2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid not heading to dealers this year [Update]

Update: ‘Design’ section and ‘Powertrain’ sub-section of ‘Specifications’ updated.

The highly anticipated 2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid has been finally revealed. Part of the fourth-gen Toyota Tacoma range, it’s the first-ever Tacoma with electrification. Here’s everything you need to know about it:

Design

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid’s exterior is nearly identical to the Toyota Pickup EV concept that was showcased in December 2021. The latter was a pure electric model and it has led to a rumor that a Toyota Tacoma Electric could be in the pipeline.

The front-end looks more confident than the current model, thanks to the unified grille, which has a significantly bigger footprint and features angular cuts, the flatter hood, the bigger, swept-back headlamps, and a chiseled bumper. Every panel on the truck is new.

Toyota has replaced the closed upper grille with a functional unit. The new grille features the honeycomb pattern but is a little different from the concept’s grille. The hybrid model has simpler-looking headlamp clusters and mirror caps, and different wheels. It features Tundra-inspired headlamps and a vertical grille motif.

Unlike the electric truck concept, the 2024 Tacoma Hybrid features three shark fins on the roof. The middle unit is most likely an antenna and the outer units are used to remain in contact with an optional trailer-mounted rear camera. Everything else, including the vertical tail lamps with four light guides each, looks the same. Akin to the Ford Ranger, it has a sliding rear window built into the cab’s back glass.

The 2024 Tacoma Hybrid will be available with either 5- or 6-foot bed Double Cab configurations. TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter will be the grade choices. Power tailgate will be available on select trims. In an interview with Road & Track, Tacoma chief engineer Sheldon Brown said that it won’t be a standard feature on most of the TRD grades. We expect only the TRD Pro and Trailhunter grades to include a power tailgate as standard.

Interior

The interior of the gas-powered, third-gen Toyota Tacoma is one of its main drawbacks. The cabin is cramped and lacks the refinement other contenders in the segment offer. The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid fixes all those complains and packs substantial upgrades in many other areas.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid features an interior with a horizontal layout theme that makes it appear more modern. A smaller (but still four-spoke) steering wheel, a sleeker climate control panel, a fully digital instrument cluster, and more premium colors and materials give the all-new model a much cleaner and more upmarket look. Also contributing to these cosmetic improvements is an all-new infotainment system.

The 2024 Tacoma Hybrid features the Toyota Audio Multimedia System, a new infotainment system, which Toyota’s Connected Technologies team developed in Texas. The new infotainment system has a 14-inch touchscreen and offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Additionally, it can give the driver a panoramic overhead view of the surroundings from a 360-degree camera system. Another highlight of the 2024 Tacoma Hybrid on the electronics front is a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster with four different layouts.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid features a 10-speaker sound system sourced from JBL. This premium sound system includes an external subwoofer and also a JBL Flex portable Bluetooth speaker. There’s a recess on the dashboard, and that’s where the portable speaker is docked and charged. This speaker operates as the center channel speaker, and it is removable by pressing an eject button ahead of it. It will come in handy at tailgate parties, while camping, and in many other leisure scenarios. It can be used wirelessly for up to six hours. The second picture in the gallery below shows how customers will be able to simply place the speaker on the tailgate and enjoy the music outside.

The 2024 Tacoma Hybrid is the first model in its segment to be equipped with IsoDynamic Performance Seat, for both the driver and the front passenger. These seats, which use an air-over-oil shock absorber system, will be available in the TRD Pro grade. They’ll smoothen the ride, allowing the driver and front passenger to have a clear view of the terrain ahead, and reduce fatigue. The driver and front passenger will be able to adjust their respective seat’s dampening level via levelers on the seatbacks.

Specifications

Platform

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid shares the TNGA-F platform with the Toyota Tundra Hybrid and Toyota Sequoia Hybrid in the U.S. Toyota has used high-strength steel with blanking and laser welds throughout the 2024 Tacoma Hybrid’s chassis for increased rigidity over the gas-powered, third-gen model. Strengthened frame crossmembers provide increased durability and allow carrying overlanding equipment such as rooftop tents and camp fridges.

Suspension

Toyota has fitted the 2024 Tacoma Hybrid with a new, multi-link rear suspension with coil springs. Customers can expect a more comfortable ride, increase straight-line stability, and improve overall handling dynamics compared to the gas-powered third-gen model and select gas-powered configurations of the 2024 Tacoma, both of which have leaf springs.

The TRD Sport grade features red TRD sport-tuned shock absorbers for greater responsiveness, while the TRD Off-Road grade has monotube Bilstein remote reservoir shock absorbers for extra wheel travel and better heat dissipation. Moreover, the latter includes an end stop control valve (ESCV) that provides the suspension an increased damping force on getting closer to full bound stroke.

The TRD Pro grade plays in a whole different league, packing FOX’s new QS3 three-way adjustable internal bypass shock absorbers with remote reservoirs for enhanced performance on off-road terrains at high speeds and FOX Internal Floating Piston (IFP) rear bump stops to improve bottom-out feel.

The Trailhunter grade’s suspension is tuned for optimum levels of off-road control and load-carrying capability. It’s the new Old Man Emu (OME) 4×4 Suspension by ARB. The Limited grade has a new Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) system that continuously tweaks damping forces depending on changing road conditions and gives the occupants a smooth and luxurious ride.

