2009 Toyota Tacoma

Change year or car

Change year or car

$15,170

starting MSRP

2009 Toyota Tacoma

Key specs

Base trim shown

Overview

The good:

  • Extensive standard equipment, especially safety equipment
  • Spirited offroad capabilities
  • Clutch-start cancel switch on six-speed manual models
  • Road-hugging performance of X-Runner
  • Build quality, attention to detail
  • Strong tow ratings for V-6
  • Dealer-installed TRD supercharger and big-brake kits

The bad:

  • Limited availability of premium JBL sound system
  • No pull-lever parking brake (helps in off-roading)
  • Great offroad suspension can be rough on uneven pavement
  • Long Box Tacoma Crew Cab almost as big as a full-size pickup

7 trims

Starting msrp listed lowest to highest price

Wondering which trim is right for you?

Our 2009 Toyota Tacoma trim comparison will help you decide.

Notable features

  • Standard side-impact and side curtain airbags
  • Standard automatic limited-slip differential
  • New grille and taillamp designs
  • Available backup camera for Access Cab and Double Cab

2009 Toyota Tacoma review: Our expert's take

Vehicle Overview
The Tacoma is available in three cab styles: Regular Cab, Access Cab and Double Cab. Regular and Access Cabs come with 6-foot beds, while the Double Cab can be had with either a 5- or 6-foot bed.

Much of the Tacoma’s appeal comes from its various special models and packages. The TRD Off-Road package is perhaps the most popular, with a combination of appearance and performance items. Included are progressive-rate front springs, Bilstein shocks, BFGoodrich Rugged Trail tires, 16-inch alloy wheels and TRD badging. The TRD Sport package offers a monochromatic appearance, street-tuned suspension and low-profile tires on 17-inch wheels.

The X-Runner is the real street-performance star in the specialty group. It features a 4.0-liter V-6 engine, six-speed transmission, 18-inch wheels, improved steering response, Bridgestone Potenza tires and a lowered, specially tuned suspension. The X-Runner gets its name from a unique X-brace on the rear of the frame.

New for 2009
Toyota is making all its advanced safety features standard on the Tacoma. Familiar to most consumers are front seat-mounted side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags. Not so familiar is the Star Safety System, which is comprised of five electronic brake controls. Also included is Toyota’s electronic stability system, which applies the brakes individually and lowers engine power if sensors detect the driver’s intended path doesn’t match the vehicle’s actual path. Brake control is also key to the automatic limited-slip differential feature, which detects unwanted wheelspin and applies the brakes as needed to redirect power to the wheel with greater traction. In other news for 2009, Tacoma has added an input jack for portable music players in all models and redesigned the rear seat in the Access Cab.

Exterior
The Tacoma really bulked up when it was redesigned for the 2005 model year. The wheel flares are more muscular, character lines are more pronounced and the grille is a little more menacing. The Double Cab looks particularly good, especially in four-wheel-drive trim. The X-Runner, however, doesn’t have a lean, athletic look worthy of its performance; it’s just too burly with all its extra bodywork. A minor makeover for 2009 includes an argent-painted grille and redesigned taillamps for all models. Smoked headlamp trim goes on the TRD Off-Road, TRD Sport and X-Runner.

  • 115-volt power outlet in cargo bed on TRD packages
  • Dent-resistant composite inner liner in cargo bed
  • Skid plates on PreRunner models

Interior
The Tacoma interior gets a higher grade than other compact trucks, with a simple but effective layout, supportive seats and attention-to-detail build quality. The new rearview monitor system features a small camera in the tailgate handle and a 2.5-inch display mounted in the rearview mirror. Ceiling-mounted speakers are included in all of the five sound systems offered throughout the lineup. Premium JBL audio, available only in the Double Cab, offers a six-CD changer, Bluetooth, seven speakers (including a subwoofer) and XM satellite radio. Toyota doesn’t offer leather seating in the Tacoma, but there is a sport fabric on the X-Runner that’s also available on the Access Cab and Double Cab in four-wheel-drive or PreRunner configurations.

