2003 Toyota Tacoma

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2003 Toyota Tacoma
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Key Specs

of the 2003 Toyota Tacoma. Base trim shown.

2003 Toyota Tacoma Overview

By Cars.com Editors
Vehicle Overview
Toyota’s smaller pickup truck earns standard antilock brakes for the 2003 model year. On the safety front, lower anchors have been installed for a child-safety seat.

The Toyota Tacoma is built in California and comes in three cab types and 17 configurations. The front end was restyled for the 2001 model year and received a raised hood and multireflector headlights. Toyota also launched its first pickup with four conventional, front-hinged doors that year. The Tacoma Double Cab competes with four-door crew-cab models from Chevrolet, GMC and Nissan. Regular-cab and extended-cab (Xtracab) models of the compact Tacoma also remain available.

A sporty S-Runner Xtracab with two-wheel drive (2WD) is still offered. Its height is reduced by an inch to flaunt a low-rider stance. Two four-cylinder engines and a 190-horsepower V-6 are available under Tacoma hoods.

Exterior
Regular-cab models are 184.4 inches long overall on a 103.3-inch wheelbase. Riding a 121.9-inch wheelbase, the Tacoma Xtracab measures nearly 203 inches long overall. Both versions have a 74.5-inch cargo bed. The Tacoma Double Cab is the same size as the Xtracab, but because it has a larger interior, the cargo bed shrinks to 61.5 inches long. Double Cab pickups can be fitted with a fiberglass Super Sport Shell that fits over the bed to keep cargo dry and secure.

The S-Runner features a dealer-installed appearance kit with a body-colored grille, bumpers, lower side trim, door handles and mirrors. A ...
Vehicle Overview
Toyota’s smaller pickup truck earns standard antilock brakes for the 2003 model year. On the safety front, lower anchors have been installed for a child-safety seat.

The Toyota Tacoma is built in California and comes in three cab types and 17 configurations. The front end was restyled for the 2001 model year and received a raised hood and multireflector headlights. Toyota also launched its first pickup with four conventional, front-hinged doors that year. The Tacoma Double Cab competes with four-door crew-cab models from Chevrolet, GMC and Nissan. Regular-cab and extended-cab (Xtracab) models of the compact Tacoma also remain available.

A sporty S-Runner Xtracab with two-wheel drive (2WD) is still offered. Its height is reduced by an inch to flaunt a low-rider stance. Two four-cylinder engines and a 190-horsepower V-6 are available under Tacoma hoods.

Exterior
Regular-cab models are 184.4 inches long overall on a 103.3-inch wheelbase. Riding a 121.9-inch wheelbase, the Tacoma Xtracab measures nearly 203 inches long overall. Both versions have a 74.5-inch cargo bed. The Tacoma Double Cab is the same size as the Xtracab, but because it has a larger interior, the cargo bed shrinks to 61.5 inches long. Double Cab pickups can be fitted with a fiberglass Super Sport Shell that fits over the bed to keep cargo dry and secure.

The S-Runner features a dealer-installed appearance kit with a body-colored grille, bumpers, lower side trim, door handles and mirrors. A sporty StepSide cargo bed is available for SR5 trucks.

PreRunner models have 2WD but are decorated to look like 4x4 off-roaders. Buyers get higher ground clearance, mudguards and all-terrain tires. A TRD (Toyota Racing Development) Off-Road Package is available for four-wheel-drive (4WD) and PreRunner models. This package includes modified rear leaf springs, a larger front stabilizer bar, progressive-rate front coil springs, offroad shocks, overfenders and 16-inch aluminum wheels.

Interior
A three-place bench seat is standard in basic Tacomas. A 60/40-split bench seat goes into Xtracab models, while bucket seats are standard in Double Cab models and optional in other Tacomas. Xtracabs add two rear jump seats, but the Double Cab has a split, three-place rear bench that folds down to produce extra cargo room.

