Hit or Miss? 2024 Toyota Tacoma XtraCab Prerunner First Drive

We get our first chance to hop behind the wheel of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma XtraCab Prerunner to see how well it works or doesn't work for some customers. Follow along as Publisher Tim Esterdahl and Managing Editor Jill Cimillo share all the details.
#toyota #toyotatacoma
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[@Pickuptrucktalk]

If you are interested in specs, literally all of them, for the new Tacoma, here you go: pickuptrucktalk.com/2023/11/2024-toyota-tacoma-by-the-specs/

[@RedondoBeach2]

2:10 "The idea is no. The idea here is, very specific customer base, very specific needs." This kind of comment makes viewers disappointed in influencer videos. Influencers just boast about whatever Toyota does or attempt to put a positive spin on negative aspects of what they designed. You don't seem to go back to Toyota engineers and tell them they're alienating a significant consumer base. An example of this is that everyone, and I mean absolutely everyone, including Toyota, influencers, and especially consumers, know the 4-door Tacoma back seats absolutely suck. Yet, somehow Toyota keeps producing 4 door models. What's worse is that the 4 door is the standard and the Xtracab is the exception. Why? Maybe because influencers are afraid their early access to Toyota vehicles will end if they speak honestly to Toyota reps and tell them: hey, you guys need to break out your notepad, pencil, open your ears and listen up: end the 4 door Tacoma. Make the Xtracab the standard, across the lineup. Let 'em know; there are countless would be buyers who would love to own the TRD Pro, Trailhunter and Offroad in an Xtracab configuration. Why? Because nobody sits in the back seat of a Tacoma. Why should Xtracab be the standard? Because the nature of a truck is that it's a utility vehicle. An owner gets far more utility from an Xtracab (Accesscab would be far better) with a 6' bed with more towing and hauling capacity than a 5' bed with a 4 seat cab. Also, the 4 door cab just adds additional dead weight to the overall truck, resulting in lower MPG. So, to say "The idea is no. The idea here is, very specific customer base, very specific needs" is a copout. If customers were honestly consulted and surveyed, their answer (not an influencer's answer) is more likely to be "The idea is that influencers are kissing up to Toyota and praising them for poor designs. Consequently, the cycle of poor designs is perpetuated in future designs." Someone needs to tell Toyota the ugly truth. Few people get any real utility from a 4 door cab. They buy it because that's the only configuration available for a TRD Pro, Trailhunger, Offroad, etc. Build what customers want. If influencers are afraid to speak truth to power; at a bear minimum, tell Toyota to create a survey for customers that asks; if you had the option to purchase another Tacoma in any trim, would you chose to have the cab as a 4 door, an Xtracab, or an Access Cab. Do this at the point of sale with customers who put real money in the pockets of Toyota. They need to hear from customers, not influencers. You guys are mostly the same. Always high praise for Toyota, with very slight criticisms. Bottom line: Toyota makes money from customers who need to be considered.

[@AkioWasRight]

When I had my Chevy ExtCab, I used the rear seat all the time to haul my work gear, and the swinging clamshell doors made everything easy access. Without the doors, it becomes a pain to lift stuff over the front seat. Honently, if I had the choice again, the lack of rear swing doors would be a deal breaker... Big miss, Toyota. I don't want to have to get a Double Cab just to haul an ice box and couple of work bags.

[@dillonh321]

They did it for side impact safety unfortunately. The front doors are not as strong when they hook to another hinging panel compared to hinging to a pillar or solid piece of cab. Almost everyone else is moving away from the clamshell doors as well. Nissan is the last midsize to have it. All of the other midsize trucks have just completely dropped their smaller cab option but Toyota opted to keep it but without back doors. It’s slowly going away on full size as well. Ford is the last full size with clamshell doors. Everyone else made their medium cabs just a little bit bigger to fit a pillar and small regular doors.

[@W0RLDSSMALLESTVI0LIN]

​@dillonh321 they didn't do it for side impact safety. The real reason they deleted the suicide doors is due to the "significant cost" to engineer the rear doors to pass side impact standards. It was about money. Toyota openly shared this. They didn't want to spend the money because not enough people buy the extended cabs anymore to justify the cost of engineering it for the new gen.

