2006 Toyota Tacoma 4 door TRD Sport review from North America
"Very comfortable to drive, with plenty of power"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Thus far (2 weeks in) no problems at all. The tonneau cover and running boards were not ready when the truck was delivered, but the vehicle arrived earlier than expected at the dealership.
General comments?
After two weeks of driving, I'm very happy with the Tacoma. It is roomier than my last vehicle (98 Honda CR/V) and much more powerful. It handles very well in both wet and dry conditions, but I haven't yet had a chance to try the off-road capabilities.
The truck feels more stable in cornering than my CR/V, which was a pleasant surprise, given that it's both taller and has a higher ground-clearance than the CR/V. Gas consumption is, however, higher than my old vehicle (an expected trade-off for a heavier, more powerful truck).
The gearing is different than my previous vehicles, in that first gear is much lower than I've been used to: I'm having to up-shift much sooner when the truck gets into motion from a stop. I have found that I really need to be almost completely stopped before shifting into first gear: if I'm moving more than a couple of km/h, there's an audible and physical "clunk" as the gears engage. Having a sixth gear is very good for highway travel, but it's only a cruising gear... for passing, I _have_ to downshift to 5th, unlike in the CR/V.
The manual transmission models (in Canada anyway) only come with a 5-foot bed, which is a bit of a hassle for long loads. I carried a load of 4x8 plywood on the weekend and had to be very careful in securing the end of the sheets, which projected beyond the lowered tailgate.
The interior is very comfortable, with plenty of well-thought-out storage and cupholder locations.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 2006 |
| Year of manufacture | 2005 |
| First year of ownership | 2005 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 245hp V6 Manual |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 9 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 10 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 2300 kilometres |
| Previous car | Honda CR-V |
| Date of Entry | 15th November, 2005 |