Under the Hood
The Tacoma is offered with three engine choices. A 142-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder serves as the base engine. The midrange power plant, which comes standard in PreRunner and 4WD models, is a 150-hp, 2.7-liter four-cylinder. Topping the list is a 190-hp, 3.4-liter V-6, which is standard in the S-Runner. A five-speed-manual transmission is standard, and a four-speed automatic is optional.

Toyota Racing Development can supply a dealer-installed supercharger for the 3.4-liter V-6, which boosts output to 260 hp. Tacomas equipped with the V-6 engine can tow a 5,000-pound trailer. Payloads range from 1,375 to 2,005 pounds.

Pickups equipped with 4WD have Toyota’s 4WDemand system, which permits shifting into 4WD High at speeds of up to 50 mph using a floor-mounted transfer-case lever. A Hi-4 dashboard switch to engage the 4WD system is optional.


 
Reported by Jim Flammang  for cars.com
From the cars.com 2003 Buying Guide
Posted on 1/29/03

View 11 Photos

Latest 2003 Tacoma Stories

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Consumer Reviews

4.4
46 reviews
Exterior Styling
(4.4)
Performance
(4.2)
Interior Design
(4.0)
Comfort
(4.0)
Reliability
(4.6)
Value For The Money
(4.5)

What Drivers Are Saying

(5.0)

One of the best vehicles I?ve owned!

by TACO Fan from Texas on July 12, 2018

The Toyota Tacoma has earned its reputation. What a great experience it has been owning one. It?s taken me to and from work and off the beaten path without the slightest issue or complaint. Read full review

(5.0)

What I've always wanted

by Rick SV from Martinsburg, WV on July 6, 2018

Even though this Truck has over 200,000 miles it is a one owner and still has a lot more miles to go. It is durable tough and off road, it gets you out of a jam quickly. Read full review

Safety & Recalls

Recalls

The 2003 Toyota Tacoma currently has 5 recalls

Crash and Rollover Test Ratings

The 2003 Toyota Tacoma has not been tested.

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Cars.com Car Seat Check

Certified child passenger safety technicians conduct hands-on tests of a car’s Latch system and check the vehicle’s ability to accommodate different types of car seats. The Tacoma received the following grades on a scale of A-F.*
* This score may not apply to all trims, especially for vehicles with multiple body styles that affect the space and design of the seating.

Warranty FAQs

What is a Bumper-to-Bumper warranty?

Often called a basic warranty or new-vehicle warranty, a bumper-to-bumper policy covers components like air conditioning, audio systems, vehicle sensors, fuel systems and major electrical components. Most policies exclude regular maintenance like fluid top offs and oil changes, but a few brands have separate free-maintenance provisions, and those that do offer them is slowly rising. Bumper-to-bumper warranties typically expire faster than powertrain warranties.

What is a Powertrain warranty?

Don't be misled a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty doesn't promise a decade of free repairs for your car. It typically covers just the engine and transmission, along with any other moving parts that lead to the wheels, like the driveshaft and constant velocity joints. Some automakers also bundle seat belts and airbags into their powertrain warranties. With a few exceptions, powertrain warranties don't cover regular maintenance like engine tuneups and tire rotations.

What is included in Roadside Assistance?

Some automakers include roadside assistance with their bumper-to-bumper or powertrain warranties, while others have separate policies. These programs cover anything from flat-tire changes and locksmith services to jump-starts and towing. Few reimburse incidental costs like motel rooms (if you have to wait for repairs).

What other services could be included in a warranty?

Some automakers include free scheduled maintenance for items such as oil changes, air filters and tire rotations. Some include consumables including brake pads and windshield wipers; others do not. They are typically for the first couple of years of ownership of a new car.

What does CPO mean?

A certified pre-owned or CPO car has been inspected to meet minimum quality standards and typically includes some type of warranty. While dealers and third parties certify cars, the gold standard is an automaker-certified vehicle that provides a factory-backed warranty, often extending the original coverage. Vehicles must be in excellent condition and have low miles and wear to be certified, which is why off-lease vehicles feed many CPO programs.

See also the latest CPO incentives by automaker