2022 Toyota Tacoma Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma is a midsize pickup truck that's known for its off-road capabilities. It's a sharp-looking truck on the outside and equally attractive on the inside. It's a capable performer that should suit anyone who wants a truck for work or just for transportation. Toyota has packed a lot of convenience, safety and tech features into this truck too.

Midsize trucks have been making a comeback in popularity over the past few years. There was a period where they were being dropped from the lineups of many automakers. Large SUVs and trucks were all the rage. For 2022 there's a completely different market where the smaller trucks are again getting some appreciation. The Toyota Tacoma will face some strong competition from the likes of the Ford Ranger and the Chevrolet Colorado in 2022.

Here's a look at what's new with the Tacoma for 2022. This will be followed by 10 of the best reasons to consider buying one. Also covered will be some reasons why the Tacoma may not be everyone's best choice.

What's New for 2022?

Most of the new additions for the 2022 Toyota Tacoma belong to the Trail Edition. This model will get an upgraded suspension system for 2022. The truck will get lifted up by just over an inch in the front and by half of an inch in the rear. The approach and break-over angles have been improved for better off-road performance. This trim package also gets a rear locking differential and skid plates for some underbody protection.

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2022 Toyota Tacoma – The Pros

1. Great Engine Performance

The Toyota Tacoma offers strong performance, especially from its available 3.5-liter V6 engine. This engine makes 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. That's plenty of power for good acceleration, solid towing and strong hauling capabilities.

2. Legitimate Off-Road Capabilities

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma is one of the best off-road trucks in its class. It has a high ground clearance and well-designed break-over, approach and departure angles. Most models are available with 4X4 all-wheel drive. There's a robust suspension system and plenty of power to get the truck over obstacles and through rough terrain. The Trail Edition and TRD Off-Road models offer the ultimate in off-road performance.

3. Towing and Payload Hauling

The Tacoma makes for a solid work truck. Even if it primarily functions as daily transportation, it has the power to tow and haul when it is needed. With the proper equipment, the Tacoma can tow up to 6,800 pounds. It has a maximum payload capacity of 1,050 to 1,685 pounds.

4. The Attractive Exterior

The Toyota Tacoma has a sleek yet rugged exterior design. This is an attractive truck that perfectly blends modern style with the classic looks of a strong pickup truck. There are some nice exterior features here too such as LED headlights and taillights, a distinctive grille and multiple choices of wheel design.

5. A Comfortable Interior

The interior of the Tacoma looks just as good as the exterior. It's also quite comfortable. The seats are well-padded and supportive up front. The seats provide heating and power adjustments to quickly set them in the perfect position. The gauge cluster is attractive and within clear view. All of the controls are easy to reach and well thought out too.

6. A Great Infotainment System

The infotainment system offers a large HD touchscreen and a fantastic audio system. There's Bluetooth Technology to stream music and an available navigation system to help drivers find their way. The popular Apple CarPlay and Android Auto apps are compatible with this system. There are numerous USB ports to connect to the system or to use for charging one's smartphone and other devices.

7. Good Fuel-Economy Numbers

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma offers great fuel-economy numbers for a truck in its class. Every model has a 21.1-gallon fuel tank. The base 4-cylinder engine has an estimated rating of 20 miles-per-gallon in the city and 23 miles-per-gallon on the highway. The big V6 does well here too. It has an estimated rating of 18 miles-per-gallon in the city and 22 miles-per-gallon on the highway.

8. Toyota Reliability

Toyota is known for their reliable, long-lasting cars. They are often the longest-running vehicles to be found on the road. Previous models of the Toyota Tacoma have proven to be rugged and reliable trucks that keep performing year after year. The latest Tacoma models should be no different. This is one of the best reasons to choose a Tacoma over the competition.

