- Joined
- Sep 13, 2022
- Threads
- 22
- Messages
- 237
- Reaction score
- 452
- Location
- BC, Canada
- Vehicle(s)
- Volvo XC60, XLT Tremor
- Engine
- 2.0L EcoBoost
- Thread starter
- #1
After taking delivery of my Tremor earlier this month, I travelled to Colorado and had the opportunity to drive a new 2023 Taco SR5 4x4 crew cab for a week, tackling a combination of mountain highway driving, basic dirt roads, and urban commuting.
My random thoughts:
- The Tacoma sorely needs this year’s update and feels dated. With that said, the materials and finish, especially the interior, are a step above. The Maverick design is world-class, but a slightly higher level of refinement in “touch, feel, click and slam” would have been world-beating.
- For a midsize, the Taco feels surprisingly compact and agile from the driver’s seat, even in places like underground parkades. I can see why it is popular, and why drivers would choose it over something like an F-150 or Tundra. However, the Maverick is clearly the star here - in a cramped, crowded environment, it drives like the compact car it is. Still, the Taco isn’t bad in tight quarters.
- Toyota needs to do something about the infamous Taco legroom. Even at well under 6’ tall, I felt like the floor was pushing up on me. I have no idea how bigger guys put up with it.
- The naturally-aspirated SR5 V6 ran out of breath frequently on the highway, especially at altitude. Trying to pass or even just accelerate on a grade above 6000 ft or so was incredibly frustrating - lots of noise and no go. You can feel the motor struggling to move the weight of the vehicle. I haven’t taken the Tremor as high yet, but with the turbo I expect similar performance to what I’ve seen at lower altitudes; step on the gas and the Maverick just squirts forward.
- Coming back down was the opposite - I appreciated the traditional sport shift lever on the Tacoma for its ability to pick the perfect gear for engine braking. The Low mode on the Maverick is helpful on those big, long downgrades but it’s nowhere near as good. While I don’t mind the rotary dial, Tremors and Lariats need paddle shifters!
- I wish my XLT had parking proximity sensors. But nowhere near as much as I wish the Tacoma had reverse camera trajectory lines. Really, Toyota?
- On the highway, the driving dynamics of the Maverick, especially the Tremor, shine - even though you know it’s a unibody, you feel like you’re cheating and getting away with something you shouldn’t as you throw a pickup truck into an onramp the same way you would a sports sedan. In the same situation, the Taco just leans way over and wallows back to center.
- In terms of engine noise, the Tacoma was surprisingly loud and similar to the Maverick, but with noticeably less wind or other exterior sound transmission. Again, I wish Ford had paid just a little more attention to things like insulation and attenuation here - it would have taken the Maverick from a great vehicle to a sublime, even more significant one.
- On dirt roads, both are fine. I felt literally zero difference in capability or comfort, and this is the surface where the Taco and Tremor feel most similar - in some ways almost indistinguishable.
- For commuting, both solo and carpooling 3 colleagues (including the boss!) to the office park on surface roads, the Tacoma felt kind of silly. I mean it worked, but the open, spacious layout of my Maverick would have been more comfortable. This would be even more true if the Maverick had some additional finish refinement, as noted many times above.
In the end, I am happy with my decision to own a Tremor - and while I understand Ford’s need to sell what is basically their cheapest, most entry-level vehicle, as a marketing strategist, I can’t help but come away wondering what might be if they offered a finish and trim equal to a top-spec Bronco Sport or Escape.
Let’s see what the next-gen Tacoma brings. If they fix some of the issues I noticed and package it well, it could be a serious competitor for those who are a little less price-conscious.
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