Author: Jim Brink, Toyota Section
Technical Editor, Edited By:
Joe Micciche - January, 2001
4x4Wire Tests Toyota's Newest Compact Truck
A familiar name in compact trucks...now in a 4-door!
There is no doubt that compact pick-up trucks have dominated new car
sales over the past few years. The popularity of trucks has grown so
much that it is common to see more and more compact trucks,
regardless of the manufacturer, at the grocery store, movie theater,
or gym. While this may not seem so obvious to us light truck
enthusiasts, it has delivered a wake-up call to the automakers, and
the message is that these things sell!
Let's take a quick look at what makes compact trucks so popular. One
item immediately comes to mind: utility. Having a pick-up truck for
some people is a necessity; for others, it is merely a convenience.
Either way you look at it, having a truck handy can be a Godsend. If
you fancy gardening or antiquing, having a truck solves that problem
of getting that giant house plant home, or possibly taking that old oak
hoosier to the flea market.
2001 refinements include a new grill and headlight treatment.
On the flip side, trucks are just plain fun to drive. They are
different than the run-of-the-mill automobile. The
automakers have been building their trucks more and more like cars.
New trucks feature such niceties as power windows and door locks, seat
upgrades, sunroofs, and decent sound systems.
Owning a truck does have a few drawbacks however, and probably the
biggest is limited interior room for passengers. In most trucks, even the new
breed of more compact offerings, the driver and passenger are treated
pretty well, but that is where the comfort ends. Compact trucks
with extended cabs offer some room for two or maybe three more
individuals, but that comes at a high price to their comfort. These
small seating areas are best used for short trips or small children.
In the year 2000, manufacturers noticed the need by consumers for
more passenger room and now offer crew cab trucks -- that is,
trucks with real, full-sized back seats and large entry doors.
Driving Impressions: Living with the Tacoma Double Cab
Our test double cab was right at home on the mild trails of
California's Hungry Valley SVRA.
As this is the Toyota Section of 4x4Wire, we are, of course, writing
about the Tacoma Double Cab. We were fortunate enough to spend a few
days in a 2001 Tacoma Double Cab PreRunner Limited, and put it through
it's paces.
The Tacoma has been a sales success since it's introduction in 1996.
Only time will tell how the general public receives the Double Cab
variant. From what I can tell, about the only immediate shortcoming of
the Double Cab versus a Tacoma X-Tra Cab is the shorter bed of the
Double Cab. However, with more and more trucks replacing cars as
everyday drivers, I don't see this as a huge setback.
The Limited package comes with 16" alloy wheels, tinted glass, and
color-matched fender flares as standard equipment.
Our Tacoma Double Cab was finished in Impulse Red metallic and
featured color-matched front and rear bumpers, fender flares, and
grille. All in all, it was a really sharp looking truck. Standard 16"
five-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in B.F. Goodrich Rugged Terrain tires
set off the exterior appearance.
Interior Environment
Inside, the Limited-trimmed charcoal interior was very inviting. Front
seat occupants have reclining bucket seats, and the driver's seat has
additional adjustments for lower seat cushion height and lumbar support. No
expense was spared in the head and leg room department either. I am 6'
5" tall and had plenty of room in the driver's seat. Another concern
for me, since I wear size 14 shoes, is footwell room and pedal
placement. Again, no problems in this area. The standard tilt steering
wheel was also a nice touch, adding to the comfort and adjustability
of the Tacoma interior.
Dual reclining front bucket seats are standard.
Interior controls are well laid out and easy to use. The
instrumentation was highly legible and well lit. Climate controls,
consisting of three rotary knobs, were straightforward and easy to
use. About the only gripe we found with the interior is the placement of
the digital clock. It is located in the lower right-hand corner of the
instrument panel and is obstructed by the steering wheel and
stalk-mounted windshield wiper controls. On the plus side however,
Toyota offers THE best cruise control controls. Located inside a spoke
of the steering wheel, the controls are easy to use and well-labeled.
Having the controls mounted in this locale allows the driver to
operate the cruise without taking his or her hands from the
steering wheel.
