In his groundbreaking bestseller How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie omitted one key piece of advice: Buy a pickup truck.
Sure, it’s important to smile, remember a person’s name and be a good listener, but let it slip to friends and neighbours you just bought a pickup truck, and you’ll never have to buy another six-pack of beer.
Sure there are alternative modes of transport, but do you really want to strap a load of two-by-fours on to the roof of your $60,000 SUV? How about sliding a pile of interlock and concrete slabs into the back of your plush, carpet-lined minivan?
My tester for the week — the 2009 Toyota Tacoma 4×4 Double Cab — came in metallic grey with TRD (Toyota Racing Development) badging on the sides.
I have always found the Tacoma to be a handsome truck. Unlike many ‘compact’ pickups, it does have a presence, and with its big P265/65R mud & snow tires on 17-inch alloys, not to mention the optional hood scoop, the Tacoma looked every bit the serious off-roader. Not that I was headed for the bush anytime soon.
And at nearly 19 feet long and only about eight inches shorter than a full-size Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4×4 Crew Cab, I’m not sure if “compact” fairly describes the Tacoma.
I won’t say the Tacoma is as spacious in back as a full-size sedan, but there’s reasonable room for two adults, three in a pinch.
The Tacoma is available in eight models, starting with the 4×2, four cylinder Access Cab to the 4×4 V6-powered Double Cab. There’s even a 4×2 “tuner”styled truck called the X-Runner, that sits low to the ground and is powered by the same V6 with a six-speed manual.
Up front, the Double Cab is outfitted with sedan-like comforts and amenities. The optional sport seats are comfortable and well-bolstered, and provide a driver’s seat lumbar adjustment. The optional leather-wrapped steering wheel includes audio controls for the in-dash six-disc CD changer, part of the TRD Sport Package.
With the automatic, the SR5 Power Package bumps the Tacoma to $33,300 and adds 16-inch alloys with wheels locks, sliding rear window, cruise control, chrome grille and rear bumper, dual vanity mirrors, auto-dimming rear view mirror with integrated backup camera, keyless entry and more.
I didn’t get a chance this time to take the Tacoma off-road, but our streets and highways offered no shortage of potholes and heaved pavement to test the suspension.
The Tacoma 4×4’s surefootedness is reinforced by standard vehicle stability control, active traction control and automatic disconnecting differential.
2009 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab
Type: Mid-size, four-door pickup truck
Price: (base) $30,870, (as tested with TRD package) $35,980
Engine: 4.0-litre DOHC 24-valve, V6 (236 hp, 266 lb/ft torque)
Fuel economy: 13.4 L/100 km city; 10.1 L/100 km highway
Highlights
• Sedan-like comforts and amenities
• Off-roading capabilities
