Used 2010 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab

At first glance, equipping a pickup truck body with the ride and handling of a sports car might seem like an odd pairing. But consider that many compact pickup buyers use their trucks only for light-duty hauling, and the idea is not so far-fetched. The 2010 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab X-Runner features a full-length bed and a roomy cab, which gives a great combination for hauling sports gear and showing up at tailgate parties. The lowered sport suspension rides on 18-inch alloy wheels and performance tires. Reinforced frame bracing provides a stiffer chassis for better handling and, while the truck’s lightweight rear end isn’t exactly conducive to slalom course maneuvers, the X-Runner’s handling is far better than the average Tacoma pickup.

The 2010Toyota Tacoma Access Cab X-Runner has Toyota’s strong 4.0-liter V6, a six-speed manual transmission a new Automatic Limited-slip Differential (Auto-LDS). Put the pedal to the floor and you can feel and hear the powerful V6 working, conveying a refined note worthy of any sports car. The X-Runner’s extensive suspension rework (gas pressurized shocks, stiffer front and rear springs and a rear anti-roll bar) provides a comfortable and capable ride. On the highway our X-Runner displayed impressive cornering ability and precise steering feel and feedback. The six-speed manual transmission, however, is still a truck transmission, with long throws that detract from the X-Runner’s sporty nature.

Getting into and out of the X-Runner is easy, and the seats are designed with pleasant bolstering and adjustability to fit most body types and sizes. A recessed, three-ring instrument cluster looks handsome and is in clear view. Controls are easy to reach and operate, and there are available steering wheel-mounted controls for the sound system. Overall, the mid-size X-Runner feels very roomy and our test vehicle’s rear-hinged access doors made it easy to reach gear stowed behind the front seat. When lowered, the tumble-flat rear seats form a level platform and permit easy access to the recessed floor storage compartments.

The X-Runner has a bold look, blending familiar Toyota styling with the larger body panels of some domestic trucks. Oversized headlights and a wide trapezoidal grille dominate the X-Runner’s assertive-looking exterior. A wide hood scoop and color-keyed bumpers accentuate matching ground effects, grille surround, door handles and mirrors. Massive 18-inch wheels with P255/45R18 Bridgestone Potenza performance tires finish off the look. The overall exterior of the X-Runner is well done, and an impeccable level of fit and finish is a known characteristic of Toyota products.

Supercharger
The optional Eaton-Roots type supercharger kit increases the V6’s output to 304 horsepower and 334 lb.-ft. of torque, and carries a five-year/60,000-mile warranty (or the remainder of the powertrain warranty at the time of installation) when installed by a Toyota dealer.

Functional Bed
All Tacomas feature a composite inner cargo bed with built-in storage compartments and four rail-mounted sliding tie-down cleats.

The two-wheel-drive Tacoma Access Cab X-Runner features a 4.0-liter V6 engine, six-speed manual transmission, anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic traction and stability control, front side and side curtain airbags, AM/FM/Satellite Radio-ready stereo with single CD player and auxiliary audio input jack, 18-inch alloy wheels, defroster-linked air conditioning, sport bucket seats with driver’s-side adjustable lumbar support, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, power windows, keyless entry and a sliding rear window. The X-Runner also includes a versatile composite inner bed that’s 10-percent lighter than steel and more durable.

Options for the X-Runner include an upgraded audio system with six-disc CD changer and seven speakers, a rearview monitor, a pickup bed extender, first-aid kit and a number of dealer or port-installed accessories, including a supercharger. Some Toyota accessories are limited to specific regions in the United States, so be sure to ask your dealer as to what options are available in your area.

The X-Runner’s 4.0-liter V6 engine features Toyota’s VVT-i technology (Variable Valve Timing with intelligence) that minimizes the compromises between low-end torque and peak horsepower. The 4.0-liter V6 is nearly flawless in the areas of noise, vibration and harshness, but fuel economy figures are not all that much better than for some full-size V8 models.

4.0-liter V6
236 horsepower @ 5200 rpm
266 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/18