Here’s Why The First Generation Toyota Tacoma Is A Living Legend

Jan 03, 2024

Outlasting anything on the road, the first generation Tacoma pickup helped cement Toyota's reputation as one of the most reliable car makers

With the premiere of the new 2024 Tacoma, Toyota's volume producing mid-size truck is now on its 4th generation. The Tacoma was first introduced in 1995 and since then has developed a reputation for its best in class reliability with a long history to prove it. Almost 30 years have gone by and the Tacoma nameplate has established itself as the Michael Jordan of midsize pick-up trucks; there is no competition.

Just look around, and you will see just as many of them on the roads today as there were back in the mid-90s. The legendary Japanese truck has survived all these years, thanks to its durable powertrain and massive frame recall. With over a million trucks produced it may be no surprise that there are more Tacos on the road than there are taco shops in East Los Angeles.

Toyota was already producing a small pickup prior to the introduction of the Tacoma. By 1995, the Toyota truck without a name now needed one, which led to the Japanese automaker naming it after a city in Washington. The newly named Tacoma retained the light and rigid boxed frame of its predecessor, while adding refinements along the way. The first generation Tacoma took on a few design facelifts in its 10-year span from 1995-2004, prioritizing function over form.

With the 4x4 curb weight under 3,900 lbs, the Tacoma was light enough for any off-road obstacle. All 4x4 models came with a mechanical transfer case rather than an electronic one like It's Ford and Chevy competitors. Mechanical components hold up better with wear over time. This may seem like a minor difference, but when it comes to off-roaders, owners want to confidently select 4WD knowing that it will engage when they need it.

First gen Tacomas were offered with three body types, regular, Xtracab and double cab. The latter was offered in 2001 to compete with the Chevrolet S-10, adding a full size back seat while compromising bed length. The Tacoma offered more ground clearance and better payload ratings than the Chevy. Thanks to its efficient 3.4-liter V6 compared to Chevy's monstrous 4.3-liter V6, the Tacoma was lighter than its American competitor while maintaining the same 190 hp. It's shorter length, taller ride height and lightweight chassis all contributed to the Tacoma's off-road success.

The first gen truck also offered a 2WD Prerunner trim that kept the same height and ground clearance as 4x4 models. The Prerunner could even be optioned with a rear differential locker and Bilstein shocks, found on the TRD Off-Road package. This 2WD model was called the Prerunner because it was designed to run the off-road courses prior to the other more capable trucks. The rear diff locker was a nice additional touch for buyers who don't need the added weight of a 4x4 but could use the locker to get out of some sticky situations.

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Whether you opt for the 4-cylinder or V6, manual or automatic transmission; the first generation Tacoma will be the most dependable truck you will ever own. When a manufacturer chooses multiple engine and transmission options there's usually one that is worse than the other; not with Toyota.

The first gen Tacoma could be purchased with a standard 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder on 2WD models. There was the 2.7-liter four banger with more horsepower and torque for Prerunners and 4x4 models. The 4 cylinder has an overbuilt cast-iron block increasing the strength of the engine. Lastly, there was the already mentioned 3.4 liter V6 producing the highest output.

Both the four speed and manual transmissions have had a reliable history. The 4-cylinders were driven by a chain, the V6 was belt driven but not an interference motor. The 4x4 models with the manual take the driver back in time when the shifter and transfer case almost shared the same boot space.

The first gen Tacoma could be had in many configurations, which makes sense because options and trim packages is what set this truck apart from the start. Like the new 2024 Tacoma with its eight different trim choices, the Taco was always a truck designed to be tailored to your specific needs. More importantly, it was always going to run and get you places you needed to be on or off pavement.

Many enthusiasts call it the Toyota tax, meaning you're always going to pay a premium for a truck with a Toyota badge. Now some say that could be due to its extraordinary reliability, but many automakers have produced reliable trucks. The real difference with Toyota is that they will go above and beyond to keep their customers satisfied.

Toyota will go to great lengths to ensure their customer base is satisfied with their product. Besides just recalls like most manufacturers, Toyota also creates customer support programs. The programs are intended to inspect cosmetic and mechanical concerns that consistently show defects or a lack of quality.

For example, Toyota began inspecting frames on their first gen Tacomas and third gen 4runners since they share the same platform. The reason was due to the amount of complaints they received of frames rusting out due to the box frames retaining water and delaminating over time. The frames on their trucks would have so much perforated rust that the trucks would snap in half. Rather than blame it on inclement weather and salty roads, Toyota took ownership and did something unprecedented. They inspected thousands of trucks and replaced their entire frames with new ones, free of charge.

This two day job cost the company millions of dollars, but what it did for Toyota long term far outweighed the dollar amount spent. The Japanese automaker cemented itself as a company that will have your back throughout your ownership experience. Combine that with their exceptional reputation for reliability and Toyota has every reason to fetch a premium for their products over other brands.

The company continues to offer customer support programs until this day. Toyota's luxury brand Lexus, agreed to replace sticky dashboards in the past. Toyota recently contacted customers regarding a high pressure fuel pump leak they will replace to alleviate a fuel odor on most of their current models. These are all examples of Toyota's commitment to satisfy their customer base. It extends into its mission to "attain customers with high-valued products and services and the most satisfying ownership experience in America".

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While most pickups from the 90s or early 2000s can be picked up for around $5,000, the Tacoma is on a different level. First gens in decent shape with over 150k miles, still get upwards to $10,000 in most markets. In California, Prerunners are very popular, since there isn't much need for 4WD, they can sell for closer to $15,000 with high miles. Think about that for a second, a 2WD, 25-year-old truck selling for the price of some new cars today.

The Toyota tax is an actual thing because when buyers see that badge, they know the hype is real. The difference with Toyota isn't just built into the quality of their products, but rather in the brands moral fiber. Toyota's great fortitude will allow them to continue to be the most respected automobile company in America. The Tacoma embodies all the same characteristics and that is why it is a living legend.

Victor Troia is a Features Writer with 10 years of experience in the automotive industry. An enthusiast and car collector with a B.A in History and M.S in Education. Victor enjoys writing about the impact automobiles have on car culture