2020 Toyota Tacoma

The volume SR5/TRD Off-Road V6 4x4 uses the 3.5L D-4S V6 at 278 hp, unchanged for the 2020 facelift; the 2.7L four is the low-volume base engine.

265 lb-ft peaks at 4,600 rpm — modest for a mid-size truck and well behind turbo rivals.

Instrumented V6 4x4 tests of the 2020 truck cluster around 7 seconds; heavier TRD Pro and I4 trucks are slower.

The Atkinson-capable V6 is smooth at speed but feels flat low in the rev range, needing high rpm to deliver its peak torque — a widely reported complaint.

The economy-tuned 6-speed automatic is notorious for hunting between gears and reluctant downshifts on grades; a 6-speed manual remains available on TRD trims.

V6 trucks are rated to 6,800 lbs when properly equipped, behind the 7,000–7,700 lb diesel/turbo rivals.

Maximum payload is 1,685 lbs on the Access Cab SR; volume Double Cab 4x4 trims carry noticeably less.

V6 tow package brings a Class IV hitch, 4/7-pin connector, transmission/oil coolers and trailer sway control, but no integrated brake controller (prewired only), no trailer backup assist and no trailer camera views.

Part-time 4WD with two-speed transfer case and low range is available on every trim; TRD Off-Road/Pro add Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control and a locking rear differential.

Among the most off-road-credible trucks of its year: TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro (FOX shocks, skid plate, rear locker, Crawl Control, 2020 TRD Pro adds Multi-Terrain Monitor) are segment benchmarks.

Two gas engines (2.7L I4, 3.5L V6) with 6AT or 6MT; no diesel, turbo or electrified option in 2020 — the hybrid arrived only with the 2024 generation.

The volume V6 4x4 automatic is EPA-rated 20 MPG combined; 4x2 V6 manages 21.

EPA city rating for the volume V6 4x4 automatic.

EPA highway rating for the volume V6 4x4 automatic.

Computed from the 21.1-gallon tank and the EPA 20 MPG combined rating for the V6 4x4.

EPA annual fuel cost at 15k miles and current regular-fuel prices for the volume V6 4x4.

Both the 2.7L I4 and 3.5L V6 run on regular unleaded; no premium requirement.

The 2020 Tacoma (third generation, facelift year) carries a 4-star NHTSA overall rating, held back by 4-star frontal and rollover results.

Earned a 2020 IIHS Top Safety Pick (not TSP+), but only with the LED headlights, and the passenger-side small overlap result is Acceptable; the later updated side test rates it Marginal.

Toyota Safety Sense P is standard on every trim (AEB with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, auto high beams, radar cruise), but there's no steering lane-keep assist, and BSM/RCTA are not standard on the base SR.

Vehicle-to-vehicle AEB is rated Superior and avoided collisions at 12 and 25 mph; the TSS-P pedestrian detection was not rated in IIHS's nighttime pedestrian tests.

Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert spread to more trims for 2020 (SR5 and above), but it isn't on the base SR, it only alerts with no braking, and it doesn't cover a trailer.

Only Lane Departure Alert with sway warning (warning only, no steering input), and there is no lane centering.

Dynamic Radar Cruise Control is standard but works only at higher speeds (no stop-and-go), and there is no highway assist.

There is no hands-free or lane-centering highway driving system on any 2020 Tacoma.

LED headlights on upper trims rate Good, but the halogen projectors on the volume SR/SR5 trims rate Marginal; auto high beams are standard.

The upright cab gives good forward sightlines, but the low seating position and the high hood and bed rails limit close-in views. The 2020 Limited added a Panoramic View Monitor, though the volume trims rely on the backup camera alone.

IIHS rates the LATCH hardware Marginal. The Double Cab's upright, cramped rear bench makes fitting more than one child seat difficult.

The volume Double Cab seats five; the Access Cab's rear jump seats bring it to four.

Adequate front headroom, but tighter than full-size trucks and middling for mid-size rivals.

Front legroom is competitive on paper, though the low-mounted seat makes the position feel legs-out.

Rear headroom sits at the bottom of the truck band.

The Double Cab's rear seat is among the most cramped in the segment, with an upright backrest and knees-up cushion.

The volume Double Cab carries the 5-ft bed; the 6-ft bed is offered on Access Cab and Double Cab long-bed configurations.

A small bed by truck standards, typical of the 5-ft mid-size short box.

Composite bed with deck-rail tie-down system and an available 400W bed outlet, plus lockable side-bed storage; cabin storage is ordinary, with small under-seat bins in the Double Cab.

