2006 Toyota Tacoma Reviews, Pricing & Specs
The CarGurus verdict
The Tacoma's 2005 refresh was good enough to put it at the front of the pickup truck pack. That remains true for 2006, despite the fact that the truck is mostly a carryover from the previous year.
The Tacoma's 2005 redesign brought a new style, a more comfortable interior, and a much improved ride that pushed the truck well ahead of its competition. Toyota's taking the "don't fix what isn't broken" approach for the 2006 model year, so changes to the Tacoma are minimal at best. Choice is the name of the game here, as the Tacoma is available in a wide array of trims and body and cab configurations. The truck can be ordered as anything from a stripped-down work truck to a double cab 4x4 off-roader.
out of 10 expert review
Look & feel
The new Tacoma is a handsome pickup truck, but it doesn't have the style-forward profile that its competitors have adopted. The front end was redesigned last year to include larger headlights and a more prominent grille flanked with chrome accents. Fender flares and tasteful curves work together to give the Tacoma a muscular but friendly look that is much more modern and attractive than the previous generation trucks.
The quality of interior materials feels and looks more expensive than it is, and easily bests the interior quality of competitors like the Nissan Frontier. Even with the solid feeling materials, there's no missing the fact that the Tacoma is absolutely a function-over-form vehicle.
Performance
The Tacoma is offered with two engine choices: A 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that has 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque and a 4.0-liter V6 that produces 236 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. The four-cylinder engine is an obvious choice for buyers wanting a truck with reasonable fuel economy, but the V6 does a much better job at almost everything else. The V6 matches perfectly with the 5-speed automatic transmission. The gearbox shifts smoothly and is responsive, making in-town driving much more pleasurable. Acceleration, while far from breathtaking, is brisk and the Tacoma has no issues pulling into traffic or reaching highway speeds.
The Tacoma feels sturdy and solid on curvy roads, and there's much less body roll and leaning than is expected from a truck. The ride remains comfortable on most road conditions, but the truck does allow some crashing and vibrations over rough surfaces. 4-wheel drive (4WD) is simple to use and switching between settings is easy.
Form & function
The Tacoma is built to a standard that not many other vehicles are, truck or otherwise. The interior is comfortable and well constructed, and even the lowest trim levels feature materials and build quality that make them feel more expensive than they actually are. The seats are shaped in such a way that they remain comfortable on longer drives, and even the back seats (in configurations that have them) are usable by adults.
The Tacoma's level of customization is also a high point for the truck. There's up to 18 different body and trim combinations, and options are simple, cleverly packaged, and affordable. The truck's bed is wide enough for most cargo, but longer items will require the tailgate to be lowered or will need to be tied down.
Technology
Safety
Cost-effectiveness
Don't let the Tacoma's price tag fool you. Sure, the sub-$15,000 price tag is attractive, but there's not much included in that number. Models equipped with the four-cylinder engine can return up to 18 mpg city, 25 highway, and 20 combined with rear-wheel drive (RWD) and a manual gearbox. Moving to the bigger V6 engine changes those numbers to 16 mph city, 21 highway, and 18 combined.
Thought it's a long way from well-equipped in its most basic forms, it doesn't take a ton of money to add creature comforts and functional upgrades such as 4WD. All in, the Tacoma lands at just over $25,000, which makes it a whole lot of truck for the money.
What owners say
"Overall, Tacoma owners generally love their 2006 model for its durability, reliability, and stylish appearance. Many drivers appreciate its comfortable ride, decent power, and spacious interior. However, some reviewers are concerned about issues with frame rust and find the gas mileage lacking, particularly with the V6 version. While many believe the Tacoma is a great long-term investment, concerns about repair costs and rust can dampen their satisfaction."
This was the truck I was looking for. It was a hard to find double cab, manual Tacoma. It was in great shape for a 20 yr old truck.
October 11, 2026It is a perfect midsize truck. Great gas mileage for a truck. Big enough for the family but small enough to get around. Love the way it rides and handles. Appearance is awesome. People always double take when they see it. It has many options that can make your trick unique. I haven't seen one like mine yet. Similar ones but no exact models.
September 28, 2008There are so many things that can be done to the Toyota Tacoma. Modifications are unlimited to your requirements. The Tacoma has been a very reliable truck for me when driving to and from work, or towing a trailer across the country and in rain or shine. I am definitely buying another Toyota Tacoma in the near future.
July 9, 2014What owners say
This was the truck I was looking for. It was a hard to find double cab, manual Tacoma. It was in great shape for a 20 yr old truck.
October 11, 2026It is a perfect midsize truck. Great gas mileage for a truck. Big enough for the family but small enough to get around. Love the way it rides and handles. Appearance is awesome. People always double take when they see it. It has many options that can make your trick unique. I haven't seen one like mine yet. Similar ones but no exact models.
September 28, 2008There are so many things that can be done to the Toyota Tacoma. Modifications are unlimited to your requirements. The Tacoma has been a very reliable truck for me when driving to and from work, or towing a trailer across the country and in rain or shine. I am definitely buying another Toyota Tacoma in the near future.
July 9, 2014One of the best built vehicles on the road. It drives like a car.
