| Toyota
virtually invented the small truck market, at least in this country. Who can't
remember little Toyota trucks putzin' around in the '70s and '80s right alongside
those full-sizers from our very own Big Three, doing just as good a job, for most
tasks, anyway? And from there, the Toyota truck, and the compact truck market
in general, has evolved and grown into what it is today. Toyota
trucks are immensely popular, and with good reason. There's nothing cheap about
them (except for their prices). Build quality is excellent, ergonomics are first-rate
and materials throughout are better than in some near-luxury sedans we can think
of. Nicely
proportioned with chiseled good looks, the Toyota is equally at home strutting
down the boulevard as it is performing mundane hauling tasks to and from the Home
Depot. The Tacoma is even offered in PreRunner trim, which offers 4X4 looks and
ride height with 4X2 efficiency, even including a locking rear differential! Getting
you down the road (or trail) are your choice or a 142-hp 4-cylinder engine (in
street-only versions), a 150-hp version of the same engine (in PreRunner versions),
or a 190-hp V-6, available as an option in Tacomas of all terrain persuasions.
The speed demons in us like the latter engine best, but just know that all have
the smoothness that has become virtually synonymous with Toyota in recent years.
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