[@TheAnnoyingBoss]

I dont love toyota. Theyre depending on love to blind us from a bad deal. Worse tacoma ever. Smallest engine and terrible setup in thr sense they banned affordable trucks. Now you get overpriced junk. They didnt stop cutting features and raising the price. The truck yas a plastic bed they groom the masses to see that as quality and reliability 🤡🤢

[@egggofff5057]

Love the truck, but think they missed the bar on the no back door. I always used my doors on my frontier.

[@Gene1969]

I'm just glad that Toyota still offers an "extended cab" for the Tacoma. That makes two choices. Too bad we don't have more in the midsized market. (You listening GM, Ford, and Stelantis?)

[@DaveInCanada081]

Here's hoping this turbocharged 4 banger doesn't turn into a Ford ecoboost heap of metal shavings

[@seagullsbtn]

It’s been around for several years in Lexus products.

[@martin4749]

I feel I know a thing or two about Xtracabs. I have been driving my 1985 since it was new. I don’t need a back seat, but it is a major PITA putting thing back there or getting them out. Toyota should have included at least one clam shell door. Their excuses are lame. They could somehow have an Access cab for years, and now it’s a safety thing? Got it.

[@robertpulliam9973]

I had a ‘93 GMC extended cab before opening doors to the back extension, even though the passenger seat did slide forward allowing access it was still difficult accessing the extended cab. Anyone taller than Jill will have trouble reaching in the storage area especially if it slides towards the middle.

[@hankua]

I have a new 23 access cab, so interested in the new version. A couple of reasons why Toyota is making the change is for reducing production costs and safety standards. One of the engineers said the increased body strength needed to keep the suicide doors would have to be carried over to all production including four door’s; which don’t need it. They probably don’t care how many buyers get the base economy version, as the pre-runner has way more profit built in. I bought the cheapest new 2023 truck with a 6’ bed, that just happened to be a Tacoma. 😊

[@paulblack5883]

I think was a mistake not to have a smaller door to access that back area. Access Cabs don't sell nearly as much as Double Cabs so perhaps that played a roll maybe for design and cost savings perspective..but still I think it needs a door.

[@TheAnnoyingBoss]

Now theyll sell even less.

[@DaveInCanada081]

I don't think Ill be buying one. How can my dog get in and out if there is no rear doors?

[@joseeduardo4327]

Yea most people won’t and Toyota knows that. This is gunna be spec’d out for fleet vehicles like Orkin or something haha

[@tinhinnh]

ugh move the front seat up and tilt the seat back forward or buy the double cab like everybody else? 😂

[@Master-Blaster-4x4]

🐶

[@TheAnnoyingBoss]

​@@joseeduardo4327theyre not payong a fortune for the prerunner. Toyota is charging extra for less people start to not want to buy it.

[@erichoff7511]

Great review.. like that new version

[@kwmulligan]

I think Jill is 100% correct about that extra cab it is useless. I don’t understand why they didn’t keep the existing extra cab

[@anorakadventures]

We will all miss the glory days of access cabs which are now gone. I fo wonder though, how much weight is saved by not having doors there?

[@is6566]

I think they saved a ton. Of cost. And they are selling their benefits to us as our benefits with management speak. They saved to of cost on parts and labor assembly by not having doors. It’s done for reaching a price point.

[@skyrunr]

Even if that little back window opened, it would be an improvement.

[@emmi-san]

Probably learning from Jeep's mistake with their frame mounted bumper being too close and rubbing the body as it shifts around is why they put a rear bumper gap.

[@wilmarbarrick3194]

I don't desert run but I do A LOT of running in sand in the form of beach driving. Not a complicated form of off road that needs crazy crawl modes or disconnecting sway bars but 4wd is a must. 3:30 They should've given external access right below that rear window into a a compartment that's about a foot or two deep... like a utility truck.

