Driving a pickup is a compromise. The 2006 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner Double Cab 4x2 V6 Longbed navigates the compromise like a skilled mediator. Taking into account the demands of passengers and cargo, comfort and utility, the 2006 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner Double Cab manages to address all parties. With a base price of $22,540 ($27,638 as tested) with a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty, Tacoma's fuel economy is estimated at 18 mpg city/22 mpg highway.
First glance at the Tacoma
The current generation of Tacoma is bigger and more attractive than ever before. A far cry from the popular compact pickup trucks of the 1980s and early 1990s, Tacoma is now a standard pickup -- small in comparison to stablemate Tundra, but still a substantial vehicle in its own right. With the double cab and longbed features, the Tacoma's 140.9" wheelbase is the longest in the Toyota lineup -- longer even than the Tundra Double Cab's 140.5 inches. When you select a crew cab pickup, you sometimes have to live with a short bed. Not with Tacoma -- the longbed on the Tacoma is 73.5" long, the same length as the standard bed on the Regular and Access cab Tacoma models, resulting in a balanced look that's in proportion, without the weird "chopped SUV" look that plagues many crew cab pickups.
My test vehicle was equipped with a $3,345 package of options, the TRD Sport Package #2, which included some functional/performance features along with 17" alloy wheels, fog lamps, color-keyed grille surround, bumpers, mirrors, door handles and overfenders, along with TRD Sport graphics. Combined with the already aggressive styling of the Tacoma, the package made the pickup positively cool, without being overstated.
In the driver's seat
Tacoma's cabin is fairly no-nonsense. It doesn't try and fool you that you're in a car -- but it doesn't punish you for driving a truck. There are plenty of little slots and cubby holes for storage, just what you need when your truck is your office. There are non-skid surfaces where you need them, and two convenience DC cigarette lighter outlets in the dash. The gauges are standard Toyota -- big, clear, fuss-free and bright. Climate controls are big rotary switches, easy to understand and operate.
The back seat of the double cab is comfortable and roomy -- almost car-like, but not quite. The seat itself is a little hard and thin, but the fabric seems durable and easy-to-clean. I'd feel perfectly comfortable carrying adult passengers in the back seat, though the elderly or infirm might need some help getting in with the high floor height. I might add a set of running boards to aid entry and exit, especially on the 4x2 model where the compromised ground clearance wouldn't be an issue.
For times when you need to secure cargo in the cabin, the 60/40 split rear seat folds down easily, leaving a pretty good raised cargo floor. My dog liked riding back there -- the platform elevated her for a good view through the side windows.
On the road in the Tacoma
Tacoma's 4.0 liter V6 cranks out 236 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque, which is plenty to make the 4135 lb pickup feel sprightly. Tacoma's maximum payload is just over a half ton at 1370 lb with a maximum towing capacity of 6500, so it is decidedly light-duty in stock condition -- go for the Tundra if you've got a horse trailer and a load of manure to move around. The long wheelbase can have some negative effects on handling. On bumpy roads with an unloaded bed, the Tacoma will bounce like a pickup truck -- not much fun on a long drive. Parking in tight spaces is a challenge, and you'll want to get very familiar with your turning radius before you casually cut corners and take tight curves.
Around town, or when loaded, Tacoma really shines. The ride is smooth and comfortable. Body roll is at a minimum, and the cabin is well-insulated and truly silent. The view from Tacoma's cab is commanding -- you look over the roofs of most cars, making navigating through traffic much easier. I really enjoyed driving around in the Tacoma, especially on the weekends when my neighborhood turns into one big garage sale. I felt like I could buy every cheap piece of furniture I saw on Saturday -- just in time for my own garage sale next Sunday.
Journey's end
If you really need the long pickup bed, but you still want to carry a full load of passengers, Tacoma is a great option. It's smaller and more efficient than the full-sized pickup, and it's got a longer, more functional bed than the pickup/SUV hybrids like Ford's Explorer Sport Trac and Chevy's Avalanche. Other companies offer similar setups, and you really should take a look before you buy.
Nissan's Frontier is available with a crew cab, a 73" bed, a powerful V6 and very aggressive styling, and is strong competition for the Tacoma. Chevy's Colorado, Dodge's Dakota, Ford's Ranger and Mazda's B4000 are all available in crew cab/short bed combinations, but are worthy trucks if you don't need the longbed setup. For a completely different approach, take a look at the Honda Ridgeline, a car-based pickup with a unique set of features.
Tacoma remains an excellent choice as a light duty pickup, and the crew cab/longbed combination is a great compromise for everyday driving. It's the kind of compromise I can appreciate -- you get everything you need, and most of what you want. Now if only Toyota could step in and work on that whole Middle East situation...