9. Driver-Assist Technology

Toyota has included a lot of modern technology to keep everyone safe inside of the Tacoma. The Toyota Safety Sense tech is a whole suite of features such as Pre-Collision System, Lane-Departure Alert, Pedestrian Detection and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. There's also a Rear-Parking Assist feature that uses high-tech sensors and sonar to make parking easier than ever before.

10. Safety Features

Every model of the 2022 Toyota Tacoma gets an advanced airbag system. Traction Control, Stability Control and Anti-Lock Brakes are all standard features for every model. There's a Tire-Pressure Monitor and a Blind-Spot Monitor so the driver has a better awareness of their own vehicle as well as what's around them. There's also a LATCH safety system for tethering child safety seats down securely in the rear.

Reasons Not to Buy a 2022 Toyota Tacoma – The Cons

1. The Small Backseat Area

The backseat area will be small and cramped for a lot of passengers. If the backseat passengers will mostly be small children, then it shouldn't be a big problem. For everyone else, they better hope that it's a short ride to the destination.

2. An Unrefined Automatic Transmission

The automatic transmission in the Toyota Tacoma could use some improvement. It's unrefined and doesn't shift as smoothly as it should. This is one area of weakness in a truck that's otherwise a strong performer. Hopefully, this will be improved for future models.

3. Tall Step-Up Height

The emphasis that Toyota puts on off-road performance for the Tacoma has at least one drawback. It lead to the high ground clearance of the truck. This means a steep step-up height that may not be so comfortable for everyone. This just kind of goes with the territory, though, if one wants a real off-road vehicle.

4. Lack of Small-Item Storage

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma could use a few more places to stow small items within the cabin. There aren't quite enough pockets, consoles or cubbyholes. This is an unfortunate oversight for an interior that's otherwise well designed.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

2022 Toyota Tacoma vs 2022 Ford Ranger

The Ford Ranger is a legendary midsize truck that is associated with off-road fun much like the Toyota Tacoma. The Ranger was removed from Ford's lineup for several years before making a comeback in 2019. Both vehicles are roughly the same size and have nearly identical starting price points. The Ford Ranger's most powerful engine is a turbocharged 2.3-liter that produces 270 horsepower. This falls just short of what the Toyota's V6 can do.

The base models have the same towing capacity, but the Toyota can pull more at the higher trim levels. In fact, it almost doubles the Ranger's maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The Ford handles a bit better on paved roads. It has a slightly more comfortable interior, though both have similar convenience features and safety technology. The Toyota Tacoma has the far superior infotainment system.

When it comes to off-road prowess, it's no competition. The Toyota wins easily in that category. It's likely to be the more reliable and longest lasting of these two trucks too. It's hard not to recommend the Toyota over the Ford here. The performance difference makes it the best choice.

2022 Toyota Tacoma vs 2022 Chevrolet Colorado

Another strong competitor for the Tacoma will be the 2022 Chevrolet Colorado. It has a lower starting price than the Tacoma, but it's not significantly lower. Right off the bat, the Tacoma is better equipped with more standard features. This includes convenience features and safety tech too. The Colorado has a lot of configurations and packages for customization to somewhat make up for this.

When it comes to capabilities, both trucks have roughly the same towing and hauling capacities. Both vehicles have powerful V6 engines with tons of horsepower and torque. The Chevrolet Colorado has slightly more horsepower. When it comes to off-road ability, the Tacoma wins again here. Just like before, it's not even close.

The Tacoma's interior is a little nicer and more comfortable. Handling is a bit better for the Chevy. The infotainment system and audio setup is better inside of the Toyota. Once again, it's worth considering that the Toyota will likely last longer if previous trends and statistics hold true. The Toyota Tacoma is again the better choice.

Conclusion

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma is a great choice for anyone looking to get a new midsize truck. It should also be a top pick for those who want an off-road, recreational vehicle. The Tacoma will suit the needs of anyone who wants a truck for work, play or just daily transportation. This pickup is a strong performer and should be reliable for years to come. Toyota offers plenty of standard features for a good price, making the Tacoma a great bargain among its competition.