2024 Toyota Tacoma: A Comprehensive Look at the Innovative Powertrain Lineup

The saga of the mid-size pickup truck market sees a dynamic shift with the unveiling of the completely revamped 2024 Toyota Tacoma. Building upon Toyota's acclaimed quality, durability, and reliability, this incarnation of the Tacoma significantly pushes boundaries, reshaping the genre of go-anywhere trucks.

Beginning with a complete redesign, the fourth-generation Tacoma shares the TNGA-F global truck platform with Tundra and Sequoia. It brandishes a robust high-strength boxed, steel-ladder frame, a redesigned multi-link coil rear suspension, and multiple attractive features targeted towards off-road enthusiasts. Awaiting Canadian customers are two turbocharged four-cylinder powertrains, including a mighty i-FORCE MAX hybrid producing a colossal 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. The 2024 Tacoma also introduces Toyota's new Trailhunter grade, a purpose-built overlanding rig.

Offering even greater off-road capability, the new Tacoma proposes a suite of options for every owner. Dave Christ, Toyota group vice president and general manager, expressed confidence in Tacoma maintaining its leading position among mid-size pickup buyers. The truck is set to hit the markets later this year, with i-FORCE MAX models arriving in early 2024.

Diving into the heart of the 2024 Tacoma, the powertrain options promise power and efficiency. A 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, combined with an eight-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission (ECT-i), generates 278 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque across all grades in Canada. For manual transmission lovers, a six-speed intelligent manual transmission (iMT2) with automatic rev matching and anti-stall technology is available, churning out 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.

Topping the mid-size pickup segment is Tacoma’s i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain. Available on selected models, it pairs a 2.4-litre engine with a 48-hp electric motor integrated into the eight-speed transmission, yielding a substantial 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. The motor is powered by a 1.87-kWh NiMH battery pack, providing nearly double the torque output of the previous-gen truck with a V6 engine.

In Canada, four-wheel-drive is standard on all Tacoma models. Various models feature an electronic locking rear differential and full-time four-wheel-drive system with a center locking differential on i-FORCE MAX models. The maximum towing capacity for Tacoma is 6,500 lbs., with the payload capacity now increased to 1,709 lbs. The truck also offers trailer backup guidance, a trailer brake controller, and a digital display mirror, simplifying the towing process for users. The Toyota Tacoma 2024 looks set to redefine mid-size pickup truck standards while bolstering its position in the market.