2014 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner

The 2014 Tacoma is Toyota's compact pickup, a familiar sight on job sites and trails, and a direct rival to the Ford Ranger and Chevrolet Colorado. It's not a quick truck, but the Tacoma feels sturdy and composed, with a ride that's more car-like than you'd expect from a pickup. The cabin offers decent space for a compact truck, and the bed is long enough for weekend projects, though rear-seat room is tight in Access Cab models. Owners consistently praise the Tacoma's mechanical reliability, with many reporting trouble-free miles well beyond 100,000, though a few mention minor issues like faulty fuses or a rear driveshaft vibration. Stepping up to the PreRunner gets you the 4.0L V6 over the base four-cylinder, plus a locking rear differential and a tougher suspension for light off-road work, though it stays rear-wheel drive. The 4.0L V6 makes 236 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, paired with a five-speed automatic that shifts smoothly, and it returns 19 mpg combined on regular fuel. The PreRunner's rear leaf springs are tuned for a stiffer ride when the bed is empty, which is the trade-off for its 1,600-pound payload capacity.