[@CoelhoSports]

There used to be a grab handle on the 3rd gen a-pillar that passengers could use to enter the cab. I think some 2nd gens had it drivers side as well. I'm not seeing it either side on the 4th gen. I noticed there may be some kind of handle for the back seat (b pillar?l of the 4th gen double cabs? Also, the 3rd gen access cab clamshell doors had the rear stereo speakers in them. Where are they in the new xtra cab? Also noticed in the bed they kept those little shelf slots on the sides that line up with the top of the wheel wells. Most people don't notice those but i have boards in the bed that fit into those slots in front and behind the wheel wells and you can slide sheetrock and plywood over them and have space under to load lots of other stuff. I don't see the little storage boxes at the back of the bed other side from the tail lights, anymore.

[@Robert8455]

Clamshell doors would really make the usability so much better. Look at some of the crash tests of the F150 super cab that had the folding rear doors and you'll see how the cab will fold on the front impact test. I suspect that is why Toyota chose not to add it.

[@DaveInCanada081]

I like the dash layout

[@jcferg3370]

Another great video! Thanks for being honest about the good and bad parts of the truck.

[@jodyh8108]

Thanks for the great video! Jill, do you find it comfortable in the seats with your stature? Does the seat raise enough to see out of the front adequately? Although that one isn’t the 8 way power. Thank you again!

[@Pickuptrucktalk]

This seat didn't do that well since it was manual. The powered seat was much better.

[@bubba4072]

I like it.👍

[@wilyceyote]

I do like a new pre-runner taco , but Discontinued the manual transmission in it that’s one of two complaints I don’t like about new taco truck

[@thystaff742]

Toyota would have been better off to make a regular cab and extended the bed. If they were set on the xtracab with no back door then they should have had the passenger seat modded to to double fold towards the dash for easier access.

[@Link-we8so]

Well on the tow hooks.... They seem low on the truck? I wonder if you are really stuck will you be able to get to them?

[@Pickuptrucktalk]

I have the same concern.

[@jamesfreeman7954]

Should've kept the access cab door and the rear sliding window. Hopefully they address this with next year iterations.

[@alexanderromero9701]

Just empty space,lower back killer if you putting things in the back of the seat and no access to it

[@powderguy8435]

Hey Tim, you might consider putting a nice pair of racing gloves in your wife's Christmas stocking this year.🤣

[@Tom-ic7hw]

did they ever fix the axel wrap issue my 00 & 01 would feel like someone rear ended you after a stop and start from like a light or stop sign

[@Pickuptrucktalk]

It’s been 23 years and two generations of this truck later. I can’t say if they fixed it, because it’s a completely different truck these days.

[@absolutelynot3065]

Trd Prerunner as shown starts at $38,100. SR XtraCab starts at $31,500

[@tinhinnh]

SR 4x4 with couple options and its $37k 😬 The PreRunner has the higher output engine

[@joecharmley]

@@tinhinnhso basically skip the prerunner lol !

[@michaelkelley3459]

Prerunner has a locking rear differential.

[@gregjoubert5118]

I believe that passenger seat flips forward for access. Regardless, this reminds me of my 97 T100. It was a pita to get certain items in and out of the rear.

[@rodgood]

Needs a third door, needs better front and rear bumpers, needs higher front recovery hooks, needs to be available with 4WD . They need to hire or listen too more off road savvy people . Just like Jeep did in 2002 . Every one knows what the Rubicon did for them .

[@brians.1357]

Trying to get to the access cab from the passenger side with seat back flipped down/forward looks like you could’ve slid the seat forward on its track, wonder how much that helps open up access ??

[@Pickuptrucktalk]

You do get a little more room to access the rear. Also that seat can fold flat for a work surface.

[@brians.1357]

Thanks Tim, I think you said it best “don’t love it, don’t hate it”.

[@michaelkelley3459]

What size tires are on this prerunner? What brand of tires?

[@67SportWagon]

Lack of rear half clamshell door is a hard no. Who wants to heft suitcases over the seats to stop them, or, anything heavy.

[@CharlesAnsman]

Great review !

[@yentrader]

As far as unloading mulch and stuff and getting it in the space between the bed and the tailgate you can probably remove the tailgate in less than a minute to get closer to the load or to clean. Probably doesn’t weigh more than about 30 pounds.

