2019 Toyota Tacoma Review
The Toyota Tacoma is from an automaker that produces some of the most reliable vehicles in the world. That said, this midsize pickup truck is not jaw-dropping, neither particularly rugged or luxurious. The Tacoma straddles both worlds, able to help the driver navigate country back roads and city traffic. Overall, the Tacoma may be a solid choice for weekend warriors.
- 2019 Toyota Tacoma pricing
- 2019 Toyota Tacoma trim comparison
- 2019 Toyota Tacoma safety
- 2019 Toyota Tacoma competitor comparison
- The bottom line on the 2019 Toyota Tacoma
2019 Toyota Tacoma pricing
Like most automakers, Toyota has made its pickups extremely customizable. This also means a wide range of prices The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) on the Tacoma ranges from $25,700 to $45,515. But don’t worry, the lowest-priced one is still an automatic. MSRPs listed below are accurate at the time of publication.
Here are the starting MSRPs for each trim.
| Trim | SR | SR5 | TRD Sport | TDR Offroad | Limited | TDR Pro |
| Starting MSRP | $25,700 | $27,475 | $32,395 | $33,650 | $37,640 | $42,810 |
Prices can go up within each trim, based on your choices of drivetrain, cab and bed size. Here are the price range of each trim, divided between 4×2 and 4×4.
| Toyota Tacoma | |||||||||||
| SR | SR5 | TRD Sport | TRD Offroad | Limited | TRD Pro | ||||||
| 4×2 | $25,700 – $27,960 | 4×2 | $27,475 – $32,265 | 4×2 | $32,395 – $34,150 | 4×2 | 33,650 | 4×2 | $37,640 | 4×2 | N/A |
| 4×4 | $28,775 – $31,965 | 4×4 | $30,550 – $35,340 | 4×4 | $34,370 – $37,225 | 4×4 | $34,985 – $37,225 | 4×4 | $40,715 | 4×4 | $42,810 – $45,515 |
Of course you do not have to pay MSRP for a vehicle. Depending on where and when you shop, the price may be lower. You could use a free, online industry guide such NADAguides or Kelley Blue Book, to see what the fair purchase price is in your area; you shouldn’t pay more than that.
What’s next? Once you pick out the car you want, a car loan is usually next. Potential lenders could include Toyota financing, your bank, credit union or online lender. Car dealers can raise your APR, so be sure to also apply for a loan outside of the dealership. You could also fill out an online form at LendingTree to receive up to five potential auto loan offers at once from lenders based on your creditworthiness.
2019 Toyota Tacoma trim comparison
What does trim even mean? A vehicle’s trim accounts for the amount of, or lack of, upgrades on a model. The lowest trim level on a Tacoma, for example, has the least amount of features and is the least expensive. The SR5, the next trim up, has all the features of the SR, plus new ones. In this way, the trims build on each other.
| Trim | SR | SR5 | TRD Sport | TDR Offroad | Limited | TDR Pro |
| Starting MSRP | $25,700 | $27,475 | $32,395 | $33,650 | $37,640 | $42,810 |
| Features | Toyota Safety Sense P, 3 USB Ports, 6.1″ Touch Screen, Bluetooth | Keyless Entry, Entune Audio Plus | Navigation, Push Button Start, LED Daytime Running Lights | Black and Chrome Design Accents, Off-Road Suspension | Power Tilt/Slide Moonroof, Leather-Trimmed Seats | 4×4, High-Performance Shocks, LED Fog Lights, |
The Tacoma trims above allow for different configurations of engines, cabs and bed sizes. Based on which trim you choose, you may or may not be able to get the configuration you want. Here is a quick breakdown of what each trim allows.
