2025 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid Review - Finally! A Mid Size Hybrid Truck!
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Date: 2024-04-24
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Comments and reviews: 20
lawrenceralph7481
Not sure a hybrid drivetrain is particularly valuable to a Tacoma user compared to the venerable 4 or 6.
The mildly better performance and fuel economy are largely offset by higher price, complexity and the likely shorter operational lifetimes of the very expensive ABS, power supply and traction battery components.
They are excellent until a giant bill presents itself late in the vehicle life. Having three shorter lifetime components in addition to the normal ICE compenents, increases the liklehood of earlier decommissioning.
Plus, somehow each modest new vehicle update seems to result is massive increases in price. Way out of proportion to any benefit provided.
These large price increases in assault the constitution of consumers continuously, garnering resentment and resistance among the buying public.
After 30 years of buying new vehicles. It is unlikely that I will ever buy another. Painful prices and the resultant depreciation make a new car purchase unworkable.
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Not sure a hybrid drivetrain is particularly valuable to a Tacoma user compared to the venerable 4 or 6.
The mildly better performance and fuel economy are largely offset by higher price, complexity and the likely shorter operational lifetimes of the very expensive ABS, power supply and traction battery components.
They are excellent until a giant bill presents itself late in the vehicle life. Having three shorter lifetime components in addition to the normal ICE compenents, increases the liklehood of earlier decommissioning.
Plus, somehow each modest new vehicle update seems to result is massive increases in price. Way out of proportion to any benefit provided.
These large price increases in assault the constitution of consumers continuously, garnering resentment and resistance among the buying public.
After 30 years of buying new vehicles. It is unlikely that I will ever buy another. Painful prices and the resultant depreciation make a new car purchase unworkable.
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Cloud30000
As far as running out of battery, this will only happen if you have the pedal to the floor. In all other conditions, the engine is able to deliver all the power needed and still recharge the battery (at the cost of mpg.
Even when towing up a steep hill, the engine is generally powerful enough to maintain speed (once that speed is reached) at the max tow rating without the use of the motor.
I can’t think of a situation outside of racing where there will not be enough battery for the full time you floor it (generally less then 30 seconds, and enough time before flooring it again (even a minute will return a lot of energy to the battery) for the engine to recharge enough battery for the next time you floor it.
In normal drive mode, when it cycles the battery between charge and discharge, it always saves a buffer of energy for at least 30 seconds of flooring it to give you that extra power on demand even while the battery is at the lowest point in it’s normal drive mode cycle.
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As far as running out of battery, this will only happen if you have the pedal to the floor. In all other conditions, the engine is able to deliver all the power needed and still recharge the battery (at the cost of mpg.
Even when towing up a steep hill, the engine is generally powerful enough to maintain speed (once that speed is reached) at the max tow rating without the use of the motor.
I can’t think of a situation outside of racing where there will not be enough battery for the full time you floor it (generally less then 30 seconds, and enough time before flooring it again (even a minute will return a lot of energy to the battery) for the engine to recharge enough battery for the next time you floor it.
In normal drive mode, when it cycles the battery between charge and discharge, it always saves a buffer of energy for at least 30 seconds of flooring it to give you that extra power on demand even while the battery is at the lowest point in it’s normal drive mode cycle.
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quentinberg3755
Are you actually feeling the battery go flat with regularity or is this all just hypotheticals You've mentioned it every time you've reviewed one of these 1 motor hybrids, but I'm struggling to imagine a scenario where the engine power alone doesn't have some headroom -- in a sustained use case -- to push some of that to the battery. Even towing 70mph sustained up a long hill, you aren't likely asking for the full 278hp that the engine itself can provide. Getting to 70mph towing is where you are asking for that max power which is probably 20 seconds of full gas.
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Are you actually feeling the battery go flat with regularity or is this all just hypotheticals You've mentioned it every time you've reviewed one of these 1 motor hybrids, but I'm struggling to imagine a scenario where the engine power alone doesn't have some headroom -- in a sustained use case -- to push some of that to the battery. Even towing 70mph sustained up a long hill, you aren't likely asking for the full 278hp that the engine itself can provide. Getting to 70mph towing is where you are asking for that max power which is probably 20 seconds of full gas.
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naveenthemachine
So it’s overpriced cramped and not that good to drive And guaranteed markups A flat out nope on this one
Toyota to no one’s surprise screwed up as usual with this just like nearly every single new model they’ve released.
Forget about the Toyota mythical instant reliability. You’re just not gonna get it. Taking a complex drivetrain and gluing a Toyota logo doesn’t equate to instant quality and reliability. That’s just not reality.
The Colorado, canyon, and ranger already sound like way better options and this isnt even out yet
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So it’s overpriced cramped and not that good to drive And guaranteed markups A flat out nope on this one
Toyota to no one’s surprise screwed up as usual with this just like nearly every single new model they’ve released.
