2018 Tacoma reviews and feedback

So, those who have purchased a 2018 tacoma (any configuration) what are your thoughts? Pros/cons? Changes from 2017? Etc....

I’ll go first...
After reading the forum here for months I was a little worried about the erratic shifting and engine/tranny mismatch that everyone seems to complain about with previous year trucks. So far, my engine and transmission seem to play very nice together. The truck has plenty of power and seems to know what gear it should be in. Did toyota update the shifting for 2018? Sure seems like it. Also, I like the addition of the floor mat keeper on the passenger side. Also, for the TSS there was a lot of bitching about that, but it seems to perform well and I really like the adaptive cruise control. So far, the TSS hasn’t done anything it shouldn’t have done.

What about the rest of you 2018 owners? Thoughts?

 

I've only driven the vehicle twice(300km total), however these are my initial observations.
I should also mention this is the second time I buy a new vehicle without test driving it. The reliability and simplicity of a taco is super important, but this forum is almost more important. I purchased a 2015 golf TDI without driving it for the same reasons, a huge online community saying the car is awesome. My plan is to keep this taco and a secondary vehicle for 20 years, should be fun!
So far the truck is awesome, i'm hoping in 2037 I will be the cool old man driving a manual truck

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Manual tranny is awesome, intuitive, forgiving
Drives like a small truck, good visibility
Truck is quiet on highway (michelin xice 2 winter tires)
Fuel consumption @100kmh is very good (10.5l ish per 100km on the computer, probably 11 in real life)
I like the high seating position
Sound system seems good, robust
The access cab is awesome, seats are good for two fit passsengers (i wouldnt want to put a larger person back there...)
Chrome bumper caps are not as ugly as I thought but I still plan on a plasti dip operation
Barcelona red is awesome
Headlights are very good, upgraded bulbs dont even make that much of a difference. The low beam bulb housing really directs and shapes the light in a very defined beam.
Dynamic cruise is actually really cool. At level 3 (50m) i found the car very responsive. Definitely enjoyed the radar aspect.
Not a fan of lane departure because i tend to drive on the line if on a small 1 lane road. Probably good for long drives if super bored.
Activating dynamic cruise is simple. The car gives good feedback when it recognizes a car and is moderating speed.
Activating / disabling lane departure is super simple.
Pre-collision system has to be disabled each time you turn on truck. I would love to test this system someday using a dark cloth of some sort... I just don't feel comfortable with a computer deciding to smash the brakes. It could definitely save my life but I often glance into rearview mirror before making any decisions, because I the speed limit these days some asshole is always on my 6. (don't worry i'm in the slow lane)
Although with a warning i reckon you could bypass by hitting acceleration. Time will tell.
New grille is actually cool, i wont replace w trd grille

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The entertainment system is ish... navigation system sucks, but I didnt buy a taco for navigation
Steering wheel adjustment range is crappy, but fine for me
Check charging system warning when starting the truck is misleading (manual says to stop driving immediately, however when engine isnt turning and key is turned the warning appears)
Could use hill assist, I dont mind using handbrake but my VW TDI has it and I just stopped using the handbrake when on hills

 

My 2017 TRD Sport 4x4 has hill assist... are you sure you don't?

 

Pretty sure... I will go test again. I was on a steep hill and the moment I engaged clutch she went for a little ride... the car behind me must have been worried... not many people own a manual truck

 

Had it roughly two weeks, limited white sbdc.

runs great, decent power for v6
auto transmission shifts fine. gets a little shifty around 80-85 with cruise control is only time i have noticed.
19.1 mpg last tank
back seat is smaller than i thought
should have electric adjustable seats, takes a while to get setting right
leather is nice, heated seats is real nice
push button start is amazing, i never take keys out of pocket
Tss is great! I think all vehicles should have it. Lane assist is good, laser cruise is a nice, not had to use auto brakes..
Jbl radio has good sound, nice i can see the screen with my polarized sun glasses, my '15 i could not. Nave works smooth, faster then last truck.

