The mid-size (according to American requests) Toyota Tacoma pickup truck of the next, third generation, first appeared before the general public in January 2015 at the International North American Auto Show, and in September of the same year it went on sale in the US market. Against the background of its predecessor, the car has changed dramatically - in addition to significant plastic correction, the technical part was "redrawn", the number of fashionable "gadgets" was increased and comfort was added without losing the safety margin on the road.
The exterior of the "third" Toyota Tacoma is made in an aggressive style - the pickup looks courageous, solid and very catchy. At the front, the car flaunts menacingly frowned headlights and a massive "shield" of a trapezoidal radiator grille, and at the back - vertical red and white lights and a characteristic side, on which the model name is squeezed out. In profile, the "Japanese" is perceived as a traditional truck with embossed rounded-square wheel arches and a long side platform.
"Tacoma" of the third generation is offered with a one-and-a-half two-door or double four-door cab, as well as with a standard or extended wheelbase. The overall length of the machine is 5392-5728 mm, of which 3236-3571 mm is the distance between the axles, and its width and height are 1890 mm and 1793 mm, respectively.
Inside, Toyota Tacoma is perceived as a real pickup due to its angular shapes and durable finishing materials, however, current technologies are not alien to the car - although its steering wheel is massive, it is multifunctional, and a simple and laconic "toolbox" is complemented by a 4.2-inch LCD screen. The weighty center console with asymmetric shapes is pretty in appearance, and modernity is given to it by a 7-inch multimedia system screen and a kind of dual-zone "climate" unit (but everything is simpler in basic cars).
The front seats of a pickup truck with soft padding and a wide profile are practically devoid of lateral support, but they are tuned in sufficient ranges. The rear sofa of a four-door car is able to offer comfortable seating for three riders, but two "funny" seats are based in the one-and-a-half cab at the back.
"Tacoma" of the third generation has in its arsenal a roomy body with a length of 1532 to 1867 mm, depending on the type of cabin, a width of 1440 mm and a side height of 457 mm. In addition to passengers, the car is capable of taking on board about 700 kg of cargo.
Specifications. Toyota Tacoma is equipped with two gasoline power plants, and both of them can work together with 6-speed "manual" or "automatic", rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive transmission of the "part-time" type with rigidly connected front wheels, transfer case and lockable center differential.
- The first engine is an in-line four-cylinder "atmospheric" with a displacement of 2.7 liters, equipped with a 16-valve timing and distributed fuel injection, the productivity of which is 159 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 245 Nm of peak thrust at 3800 rpm. With such a "heart" the pickup consumes from 11.2 to 11.8 liters of gasoline per combined "hundred".
- The second option is a 3.5-liter six-cylinder unit with a V-shaped configuration, a combined power system and a 24-valve timing, generating 278 "mares" at 6000 rpm and 360 Nm of torque at 4600 rpm. The declared fuel "appetite" with this engine does not exceed 11.2-12.4 liters per 100 km in mixed mode.
From a technical standpoint, the Tacoma is a typical pickup truck - a ladder frame heavily utilizing high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels, double wishbone independent suspension with stabilizer bars at the front, and dependent leaf-spring architecture at the rear. The car is equipped with a gear-rack steering mechanism with hydraulic booster. On the front and rear wheels of the mid-size "truck" ventilated "pancakes" and drum devices are used, respectively, with ABS, EBD and Brake Assist.
Options and prices. The "third" Toyota Tacoma is not officially supplied to the territory of Russia, however, "gray dealers" actively import it into our country and sell it at a price of 3,300,000 rubles (in the USA they ask for a car from 23,300 dollars).
Already in the "base" the pickup is equipped quite richly - front and side airbags, air conditioning, 16-inch wheel rims, audio system, multimedia installation, navigation, ABS, EBD, VSC, tire pressure monitoring system, help function when starting to rise, immobilizer and other equipment.
