the precise reverse of what you need.

In the meantime, the hill maintain help operate additionally doesn’t work correctly for a handbook, both. It ought to disengage as soon as the truck begins shifting, through a wheel pace sensor. As an alternative, the second I touched the clutch pedal with an oz of stress, the hill maintain turned off. Which meant I wanted to then push within the pedal all the best way and launch it as shortly as attainable, whereas making an attempt to offer a little bit of fuel earlier than I began sliding backward. (Bear in mind, the e-brake can’t assist.)

Ultimately, I wanted to heel-toe the brake and fuel whereas at a useless cease. It’s doable, however not nice in 4-Low and particularly with a little bit turbo engine that has no torque till the enhance builds. On this case, the automated would undoubtedly carry out higher. And the torque-monster hybrid model even higher nonetheless.

Some folks may say the handbook Tacoma isn’t for rock crawling anyway. Even nonetheless, these are bizarre selections made by Toyota’s growth crew. And all of the extra so given the choice to retain a handbook transmission as an choice within the first place.

Different Tacoma Particulars Not Particular to the Handbook

On smoother sections, protecting the engine in third and fourth let me deal with the remainder of the TRD Off-Highway package deal. I by no means really wanted the rear locker, however turned it on and off simply within the title of science. The uprated suspension stored the Tacoma well-balanced, at the very least. However I wouldn’t name the suspension tremendous refined. The shocks simply can’t sustain with Ford’s Fox dampers or GM’s Multimatics.

For me, the disconnecting sway bar is the cherry on high — fairly presumably my second favourite piece of contemporary automotive know-how after ventilated seats, which this Tacoma fortunately additionally featured. However very like Jeep, Toyota applications the sway bar to reconnect at round 17-18 mph. This will get annoying, and Ford’s Raptors accomplish that at increased speeds.

The BFG Path Terrains truly shocked me. They allowed for a stable mixture of compliance and grip when aired all the way down to 22 psi. And at freeway speeds, I solely observed a little bit of highway hum.

The remainder of the truck, in the meantime, didn’t creak or rattle in any respect. Actually, not one bit. It’s a type of stuff you usually solely understand later, however I stored an ear out on the path. Very spectacular, to say the least, particularly whereas off-roading. And, signal for Toyota’s legendary construct high quality, even amongst some damaging information currently.

The tiny backseat within the crew cab, plus the truth that I additionally packed bike gear, meant I wanted to place lots of tools within the small truck mattress. For off-roading, I’d need a camper shell — or simply an SUV. Even placing smaller objects within the rear footwell required scooting the entrance seats ahead first.

However Toyota believes that Tacoma homeowners very hardly ever haul people within the backseat anyway. And for some purpose, additionally {that a} 6-foot mattress ought to solely include the automated transmission, however not with the i-Drive Max hybrid engine.

The Handbook Tacoma’s Gas Economic system Is Pointless

Even when the stick shift introduced any doubtful execs whereas off-roading, the gasoline financial system numbers then render it pointless. The handbook TRD Off-Highway is technically rated for 19 mpg metropolis and 23 mpg freeway. Over the course of 1,200 miles of mixed driving, I stored observe of gasoline receipts, and my math confirmed slightly below 20 mpg common. My greatest tank, fully of freeway miles in Eco mode, obtained simply shy of twenty-two mpg. Not unhealthy, however not nice both.

Toyota may construct the stick shift for worldwide markets greater than America. And I do respect the choice to purchase one right here. However I can’t fathom the thought of shopping for a TRD Off-Highway at over $53,000 and selecting the handbook. The TRD Off-Highway package deal provides $8,940 and one other $1,230 for the sway-bar disconnect.

At that fee, the hybrid engine solely prices $4,800 extra — a comparatively small worth to pay for 326 horsepower and a whopping 495 pound-feet of torque. Plus, it comes with the eight-speed auto’s much better gear ratios. On high of that, it earns barely higher gasoline financial system rankings at 22/24 mpg.

2024 Tacoma TRD Off-Highway Handbook Assessment: Conclusions

For anybody who really wants a handbook Tacoma, I’d argue the third era makes for a a lot better total package deal. On this case, the fourth-gen does embrace improved connectivity and a greater sprint, however that’s about it. The powertrain simply isn’t value shopping for a brand new truck after we know a third-gen will run without end whereas holding worth. And the hybrid engine with an 8-speed computerized really renders the stick-shift fourth-gen Tacoma virtually fully pointless.