SR. Allows for six configurations. It does not have the option of a long bed nor a manual transmission. The base price of $25,700 is a 4×2, access cab, 4-cylinder automatic, regular bed. You can play with these options:
- 4×4 or 4×2
- Regular or short bed
- Access or double cab
- 4-cylinder or V6
SR5. Allows for nine configurations by adding the option of a long bed. The lowest price of $27,475 is for a 4×2 access cab, 4-cylinder automatic, regular bed. You can play with these options:
- 4×4 or 4×2
- Regular, short or long bed
- Access or double cab
- 4-cylinder or V6
TRD Sport. Allows eight configurations. It does not offer a 4-cylinder engine, but does offer a manual transmission. The lowest price of $32,295 is for 4×2, access cab, V6 automatic, regular bed. You can play with these options:
- 4×4 or 4×2
- Regular, short or long bed
- Access or double cab
- Manual or automatic transmission
TRD Offroad. Allows five configurations. The lowest price of $33,650 is for a 4×2, double cab, V6 automatic with a short bed. You can play with these options:
- 4×4 or 4×2
- Regular, short or long bed
- Access or double cab
- Manual or automatic transmission
Limited. Allows two configurations: 4×2 or 4×4 double cab, V6 automatic, regular bed. The lowest price of $37,640 is for a 4×2. You can play with these options:
- 4×4 or 4×2
TRD Pro. Also allows only two configurations. The lowest price of $42,810 is for the 4×4, double cab, V6 manual with a regular bed. You can play with these options:
- Manual or automatic transmission
2019 Toyota Tacoma safety
The 2019 Toyota Tacoma earned a four out of five star crash test safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Toyota Safety Sense P suite, which comes standard on all Tacomas includes:
- Pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. If the truck senses something or someone in front of it, it alerts the driver audibly and visually and applies the brakes if the driver does not.
- Lane departure with steering assist. At speeds at or above 32 MPH, the truck will alert the driver audibly and visually if it senses that it is drifting out of the lane, and will make small steering adjustments to help stay in the lane.
- Automatic high beams. At speeds above 25 MPH, the truck will automatically toggle between high and low beams accordingly to allow greater driver visibility.
- Dynamic radar cruise control. While the driver has cruise control on, the truck will automatically slow down or speed up, without cruise control deactivating, as conditions call for it due to other vehicles within range. The Tacoma can also alert the driver if more speed reduction is needed and apply the brakes.
2019 Toyota Tacoma competitor comparison
If this pickup line doesn’t pique your interest, it has a lot of competition from midsize rivals, including the new 2019 Ford Ranger and the upcoming 2020 Jeep Scrambler. Here are some of the Tacoma’s highly-rated competitors and how they all compare.
| Models | Toyota Tacoma Access Cab | Honda Ridgeline | Ford F-150 Regular Cab | Nissan Frontier Crew Cab | Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab | Ford Ranger Super Cab |
| Base MSRP | $25,700 | $29,990 | $28,155 | $25,999 | $21,195 | $24,300 |
| Expert Scores | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 3.8 | N/A |
| Towing Capacity | 6,800 lbs | 5,000 lbs | 13,200 lbs | 6,500 lbs | 7,700 lbs | 7,500 lbs |
| Combined Fuel Economy | 21 MPG | 22 MPG | 22 MPG | 21 MPG | 22 MPG | 23 MPG |
| Standard Features | Toyota Safety Sense, GoPro Camera Mount | V6 Engine, In-Bed Trunk, Dual-Action Tailgate | Hill-Start Assist, Trailer Sway Control, Curve Control | Cruise Control, Bluetooth | 7″ Touch Screen, Locking Tailgate | Pre-Collision Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking |
Expert scores weren’t available for the Ford Ranger Super Cab at the time of publication.
*All models are 2019. All MSRPs are the lowest base price for each model. Towing figures are the maximum towing capacity for the model line when properly equipped. Expert score averages Kelley Blue Book (KBB) and Edmunds expert ratings when available. Standard technology refers to features included in the lowest trim level for each model at no extra cost (not an exhaustive list). Fuel economy is combined city/highway mileage as defined by the EPA.
The bottom line on the 2019 Toyota Tacoma
You might like the Tacoma if you’re looking for a midsize pickup that won’t break the bank and can get you to both the grocery store in heavy city traffic and the country ranch on a dirt road. You may want to do more research if you’re looking for a pickup that is firmly in either the off-road world or the luxury world.