A lot of people want a pickup but don't need a full size truck. Tacoma fills this niche - probably more people that have big pickups would have all their needs met with a tacoma sized one. Though it feels like all trucks have scaled up massively over the past 20 years and a 2020 tacoma is probably as big as a 2000 F150.
I have an old (2006) taco at the moment and have had it over a decade now. It's been perfect. I don't want a larger tundra, I have no need for it. In fact I wish Toyota made a smaller truck. I still need all 4 doors and 5 seats but less width and less length. Perhaps the width of a rav 4, and a even shorter 4ft bed (instead of 5 on taco and 6 on tundra). Essentially like the very old 1990s Ford rangers were, but made by the best quality car manufacturer, Toyota. I don't need to pull or hold multi thousand pounds loads, but I like my fishing poles, muddy boots or filthy buckets to be outside in the bed of the truck. Actually while I'm wishing upon a star, could it also be washed inside and out with a water hose? Can it have almost zero tech, no fucking screens!! so it will last as long as this taco has? (My fan setting physical dial recently broke and fell off, but it still works because I can spin the pin that it attached too with my thumb and finger). Also can I stop dropping my keys between the seat and the center console!?!
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is pretty similar to a Strada. From what I can remember, they aren't selling particularly well, but it's been a while since I looked. The Ford Maverick on the other hand is going like hotcakes. A bit bigger, but not outrageously so.
Most Tacomas seem to sell with a 5’ bed these days, but otherwise yes, trucks are larger than ever.
Personally, I found it easier to move 2x4s or anything longer than approx. 5 feet (fishing poles) in my Prius because the Tacoma I had, had such a short bed. Otherwise I was sticking crap through the Tacoma window which was super jank.
Similarly, I had a compact sedan which could easily hold 2x10s angled from trunk to front passenger windshield area. My Tacoma had a 6' bed but I still either has to put lumber of the roof rack (of my truck cap) or just angle it out over the tailgate if going a short distance.
But I didn't buy it for hauling lumber, it was way more practical imo than an suv for camping and moving furniture and basically moving anything that isn't really long and thin. And full size pickup trucks are no better.
But yes, ironically, if the main thing you move is small quantities of 8' lumber, a sedan is better
I had an access cab w/ the standard bed (6'). Ended up putting long things in the bed, then up over the cab, then strapped down.
IMHO, with a Taco, you really need to pick an option.
Option 1: I carry people more than things, in the city. Double cab + 5ft bed (aka the common one)
Option 2: I carry things more than people, in the city. Access cab + 6ft bed
Option 3: I carry things and people, and am willing to access the turning radius and parking compromises. Double cab + 6ft bed
Honestly, for urban trucks I always liked the Honda Ridgeline (Gen 1, not sure if they still do) openable divider style. Because most long stuff isn't wide... just long. So it's fine putting it up over the center console.
I’m going to go with minivan and a trailer hitch most likely as that hits so many sweet spots (and with the seats down or out you can get a sheet of plywood in some).
...at roughly the same price as a full size truck which is pretty much a non-starter for anyone who cares.
The Colorado actually fills that niche at an acceptable price poiont.
The Tacoma costs what a fullsize truck does and you buy one if you don't want a half ton for image reasons but also won't buy domestic because that's what upper middle class people have been trained not to do.
>probably more people that have big pickups would have all their needs met with a tacoma sized one.
People buy full size trucks because if they did their "once a month max usage" routine with a smaller truck you would be chastising them for "being unsafe" instead.
Not GP, but the Tundra is enormous compared to a Tacoma for someone coming from a car and not used to a full-size. I was also considering a Tundra since the model refresh, but even compared to our current truck (Land Cruiser) the Tundra felt noticeably larger and less maneuverable.
That overcompensating giant flat angry looking grill (I'm not being hyperbolic, that's literally why they style them that way: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-11/the-dange... ) and far too large/heavy body is why your truck has poor gas mileage, not because it has a "thirsty" V8.
2007 Toyota Highlander hybrid MPG: ~28mpg. Same vintage year prius mileage: a bit shy of twice that.
2nd gen Tundra weighs a LOT more than Highlander and has low final drive gearing for towing. The 4.7L and 5.7L V-8's are thirsty no matter the platform. Also, that model Tundra doesn't have a giant grill. Further, much of the weight in the Tundra comes from the giant components they bolt onto it to make it suitable for towing. For instance, a 2007 Tundra will pull 7000lbs more than a 2007 Highlander Hybrid.
I have no idea why you are comparing a small hybrid SUV to a full-size truck...of course the HYBRID suv is going to get more MPG.
I didn't need the size a Tundra has but I do need to be able to haul a trailer or things in the bed. The Taco 4x4 off-road also comes with a nifty electrical system which I plan to use at multi-day festivals.
