Toyota Tacoma marks a new compact-size pickup in 18 versions
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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GIRDWOOD, Alaska -- In the snow-capped Chugach Range of Alaska, a rugged unpaved path -- rough and lumpy in washboard ripples -- scales Mt. Alyeska, a steep ski slope buried by deep snow in winter but littered with slippery gravel in summer.
At night the mountain serves as a ripe supermarket for nocturnal creatures such as the bear and moose who forage here, but in daylight it works as a playground for hikers, mountain bikers and motorized four-wheelers to romp.
The daunting trail, winding up to a gondola terminal pitched some 2500 vertical feet above Girdwood Valley, becomes our track to test the off-road manners of a new rendition of Toyota's compact-class Tacoma pickup.
This new design for Tacoma, larger in size and stronger in capability than previous iterations, shows up in Toyota's 2005 line with three cab sizes, two powertrain choices and 18 models with three trim options for rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and four-wheel-drive (4WD) traction.
The Tacoma we're pointing up Mt. Alyeska's Klondike Trail, outfitted with a muscular six-pack of power and sure-footed traction promised from the 4WD mechanism, piles on sophisticated electronic devices for precise vehicle control and also carries a new TRD (Toyota Racing Development) off-road package with locking rear differential, progressive-rate front springs, tuned Bilstein shocks and 265/70R16 Goodrich Rugged Trail tires mounted on 16-inch alloy wheels.
Those electronic controls link Tacoma's 4WD device to the anti-lock brake system (ABS) and active traction (A-TRAC) and vehicle skid control (VSC) tools plus an automatic limited-slip differential (A-LSD), hill-start assist control (HAC) and downhill assist control (DAC) systems.
So many acronyms for precision electronic hardware designed to keep this truck's tires moving steadily and safely up a rough and steep slope signify that it makes the challenge an easy task for Tacoma's driver.
Toyota designers virtually started from scratch when reinventing this best-selling pickup.
It's a bigger truck, stretching for six inches longer and nearly four inches wider, which brings more room for riders in the cab and more cargo space.
The wheelbase grows by more than five inches in length as wheel tracks front and rear widen by nearly four inches -- measures that translate to about four more inches of width inside the cab.
And the new scheme for Tacoma ends up performing better with more powerful engines and a higher towing capacity.
Tacoma looks tough from fresh styling for the body with an elevated hood, fat-lip monochromatic bumper and massive front grille ringed in chrome and flanked by big multi-lens headlamp clusters on front corners.
Sculpted fenders set off big wheelwells, which are rimmed by thick body-colored cladding that dips to form protective sills beneath side doors.
The 18 different configurations for Tacoma are based on three different cabin designs -- the two-door Regular Cab and extended-length Access Cab with dual rear-hinged access doors behind front doors plus flip-flat rear jump seats, and a Double Cab with four conventional front-hinged doors and a back seat fit for three.
Tacoma Regular Cab and the Access Cab carry a truck box in back that extends 73.5 inches long.
Tacoma Double Cab brings a choice in box lengths with the 73.5-inch bed or an abbreviated 60.3-inch bed.
Deck and walls of the bed contain composite sheet-molded compound (SMC) that's lighter than steel yet stronger and more durable. The box has a built-in system for two-tier loading of cargo with rails for adjustable tie-down cleats and optional 115-volt powerpoint.
And bed rails were designed for compatibility with Toyota accessories, such as cargo bed cross bars, a fork-mount bike rack or diamond-plate storage box.
Structure underpinning Tacoma is a new design with the ladder-type frame reinforced by seven cross braces and the front third of side rails boxed for extra strength to control energy forces unleashed from a frontal or off-set frontal collision.
New components for the suspension and tuning of the rack and pinion steering system improve performance off pavement as well as the on-road ride quality.
Suspension elements include an independent double wishbone arrangement up front with coil springs and gas-filled shocks, and leaf springs in back mounted beneath the axle for RWD and above the axle for 4WD in order to boost the ground clearance.
Powertrains to motivate Tacoma begin with the entry-issue engine, a dual-cam 2.7-liter four-cylinder plant consisting of an iron block with aluminum alloy heads and Toyota's intelligent variable valve timing (VVT-i).
It generates 164 hp at 5200 rpm with torque of 163 lb-ft at 3800 rpm.
A five-speed manual transmission is the standard, but a four-speed automatic is available.
Toyota's 4.0-liter aluminum V6 is also on tap for Tacoma, pumping 245 hp at 5200 rpm and 282 lb-ft at 3800 rpm as one of the strongest six-packs for the class.
Transmissions for the V6 upgrade to a six-speed manual or five-speed electronically-controlled automatic.
Safety systems also expand on new Tacoma, with ABS and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) plus brake assist (BA) standard on all models and the VSC system available on most trims.
Frontal air bags come with all, and the Double Cab adds options for seat-mounted side air bags and curtain-style air bags in headliners.
Tacoma shows up in several trim grades (base, SR5 and TRD Sport), but also presents special editions like PreRunner and X-Runner.
PreRunner with RWD traction appears like a customized 4WD truck with hiked stance and flared fenders.
Low-to-the-ground X-Runner, a swoopy performance truck with ground effects and hood scoop added and the look of customized drop job, draws its name from x-brace frame reinforcements to increase torsional rigidity for handling a twisty set of road curves.
It gets the Access Cab and ground effects wrapping the base of the truck. Suspension drops an inch below a standard Tacoma, and X-Runner runs with 18-inch alloy wheels crowned by Bridgestone Potenza 255/45R18 performance tires.
Only three colors mark the X-Runner: Radiant Red, Black Sand or bright Speedway Blue.
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| 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS |
| Description: |
Compact-class pickup truck |
| Model Options: |
Compact-class pickup truck |
| Trim Options: |
Tacoma, SR5, TRD Sport |
| Configurations: |
Regular Cab, Access Cab, Double Cab |
| Wheelbase: |
Regular: 109.4 inches, Access: 127.2 inches, Double: 127.8 inches, 140.6 inches |
| Overall Length: |
Regular: 190.4 inches, Access: 208.1 inches, Double: 208.1 inches, 221.3 inches Cargo box length: Regular: 73.5 inches, Access: 73.5 inches, Double: 73.5 inches, 60.3 inches |
| Engine Size: |
DOHC 2.7-L I4 VVT-i, DOHC 4.0-L V6 VVT-i |
| Transmission: |
I4: Manual/5, Auto/4 ECT V6: Manual/6, Auto/5 ECT |
| Drive: |
2WD Rear, 4WD part-time |
| Braking: |
Power disc/drum, ABS/EBD/BA opt. TRAC/VSC/HAC/DAC |
| Airbags: |
Regular: 2 (front), Access: 2 (front), Double: 2 (front) opt. 2 (side), 4 (side curtain) |
| Gross Weight: |
2WD: 5250 pounds, 4WD: 5450 pounds |
| Towing Capacity: |
2WD: 6500 pounds, 4WD: 6500 pounds |
| Gas Mileage: |
I4 M/5: 22/28 mpg, I4 A/4: 21/27 mpg, V6 M/6: 17/21 mpg, V6 A/5: 18/22 mpg |
| MSRP Price: |
$ 14,000 to $ 35,000 |
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