March 12, 2008I got this truck brand new in May 2006. I love the styling inside and out...the color is my favorite too. It handles extremely well and is very reliable. My only complaint would be that the gas mileage is a little low. I wouldn't mind having the supercharger for it though!
May 4, 2008You cannot go wrong with buying a Toyota Tacoma. Both the V6 and I4 are practically bulletproof as long as you take care of the regular maintenance.
April 8, 2021I have been a very satisfied owner of my 2006 Toyota pre-runner SR5 I would highly recommend this truck. I have owed other Toyota trucks and will continue to treat each purchase as an investment. No other truck can compete
February 5, 2015I liked everything about this truck. Great power, nice looking, very reliable, easy to maintain, never had any issues with this truck. This was my 3rd Tacoma and they are the best small trucks out there. They also hold their value very well.
June 14, 2013This truck was awesome for the 7 years that I owned it. I honestly didn't have a desire at all to get rid of it because there wasn't another pickup truck out there that I felt was more reliable nor had the style like a true truck should be. Most of the other models went with more of a plastic frame and my 2006 still had the metal body with chrome bumpers (even toyota switched to plastic shortly after). I truly loved this truck until... until the rust on the frame started to become noticeable. The truck was kept in my garage during the winter months and it still had notice rust all on the frame. My wife's CR-V, which is only a year newer, has NO rust and looks brand new. The kicker is that Toyota KNOWS there is an issue but pretty much tells their customers that they are out of luck. There are many forms online that speak of this problem and some of the horror stories are awful. There are cases where 2006 Tacoma owners have had to scrap their trucks because they would not pass the yearly state inspection in PA. There is no way this should be happening with a Toyota product that is only 7 years old. People purchase them for their reputation and the fact that they hope to keep them for 10+ years. Toyota acknowledges the fact that there is an issue but have declined to take responsibility for any model newer than 2005. They had a program in place a couple of years ago to either replace the frame on older models or give the owners 150% of blue book value for their trucks. It is really disappointing that they didn't stand up and take care of all of their mistakes. Other than that though the truck truly was amazing. There are also many people who have this model and have not seen any rust (they just don't live on the east coast). I highly recommend the truck for those in dry areas or in the southern areas. just please keep in mind that if you life on the east coast it is really important to get it inspected before you purchase it and then get an undercoating applied to protect your investment.
February 10, 2013I have had this truck for about a year and have LOVED every minute of it. Has a lot of power and drives perfect. It gets an average of about 18.5 mpg. The four doors give you plenty of room in the back for your family and is very comfortable on long trips. It does have a few small squeaks and rattles but nothing too bad. I LOVE MY TRUCK!!
May 20, 2011Trims & specs
Base MSRP $20,280 | Seating 4 |
Engine 4.0L 236 hp V6 | Cargo Capacity N/A |
Combined MPG 16 | Drivetrain RWD |
Base MSRP $21,160 | Seating 4 |
Engine 4.0L 236 hp V6 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 18 | Drivetrain RWD |
Base MSRP $21,900 | Seating 4 |
Engine 2.7L 159 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 19 | Drivetrain 4WD |
Base MSRP $18,825 | Seating 4 |
Engine 2.7L 159 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 21 | Drivetrain RWD |
Base MSRP $18,065 | Seating 4 |
Engine 2.7L 159 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 21 | Drivetrain RWD |
Base MSRP $18,570 | Seating 3 |
Engine 2.7L 159 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 19 | Drivetrain 4WD |
Base MSRP $18,965 | Seating 4 |
Engine 2.7L 159 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 21 | Drivetrain RWD |
Base MSRP $15,495 | Seating 3 |
Engine 2.7L 159 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 21 | Drivetrain RWD |
Base MSRP $25,960 | Seating 5 |
Engine 4.0L 236 hp V6 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 18 | Drivetrain 4WD |
Base MSRP $14,625 | Seating 3 |
Engine 2.7L 159 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 21 | Drivetrain RWD |
Base MSRP $26,460 | Seating 5 |
Engine 4.0L 236 hp V6 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 18 | Drivetrain 4WD |
Base MSRP $15,525 | Seating 3 |
Engine 2.7L 159 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 21 | Drivetrain RWD |
Base MSRP $23,385 | Seating 5 |
Engine 4.0L 236 hp V6 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 18 | Drivetrain RWD |
Base MSRP $24,335 | Seating 4 |
Engine 4.0L 236 hp V6 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 18 | Drivetrain 4WD |
Base MSRP $25,080 | Seating 5 |
Engine 4.0L 236 hp V6 | Cargo Capacity N/A |
Combined MPG 16 | Drivetrain 4WD |
Base MSRP $24,390 | Seating 4 |
Engine 4.0L 236 hp V6 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 16 | Drivetrain RWD |
Base MSRP $23,455 | Seating 4 |
Engine 4.0L 236 hp V6 | Cargo Capacity N/A |
Combined MPG 16 | Drivetrain 4WD |
Base MSRP $22,885 | Seating 5 |
Engine 4.0L 236 hp V6 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 18 | Drivetrain RWD |
Pricing trends
MSRP range
$14,625 - $26,460
Current avg. market price
$13,550
Trending up by 2.1% this month
May 2026 - November 2026