  • Tilt/telescoping steering wheel standard
  • All sound systems get auxiliary jack for portable music players
  • Power windows/locks standard on Access Cab, Double Cab
  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel standard on X-Runner

Under the Hood

  • 159-horsepower, 2.7-liter inline-four-cylinder engine with iron block/aluminum cylinder head, dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder makes 180 pounds-feet of torque
  • 236-hp, 4.0-liter V-6 with aluminum block/cylinder heads, dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder makes 266 pounds-feet of torque
  • Five-speed manual transmission (standard on four-cylinder models)
  • Four-speed automatic (available on four-cylinder models)
  • Six-speed manual (standard on most V-6s, available on others)
  • Six-speed automatic (standard on select V-6s, available on others)
  • Standard automatic limited-slip differential

Safety
Combined with sophisticated accident-avoidance technologies and standard side-impact and side curtain airbags, the Tacoma has more safety features than most compact pickups. Besides stability control, the Star Safety System includes electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist and traction control.

  • Driver, front-passenger active headrests
  • Three-point seat belts in all seating positions

Of Interest to Truck Owners

  • Maximum gross vehicle weight rating: 5,450 pounds (Double Cab 4×4)
  • Maximum payload capacity: 1,570 pounds (PreRunner Regular Cab 4×2)
  • Maximum towing capacity: 6,500 pounds (Regular Cab with V-6 Towing Prep Package)
  • Fuel tank capacity: 21 gallons
  • Transfer case low range: 2.57:1
  • Axle ratio: 3.31:1 (I4 w/5M); 4.10:1 (14 4×4, PreRunner), 3.58:1 (I4 w/4A); 3.15:1 (4×2 w/6M); 3.727:1 (PreRunner, 4×4 w/V-6)
  • Crawl ratio: 39.87:1 (6M w/3.727:1 axle)
  • Minimum ground clearance: 8.1 inches (4×2), 9.3 inches (PreRunner, 4×4)
  • Approach angle: 35 degrees (PreRunner, 4×4), 19 degrees (X-Runner)
  • Departure angle: 26 degrees (PreRunner, 4×4), 19 degrees (X-Runner)
  • Ramp breakover: 27 degrees (Regular Cab 4×4), 15 degrees (X-Runner), 20-21 degrees (all other models)
  • Cargo floor length: 60.3 inches (Double Cab), 73.5 inches (Regular Cab, Access Cab, Double Cab long bed)
  • Cargo floor width: 56.7 inches
  • Cargo floor width at wheel well: 41.5 inches
  • Cargo bed depth: 18.0 inches

Consumer reviews

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.1
  • Interior design 4.2
  • Performance 4.3
  • Value for the money 4.3
  • Exterior styling 4.5
  • Reliability 4.6

Most recent consumer reviews

4.7

Most reliable Truck or Car I've owned

This Tacoma X-Runner meets all my needs. Fairly easy to park compared to full size Trucks. Good performance but needs several upgrades to meet Today's standards. Like: Cold-Air Intake, Headers. Better Brakes Upgrades, 1" Lowered Suspension, TRD Quick Shifter, Energy Suspension Sway Bar Bushings - (front and rear), Wider Wheels & Tires, URD"s Mas Air Calibrator( for better air/fuel ratio), Leather Seat Covers. After that you have a Great Truck. This is the Upgrades I have done and really have a better all around Toyota Tacoma X-Runner.

2.9

I have had Toyota trucks and sedans and they last

The stupid hod scoop has no function but it creates more wind resistance and use more gas. The truck is nice, but I wanted a new Stock 4x4 with a 6 foot bed. But precision Toyota or any other dealer do not sell you what you want to buy, but brings the most revenue, while unscrupoiusly screwing the customers.

5.0

Best Truck I Have Ever Owned

This is a pretty rare model 2009 Tacoma TRD off-road edition. I’ve done a lot of suspension upgrades like Fox coffee livers with remote reservoir and adjustable dampening. 33x12.50x18 tires on Black Diamond warlord wheels. 261,000 miles and drives like it was 26,000 miles. Never broke down, never gave up. I did upgrade to an optima blue top battery. JBL speakers are good, pioneers dual din Navi and apple car play. Feels like a 2020 truck but over a decade old. I’ve had over a dozen Toyota’s all from 1982 and up. They are the best vehicles on the planet.

See all 60 consumer reviews

Warranty

New car and Certified Pre-Owned programs by Toyota
New car program benefits
Bumper-to-bumper
36 months/36,000 miles
Corrosion
60 months/unlimited distance
Powertrain
60 months/60,000 miles
Certified Pre-Owned program benefits
Maximum age/mileage
7 years/less than 85,000 miles
Basic warranty terms
12 months/12, 000 miles
Powertrain
7 years/100,000 miles
Dealer certification required
160- or 174-point inspections
Roadside assistance
Yes
View all cpo program details

Have questions about warranties or CPO programs?

Compare the competitors