2026 Toyota Tacoma XtraCab

The 2026 Toyota Tacoma is a midsize truck that can do everything you ask of it and does it very well. That the segment’s sales leader – and it isn’t close – excels isn’t surprising. What is surprising is the level of refinement in a truck that is so capable. But Toyota has been fine-tuning and perfecting the Tacoma’s recipe for decades, with extensive trail testing and hardcore off-road racing.

This truck is a very popular choice for exploring the backcountry, camping, desert runs, or transporting dirt bikes to the trailhead. The tough testing that Toyota does ensures this truck can shrug off the demands put upon it and keep going. The Tacoma also boasts excellent resale value and is available with a hybrid powertrain that offers 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, the most torque in its class. Only the Ranger Raptor has more horsepower in any midsize truck.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize pickup trucks, including the Toyota Tacoma.

The TRD Off-Road, TRD Sport, and TRD Pre-Runner now get a black logo up front. There are new 18-inch TRD wheels available with Goodyear All-Terrains. In addition, a tow hitch now comes standard on the SR XtraCab. There are two new colors: Heritage Blue and Wave Maker.

The Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, and Nissan Frontier also start in that low-$30,000 ballpark, with the well-equipped GMC Canyon, unibody Honda Ridgeline, and Wrangler-based Jeep Gladiator all starting over $40,000.

Before buying a new Tacoma truck, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying.

Class-Leading Resale Value

The Toyota Tacoma has won the Kelley Blue Book Best Resale Value award for compact/midsize trucks every year since the award was introduced in 2003. That best-in-class resale value continues for this generation.

With this generation of the Tacoma, the most popular trim levels use the 278-horsepower turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine. This engine is more refined than we had anticipated, but also feels even more powerful than its horsepower and torque specs suggest.

The hybrid has loads of power, including plenty of low-end torque. That is especially helpful when going up steep grades. The transitions from gasoline to electric are seamless. Acceleration is quick, and the transmission is very smooth, making driving intuitive and predictable. The truck does what you want, and it does it right now.

Most versions of the Tacoma come with rear coil springs, which help make the ride smooth and comfortable while still delivering a satisfying, truck-like feel. The SR, SR5 XtraCab, and TRD PreRunner are the only variants that use leaf springs. “Smooth” is the theme here, and it continues with this excellent midsize truck’s braking feel and response.

Off-roading has been a part of the Toyota truck history since before it was called a Tacoma, so it should come as no surprise that the 2026 Tacoma is excellent off-road. It uses a combination of plentiful torque and a sophisticated suspension to make traversing trails a pleasure. A well-equipped Tacoma can rival a Wrangler or Bronco over rough terrain.

Fuel Economy

Generally speaking, the 2026 Tacoma achieves approximately 23 mpg combined, with lower fuel economy in off-road-specific trims. The hybrid gets the best fuel economy at 24 combined. Since there are no diesels in this segment, both the gas and hybrid engines’ fuel economies are best-in-class.

This generation of the Tacoma makes very good use of space in the cab. The driving position and height feel natural for most drivers, which had been a rare weak spot for the previous gen. While you sit higher than in older Tacomas, it does not come at the expense of headroom. Credit smart seat design for that. Speaking of seats, the TRD Pro uses IsoDynamic front seats. They have an internal shock-absorber system for added comfort when speeding over whoops and dunes, but they compromise rear legroom.

The best-selling Tacomas are Double Cabs, as they seat up to five people. The XtraCab seats two people; a bench seat is not available. Since the XtraCab has no second row, you have space behind those two seats for storage.

The cabin design features chunky knobs and angular, beveled edges to emphasize the Tacoma’s utility. Tech and climate controls are easy to reach while driving and generally intuitive to use and set up. A 14-inch infotainment touchscreen is available, as is a 12.3-inch instrument cluster. Other options include wireless charging and a 10-speaker JBL audio system.

The 4-door Double Cab (crew cab) has four conventionally opening full-size doors and is available with a 5- or 6-foot bed. The 2-door XtraCab comes with a 6-foot bed. The XtraCab is the only 2-seat truck in its segment, and you can only get it as an SR, SR5, or PreRunner. Every trim either comes standard with a Double Cab or it’s available as an option.

The Tacoma is chiseled and industrial, with sharp LED lighting. Elements like wheel and tire combinations, ride height, black badges, and hood scoops differentiate the trim levels. Cool styling cues include an available snorkel, steel skid plates, and a grille that replaces the familiar logo with “TOYOTA” in uppercase letters.

TRD trims
For those who want to take their truck further, TRD (Toyota Racing Development) is a way to get high-quality components installed at the factory and included in your warranty. That saves a lot of time, trouble, and questions. There are four different versions, from mild to extreme.

Trailhunter
But off-roading doesn’t end at the TRD models. There’s also the Trailhunter. It uses a lifted suspension with Old Man Emu monotube shocks, 33-inch all-terrain tires, Crawl Control (off-road cruise control), anti-roll bar disconnect, locking differential, and a terrain monitor. This Tacoma is ready for overlanding right out of the box.

Off-road assists
Toyota offers features such as Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, and a terrain monitor to make off-roading accessible to drivers of all skill levels.

Hybrid drivetrain
Tuned more for power than efficiency, the i-Force Max hybrid offers best-in-class power and best-in-class fuel economy.

Safety
The Tacoma comes standard with many driver-assistance features, including forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assistance, lane tracing, and adaptive cruise control.

All three powertrains are based around a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Most Tacomas use the version that has 278-hp and 317 lb-ft of torque, which is backed by an 8-speed automatic transmission. A 6-speed manual transmission is available, which brings the power numbers down a touch to 270 hp and 310 lb-ft. The base SR’s version has 228 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque.

The i-Force Max hybrid drivetrain, which is optional in the TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and Limited and standard in the TRD Pro and Trailhunter, has 326 hp (323 hp in the Trailhunter) and 465 lb-ft of torque. 4-wheel drive (4WD) is available across the board.

Payload and Towing

To get the Tacoma’s maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds, look for the 278-hp engine and the XtraCab layout. The good news is that opting for the Double Cab, the most popular cab layout, will still get you 6,400 pounds of towing capacity. Hybrids can tow up to 6,000 pounds. The maximum payload capacity of 1,710 pounds is reached with the Double Cab hybrid, but for those who want a truck for carrying payload, the value play is the non-hybrid, which can carry a payload of up to 1,705 pounds.

Max capacities in this segment are the Chevy Colorado’s 7,700-lb towing capacity and the Ford Ranger’s 1,805-lb payload capacity.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Toyota’s new-car warranty lasts 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. Scheduled maintenance is also included for the first two years or 25,000 miles, as well as two years of roadside assistance with unlimited mileage. Hybrid components have an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty, while the hybrid battery has coverage for 10 years or 150,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

The 2026 Toyota Tacoma has not yet been tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but for 2025, it was a Top Safety Pick. Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, and Proactive Driving Assist that adds minor steering and braking inputs when necessary.