While the third-gen Tacoma has disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear, the 2024 Tacoma Hybrid has disc brakes on both ends. Another big change is the fitment of an electronic parking brake (with a brake hold function) instead of a manual unit.

Powertrain

The most significant change in the fourth-gen Toyota Tacoma is the availability of a hybrid powertrain, It’s an i-Force Max powertrain that produces 326 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque. This is the most powerful powertrain that Toyota has offered on the Tacoma.

Between the gas-powered 2024 Tacoma and 2024 Tacoma Hybrid, the latter “will be the more powerful, exciting-to-drive vehicle,” said Toyota group vice president and general manager Dave Christ, Autoblog reported on May 28, 2023.

The i-Force Max powertrain of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid combines a 2.4-liter turbocharged gas engine with a 48-hp electric motor. A 1.87 kWh NiMH battery pack stores electric energy and powers the 48-hp electric motor.

Now before you assume Toyota plonked the same kit as the Crown Hybrid or Grand Highlander Hybrid, we’ll have you know the Tacoma Hybrid is a different breed. The i-Force Max is a different concept from the TNGA-K platform-based models’ Hybrid Max. A Toyota spokesperson admitted the Tacoma Hybrid’s engine block is almost identical, but its hybrid system is “entirely different,” MotorTrend reported on May 30, 2023.

Hybrid Max uses two traction motors, one for the front axle and one for the rear. There’s no mechanical connection between the axles. The Crown Hybrid and Grand Highlander Hybrid get it paired with a direct-shift 8-speed automatic transmission. The 2024 Tacoma Hybrid’s i-Force Max hybrid powertrain has only one traction motor, integrated into an 8-speed transmission.

The RWD configurations feature an automatic limited-slip differential. The AWD configurations have an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case with high/low range along with Active Traction Control and an automatic limited-slip differential. The TRD Off-road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter grades have an electronic locking rear differential as standard. The Limited grade has a full-time 4WD system with a center locking differential.

Toyota Tacoma TrailHunter

Over the years, the Tacoma has earned a reputation for being not only a reliable workhorse but also an impressive off-roader. Toyota is building on its popularity in that area by offering the 2024 Tacoma Hybrid in a Trailhunter grade.

The 2024 Tacoma Hybrid Trailhunter is a factory-equipped overlapping rig for outdoorsy customers. It’s trail-ready with the essential components and accessories necessary for off-the-grid expeditions. Toyota says it will allow adventurous customers to travel to unthinkable places.

The 2024 Tacoma Hybrid Trailhunter is equipped with many special features in addition to the new Old Man Emu (OME) 4×4 Suspension by ARB that we mentioned in the Specifications section. It has a steel rear bumper, robust rear recovery points, and a bed utility bar with removable MOLLE panels. Like the special suspension, these features were co-developed with ARB.

Toyota has equipped the 2024 Tacoma Hybrid Trailhunter with an air compressor in the bed to air up the tires after airing them down earlier for the trail. Its 14-inch touchscreen can display potential obstacles on the trail via a Multi-Terrain Monitor.

White/yellow color switching RIGID LED fog lamps, 33-inch Goodyear Territory R/T tires, high-clearance trail exhaust tip, low-profile high-mount Trailhunter Air Intake, rock rails, hot-stamped and high-strength steel skid plates, etc. are some of the other highlights of the 2024 Tacoma Hybrid Trailhunter.

America’s best-selling small pickup

It’s been eight years since Toyota gave the Tacoma a comprehensive update, and yet it continues to blaze a trail in the U.S. market. 2022 was the 18th consecutive year the Tacoma was America’s no.1 small pickup. At 237,323 units, sales were 6.0% down from 2021 (252,520 units) but still impressive overall. Chevrolet’s Colorado witnessed a 22.2% year-over-year growth, but with just 89,197 units to its name (2021: 73,008 units), it wasn’t nearly as popular as the Tacoma.

Electrified vehicles already make up about a quarter of Toyota’s total sales volume in the United States. In 2022, 24.3% (448,854 units) of all the new vehicles (1,849,754 units) the company sold in the country had electrification. In Q1 2023, the company sold 100,790 electrified electrified vehicles, 15.9% lesser than in Q1 2022 (119,822 units). Its electrified vehicle line-up consisted of 15 models, including two ZEVs – Mirai and bZ4X.

Release Date

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid will start arriving at U.S. dealerships in early 2024. Prices could start at around USD 33,000. The gas-powered 2024 Toyota Tacoma, which will likely be USD 4,000-5,000 cheaper, will go on sale a little earlier, by the end of 2023.

TopElectricSUV says

With a brand-new platform, a new suspension setup, a first-ever hybrid powertrain, a newly developed, U.S.-focused infotainment system, and many other changes, the fourth-gen Toyota Tacoma is a big step up from the current model. The best-selling pickup mid-size truck has raised the bar even higher, and that’s exciting!

Also Read: Next-gen Toyota 4Runner likely to be another Hybrid SUV

Toyota Tacoma Hybrid FAQs

Featured Image Source: Toyota