Review – Detroit News Says Tacoma Is Too Big

Last week Scott Burgess of the Detroit News reviewed a new 2011 Toyota Tacoma. While he liked the truck, he thought it was too big:

the mistake of the new Tacoma is the same mistake all other small pickups make — they’re too big and they’re too expensive…America needs a good small pickup.

Until then, the Tacoma will have to do.

I, for one, wholeheartedly agree. The Tacoma is a little too big and a little too expensive for a compact truck…but what do you think?

How Big Is Too Big? How Small Is Too Small?

Is the Tacoma too big? Are we really willing to drive a smaller truck?

Burgess compliments the Tacoma on the size and comfort of the cab. He notes that the Tacoma’s payload rating is excellent, the tow rating adequate, and that the trucks’ ride height is just right. He likes the numerous amenities like the standard CD player, keyless entry, intermittent wipers, leather-wrapped shifter, etc.

Burgess likes the way the truck rides – even while empty – and he likes the fact that the Tacoma is versatile enough to serve a lot of the same purposes that a larger full-size truck would serve…but then he says the truck is too big.

I’m not calling out Scott Burgess – far from it – I’m merely pointing out that Scott likes the Tacoma because it has so many big truck features, but then he complains about the size. What if the Tacoma were 20% smaller – would the cab be as comfortable? Would a truck that was 20% cheaper have so many amenities? Would a shorter, lighter truck ride as nice?

The answer to all of these questions is no, of course. As vehicles get bigger, they gain versatility and comfort. As they get more expensive, they gain features and amenities. Toyota’s challenge – the challenge in the compact truck market – is to make a truck that consumers like but keep it small…and Scott’s comments show us that those goals often disagree with each other.

For what it’s worth, I think the Tacoma is as big as it’s going to get. The next generation truck (2013 as a 2014 model) is going to use the same platform, which means it won’t be any bigger. It’s entirely possible that the next major redesign (2017?) will be lighter and perhaps even a little smaller in order to increase fuel efficiency.

However, smaller isn’t always better. We all like creature comforts to some degree, and we all like the fact that a Tacoma is beefy enough to keep us from having to make two trips. The Tacoma could be smaller, but not much smaller – at least not in my book.

Does this mean that there’s room for a car-based “mini” pickup positioned just below the Tacoma? Maybe so.

What do you think?