Instrument panel and controls.
Between the front bucket seats is a huge, two-tiered center console
that offers plenty of room to store CDs, sunglasses, cell phones, or
other items best kept out of sight from prying eyes. Two 12-volt power
points are also located in the forward-most portion of the center
console as are 4 (!!!) cupholders sized to accommodate various types of
cups or cans.
Rear seat accomodations.
Moving on to the back seat, the engineers at Toyota were thoughtful
enough to offer a storage compartment for small items and two
cupholders as well. The full-sized rear bench seat is much easier to
get in and out of than the typical extended-cab pick-up and is a lot
more comfortable. Adults will find that the seatback angle is a bit
too vertical, but the comfort level far exceeds the smaller-cab trucks
equipped with jump seats. The rear seatback is split with a 60%/40%
bias so that cargo can be carried along with a 3rd passenger.
Nowadays, those two or three friends that wanted to tag along won't
have to take a second car! Other nice interior features include deep
tinted glass on the rear side and rear windows, floor mats, and
passenger-assist (grab) handles.
Over the Road.... and Off the Road
Optional 190hp 3.4 liter V6 engine.
We spent many a mile behind the wheel of our Double Cab Limited. We
drove in town, on the highway, on secondary back roads, and on a few
mild trails. The 190-hp 3.4 5VZ-E V6 engine has plenty of power for
around-town traffic scooting and highway passing. All Double Cabs are
equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission and 4.10 geared rear
axles. This combination seems to be well-matched to the 3.4's torque
curve, giving the powertrain a very versatile personality. Our test
Tacoma rode well, even on broken pavement. We had the
opportunity to take the Tacoma through some mountainous regions of
Southern California as well and handling response was great for a
pick-up truck. The power-assisted rack and pinion steering was light
around town, aiding in parking, but firmed up on the highway, allowing
the driver to sense the feedback from the chassis.
"All hail the mighty electric locker!" How come more
manufacturers don't offer this feature???.
What 4x4Wire test would be complete without getting the test subject a
little dirty? We headed off on a sunny December day to Southern
California's Hungry Valley SRVA, located in Gorman, just north of Los
Angeles. Realizing that the PreRunner is 2WD, we decided to stick to
the easy trails, but we were still able to see how the Tacoma
performed in mild terrain. Bottoming was kept to a minimum and the
rough-road ride was not harsh. When the washouts became really rutted,
or the sand too deep, a quick engagement of the rear locker allowed us
to un-stick ourselves from sticky situations. It is truly amazing how
far a 2WD truck can go with a traction-aiding device in the rear axle.
The 2WD PreRunner with the electric rear locker was perfect for
running the dirt trails that crisscross Hungry Valley.
While some may say that the higher stance of the PreRunner is solely
for looks, we'd have to disagree. While the height does create a more
aggressive look, two things are gained from it. One is ground
clearance and the other is visibility. Being 4-5 inches above the
height of standard 2WD trucks is a priceless asset when negotiating
tight trails. While we kept to non-technical trails on our outing,
being able to see obstacles ahead of time made it that much easier for
us to detour to an easier route before getting in over our head.
Is it a truck, or is it an utility vehicle with a bed?
Another question some may ask is why even bother with a 2WD truck?
Well, for some, 4WD is not needed. For others, it is the initial cost
or insurance considerations that need to be considered. Whatever the
reason, the fact remains that even as a 2WD, the PreRunner Double Cab
is a formidable yet versatile vehicle that can get you to that
secluded riding or fishing spot. That one spot where no car would ever
dare travel and to some, that is reason enough. The mere fact that
Toyota even offers consumers the choice between 2WD and 4WD is a
consideration in the decision of which make of a vehicle to purchase.
Conclusion
Whatever the answer may be, "Practical" comes to mind. Oh, and
FUN too.
Is the Tacoma PreRunner Double Cab the best, all-out 4-passenger
Rubicon taxi? No. Will it allow a family of four to venture out into
the great outdoors with a bed full of their camping gear? Yes, and
during the week, it can also serve double duty as a commuter, personal
vehicle, or work truck.
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