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2008 Toyota Tacoma Quality Review

July 24, 2008

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

it drives like a Camry with a lift kit
Car and Driver

seats and steering wheels don't shout ‘lowest-cost supplier
Motor Trend

well finished, with high-quality materials
ConsumerGuide

Tacoma still drives very much like a truck
Kelley Blue Book

Interior room isn’t at a premium in the large 2008 Toyota Tacoma, but the rear seat in the Access Cab draws its share of complaints from reviewers around the Web. Edmunds calls the Tacoma’s interior “a spacious cab with Camry-like comfort and ambience.” But ConsumerGuide criticizes the Access Cab body style as having “very little room even with the front seats well forward,” and further complain that, in the Access Cab body style, “the rear bench has a low cushion and bolt-upright seatback, so even those who fit will grumble.”

The Double Cab’s legroom, angled seatback, and “easy entry and exit through fairly large doors,” however, are appreciated by ConsumerGuide and nearly every other reviewer. Motor Trend backs up the rear seat accolades: “Accessed through large doors, the back seat feels comfier than in some compact sedans, an achievement in this class of cramped quarters.” Car and Driver editors also appreciate “the large rear seat that has a slightly reclined seatback and accommodates adults in comfort.” As to arrangements in the front, reviewers at Cars.com find that “front occupants have ample space. The seats are snug, supportive and well-cushioned. Depending on the model, buyers can choose a front bench seat, bucket seats or sport seating.”

The critics go back and forth regarding the Tacoma’s quality, some faulting the chassis’ structural rigidity after 40,000 miles of abuse (Car and Driver: “door seals were squeaking, felt like things had had loosened”), others complaining about steering feel and feedback. In comparing it to car-based entries such as Honda’s Ridgeline, Kelley Blue Book finds the Tacoma’s ride/handling a bit rough around the edges.

All agree, however, that Toyota selects nothing but first-rate materials and switchgear for the interior. Furthermore, innovative touches such as the standard fiber-reinforced sheet-molded-compound truck bed add value and durability to the Tacoma’s design. Motor Trend praises the subtle details in the Tacoma, stating that “Toyota has found a way to make the patterns, colors, and surface textures on the dash, console, and door panels look engaging, something you might see in a considerably more expensive near-luxury sedan.” Car and Driver notes “generous sound insulation hushes the cabin against wind noise and pebble spray from the wheels.”  [Note: this is a repeat of the sentence above.]

Conclusion

A well-fitted interior, thoughtful details throughout, yet somewhat typical truck noises and drivability characterize the 2008 Toyota Tacoma.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:it drives like a Camry with a lift kitCar and Driverseats and steering wheels don't shout ‘lowest-cost supplierMotor Trendwell finished, with high-quality materialsConsumerGuideTacoma still drives very much like a truckKelley Blue Book Interior room isn’t at a premium in the large 2008 Toyota Tacoma, but the rear seat in the Access Cab draws its share of complaints from reviewers around the Web. Edmunds calls the Tacoma’s interior “a spacious cab with Camry-like comfort and ambience.” But ConsumerGuide criticizes the Access Cab body style as having “very little room even with the front seats well forward,” and further complain that, in the Access Cab body style, “the rear bench has a low cushion and bolt-upright seatback, so even those who fit will grumble.” The Double Cab’s legroom, angled seatback, and “easy entry and exit through fairly large doors,” however, are appreciated by ConsumerGuide and nearly every other reviewer. Motor Trend backs up the rear seat accolades: “Accessed through large doors, the back seat feels comfier than in some compact sedans, an achievement in this class of cramped quarters.” Car and Driver editors also appreciate “the large rear seat that has a slightly reclined seatback and accommodates adults in comfort.” As to arrangements in the front, reviewers at Cars.com find that “front occupants have ample space. The seats are snug, supportive and well-cushioned. Depending on the model, buyers can choose a front bench seat, bucket seats or sport seating.” The critics go back and forth regarding the Tacoma’s quality, some faulting the chassis’ structural rigidity after 40,000 miles of abuse (Car and Driver: “door seals were squeaking, felt like things had had loosened”), others complaining about steering feel and feedback. In comparing it to car-based entries such as Honda’s Ridgeline, Kelley Blue Book finds the Tacoma’s ride/handling a bit rough around the edges. All agree, however, that Toyota selects nothing but first-rate materials and switchgear for the interior. Furthermore, innovative touches such as the standard fiber-reinforced sheet-molded-compound truck bed add value and durability to the Tacoma’s design. Motor Trend praises the subtle details in the Tacoma, stating that “Toyota has found a way to make the patterns, colors, and surface textures on the dash, console, and door panels look engaging, something you might see in a considerably more expensive near-luxury sedan.” Car and Driver notes “generous sound insulation hushes the cabin against wind noise and pebble spray from the wheels.”  [Note: this is a repeat of the sentence above.] ConclusionA well-fitted interior, thoughtful details throughout, yet somewhat typical truck noises and drivability characterize the 2008 Toyota Tacoma.  2008 TOYOTA TACOMA STYLING | [7 out of 10] Cars.com: Consumer rating of “4.7 out of 5.0” Kelley Blue Book: "might be mistaken for a domestic truck" Car and Driver: “keep-it-sane styling…and straightforward controls” Motor Trend: “It no longer looks like a small truck” Introduced for ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The 2008 Toyota Tacoma rides harder than the comparable Nissan Frontier models but doesn’t handle quite as well. The Nissan has a better-looking interior, with more comfortable seats and appointments, as well as sprightlier performance from its 4.0-liter V-6. But the Tacoma has a more enviable reputation for reliability. Both the Colorado and Ranger feel inferior and outdated compared to the Tacoma, with subpar interior appointments and a lack of safety features, but the Ranger makes a strong case as one of the only true compact pickup designs left—and it's very fuel-efficient in basic four-cylinder form. Then there’s the Dodge Dakota, which is a little closer to full-size than the Tacoma and has available V-8 power for towing.

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See the Toyota Tacoma in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

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