It's no secret that the Toyota Tacoma is the best-selling mid-size pickup truck in America and it held that title for nearly twenty years. Whether it's new or used, the Tacoma is a very popular truck. Trying to find one single reason for this is difficult. The plain and honest truth is that you can't. There are actually several factors that influence people's choice to buy a Tacoma. For instance, with all the ability it offers, it's not difficult to see why off-road enthusiasts consider buying the Toyota Tacoma over other trucks. It's not like there's a shortage of choices either. For example, the Ford Ranger, Honda Ridgeline, Chevrolet Colorado, and GMC Canyon– all are mid-size trucks, offer a lot, and are good in their own way.

So what is it about the Tacoma, even a used one, that makes it so appealing to so many people? Why this pickup truck and not any of the numerous others on the market? That's what we shall explore in this article. Of course, getting a new one can prove costly, and in this present economic climate, many people are looking to the used markets for a budget-friendly option. Using information from Vehicle History, iSeeCars lifespan study and cars that hold their value study, Kelley Blue Book, and various other sources, we have put together a list of 10 reasons why it's worth buying a used Toyota Tacoma.

10 The Tacoma Offers Good Fuel Economy

Toyota Tacoma - Interior
Toyota

In today's dollar-strapped economy, fuel efficiency is a big concern with many shoppers. With all the advancements in technology, newer cars can offer some pretty impressive figures for fuel consumption. However, older models can still produce fuel efficiency that's competitive even by today's standards. The Tacoma is a pickup that has good fuel economy and even older models can compete with newer models of its rivals.

Data from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that the 2018 Toyota Tacoma, for example, gives a combined fuel efficiency of 21mpg (20 in the city and 23 on the highway). That's near enough the same as the fuel efficiency of a 2023 Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, and Honda Ridgeline. Of course, how a person drives a vehicle affects the miles-per-gallon, but on the whole, the good and competitive fuel economy of the Tacoma is a testament to the design of its engines. If anyone asks is the Toyota Tacoma any good? The simple answer is yes when it comes to fuel economy, and it’s one of the reasons to buy a Toyota Tacoma.

9 The Tacoma Is Versatile

Toyota Tacoma - Front
Toyota

Like most pickup trucks on the market, the Tacoma is good at both on and off-road pursuits. That's largely in part to its gutsy 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 159 hp and 189 lb-ft of torque, or the more powerful 3.5-liter V6 which gives 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. All that makes it able to carry a payload of near enough 2,000 lbs and tow up to 6,400 lbs. And in the real world, that is more than enough to satisfy most peoples carrying and hauling needs.

On top of all that, the Tacoma can seat five people in plenty of space and comfort, making it ideal for a family. In other words, the Tacoma can have a lot of different purposes from doing the local grocery shopping to going on long road trips to exploring the great outdoors. This truck has a use for pretty much anything and it's one of the reasons why the Tacoma is a great daily driver as well as being an outdoor warrior.

Related: The Toyota Tacoma Proves Small Pickup Trucks Can Bring You A Perfect Camping Experience

8 The Tacoma's Got Loads Of Storage Space

Toyota Tacoma - Rear
Toyota

Today's world is full of electronic devices ranging from mobile phones to tablets to iPods, and so on. So having somewhere to store all these things when traveling is a plus for any vehicle, and the Tacoma has plenty of spaces and storage pockets for a whole manner of things. On top of the usual door pockets and glove box, there's also room in the center armrest and under the rear seat.

The cargo bed provides a lot of storage space, but interior cabin space can also get increased. According to Vehicle History, the 'Tacoma's cabin provides up to 42.6 cubic feet of interior hauling capacity with the rear seating flattened'. When you add that the Tacoma can hitch a trailer of up to 6,400 lbs, that is a lot of space that's offered and can meet most people's storage capacity needs. Some people might even say it's one of the best features of the Toyota Tacoma.

7 The Tacoma Is Full Of Modern Technology

Toyota Tacoma - Interior
Toyota

Like most vehicles in today's technological world, the Tacoma comes equipped with an impressive array of gadgetry, all adding to the comfort and convenience of the Tacoma driver and its passengers. Of course, you get all the bells and whistles in the latest versions of any pickup, but they also come as standard in older models as well.

Take, for example, the 2019 Tacoma, standard features include a six-inch infotainment touchscreen, USB connectivity, rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, and wireless charging. Alongside this are plenty of safety tech features as standard, like four-wheel ABS, emergency braking assist, lane departure warning, and a forward collision safety system. In short, it has all the amenities you would want in a pickup, even older ones, and they are just some of the things we love about the Toyota Tacoma.

Related: 2020 Toyota Tacoma Takes On Ranger With Upgraded Tech

6 The Tacoma's Resale Value Is Good

Toyota Tacoma - Side
Toyota

One very good reason to buy a used Tacoma is that many Toyota Tacoma generations have great resale value. In fact, Kelley Blue Book gives the Best Resale Value Award to the 2021 Toyota Tacoma. Not only that, but this truck gets this award since its launch back in 2003.