The low, flat-floor-to-hip seating position draws consistent criticism for its legs-out posture, and the rear bench is upright and cramped; the 2020 refresh added a power driver's seat on SR5 and up, which helps somewhat.

Leaf-sprung body-on-frame ride is firm and busy unladen, with head toss over broken pavement; acceptable for a truck but behind the Ridgeline and Colorado.

Wind and road noise are noticeable at highway speeds and the V6 is loud when revved, as the 6-speed automatic frequently forces it to be.

Heated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate are confined to Limited and upper-trim packages; no ventilated seats, heated wheel or rear vents on most trims.

The 2020 SR Access Cab 4x2 opens the range at a mainstream mid-size price, well under the truck band's midpoint.

The SR5 V6 Double Cab 4x4 is the Tacoma's volume configuration; mid-$30,000s is typical for a mid-size crew-cab 4x4 of this era.

The proven 3.5L V6 and 6-speed automatic, cheap widely stocked parts, and two years of included service keep running costs among the lowest of any pickup.

The Tacoma's resale value is legendary; it holds value better than almost any vehicle on the market, which sharply lowers real depreciation cost.

Industry-minimum basic coverage, the same as most mainstream rivals.

Standard powertrain coverage for a mainstream brand; trails Hyundai/Kia-style 10-year coverage.

ToyotaCare covers scheduled maintenance for 2 years/25,000 miles plus 2 years of unlimited-mile roadside assistance — a real but short included-maintenance period, ahead of Ford/GM/Nissan mid-size rivals that include little or none.

$36,365 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (74% retained, or about $26,910) leaves about $9,455 in depreciation. Add the projected $4,200 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $13,655 in total.

J.D. Power rates the 2020 Tacoma 'Great' for quality and reliability, and it ranks first among midsize pickups. Consumer Reports' owner data puts it around average to above average. The 2020 facelift changed the exterior and the tech, not the hardware. The two sources broadly agree, with a small gap between them, so this sits at the bottom of the top band.

Around the 2020 model year Toyota was consistently near the top of Consumer Reports' brand reliability rankings and J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study, alongside Lexus. That gives it the strongest brand-level record of any mainstream truck maker.

NHTSA lists just one recall for the 2020 model year: the Denso low-pressure fuel pump campaign that covered about 1.5 million Toyota/Lexus vehicles. It is a stall risk, but it is shared across the brand rather than specific to the Tacoma. Service bulletins for this generation are mostly about transmission shift calibration and some rear-differential seepage, and none of it is systemic.

The volume powertrain, a 3.5L 2GR-FKS V6 with a 6-speed automatic, belongs to Toyota's long-proven 2GR family. It has a strong high-mileage record and the base 2.7L 2TR-FE four is even more durable. Owners' main complaint is gear hunting and hesitant shifts from the 6AT's economy-biased calibration. That hurts drivability but is not a durability failure, so the score stays out of the very top of the band.

The third-generation cabin is durable and logically laid out, but mostly hard plastic. Reviewers in 2020 found it dated next to the Colorado/Canyon and the new Gladiator. The facelift added a larger 8-inch screen and a power seat, but materials did not move much.

This is a mature platform in its fifth model year. Assembly from San Antonio and Baja California is consistent and J.D. Power owner quality scores are strong. Scattered complaints about cabin rattles and the composite bed's finish keep it out of the class-leading band.

Toyota has one of the densest US dealer networks, about 1,200 franchised stores, so service is easy to reach almost anywhere, including the rural areas where Tacomas are often used. Service satisfaction is generally at or above the industry average.

The Tacoma has led US midsize-truck sales for years, and the 2016–2023 third generation has the deepest aftermarket in the segment. OEM and third-party parts are plentiful and cheap, and the naturally aspirated V6 and 4-cylinder keep repair costs low.

The 2020 refresh brought an 8-in screen to SR5 and above, small against later rivals and the truck band.

Entune 3.0 is simple with physical knobs, but graphics are dated and the system is slow; most owners default to CarPlay/Android Auto.

Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto became standard on every 2020 Tacoma; wireless projection was not offered.

Basic command-based voice recognition; native navigation only on Entune 3.0 Premium (Limited/TRD Pro), with app-based Scout GPS on lower audio tiers.

Base six-speaker system is ordinary; the JBL premium system is limited to Limited/TRD Pro and packages.

Analog gauges flank a 4.2-in color multi-information display on all trims; no full-digital cluster available.

No over-the-air vehicle software updates; Entune 3.0 map/software updates are dealer or USB driven.

