The 2021 Toyota Tacoma SR5 is one of the most sought after vehicles in the mid-size truck market and overall sales numbers prove it year after year. This truck has decades of dependability and the 2021 SR5 is no different. I tested the SR5 4×4 Double Cab in Cement color exterior with black interior.
Driver Experience
Driving the Toyota Tacoma SR5 is just plain fun and it can take you anywhere you want to go. The 3.5 L V6 has plenty of power and it handles great. It is easy to navigate rough terrain. When you floor the gas the engine is responsive and it is good on gas at combined 20 MPG. It’s easy to park and I did a little off-roading in Sedona and it is the perfect size for narrow roads.
Interior
The interior of the truck is simple and quite spacious for passengers. The fabric-trimmed seats were comfortable and easy to adjust. The 8 In Touchscreen and 6 speaker sounds system was adequate. The coolest feature (pun intended) was the lockable storage in the driver’s side of the bed that could double as a cooler.
Exterior
The Exterior of the Tacoma is tough and rugged. The grille and the hood blend in nicely with the headlights to give it a masculine and durable persona. The 6 foot bed is functional and spacious.
The Trail Edition is a really good optional package. It comes with 16-in. TRD Off-Road wheels and tires, lockable bed storage (includes insulation on the driver’s side to double as a cooler), black badging, Limited-style grille, unique fabric seats with tan stitching, 120V139 outlet in bed, and all-weather floor liners.
Engine / Powertrain
The Tacoma SR5 comes with a 3.5-Liter V6 Direct-Injection Atkinson Cycle Engine with 278 hp @ 6000 rpm/265 lb.-ft. @ 4600 rpm. The V6 comes paired with a 6-speed Electronically Controlled automatic Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i). The drivetrain is a 4WDemand part-time 4WD with electronically controlled transfer case and Automatic Limited-Slip Differential (Auto LSD). All of this translates into power, especially when you need it, a very able vehicle for off road, towing or pretty much any other utility. It can handle 1100 Lbs of payload and tow 6,400 Lbs. The 21.1 gallon fuel tank is nice as well.
Safety
The award winning Toyota suite of safety features is a huge value and All Tacoma versions are fitted with the standard safety equipment by Toyota. It features adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and automatic high beam headlights.
Conclusion
The Toyota Tacoma SR5 is a great truck that inspires confidence. It feels rugged in all the right spots, and you know when you are in the driver’s seat that you can get through any terrain. It’s fun to drive and if you are looking for a tough truck that can get the job done off road and on road then you have found the right mid-sized truck. This is a popular truck with a lot of history and a track record of success. I would own this truck and really enjoyed my test week.
You can start your research here for all the official info on the Tacoma
https://www.toyota.com/tacoma/
MSRP Starting at $26,400
$41,193 as tested
