2022 Toyota Tacoma SR5 Trail Edition — Mild updating for 2022



(September 12, 2022) The Toyota Tacoma — affectionately known as the Taco by its copious fans — has been the best-selling mid-sized pickup for 17 years running, outselling its nearest two competitors by more than two-to-one last year. Tacoma is available in numerous configurations and various models to satisfy the needs of a multitude of truck buyers. Last year, Toyota introduced two limited production models: the Nightshade Edition and Trail Edition model tested here. Otherwise, there are no major differences between the 2020 thru 2022 Tacoma models.


The 2022 Trail Edition is only available with four-wheel-drive and an SR5 Double Cab body style.  Available Trail color choices include Army Green, Super White, Midnight Black, and our tester’s color – Cement. Our 2022 Trail Edition was coated in the new this year Lunar Rock color (previously limited to TRD Pro models). Other new visual updates for the 2022 Trail Edition are bronze colored 16-inch styled steel wheels fitted with Goodyear tires, as well as bronze lettering for “TOYOTA” in the grille.

 Regardless of paint choice, black exterior badging accents the truck, a new Trail Edition badge is fitted on the rear tailgate, and the rear bumpers are now color-keyed to match the exterior paint color.



The interior features black badging, plus black seating with tan stitching. In all versions, standard all-weather floor liners help catch the outdoor elements that come in on occupants’ feet. The Tacoma Trail carries over the lockable in-bed storage compartments built into both sides of the rear cargo bed, of which one even doubles as a beverage cooler, with insulation and a drain plug. A standard 120-volt power outlet in the bed that adds convenient versatility when needed.

For 2022 the Trail Edition’s suspension has been lifted an additional 1.1 inch to the truck’s front end by taller coil springs and a half inch to the rear. Total ground clearance now reaches a total of 9.4 inches since the front air dam found on the standard SR5 has been deleted and with an approach angle now at 34.0 degrees, the departure at 23.6, and the breakover at 26.4 degrees.

Tacoma Trail Edition gets upfitted with a standard locking rear differential to offer added traction when it’s needed most in slow-speed four-wheel-drive situations. Reinforcing the fact that some of the most important parts are the ones you don’t see, the undercarriage skid plates are borrowed from the TRD Off-Road grade to provide added protection. The total Trail Edition package is a $3,765 option added to the standard Tacoma SR5 Double Cab.

Trail Edition Tacoma’s are now exclusively powered by the 278-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine with the unimpressive 159-horsepower four-cylinder base engine that was offered last year discontinued. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard, and a manual shifter is not offered.

Toyota says the V6 engine features Toyota’s VVT-iW technology and Atkinson-cycle combustion to help maximize efficiency, and it also employs Toyota’s D-4S fuel injection system that incorporates both direct injection and port injectors. However, our week of testing our Trail Edition averaged a dismal 15.7 MPG overall, far from the EPA fuel economy raging of 20 MPG combined city-highway driving.

The Trail comes with a five-foot bed with composite inner bed walls, eliminating the need for a bedliner. A bed rail system with adjustable tie downs is standard as is the previously mentioned storage unit. There are only a few in-cabin storage compartments, including hidden storage underneath the rear seats.

The Tacoma’s cabin is well constructed, overall, but it’s easy to see that it is built more for work and ruggedness than comfort and plushness, with an endless amount of hard plastic seemingly everywhere. There’s room for five but cramped quarters is the flavor of the day in all Tacoma models. The rear seat is a tight squeeze at best, and you can forget about legroom. When compared to competitors like the GMC Canyon, Chevrolet Colorado or Honda Ridgeline the Tacoma is clearly antiquated inside and feels years behind.



Touchscreen capability via a seven- or eight-inch display is standard and Tacoma has finally added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. There are several USB ports and optional Qi-compatible wireless charging pad but no mobile hotspot as with some rival trucks. Gauges are large and easy to read and all switchgear and controls are straightforward and easy to use. The audio knobs are on the small, but the climate system uses a simple three-knob setup that works perfectly.

On the road, we were less than impressed with the performance of the V-6 engine often times wishing for more power and low-end torque. The transmission isn’t the smoothest operator nor most responsive seemingly upshifting too quickly and surrendering engine power. In no way did this engine feel powerful and even under heavy acceleration it was far from quick and out of breath.

The four-wheel-drive system is part-time only, which means drivers need to use judgment when to engage or disengage it when driving in and out of slippery conditions. Our Trail had a towing capacity up to 6,700 pounds.

Where the truck shown brightest was our time spent on the rough off-road trails, paths and the deep sand dry riverbeds of rural Arizona’s Butcher Jones ORV area in the Tonto National Forest. These are tough trails tricky washes to negotiate in the myriad of choices that snake through the desert.

The Tacoma doesn’t deliver the most pleasant ride and on all but the smoothest of blacktop pavement. The ride felt jittery and amplified any bump, pothole, rut or uneven pavement. Over time the ride becomes annoying at best.  

All Tacoma models come standard with Toyota Safety Sense Plus as standard equipment, which includes forward collision warning with automatic braking and pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control.

Blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning are packaged together as a $600 option. These are nice features and are highly recommended.

Overall, the Tacoma is a good and capable truck, a best-seller in its class and especially appreciated if you’re looking to hit the trails with rugged off-road adventuring. It’s easy to drive, has good visibility and plenty of user-friendly infotainment and operational features and switchgear.

However, the chinks in the armor cause the experience to suffer with an uneven ride quality, cramped rear seating, economy look and feel interior quality, and overall lack of refinement when compared to top-rated rivals. Still, we expect it will remain a popular choice for Taco’s long-time loyalists.

Vital Stats
Base Price: $35,655
Price as Tested: $43,164
What Makes it go: 278-hp 3.5-liter V-6 paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission and part-time 4-wheel drive.
Fuel Economy: 18/22/20 mpg – City/Highway/Combined
Seats: 5
Where Built: Baja California, Mexico

Crash Test Ratings: Overall rated “Good” other than small overlap front passenger-side crashworthiness that’s rated as Acceptable by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and overall rated four out of a possible five stars by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Competes With:
Chevrolet Colorado
Ford Ranger
GMC Canyon
Honda Ridgeline
Jeep Gladiator
Nissan Frontier

Highs:
Credible off-roader
Rugged and reliable with excellent resale value
Loaded with easy to use operational and driver-assistance tech.

Lows:
Anemic engine and transmission
Plasticky interior looks dated and unimpressive
Dismal fuel economy