[@hankua]

You have to unplug the camera first, I still need the tailgate to unload mulch/dirt. Be nice to have a tailgate gap block, that doesn't interfere with the camera wires

[@Bobby_86415]

Pros - Exterior design looks nice, Cons - All digital gauges,, 4cyl turbo/ hybrid 8sp transmission will be less reliable and expensive for (Long term) users. I honestly feel Toyota is jumping on the band wagon for cheap thrills tech for the new generation of drivers and the new era of disposal vehicle's where nothing last for 10yrs now which is sad because they were the pioneers for long lasting reliable cars. People also need to be more vocal on car channels to be pushing back on things we don't want or we will be having crap going forward. The manufactures do look at comments to see what people think, for how much vehicle's cost now we do not need them telling us what we think we would like versus what we want.

[@dalefrolander3583]

I was considering the extra cab, but without the back doors it looks too much of a pain to load and unload stuff in the back which is why I'm going for a double cab.

[@peterdaniel66]

EXACTLY WHAT TOYOTA WANTS YOU TO DO. SHEEP.

[@michaelcafaro4022]

It’s a great work truck configuration but for runn8ng around town it would suck to retrieve things such as groceries or tools for that matter without the old clamshell style access door of the 2023. It’s not 1995 and they couldn’t have pulled it off. If you’re not hauling things on a daily basis the double cab is the way to go.

[@treborheminway3814]

Rear locker is all I need, but no access cab doors? Wtf were they thinking? Total screw up. Same with rear bumper. Does this have an ARB bumper option? Needs it.

[@Pickuptrucktalk]

You can bolt the ARB bumper on. They made it easy to swap.

[@Manuel3525m]

If I get stuff back there I have to access it every day what u talking about i don’t need recovery stuff back there

[@gilanderson3923]

I'm curious if Toyota has improved the cruise control so that it doesn't overly engine brake on minor interstate downhills and floorboard the accelerator and then abruptly downshift on the next uphill. 5th gen 4runner is only slightly better than the 3rd gen Tacoma; neither are good. My wife's Audi Q5 2.0T is so much better. Any improvements?

[@paulwicklund5044]

I plan on getting the SR5 extra cab 4x4 and put an after market sliding rear window and a Lear fiberglass top.

[@Freddy37022]

No big deal for me, I have owned a 95 extended cab 4x4 Tacoma since new, (no door) on this, had a couple seat cushions, but you didn’t want to back there for any time.

[@Mill72]

Glorified single cab. Bed cover takes care of keeping items dry in the back.

[@westcoastplinkin6559]

Great looking truck....but 38K for a 2WD? Huge miss.

[@ryanlepper8981]

this with one suicide access door, just flat floor without floor compartments and add plugs in the rear would be perfect. But to much to make happen, so close to my ideal setup. Oh and minus like 5k LOL

[@fscottgray9784]

The doors appear to be very short. Even with Jills short driving position the door encroaches on east of entry. They could have made themmuch longer on this model so you could actually get stuff in and out of the back. Anything in the extended portion will be a PIA to get to. GM 4 cylinder turbo is much more powerful. Seating position still looks uncomfortable.

[@Pickuptrucktalk]

Two things: Seating position is WAY better. The hybrid has 465 pound-feet of torque making it more powerful than GM 2.7L.

[@seeniedk]

Gun metal grey? Thought the name was underground?

[@Pickuptrucktalk]

Hmm… I think I read it off the spec sheet. Maybe the spec sheet is wrong?

[@rutilorocha3457]

My nissan hardbody king cab. Same no back doors😂

[@jonsilver5833]

$38100 price and nice truck for that just wish it had heated power driver seat.

[@daphoneguy934]

No rear doors is a huge miss

[@jamesweaver3379]

It’s called chip guard

[@usdpaulp]

Ever since the 22 Tundra, the designs have been getting more and more unappealing.

[@MM-oe3en]

If it was a safety issue then why did they keep making them since 2005-2023? I owned a 1994 2 wheel drive that was a xtracab. And it did have fold down seats and seat belts for your kids. I think they just want to sell more double cabs which leg room for adults still suck.

