The new Tacoma offers more power, better handling and improved refinement over earlier models. The track (the distance between left and right wheels) on the 2005 Tacoma models is four inches longer than that of the 2004 models, and the wheelbase is five or six inches longer. Even so, the chassis are more rigid and the trucks are more maneuverable than before. They ride nicer than before. And off-road models offer better capability and increased comfort over rugged terrain than before.

The new V6 engine feels refined and delivers responsive performance. Using variable valve technology, the double overhead-cam 4.0-liter V6 produces 245 horsepower and 282 pound-feet of torque, a 55-horsepower increase over the old 3.4-liter engine. More to the point, the Toyota V6 is more powerful than the five-cylinder engine in the Chevy Colorado or the V6 in the Dodge Dakota. The V6 works well with the five-speed automatic, and it's our first choice. The automatic is super smooth and very responsive, quickly downshifting when you mash the throttle, and it offers five ratios to better keep the engine at the proper revs. The six-speed manual transmission is easy to shift. First gear is a low gear and it seems like a stretch between first and second gears. Toyota recommends 91 octane gas for the V6. Preliminary fuel-economy estimates were 17/21 for a V6 4x4 Double Cab with the five-speed automatic.
The new 2.7-liter VVT-i DOHC four-cylinder engine produces 164 horsepower and 183 pound-feet of torque, about average for the class but more than the old overhead-valve V6 in the Ford Ranger. Toyota recommends 87 octane. Preliminary fuel-economy estimates were 22/28 mpg City/Highway with the five-speed manual.

The Tacoma handles well, with surprisingly little body roll (lean) in corners and it feels steady in sweeping turns. The Tacoma feels big on the road when compared with older compact pickups. In fact, it is big, wider, and longer than previous-generation models. Parking a long-bed crew cab pickup is particularly challenging. The Tacoma Double Cab long bed requires 44 feet to complete a circle, nearly four more feet than a Double Cab short bed. We'd vote for the shorter bed unless we really needed the long bed. A base Tacoma Regular Cab boasts a turning circle of less than 37 feet.

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On pavement, the 4x4 and TRD models seemed smooth and refined. The TRD 4x4 is smooth and highly capable off road. The TRD suspension is excellent on rough, rugged terrain. It handles well on rough dirt trails, something we learned while charging up a ski run at Alyeska. It never bottomed on the rough terrain even when we pushed it well beyond socially acceptable standards. The Tacoma TRD model easily handled an off-road course that featured steep ascents and descents, moguls, and a log step. We'd feel comfortable in tackling just about anything in one of these. And all of this is accomplished in relative comfort. These trucks don't generate as much uncomfortable head toss as earlier 4x4 compact pickups.
Switching into 4-wheel drive and 4WD Lo is as easy as twisting a rotary knob. We tried to confuse it by switching the knob around and succeeded. The low-range lights wouldn't turn off until we stopped, shut it off and restarted, the old Microsoft reboot.

The Tacoma's brakes are smooth and easy to modulate and can bring it to quick halt without drama. The rear brakes are drums, however, less desirable than the rear disc brakes that come on some of the other pickups in this class.

The 2005 Toyota Tacoma X-Runner is a lot of fun to drive and handles like a sports car. It corners flat and generates lots of grip in corners. We drove it hard up a hill climb and were not able to reach its limits. It tracks well and is very stable in tight corners even when spinning the inside rear tire under full throttle. The ride is firm, but seems to ride better than our recollection of the SVT Lightning. However, we didn't care for the feel of the clutch pedal, the steering was vague on center, and there was that inside rear wheelspin. Wind noise seems higher in the X-Runner than in the other models. But this is a tight, sporty truck. There's no cowl shake. The exhaust sounds cool. If you want a truck that can hang with a sports car, then look no farther.