The standard 2.4-liter turbo four-cylinder packs some heat. With up to 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, it matches the power output of the outgoing 2023 V6 Tacoma model. Better still, it has over 50 more pound-feet of torque. For off-road and trail situations, that extra torque output is extremely beneficial.
To enthusiasts ‘ joy, the standard four-cylinder model is indeed available with a six-speed manual transmission. It’s not just a run-of-the-mill sloshbox, either. Toyota’s intelligent manual transmission comes with automatic rev-matching and anti-stall features. It also has “clutch start cancellation,” which allows you to use the truck’s starter motor to slowly crawl uphill until the engine starts, allowing easy hill starts without worrying about rolling backward.
The base-model Tacoma SR has a bit of a watered-down version of this engine with power, depending on the transmission choice. The automatic has 228 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, while the manual gets 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It’s rated at 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.
All trim levels above the SR with the non-hybrid drivetrain get the above-listed 278 horsepower figure and get up to 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway — so, if fuel efficiency and a manual transmission are on your list, good news! The base model checks those boxes.