[@Freddy37022]

That coating has been on Toyota trucks since the beginning of time.

[@brandonwls6032]

No manual transmission with this trim :(

[@jamesdiaz2748]

So basically a single cab with storage and the double cab is basically an xtra cab with seats 🤣

[@donp.8172]

The Original Toyota Extra cab didn't have the opening rear doors either (1984+) & I never had a problem with it. I think it's fine.

[@andrewinaustintx]

Without a third door on the passenger side to access the cargo area at the rear of the cabin - this truck is major failure. I use the rear suicide doors on my 2005 Tundra Access Cab multiple times each day. The Prerunner will cost more than $40K with dealer fees, plus TTL . At over $40K, I shouldn't need to be a contortionist to access the rear cargo area.

[@user-gb9vv5ey2w]

Jump seats work great without the rear doors; for one extra passenger, big miss, Toyota. No manual and no opening rear door misses to target market, Too bad, so sad; I don't think this truck be available for long - too pricey for a work truck.

[@is6566]

The doors missing in the back is a deal breaker for me on any of the trims with XtraCab. There is no way people will be able to put heavy objects (and by heavy I mean 50 pounds and heavier) back there without injuring their backs. A normal AGM car battery is around 50 pounds minimum. Larger tool boxes with power tools in them again starting 40-50 pounds. It’s simply unconscionable for me that Toyota develops a practical solution for storage with the rear seat delete and then totally scre(w)s it up by not including at least one door on the side to conveniently load and unload objects to/from that space. I don’t care what they say, I think the reason is cost cutting. It’s like developing a really cool looking creative water bottle and then limiting the fill and drink part to a pinhole. Destroys the whole idea that was the basis of the invention. Back to the Tacoma. By not having side doors in the back also means that if you put multiple layers of objects there, you can’t access anything other than the top layer of objects without completely removing everything that’s on top of the object that you try unload from the truck. Let’s say my drills are in a toolbox on the floor and I have three more layers of toolboxes on top of it, then I would need to unload four boxes to get the drill box that I actually want to use. If there would be a door I could just slide the bottom box of drills out and be on my way.

[@callofdutyguy9]

This was a bean counter move IMO. Toyota is full of 💩. They killed the access cab, V6, moved production to Mexico, no manual available on the XtraCab, tailgate has no dampening on XtraCab, SR has derated engine, No coil springs available on XtraCab.

[@jamesfigueroa382]

cool toy..!

[@legion1630]

At the end of the day - lets see how many people buy this trim and then we can really find out if Toyota made a good decision or not simple

[@DaveInCanada081]

I think the xtra cab model will be a 1 year only model. Great for car collectors

[@Pickuptrucktalk]

I think it will be a hit for a specific customer. They didn't build this without seeing a big enough market for it.

[@jayray274]

I think you’ll see these be a hit as Fleet trucks especially at 32K.

[@callofdutyguy9]

Toyota should have should made a legit regular cab with the 8 foot bed imo. No suicide doors is y ergonomic. I would have left even the jump seats since they fold and don’t take up much room.

[@joecharmley]

@@jayray274it’s being sold at 40k though after everything

[@joecharmley]

The back door should open . Not good design . This 40k truck . Shouldn’t be hard to get things out

[@billw8476]

no v6 is a major swing and a miss.

[@ojp5053]

Paying more for less is the American way these days

[@brians.1357]

My opinion but one advantage of no access cab doors is car thieves will be less motivated (have to work harder) to try get into the hidden item storage 😂🤷‍♂️.

[@SkippyPB.]

Still got a window there. If they want it, they will get it.

[@christopherwaits7852]

All the people whining. As if the first gen Tacoma, T100, and 1984-1995 Pickup all had the XtraCab and without opening doors

[@marklihsu]

So it's a good thing that they haven't learned anything in 30+ years??

[@coltonwood9846]

More like $38100...

[@frankkeel8410]

I will wait for my Maverick hybrid!

