It’s that time once again where you have found yourself in need of a new truck. With so many options out there and so many car manufacturers saying that their truck is the best, how do you know what to look for? Should you buy a 2021 Toyota Tacoma or a 2021 Toyota Tundra? What can the 2021 Toyota Tacoma really offer you that other trucks can’t? Well, the answer is, the 2021 Toyota Tacoma has a lot to offer.
Tacoma vs Tundra Comparison
Like many brands, Toyota has endeavored to give buyers the option of any vehicle they could want or need, including having multiple popular truck models. The biggest difference between the Tacoma and the Tundra is the size. The Tacoma is considered a midsize pickup truck, and the Tundra is a full-size pickup truck. But what does that mean in terms of which model you should buy?
Full-size pickup trucks are equipped with much larger engines than their mid-sized counterparts, which translates to greater towing capabilities. The 2021 Tundra can tow 10,200 pounds, whereas the 2021 Tacoma reaches a towing capacity of up to 6,800 pounds, depending on the specific package. For most everyday drivers, the Tacoma offers more than enough towing capacity to meet their needs, but if you need a more powerful truck for work, you may need to opt for the Tundra.
The bigger engine of the Tundra also tends to mean lower fuel mileage. The 2021 Toyota Tundra has a fuel economy of 15 MPG combined for 2WD models and 14 MPG combined for 4WD models. The Tacoma will offer you a much better fuel economy with either of its engine choices. The 2.7L will give you 21 MPG (2WD) or 20 MPG (4WD) combined, while the 3.5L will give you the same fuel efficiency with an automatic transmission or 18 MPG combined with the 4WD and manual transmission. If you are a long-distance or even moderate-distance commuter, that’s quite a difference, and you will probably want to opt for the Tacoma.
If you’re got a lifestyle that requires towing and a whole lot of torque and horsepower, then the Tundra is for you. However, if you want a commuter-friendly truck with a big cargo area and decent gas mileage, then look no farther than the Toyota Tacoma. The 2021 Toyota Tacoma offers drivers a lot more than just the perfect combination of usability and affordability. There are some pretty exceptional features to go along with these new trucks, along with some unique special editions.
New Tacoma Trail Edition
Have you ever been parked somewhere and just wished to heaven that you had an outlet to plug into? Whether it’s at the side of the road or the side of a campsite, we’ve all been in a situation where we wish we had a portable power outlet. Well, Toyota has solved that issue with the all-new 2021 Tacoma Trail Edition. The 2021 Tacoma will feature a 120V power outlet in the bed for your convenience for the next time you need to blow up an air mattress while camping, plug in an air compressor to fix a flat tire, or even plug in a laptop during a secluded outdoor movie night.
It’s obvious that the makers of this fine pickup truck have braved the great outdoors before. Not only does the power outlet make an outdoor lover’s life easier, the 2021 Tacoma comes specially equipped with top-of-the-line tires featuring Kevlar for increased durability. The bed of the truck also doubles as a make-shift cooler with insulated lockboxes complete with water drains, making any night in the wilderness that much better.
New Tacoma Nightshade Edition
The Tacoma’s new Nightshade Edition is particularly exciting to a lot of car enthusiasts. The Nightshade Edition expertly combines luxury and beauty and then throws in a dash of mystique. This special model of the 2021 Tacoma features gorgeous 18-inch black alloy wheels. These alloy wheels are not only stunning to look at, but they also bring premium strength-to-weight ratios to the table, making your ride that much faster without compromising safety.
Beautiful wheels aside, when it comes to attraction, the Nightshade Edition pulls no stops. When combined with the special edition metallic exterior coats, midnight black and magnetic grey, this truck is quite the looker. The exhaust pipe is tipped with black, and the unique fog lights and darker grille combine to make a rugged yet menacing exterior. Throw in the specialty black trim, designed to match the distinctive black leather seats perfectly, and you’ve got yourself the epitome of luxury meets mystery.
2021 Toyota Tacoma Interior
No matter which edition of the Tacoma you end up with, you’re going to be thrilled with what this model is hiding on the inside. The interior of the 2021 Toyota Tacoma is like no other midsized pickup I’ve ever seen before. We already touched on the unique black leather seats embellished with tan stitching that are exclusive to the Nightshade Edition, but the rest of the 2021 Tacoma models have some impressive interior features as well.
My personal favorite interior feature is the standard dual-zone automatic climate control. No longer do the driver and passenger have to argue over what temperature the cab should be set to. Now each person gets to set the automatic temperature controls to their liking without sweating or freezing out anybody else. This is a feature I needed 20 years ago, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.
USB power ports make it easy for both driver and passenger to charge their devices while on the road, and the driver’s seat includes a 10-way power adjuster. This easily-adjustable driver seat is also complete with 2-way lumbar support for optimal comfort options that are fully customizable. After all that, the power rear window is just icing on the cake.
2021 Tacoma Technology
On the topic of technology, let’s chat about the audio entertainment options. Each 2021 Tacoma is equipped with both Apple Carplay and Android Auto applications, which allow drivers to safely utilize all of their favorite media and entertainment apps from the dashboard. Gone are the days of fiddling with the radio tuner or skipping from one CD to the next. Now all of your favorite mobile music is at your disposal, and thanks to Alexa capabilities, it’s even hands-free. Plus, with each Tacoma jamming to between 6 and 8 speakers, depending on the exact model in question, there is no question as to whether or not you’ll get your daily private concert in.
Still, there is so much more to the new Tacoma than music and media. Let’s talk mirrors. Yes, mirrors. Have you ever tried to back into or out of a tight spot and worried about hitting something you couldn’t see, or perhaps did hit something you couldn’t see? Thanks to the Tacoma’s panoramic mirrors, those days are gone. Now truck drivers can enjoy a 360-degree view of absolutely everything that is even remotely close to their vehicle, ensuring the perfect backing job each and every time.
Concluding Paragraph
The 2021 Toyota Tacoma is unlike any midsize pickup truck that has come before. Only Toyota could have managed to pull off all of these incredible features and specs at such an attractive price-point. So, after seeing what the new Tacoma really has to offer, is the 2021 Toyota Tacoma the right truck for you?
