Toyota Plays Coy on 2020 Tacoma Ahead of Chicago Auto Show Reveal
In February, the 2019 Chicago Auto Show will feature the debut of a refreshed — or redesigned, or maybe facelifted? — 2020 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. What I’m saying is, there’s not much to go on by the photo you see above.
Related: Ford Ranger Vs. Toyota Tacoma Now on PickupTrucks.com
The new Tacoma above seems to have revised and updated headlights — crucial for Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crashworthiness ratings — and the roof is missing the four lines that run from front to back on the current Tacoma. The grille seems to be roughly the same shape, however. More significant updates likely took place below the grille, but we’ll have to wait until the auto show to see everything.
- ${price_badge()}
- ${ami_badge()}
- ${battery_badge()}${ev_report_link()}
- ${hot_car_badge()}
- ${award_badge()}
- ${cpo_badge()}
${price_badge_description}
${ami_badge_description}
The EV Battery Rating is based on this vehicle's current expected range relative to the vehicles expected range when new. ${battery_badge_text}
Certified cars are manufacturer warrantied and typically go through a rigorous multi-point inspection.
This car is likely to sell soon based on the price, features, and condition.
${award_blurb}
${award_two_blurb}
Shop the 2018 Toyota Tacoma near you
The current-generation Tacoma is getting up in age, at least for a mid-size truck. The Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon and Nissan Frontier are all older designs, but two all-new entrants — the 2019 Ford Ranger and 2020 Jeep Gladiator — have either entered or are about to enter the segment and have been grabbing all the headlines lately.
Given the Tacoma’s position atop the mid-size truck sales charts and Toyota’s typical, uh, measured pace of updating its trucks, this is likely a mid- or even quarter-cycle update, so don’t expect anything drastic in the new Tacoma. The current powertrain offerings — a 2.7-liter four-cylinder making 159 horsepower and 180 pounds-feet of torque, or a 3.5-liter Atkinson-cycle V-6 rated at 278 hp and 265 pounds-feet, each with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission depending on trim level — are likely to remain, though perhaps with minor tweaks to improve fuel economy or performance.
Related: We Let the 2018 Toyota Tundra Fight the 2018 Toyota Tacoma
Stay tuned here and to sister site PickupTrucks.com for any subsequent Tacoma updates ahead of the Chicago Auto Show, and check back Feb. 8 when our team of automotive journalists will be reporting live from the Chicago show floor with all the details on the Tacoma and everything else you might want to know.
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
