2021 Toyota Tacoma
- Excellent off-road capability
- Best resale value in its class
- Lowest 5-Year Cost to Own
- Wide range of models and trim levels
- Pricing starts at $26,150 (plus $1,175 destination charge) | Price yours
- On sale now | See Autotrader listings right here on KBB.com
Truck owners hold on to their vehicles longer than anyone else, for about nine years on average. That makes reliability a key factor in deciding which truck to buy. When it comes to reliability and tough-truck capability, one pickup immediately comes to mind: the Toyota Tacoma. There’s good reason for that. The Tacoma has proven durability, excellent off-road prowess, and work and lifestyle versatility. It’s for all these reasons and more that Kelley Blue Book has chosen the 2021 Toyota Tacoma as this year’s Midsize Pickup Truck Best Buy.
A Tacoma for every buyer
Whether you need a runabout truck for errands around the shop or a hard-core off-road trail runner, the Toyota Tacoma is available with the right equipment. Many midsize truck buyers want a pickup they know can carry a dirt bike and camping gear out to the desert for a fun weekend to get away from it all. The Tacoma’s regular four-wheel-drive system can easily get you to the trails; pick a TRD model — there are three — to get even deeper into the backcountry.
All told, there are more than 30 combinations of cab, bed, engine, transmission, and model to choose from, plus several special editions, so you can get the right Tacoma for whatever adventure you seek. Or pick a midlevel model and the truck will be set up nicely for days around town and weekends in the dirt and snow.
Standout value
The Toyota Tacoma has been Kelley Blue Book’s 5-Year Cost to Own winner in the midsize truck category for years, and has finished on the podium for as long as this award has existed. When it comes to resale value, the Tacoma has not only dominated in the midsize truck category, but has been KBB’s top Best Overall Resale Value Winner for all vehicles — cars, trucks, and SUVs — for six years running. It has even been on KBB’s Best Resale Value list for 17 years. That means that based on KBB’s data, this truck costs less to maintain and operate than any other midsize truck, so you save money while you own it. It also means that when it comes time to sell, you’ll get more money for your truck than any other midsize truck model out there.
That isn’t the only value story here. The Toyota Tacoma is the only midsize truck that comes standard with a suite of active safety and driver-assistance features that includes lane-departure warning, a pre-collision system with pedestrian protection, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. In competitors’ models, you would have to pay significantly more to get those features. Higher Tacoma trim levels also come with a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert.
Comfortable and capable
The 2021 Toyota Tacoma is easy to live with as a daily driver. It has a comfortable ride and plenty of room inside for a midsize truck – with more space on hand in the Double Cab. Interior build quality is excellent, as is the materials quality. The 2.7-liter 4-cylinder engine is the frugal option of the two, but stepping up to the 4.0-liter V6 adds significant power. Opt for the TRD Pro’s supercharged V6 and it gets even spicier.
Features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, wireless smartphone charging, heated seats, dual-zone climate control, moonroof, power-sliding rear window, and premium JBL audio are pleasant additions that enhance everyday life with the Tacoma. Other features including the lockable, drainable insulated storage bins in the truck bedsides, a 120-volt power outlet in the bed, and GoPro mount make the Tacoma a rig that’s ready for the weekend.
Ready for the tough stuff
Toyota trucks are renowned for their trail-tested capability. They have raced in Baja for decades, that brutal terrain serving as a real-world test track and proving ground through the years. This experience led to the continued evolution of the truck and inspired three TRD models. That means these Toyotas are available with just as many off-road-biased models as there are regular day-to-day trim levels.
The TRD Sport adds a sport-tuned suspension and TRD-specific styling cues. The TRD Off-Road goes a step further, with its own TRD Off-Road suspension with Bilstein shocks. The top TRD model, the TRD Pro, has the most off-road-capable suspension, with 2.5-inch Fox internal bypass coil-over shocks and rear remote-reservoir shocks. It also has a thick skid plate and fog lights in rugged housings. This is also the only Tacoma that’s available with a 6-speed manual transmission. There’s also Crawl Control – a low-speed system that operates the throttle and brakes for you while on the trail. Multi-Terrain Select optimizes throttle and traction for the type of terrain you’re on. And the Multi-Terrain Monitor is a camera that shows you obstacles on the trail that you wouldn’t be able to see otherwise.
The Toyota Tacoma is also ready for work, with a 6,800-pound towing capacity and the ability to carry 1,620 pounds of payload. And with the base price of the Access Cab SR starting at $27,325 (including destination), that’s a reasonable price for a small business, a shop, or a landscaping company to pay.
The go-to midsize truck
The Toyota Tacoma has such a strong reputation that when someone asks, “What small truck should I get?” the first answer is inevitably “Tacoma.” Kelley Blue Book’s data backs up that popular belief, as this is a truck that provides value when you buy, has a lower cost while you own it, and you’ll get a high percentage of your investment back when it’s time to sell. The Tacoma’s reliability, capability, and incredible resale value are why it is Kelley Blue Book’s 2021 Midsize Truck Best Buy.
Photo Tour: 2021 Toyota Tacoma
More 2021 Toyota Tacoma
Build and price your 2021 Toyota Tacoma to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own, and more, or see Autotrader listings right here on KBB.com.
