The rugged Toyota Tacoma has been an enduring benchmark in the mid-size truck segment. While the competition has tried to unseat it from its lofty sales perch for several decades. However, the one thing that the Tacoma has managed to do to keep the competition away is not only achieving sales superiority but also offering a diverse family of models that aim to appeal to a wide range of consumer tastes. One of these models is the 2023 Tacoma Nightshade which aims to bring a sinister vibe to the trail ready pickup.
Back In Black Never Looked So Handsome
The Tacoma received a styling update back in 2022 and as a result, the changes for 2023 are minimal with Toyota preferring to focus only on minor equipment revisions. Our Limited grade model is in the upper reaches of the Tacoma family with our tester arriving with goodies like LED head and daytime running lights, power moon roof and plenty of chrome accents. Our tester also benefitted from the optional Nightshade package which replaces some of the brighter chrome accents with darkened pieces including the 18-inch dark smoke alloy wheels as well as the front grille and badging.
The Nightshade package also helps the Tacoma channel its dark side better with the dark grey on our example really letting the package shine in its own element. The Nightshade’s sales success has lead rivals like Chevrolet and Nissan to make their own blackout packages for the Colorado and the Frontier but while they also look good, we think that Toyota ultimately does it best. We especially look forward to seeing how this package looks on the next generation Tacoma with the Japanese auto giant confirming that the revamped model will be making its debut soon.
Aging Tacoma Interior Can Still Hold Up To Pressure
Slip inside the 2023 Tacoma and you’ll see a mixed bag. While some elements of the interior are aging rather ungracefully, there’s still plenty to like here. Our tester arrived with a power operated front seat and the front bucket seats do a good job delivering decent amounts of comfort. The cabin is still cramped but having the ability to melt into the seats during long road trips was a welcome plus. Visibility is good for the most part but like other mid-size trucks that we have driven, the thick rear pillars do create large blind spots that make passing on the freeway a chore.
Toyota embarked on a campaign to bring touchscreen infotainment systems to all Tacoma models and each trim now has a screen for owners to play with. The base model gets a 7.0-inch screen while all other models (our tester included) get a bigger 8.0-inch screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also onboard with the company pitching its old Entune based software in the process. A wireless charging pad and several USB ports are also included but the Tacoma is one of the few mid-size truck entries to not offer a mobile WiFi hotspot. Look for that to quickly change on the next generation model especially with the company seeing how the high price tags of full-size pickups are shifting some buyers to this smaller segment. Many of these buyers want full-size truck features including mobile WiFi technology.
Our major complaint with the interior is the lack of interior storage spaces. While the bed is more than capable of holding most cargo, the lack of interior storage cubbies is a glaring omission especially for some family buyers that might need the extra space for mobile devices, diaper bags, or other gear.
Tacoma Still Comes With Two Engine Menu
Like the 2022 model, the 2023 Tacoma still comes with a duo of engines for buyers to choose from. Base models get a 2.7-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder that makes 159-horsepower but the four-banger is woefully underpowered and the amount fo torque that it makes is laughable. We suggest that buyers go for the 3.5-liter V6 which is standard on higher Tacoma models. Our Limited arrived with this engine and while it’s a noisy affair when its being pushed hard, the engine makes 278-hp and the amount of power on hand is noticeable to many drivers.
A six-speed manual is the default transmission, but our example arrived with the six-speed automatic. This slushbox did a good job going through the motions when we did urban commuting with our tester. However, on the freeway we did notice occasions where the transmission took a bit to find the right gear for passing and slept on the job when it came to downshifts. Both engines are not known for being quick off the line but the Tacoma’s V6 should be enough performance for most truck buyers. The suspension in our tester was also built for trails and the stiff springs do help create a bouncy ride experience. That’s in contrast to the Ford Ranger and the Chevrolet Colorado which offer a slightly softer tune (depending on trim) that helps make ride quality better.
Fuel economy is also not a strong suit of the Tacoma with the base four-cylinder getting 20/23/21 mpg in city/freeway/combined driving while adding all-wheel drive bumps it down to 19/22/20 mpg in the same categories. The beefier V6 does require owners to pay a toll in mileage with the engine getting 19/24/21 mpg while all-wheel drive versions get 18/22/20 mpg.
Value Quotient:
Pricing for the 2023 Tacoma lineup starts at $29,085 for a base four-cylinder equipped SR with two-wheel drive. Limited models start at $41,840 with the Night Shade package adding $1000 to $1650 depending on the package chosen. Our tester had the premium Nightshade trim equipped to it, which helped raise the final as tested sticker to over $43,000. This pricing makes a Limited Nightshade only slightly less expensive than the Trail Special Edition, however, it’s still a bargain when compared to the TRD PRO which can cross the $50,000 barrier when fully loaded.
The 2023 Toyota Tacoma is expected to hold down the fort for a few more years, but its time on guard duty won’t be for too much longer with the revamped next gen model on track to making its debut soon possibly later this year.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.