Forget about the Toyota mythical instant reliability. You’re just not gonna get it. Taking a complex drivetrain and gluing a Toyota logo doesn’t equate to instant quality and reliability. That’s just not reality.
The Colorado, canyon, and ranger already sound like way better options and this isnt even out yet
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donaldcallahan7412
The 1990 Toyota pickup had an MSRP of $7, 998. Adjusted for inflation, that's about $16K today. Yes, this was a single cab and 2WD, but why are we even imagining paying 4 to 5 times this for two more doors with a miserable backseat, and a 4WD system that would have been a $1500 dollar add on.
All these car manufacturers are going to go belly up making vehicles that average people cannot afford. Yes you will have lots of first year buyers that get the new stuff just for show, BUT after the hype dies its going be last years Tacoma.
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The 1990 Toyota pickup had an MSRP of $7, 998. Adjusted for inflation, that's about $16K today. Yes, this was a single cab and 2WD, but why are we even imagining paying 4 to 5 times this for two more doors with a miserable backseat, and a 4WD system that would have been a $1500 dollar add on.
All these car manufacturers are going to go belly up making vehicles that average people cannot afford. Yes you will have lots of first year buyers that get the new stuff just for show, BUT after the hype dies its going be last years Tacoma.
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Cloud30000
When they stop selling 80% of the trucks they produce, then price cuts will be considered. Until then, you are no longer the target market if you consider this expensive yet the target market is big enough that you simply no longer matter to manufacturers.
We live in a society where people take out loans and overpay for everything, be it houses, vehicles, vacations, food, or phones. That drives inflation and increasing prices, and no amount of complaints will alter that as long as people continue to pay those prices.
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When they stop selling 80% of the trucks they produce, then price cuts will be considered. Until then, you are no longer the target market if you consider this expensive yet the target market is big enough that you simply no longer matter to manufacturers.
We live in a society where people take out loans and overpay for everything, be it houses, vehicles, vacations, food, or phones. That drives inflation and increasing prices, and no amount of complaints will alter that as long as people continue to pay those prices.
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alex_on_autos
Ford and GM and Jeep definitely powering ahead in the midsize market as is Honda actually. Obviously the big winner has been the Ford Maverick as everyone keeps downsizing to the maximum extent possible. US economy definitely heading for a crash leaving aside the one that has already occurred in 2022 and is still ongoing and is now clearly impacting the pure play BEV space. Hybrids have been huge sellers especially for Toyota and Honda so how this plays out over time no small matter absolutely.
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Ford and GM and Jeep definitely powering ahead in the midsize market as is Honda actually. Obviously the big winner has been the Ford Maverick as everyone keeps downsizing to the maximum extent possible. US economy definitely heading for a crash leaving aside the one that has already occurred in 2022 and is still ongoing and is now clearly impacting the pure play BEV space. Hybrids have been huge sellers especially for Toyota and Honda so how this plays out over time no small matter absolutely.
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tjs114
This just reinforces in my mind that Toyota has been drinking their own Kool Aid. Way overpriced for a mid-size truck with a cramped interior and questionable design.
If I can't fit my foot in the footwell of a truck, they aren't doing it right. Heck, my size 11 feet had no problems with a Chevy Luv back in the 1980s, or a Ford Ranger in the 1990s; but Toyota (and GM for that matter) can't make a reasonable footwell
There's a reason I've always pronounced Toyota's 'performance' trim TURD.
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This just reinforces in my mind that Toyota has been drinking their own Kool Aid. Way overpriced for a mid-size truck with a cramped interior and questionable design.
If I can't fit my foot in the footwell of a truck, they aren't doing it right. Heck, my size 11 feet had no problems with a Chevy Luv back in the 1980s, or a Ford Ranger in the 1990s; but Toyota (and GM for that matter) can't make a reasonable footwell
There's a reason I've always pronounced Toyota's 'performance' trim TURD.
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nikidelvalle
I dunno if Toyota is doing this cause they don't believe in EVs or because they actually care about the planet (lol, but I do still want to appreciate that this giant hybrid push is going to have a much bigger impact on vehicle emissions than anything any other manufacturer is doing. I like EVs, but economically we can build way more hybrids with the same resources and get normies afraid of change into lower emissions vehicles. Cool stuff.
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I dunno if Toyota is doing this cause they don't believe in EVs or because they actually care about the planet (lol, but I do still want to appreciate that this giant hybrid push is going to have a much bigger impact on vehicle emissions than anything any other manufacturer is doing. I like EVs, but economically we can build way more hybrids with the same resources and get normies afraid of change into lower emissions vehicles. Cool stuff.
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harisjaved1379
I think truck prices are insane, probably 60k for this. Better to just buy a used Land Cruiser or a Lexus that will be more reliable in the long run. Also what happened to the styling It looks very childish, it’s like someone took a hilux and started adding things to it until it started looking like a transformer.