 

Since the SR Manual is discontinued, the Sport is now the only Manual Tacoma with it.

 

I have a 2018 TRD OR DCLB in cement. Love it so far (I've only had it since 12/2 and less than 200 miles on it). It's everything I wanted and nothing I really don't. Huge step up from my old 1996 Access Cab 4x4, 2.7L manual (still love that truck and still think the 3RZ is one of the best and most under rated engines Toyota ever made...).

I don't think it is overly "shifty"; yeah it doesn't make power down low like some people think it should but it's not a gutless slug. It make make power if you spool it up. This doesn't bother me, maybe its my background from autocrossing cars (letting any engine run where its happy doesn't bother me). Horsepower is a function of RPM; let it use the gears.

Like the OP said; there has been a lot of bitchin' about the TSS, but my experience so far is it works well; I love the adaptive cruise control; it works very well. Lane departure works well. I was driving to work the other day on a rural highway at 60mph (the speed limit on this narrow 2 lane) with the cruise on; I came around a corner and a car pulled out in front of me about 200 yards ahead (I saw it but figured I'd see what TSS did); it picked up the car and applied the brakes to the match the 150 ft following distance and then continued to accelerate back up to 60 and tracked the car at 150ft for the next 7 miles; worked flawlessly. The initial braking was slightly aggressive but nothing dramatic or terrifying; despite what others have posted, my pants were still clean when I got to work

It is much quieter inside compared to my brother in-law's 2nd gen access cab.

The nav sucks, like someone else said I didn't buy it for the nav and i'm glad i didn't pay for it.

Wish it had Car Play integration.

So far I'm happy with it. I'll report back as I drive it more.

 

Yes, I am also curious about any shifting problems or solutions in the 2018 versus the two prior years; where complaints about computer aided shifting seemed to make the truck sluggish or shifting constantly hunted even at freeway speeds. I’m looking to buy my very first Tacoma (switching from a Subaru Forester which I loved and put 200k on) but reading the threads about the shifting had me concerned.

Thanks!

 

I just picked up a 2017 TRD Sport 4X4 V6 and it was made in November 2017 and it shifts fine and hold gears pretty well

 

Dude, I have a 2017. It’s fine. I’d just say drive one. See how it feels.

 

It doesn’t seem like any of the manual 2018’s have hill assist. That’s old school on Toyota’s part. Like no power seats, a weird omission.

 

They do I just checked "Clutch start cancel"

 

Clutch Cancel is something different altogether, it allows you to ride the starter to get you out of a hairy situation. The SR Manual and Sport have the Hill Holder but now for 18 the SR Manual is gone so that only leaves the Sport with it.

 

makes sense, I have the auto and drove manuals for years without hill assist and clutch start cancel. But self driving cars and robots taking over the worlds and .................

 

There is a passenger side floor mat keeper? Shit I am so trading up.

 

So I love my truck. Obviously. However, I noticed noticed my steering wheel was tilted to the left a bit when I would drive down the road and the truck would track a bit to the left. I took it in to get the alignment checked and it was complete shit straight from the factory apparently. Anyone else had this problem with a 2018? Truck drives straight now.

 

The problem with this is that my 17 is the same... 0 issues in almost 13k miles.

 

I'm enjoying my new 2018 trd pro a lot. Put it in ect and it shifts and runs great. Remins me of my 2011 10th anniversary Rubicon. Sporty and fun with some refinements. Wanted a truck not a luxury car, so I'm happy. Still wish it at least had manual up/down and tilt seats, but oh well.

 

My 2017 factory alignment was terrible. Toe-out on the front wheels. Truck wandered left and right at will. Dealer fixed it and apologized.

 

Funny. During TSS-gate days, I remember thinking that people are going to mostly enjoy the Adaptive Cruise and not notice much else.