What's New on the 2024 Tacoma (2024)

What's New on the 2024 Tacoma

After shooting the episode of "Will It Fit?" with DV8 Offroad's brand new 2024 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4WD with Falken's Wildpeak A/T4W all-terrain tire, we realized we still had a bunch more good content. Our goal was to answer the common question of what's the largest tire you can run on a 4th Gen Tacoma with no lift, and we think we found that answer in our previous video. But why stop there? We decided to get underneath the brand new Tacoma and check out its all-new rear suspension, driveline, and powertrain.

Jeremy, Falken Tires: Well, I know our viewers are going to want to see a little bit not just about the wheel and tire fitment, but about what Toyota changed, because this is one of the first I've seen in person. So if you don't mind, Brandon, let's get this thing up on the lift and, take a look underneath.

Removing The OEM Front Bumper Valence

Brandon, DV8 Offroad: Yeah, we'll do it right now. So they went with this on the Tacoma because on the Tundra, the TRD Offroad and TRD Pro are the only ones that don't have it. But on the Tundra, they actually have a drop down valance with electronic motor. So having this actually is going to save a lot of people trouble, because if people switch to an aftermarket bumper, they have to get rid of that drop down valance. And there's a motor and Toyota's super finicky with sensors and motors. And people are getting errors and stuff like that. So yeah, it's going to save a lot of trouble.

Jeremy: Hey, more props to the SR5 then.

Brandon: I actually believe all Tacomas are going to have this. None of them are actually going to have the drop down for aerodynamic.

Jeremy: I know you guys are working on a bumper and we asked you to hold off, and you guys were kind enough to hold off on that because most people are going to run a stock bumper. We wanted to see, “Will it fit?” with that stock bumper. So stock bumper, I know you guys are working on one. I believe that was a center mount.

Brandon: So it's going to replace this section. Center mount winch capable bumper that will offer you some light options as well. We will be doing a full width, but right now it's just the center mount.

Jeremy: And this is just a crash bar, right?

Brandon: Yes, it's very similar to the previous generations. The aluminum crash bar.

Jeremy: Where's the intercooler on this?

Brandon: So the intercooler. I'm pretty sure this is, integrated intercooler.

Jeremy: Into the radiator?

Brandon: Yes, I believe so, because this is air conditioning and then just the radiator. On the Tundra has two big intercoolers on each side.

Bumper Recovery Points

Jeremy: And then these are factory tie down points. So are you guys going to make some kind of recovery points on your bumper?

Brandon: Yes, everything's tied in through the frame, just like how these are. So yes, our bumper will have recovery points. Our bumper will allow you to keep these, however, once we come up with our skid plate, we'll probably end up getting rid of these just for clearance and attachment points.

Jeremy: And then I see you've got some skid plates for the A-Arms already.

Brandon: So we're working on some A-Arm skid plates just because if we're going off-roading, we want to make sure that all the lowest points of the vehicle are protected.

Jeremy: So you guys took care of that in the back, too, right? You put some skids on the lower shock mounts.

Brandon: Yes. So we have some shock and link skids. That's a 2-in-1. Very similar to what we have for our other vehicles. But yes, it's just a big bulky unit.

Jeremy: Did the outgoing Tacoma have a rear sway bar?

Brandon: No, not that I believe. Because they were all leaf sprung.

Jeremy: Exactly. So I was impressed when you put it up on the lift it how much down travel it had. And a lot of people like to remove their sway bars to get more travel. So I'm wondering if there's more to be done here.

Brandon: I'm sure people are going to be pulling off their sway bars, but I don't think that's really going to limit people's travel.

Jeremy: It’s a pretty minimal sway bar regardless. And then this exhaust where it crosses over, I don't know if that's going to be a hindrance or if that's a good indicator to stop before you get to your driveshaft.

Brandon: I definitely think it's one of the lowest parts of the belly. So I think people are going to attack that. But one of the biggest things I noticed was just how beefy the driveshaft is.

Jeremy: I noticed. I've got a three quarter ton truck, and that thing is pretty close. I don't know what size u-joints these are, but that is a beefy aluminum drive shaft. And it looks like it's still the same rear end. I don't know if it's an 8.2 or what it is.

Brandon: I'm not too sure. it looks similar. It looks like maybe a newer generation of it.

Jeremy: So that might help with re-gearing if people go down that route. Hopefully all that stuff is going to be readily available, including air lockers and all that good stuff. These coil covers are cool. And then the shocks are mounted outboard. These are just like a rubber coating for rattle. Like I said, this is a huge departure from the previous generation truck, and I don't think since the second generation that we've seen such a big change in the Tacoma.

Brandon: When I was at the SEMA scan session, they actually had a two wheel drive pre runner extra cab that was still leaf sprung for the new for the new generation Tacoma.

Jeremy: And that's how it's going to come from the factory?

Brandon: Yes it's more of a work truck, so it’s able to hold some weight. But it was cool that it was still leaf sprung. So I think that's going to be pretty popular in the market too for the pre runner types.

Jeremy: Yes that'll be something for a suspension company to tackle that's for sure. I know the truck only has 45 miles on it probably most of which is on the stock tire right.

Brandon: Correct. So I haven't had a lot of miles on the A/T4W other than driving around town. But I will say it is just like every other Falken I've had - significantly quieter than any other tire I’ve ran.

Jeremy: I appreciate that. So are you going to be the lucky driver of this out in Moab, or who's going to drive it?

Brandon: Yes, I will. I'm a Toyota person myself. I’ve been working with Broncos and Jeeps, but I currently own two Toyotas myself, so this is going to be the one I baby a little bit.

Jeremy: And there is no locker in the rear of this, correct?

Brandon: There is no locker in the rear.

Jeremy: So you got your work cut out for you then?

Brandon: I mean, it's a Toyota. It'll handle it.

Jeremy: It'll handle it (laughs in Toyota). Another big change was what's under the hood, right? This is a turbo four cylinder now. How's the get up and go of this turbo four cylinder compared to the outgoing 3.5 V6?

Brandon: 100 percent my opinion. But after driving Toyotas from the 80’s all the way up to the 2023 and now the 2024, I would say while this is just a four cylinder, I think it's significantly more powerful than the V6 they had in the previous model.

Jeremy: Yeah, the 4.0 in the second gen, that thing was a workhorse. And it's a good motor. I know that 3.5 with the Atkinson cycle, a lot of people were frustrated with that. But I'm excited to see what this turbo four cylinder can do. We know turbos and smaller displacement are kind of the thing of the future. And being an EcoBoost Mustang driver, I like my turbo four cylinder. Good gas mileage, still good power.

Brandon: Yes, definitely. Definitely good power. Even pushing the 33s it gets up and goes.

Jeremy: What's the gearing in the rear end, do you know?

Brandon: I couldn't tell you.

Jeremy: Couldn't tell me. All right. Might be on the window sticker. Might not. They probably only put that if you get a TRD. But anyway, no problem pushing it. Stock gearing, 33-inch tires. You heard it from this guy.

Brandon: You didn’t hear anything from me (laughs in Toyota).