According to Kelley Blue Book, the Tacoma has a predicted resale value after five years of 55.8%. To put that into perspective, the Ford Ranger only has a resale value of 52.2% and the Jeep Gladiator 52.1%. Furthermore, iSeeCars's study of the top 10 cars that hold their value the best ranks the Tacoma with the top spot for having the lowest amount of depreciation over five years, 14.9%. Not only is it below the mid-size truck average of 20.5%, but it also trumps its competitors like the Chevrolet Colorado and Honda Ridgeline, both of which have a higher than average depreciation over five years.

5 Tacoma Has Toyota's Seal Of Reliability

Toyota Tacoma - Front
Toyota

When anyone speaks of reliable car brands, the word Toyota will always appear on the list. If not at the top then very close to it. Toyota's reputation for reliability is legendary in the car world. It comes as no real shock that the Toyota Tacoma is a tough and reliable pickup truck.

It consistently scores high with reliability ratings from J.D. Power across many years. Furthermore, iSeeCars's lifespan study gives it a potential lifespan of 235,070 miles, with 41.7% of them exceeding 250,000 miles. Vehicle History, however, says that with excellent care, the Tacoma can reach 300,000 miles and more. They go on to say that the Tacoma can easily last over 20 years 'just by keeping up with your service schedule'. The bottom line is, if you want a long-lasting reliable used pickup, there are not many mid-size trucks that can match the reliability of the Tacoma.

4 A Tacoma Requires Low Maintenance

Toyota Tacoma - Engine
Toyota

Buying any vehicle, whether new or old, is one thing. Keeping it running is another. So obviously, having a reliable engine is something that anyone wants in their truck. An engine that doesn't require lots of work on it just to make it keep on going. That's just what you get with a Tacoma.

By doing the regular scheduled maintenance 'drivers should expect to rack up about 250,000 to 300,000 miles on the odometer before the repairs start to outweigh the cost of a new truck', according to Vehicle History. In other words, that's a lot of years of use with minimal maintenance to keep the Tacoma going. Some might say that the low maintenance is one of the reasons why Toyota Tacoma owners never regret buying one.

3 The Tacoma Has In-Built Toughness

Toyota Tacoma - Front
Toyota

If you're a Toyota fan you will know this and if you're not, then this is one of the things you need to know before buying a used Toyota Tacoma. This truck has a predecessor that is virtually indestructible, the Toyota Hilux (or as it's known in the United States, the Toyota Truck). The Hilux has a reputation as being one of the toughest pickup trucks known. Bringing it up-to-date, the Tacoma’s built on the same platform as the Hilux, so that means the Tacoma has toughness built into every part of it.

Why does this matter? It's quite simple. It matters because it gives the Tacoma the strength to handle, quite literally, whatever punishment it's given. It has the foundation of robust construction that makes it able to take on the hardest of challenges and overcome them. No matter which way you look at it, having a truck that's capable of performing hard tasks is a huge plus. In real life though, most people won't get even close to pushing their Tacoma to those extremes, but it's nice to know that you can.

Related: 10 Reasons Why The Toyota Hilux Is An Iconic Pickup Truck

2 The Tacoma Has Go-Anywhere Ability

Toyota Tacoma - Front
Toyota

One of the biggest advantages any truck can have for going off-road is good ground clearance. It's at the core of any off-road vehicle and plays such an important role in driving where there are no roads. With a ground clearance of nearly ten inches, the Tacoma is high enough to practically go anywhere. Even the base model without the fancy off-road package that Toyota offers can handle rugged terrain with ease.

Trailing over a rocky mountain, wading through dense water, going cross-country, and more are no problem for the Tacoma. It's got the power and ability to take on some of the harshest of conditions. When fitted with the TRD Pro package, some might call the Toyota Tacoma the best off-road pickup truck around, certainly within its class at least. Regardless of whether a used Tacoma has the TRD Pro package or not, the Tacoma is still a formidable off-road, go-anywhere pickup truck, and it's definitely a reason to buy one, even if it's a used one.

1 The Tacoma Is Not That Expensive

 Toyota Tacoma - Side
Toyota

The Tacoma has always been competitive when it comes to price against its rivals. Some might say that price is one of the reasons why the Toyota Tacoma convinced Americans to buy imports over native pickups. Toyota trucks, Tacoma included, are just so affordable and reliable, even used ones, making them an attractive option over more domestic brands. Some of the best Tacoma years to go for are 2013 to 2015 as they rate heavily for reliability and don’t cost the earth.

For example, the 2015 Tacoma scores very high for reliability with J.D. Power, but costs less than $20,000 on the used market for the base model, according to Kelley Blue Book. However, Kelley Blue Book also notes that the equivalent 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon are slightly more than that. The bottom line is the Toyota Tacoma is not that expensive and can hold its own against the competition when it comes to price. It is also a very good reason to buy a used Tacoma, especially when you consider what it offers for the money that you pay.