Toyota Remote Connect offers remote lock/start and vehicle status on upper audio tiers, but via a limited trial then subscription; no digital key.

USB-A ports up front, Qi wireless charging on upper trims/packages, and an available 400W AC bed outlet; no USB-C.

Smart Key proximity entry with push-button start on TRD Sport and above; SR/SR5 use a traditional key, and remote start is via app subscription.

Backup camera standard; front/rear parking sensors on upper trims; the new Panoramic View Monitor was limited to the Limited (and multi-terrain cameras on TRD Off-Road/Pro packages).

No head-up display offered on any 2020 Tacoma.

Tight 32.6-in rear legroom, an upright rear bench and Marginal LATCH ease-of-use make car-seat duty awkward; no enclosed cargo space for strollers.

TSS-P is standard and IIHS front crash prevention is Superior, but NHTSA rates it 4 stars overall and blind-spot monitoring stays on upper trims/packages.

Cramped rear seat, firm ride and an open bed for luggage limit long family trips; rear amenities are thin.

The 6-speed automatic hunts and the throttle is tuned for early upshifts, making stop-go driving feel lazy; the low seating position is tiring for some drivers.

20 MPG combined for the V6 4x4 is typical for a mid-size truck but expensive per mile against cars and crossovers.

Mid-size footprint and a 40.6-ft turning circle on the short-bed Double Cab make it manageable in town; rear camera standard, surround view only on the Limited.

Up to 6,800 lbs towing with the V6 tow package and roughly 1,100–1,685 lbs payload handle moderate work, but the short bed and peaky V6 limit heavier duty.

The Tacoma's long-standing reputation for durability and strong resale is well established, and the third generation's proven V6 and frame carry it on.

Dent-resistant composite bed, deck-rail cleats and an available 400W outlet plus one of the largest aftermarket/upfit ecosystems of any mid-size truck.

Good ~420-mile range and standard adaptive cruise help, but the awkward seating, road noise and firm ride limit highway endurance.

TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro bring a locking rear diff, Crawl Control, Multi-Terrain Select and (Pro) FOX shocks; part-time 4WD is widely available and the trail aftermarket is vast.

An open bed swallows bulky gear and the deck rails, hitch and rack ecosystem help, but the 5-ft bed is short and luggage is exposed without a cover.

Body roll, modest grip and an unsettled rear axle over bumps make it feel truck-like; competent off-road but behind the Colorado and Ridgeline on pavement.

Hydraulic-assist steering is reasonably weighted but slow and vague on center.

Adequate stopping power with rear drum brakes; pedal is soft and instrumented stops on all-terrain tires are long-ish.

The Atkinson-capable 3.5L V6 has little low-end torque and the 6-speed automatic is reluctant to downshift, then hunts; tip-in feels lazy.

The V6 is smooth at a cruise but becomes loud and strained when the transmission holds high revs.

Tight turning circle for a pickup in the volume short-bed configuration.

The low-mounted seat and high floor force a legs-out posture that many reviewers and owners dislike; controls are logical and chunky.

Unrefined on road but its rugged character, available 6-speed manual and trail ability give it a strong enthusiast following.

The 2020 refresh made Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa standard alongside Toyota Safety Sense-P (automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise, lane departure alert), which rivals often charged extra for; but the SR remains basic and the power driver's seat arrives only at SR5.

Tacoma pricing is mid-pack, but the dated 3.5L V6/6AT, low-slung driving position and firm ride deliver less refinement per dollar than a Ranger or Colorado; class-best resale partly offsets that.

Six trims (SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, TRD Pro), Access and Double Cab, 5-ft and 6-ft beds, 4x2/4x4, I4 or V6 and even a 6-speed manual cover nearly every budget and use.

The Tacoma was America's best-selling mid-size pickup by a wide margin in 2020, outselling every rival despite pandemic disruption.

Toyota's durability reputation and the Tacoma's off-road/overlanding following give it one of the strongest images among pickups, reflected directly in its resale values.

Tacomas historically sell close to MSRP with only modest financing offers, and 2020 pandemic production shutdowns tightened inventory further; buyers had less negotiating room than on a Ranger or Colorado.

The third generation launched for 2016 and got its mid-cycle facelift for 2020, so the 2020 truck is mid-cycle — freshened tech and styling on an aging platform, with the redesign still four years off.

Reviewers praise reliability, resale and off-road ability but routinely rank the Tacoma behind the Ranger, Colorado and Gladiator for ride, powertrain refinement and seating position — well-regarded, rarely the class pick.