Used 2022 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab

Price: The 2022 Toyota Tacoma starts at $26,500.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma midsize pickup truck has a reputation for being tough. And reliable. And for class-leading resale values. These are all connected, as one quality leads to another.

It’s not the newest truck on the block or on the rocks. This third generation launched for the 2016 model year. But the promise of off-road adventures and the reassurance of making it home afterward has a timelessness about it.

The range goes from a basic work truck to a bona fide off-road vehicle that can go anywhere a Jeep can. The Tacoma has spawned an aftermarket scene with many parts for specialized duties such as desert racing or rock climbing. Or buyers can luxuriate in the leather-covered seats of the Limited trim.

We’d be inclined to recommend a TRD version with all-wheel drive, mainly because the Tacoma can be such a great off-road performer that it seems right to maximize and exploit these talents. TRD, by the way, stands for Toyota Racing Development. This department doesn’t just go racing, it also takes various Toyota vehicles to their extremes.

It’s a bit of a clamber up to the driver’s seat of the 2022 Tacoma, but once there, outward vision is generally good.

Ride quality is on the firm side, but more than bearable. If there’s an area where extra patience is required, it’s with the 2.7-liter engine’s 159 horsepower.

With a couple of trail bikes in the bed, a passenger or three, and an uphill stretch to negotiate, most drivers will wish they had the V6 engine instead. The difference in fuel economy isn’t going to stop anyone from choosing this 278-horsepower alternative.

If the Toyota Tacoma was a great choice for off-road adventures before, it’s even more compelling now. This year, all the Tacoma models with off-road leanings — from the Trail Edition to the TRD Pro — see a lift to their suspensions: 1.5 inches at the front, 0.5 of an inch at the back.

This improves ground clearance, along with approach and departure angles. The TRD Off-Road comes with Bilstein shock absorbers, the TRD Pro has shocks from Fox. These Tacoma versions also offer things like Multi-Terrain Select — a terrain response system with presets for certain conditions — plus Crawl Control and a Multi-Terrain Monitor for camera views of what’s going on around the truck.

For the traditional types, the Tacoma TRD models even offer a manual transmission with the all-wheel drive system.

The Access cab only has seating for four, with the two rear seats providing a scant amount of legroom: 24.6 inches. With seating for three in the back, the Double Cab has eight more inches of rear legroom, but even that’s not a lot.

Everything in the cabin has been put together well. The controls are user-friendly and placed right where they need to be. But the interior of the 2022 Tacoma is not as refined as newer rivals like the Chevrolet Colorado. Nor are we particularly impressed by the amount and size of the various stowage spaces.

Most versions of the 2022 Tacoma are available with the Access Cab paired with a 6-foot bed or the Double Cab with either a 5-foot or 6-foot bed. The Access cab has two full-sized doors along with a pair of smaller rear-hinged rear doors, the Double Cab has four full-sized doors.

The exceptions are the SR, which offers the Double Cab solely with the shorter bed; the Limited, sold only in Double Cab form with either bed length, and the TRD Pro, available just as a Double Cab with the shorter bed.

Inside the steel bed is a composite liner, along with tie-down points. Some versions also have a 120-volt outlet. The tailgate is both lockable and removable.

Based on the SR5, the Trail Edition comes with bronze-finished 16-inch alloy wheels and is now available in Lunar Rock, a gray hue that was previously exclusive to the TRD Pro. A new color for the TRD Pro is Electric Lime Metallic.

A Nightshade package for the Luxury version brings black exterior elements, as well as Dark Smoke 18-inch alloy wheels.

Having the word Toyota emblazoned across the grille in upper-case letters seems so much cooler (to us) than the usual corporate logo. Sadly, this feature comes only with the TRD Pro model.

10-WAY POWER-ADJUSTABLE DRIVER’S SEAT
This becomes standard in the V6 version of the SR5. We prefer it over the 4-way manually adjustable counterpart in the SR because it has a greater range for tweaking to find the ideal driving position. And it’s powered.

MULTI-TERRAIN MONITOR
Available as an option in the TRD Off-Road or as standard in the TRD Pro, this camera system allows drivers to see all around the truck, with a special close-up view of the sides.

Pickup trucks usually start out with basic amenities. The SR version of the 2022 Tacoma has 16-inch steel wheels, air conditioning, and cloth upholstery.

Things look better in the safety department. Forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control are all standard.

The infotainment system has a 7-inch touchscreen (going up to 8 inches in the higher trims), Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, Amazon Alexa compatibility, Bluetooth, satellite radio, Wi-Fi, three USB ports, and six speakers.

If finances and requirements permit, it could be a smarter move to spend more for the SR5, especially with the V6, since it’s eligible for a greater number of options.

As well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an 8-inch touchscreen (which are also in the 4-cylinder SR5), the V6-powered variant adds a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and 16-inch alloy wheels. Rear parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert are among the options.

Chances are that many new Tacoma SR5 buyers will be looking at the Trail Edition package with a raised suspension, all-terrain tires, and extra under-body protection.

Once we reach the TRD and Limited models, the V6 is the sole engine. The Limited has leather upholstery, wireless charging and a nicer audio system. The TRD trucks have increasing levels of off-road-focused equipment, culminating in the TRD Pro, with special shock absorbers from Fox (a well-respected third-party supplier), TRD springs, terrain response system, crawl control, multi-terrain monitor, and LED fog lights.

There are several extras for the 2022 Tacoma range, such as a bed step, side steps, bed extender, remote tailgate lock, TRD graphics, different wheel designs, plus performance air intake and exhaust systems.

The main setup in the 2022 Tacoma SR and SR5 is a 2.7-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, plus rear-wheel drive (RWD). All-wheel drive (AWD) is optional.

This unit makes an unassuming 159 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. A more powerful alternative is a 3.5-liter V6 developing 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque.

The TRD Sport and TRD Off-Road don’t bother with the 4-cylinder engine, offering the configuration of the V6, all-wheel drive and a 6-speed manual transmission. Rear-wheel drive and the automatic transmission is also available. The Limited has the choice of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while coming standard with the V6 and automatic transmission.

The TRD Pro has the V6 and the choice of manual or automatic transmission, with all-wheel drive as standard.

2.7-liter inline-4
159 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm
180 lb-ft of torque @ 3,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/23 mpg (RWD), 19/22 mpg (AWD)

3.5-liter V6
278 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
265 lb-ft of torque @ 4,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/24 mpg (RWD, auto), 18/22 mpg (AWD, auto), 17/21 mpg (AWD, manual)