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I think truck prices are insane, probably 60k for this. Better to just buy a used Land Cruiser or a Lexus that will be more reliable in the long run. Also what happened to the styling It looks very childish, it’s like someone took a hilux and started adding things to it until it started looking like a transformer.
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alex_on_autos
I like the concept, but like all new vehicles, I can't say I like the price, enough so that I'm not buying anything. However I wouldn't buy the Ford to save any money even if I had needed a truck. Quality and reliability are high on my list, Ford, RAM, Chevy don't really come with quality standard or optional.
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I like the concept, but like all new vehicles, I can't say I like the price, enough so that I'm not buying anything. However I wouldn't buy the Ford to save any money even if I had needed a truck. Quality and reliability are high on my list, Ford, RAM, Chevy don't really come with quality standard or optional.
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mrgurulittle7000
As a contender for the entire hybrid midsize truck market to themselves, this is going to be another runaway success. The Detroit three caught again with no vehicle to compete against Toyota with. Only Toyota could’ve seen hybrid popularity coming and the others are playing catch-up.
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As a contender for the entire hybrid midsize truck market to themselves, this is going to be another runaway success. The Detroit three caught again with no vehicle to compete against Toyota with. Only Toyota could’ve seen hybrid popularity coming and the others are playing catch-up.
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KNRS927
It’s very cool, but 63k is a lot. You can get near top-trim full size pickups like an F150 King Ranch or Toyota’s own Tundra for that amount. Unless you really plan to go offroad/overland and don’t want to make a build yourself, this truck just makes zero sense even if it looks cool.
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It’s very cool, but 63k is a lot. You can get near top-trim full size pickups like an F150 King Ranch or Toyota’s own Tundra for that amount. Unless you really plan to go offroad/overland and don’t want to make a build yourself, this truck just makes zero sense even if it looks cool.
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TheJoncic
Already seeing discounts on 4g Tacomas. Not sure how the hybrid will sell well. Maybe initially for early adopters with deep pockets but will probably slow after that.
Also betting a few years the hybrid will be only engine option as emissions clamp down further.
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Already seeing discounts on 4g Tacomas. Not sure how the hybrid will sell well. Maybe initially for early adopters with deep pockets but will probably slow after that.
Also betting a few years the hybrid will be only engine option as emissions clamp down further.
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TheJoncic
Already seeing discounts on 4g Tacomas. Not sure how the hybrid will sell well. Maybe initially for early adopters with deep pockets but will probably slow after that.
Also betting a few years the hybrid will be only engine option as emissions clamp down further.
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Already seeing discounts on 4g Tacomas. Not sure how the hybrid will sell well. Maybe initially for early adopters with deep pockets but will probably slow after that.
Also betting a few years the hybrid will be only engine option as emissions clamp down further.
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jsfbay1
Is the engine mounted longitudinally or transversely The hybrid max system is certainly different for RWD platforms than transversely mounted FWD platforms like the Crown lineup. Is the smoothness related to this Just curious. Thanks for the typically great review!
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Is the engine mounted longitudinally or transversely The hybrid max system is certainly different for RWD platforms than transversely mounted FWD platforms like the Crown lineup. Is the smoothness related to this Just curious. Thanks for the typically great review!
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ASD-DAD
Toyota is pissing me off, $63K taxes is criminal for a non full size truck. Toyota pricing out 95% of Americans. My brother's 2009 Tundra Limited 4wd was $36K brand new. No way inflation is causing all of this price madness.
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Toyota is pissing me off, $63K taxes is criminal for a non full size truck. Toyota pricing out 95% of Americans. My brother's 2009 Tundra Limited 4wd was $36K brand new. No way inflation is causing all of this price madness.
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sentiencepsn2714
As someone 6’5 I hated the toboggan seating position of the previous gen Tacoma. This one is better, but the seats feel very narrow for my frame. Don’t have this issue with the Frontier or any American brand.
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As someone 6’5 I hated the toboggan seating position of the previous gen Tacoma. This one is better, but the seats feel very narrow for my frame. Don’t have this issue with the Frontier or any American brand.
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jerrycarter1928
LMAO when the dude is sitting in the back seat with his foot turned 75 degrees.
A lot of features, but it comes with a ridiculous price point.
We'll see what the smaller Toyota truck looks like.
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LMAO when the dude is sitting in the back seat with his foot turned 75 degrees.
A lot of features, but it comes with a ridiculous price point.
We'll see what the smaller Toyota truck looks like.
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Ride_Runner
I like how Toyota is trying to rebrand the hybrid powertrain for performance use. Electricity isn't just for mpg but also Ft LBs(torque.
Toyota really knows how to make me want more cars.
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I like how Toyota is trying to rebrand the hybrid powertrain for performance use. Electricity isn't just for mpg but also Ft LBs(torque.
Toyota really knows how to make me want more cars.
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