Toyota Tacoma Generations Overview (1995–present): Specs and Versions

A guide to Toyota Tacoma generations from 1995 to present: a pickup double cab with 142–326 hp across four generations, with notable versions and buying picks.

The Toyota Tacoma is a pickup double cab produced from 1995 to the present, with outputs ranging from 142 to 326 hp across its lineup. Anyone comparing toyota tacoma generations will find seven distinct stages — four generations plus restylings — spanning simple RWD single cabs of the 1990s and today's automatic-only hybrid-topped trucks. It suits buyers who want a mid-size pickup in a wide power and era range.

Toyota Tacoma generations

1 generation (1995–1997)

The 1st generation Toyota Tacoma was offered as a pickup single cab with 142–190 hp, Automatic or Manual gearboxes, and RWD or 4x4, across 18 modifications. The mass-market version was the 2.7 MT (182 hp) with a 2694 cc engine and RWD, while the most powerful was the 3.4 MT (190 hp) with a 3378 cc engine and 4x4. This is the only stage of the model sold as a single cab, and its power floor of 142 hp is the lowest in the whole Tacoma lineup.

1 generation, restyling (1997–2004)

The restyled 1st generation switched to a pickup double cab body and is the widest range in the lineup with 39 modifications, keeping the 142–190 hp span. The common choice was the 2.7 AT (182 hp) with a 2694 cc engine and 4x4, and the top output remained the 3.4 MT (190 hp) with the 3378 cc engine, here paired with RWD. Both Automatic and Manual gearboxes and both RWD and 4x4 stayed available through 2004.

2 generation (2004–2011)

The 2nd generation Toyota Tacoma raised the power range to 159–245 hp across 21 modifications, in a pickup double cab with Automatic or Manual gearboxes and RWD or 4x4. The mass version was the 4.0 AT (236 hp) with a 3956 cc engine and 4x4; the strongest was the 4.0 AT (245 hp) with the same 3956 cc displacement and 4x4. The jump from 190 to 245 hp at the top is the largest single-generation power gain before the hybrid era.

2 generation, restyling (2011–2015)

The restyled 2nd generation narrowed to 7 modifications, all of them 4x4 — the only stage of the model without an RWD option — with 159–236 hp. Both the mass-market 4.0 MT (236 hp) and the top 4.0 AT (236 hp) used roughly 3.9-liter engines (3955–3956 cc), while the freshest addition was the 2.7 AT (159 hp) with a 2694 cc engine. Manual and Automatic gearboxes remained on offer side by side.

3 generation (2015–2019)

The 3rd generation Toyota Tacoma offered 9 modifications with 159–278 hp in a pickup double cab, with RWD or 4x4 and both gearbox types. The dominant version was the 3.5 AT (278 hp) with a 3456 cc engine, 4x4, and fuel consumption of 11.8 l/100km — it was both the mass and the most powerful choice. The efficiency pick was the 2.7 AT (159 hp) with a 2694 cc engine and RWD at 11.2 l/100km, undercutting the 278 hp flagship by 0.6 l/100km.

3 generation, restyling (2019–2023)

The restyled 3rd generation trimmed the range to 5 modifications, keeping 159–278 hp. The mass version was the 3.5 MT with a 3456 cc engine and 4x4 at 13.8 l/100km; the 3.5 AT (278 hp) with RWD returned 12.4 l/100km — a full 1.4 l/100km less than the manual — and the economical 2.7 AT (159 hp) with a 2693 cc engine and RWD matched that same 12.4 l/100km figure.

4 generation (2023–present)

The 4th generation Toyota Tacoma is Automatic-only with just 3 modifications — the smallest range in the model's history — and a 278–326 hp span from 2393 cc engines. The mass version is the 2.4 AT (278 hp) with 4x4 at 11.8 l/100km, and the flagship is the hybrid 2.4 AT (326 hp) with 4x4 at 10.2 l/100km — the most powerful Tacoma ever and also thriftier than the non-hybrid by 1.6 l/100km, despite sharing the same 2393 cc displacement.

Which Toyota Tacoma to buy

For a used purchase, note that the 1st generation restyling (1997–2004) alone accounts for 39 of the model's modifications, so trim-matching parts requires checking the exact version; 3rd-generation trucks (2015–2023) offer the newest pre-2023 hardware with fewer variants — 9 and then 5 modifications — which simplifies the search.

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