[@maureeceposten47]

Oh my goodness, who or what yahoo thought this would really be a good idea with this PreRunner. This was a waste of R&D. There are far more people rock crawling and cramping these days than there are high speed desert runners and so the PreRunner will be a dismal failure for toyota in this segment because of lack of interest unless it tows exceptionally well. They would have been better off with a street version of this truck as a daily driver with basic 4x4 capability to allow for camping and towing lightly, if that makes sense.

[@wilmarbarrick3194]

I would say it kind of depends where you live. I've met hundreds of folks over the decades... almost none of them were into rock crawling. If you live in the Rockies, your experience may differ.

[@maureeceposten47]

@wilmarbarrick3194 true, that is a very good idea valid point. However, I still think that Toyota missed the mark on this PreRunner venture and only time will tell. Be blessed.

[@Pickuptrucktalk]

PreRunner was a massive hit before and I suspect it will do well again.

[@neizpiez]

I was looking forward to an extended cab, manual transmission trd off road. Guess Toyota fails again on our tundra replacement and now Tacoma replacement.

[@peterdaniel66]

No rear doors = FAIL ( stunning decision..) There is NO way this translates well with potential customers. Unbelievably short sighted and actually quite arrogant.

[@appleztooranges]

It get 19-23 mpg lol. Pathetic. Same as a v6. I’ll keep my third gen Tacoma

[@josephbreen9955]

Jill should be driving with two hands instead of having a coffee cup in her hand.

[@TheBeatenPaths]

BIG MISS!! I'm currently driving a Supercab Ranger and I can't imagine accessing the back without a back door. Toyota's Marketing Dept. is making it look cool and sound cool but believe me, it isn't. Don't fall for the marketing.

[@Richard-xv7yf]

Fortunately for toyota they have a lot of brand loyalty followers so they'll believe anything they're told but there's no way it makes sense to not have an access door

[@TheBeatenPaths]

@@Richard-xv7yf Agreed. Kinda my point with my Marketing Dept reference lol.

[@AkioWasRight]

Things like the lack of rear clam doors and bumper steps on the corners lead me to believe Toyota has entirely given up the work truck buyer market for the "life-style" buyer market. The omission of some of these feature might not seem like such a big deal to some who never use them. But when you work out of your truck for 8-12 hours a day, these little features just save your body from a lot of pain.

[@is6566]

@TheBeaten… They are not just pe(e)ing on our shoes and telling us that it’s raining but the Marketing Department is telling us that it’s actually cool and trendy that it’s raining!

[@callofdutyguy9]

Won’t surprise if they kill this cab configuration after a few years. Bean counter moves.

[@nlken7175]

Great work truck or govt fleets

[@is6566]

It’s a terrible work truck if your work requires lifting things in and out of the back. If you only put light cloths, boots, your lunchbox there then it’s ok. Otherwise, straight low back pain on day one.

[@marklihsu]

Terrible work truck crappy fuel economy. Maverick is the ideal work truck. lower lift gate heigt and way better fuel economy not mention almost $10k cheaper.

[@jackbauer9347]

Not a great review IMO. First off this thing is $38, 100 before $1500 destination charge. No mention of the rear locker and no one really cares about the chick rally.

[@222aint]

it’s a nice $15,000 truck

[@rodeowerewolf3004]

wow the feminist responses were completely unnecessary...😒

[@SaskatchewanBadAss]

My nissan hardbody king cab was like that had the back space but no third door an I had that truck for 15 years and i never noticed any issue not being able to open it but then again you cant miss something you dont have I guess. The passenger seat slides and tilts far forward and even folds flat I can only see this being an issue for my mastiff since the floor isnt flat. He is 145lbs and in the hardbody king cab he'd just lay across the whole flat space since it was just flat carpet. I love my dog but idk if id get full doors in the bad just for him id still rather have bed space over cab space especially with beds already being narrower and less bed hight. I hope the canadian dealers would stock them. Nissan wouldnt order me a king cab because "nobody buys them" so they dont stock them, and its always IM SOMEBODY id buy if you had one an then they just try to get me into pro 4x. Nissan discontinued everything but pro 4x an pro 4x luxury so you can only buy 60grand trucks from them