Verified against primary sources
| Cost category | Estimate |
|---|---|
| 5-year depreciation | $7,008 |
| Insurance (annual) | $1,894 |
| Fuel or charging (annual) | $2,600 |
| Maintenance (annual) | $466 |
| Tires (annual) | $400 |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel economy (combined) | 23 MPG |
| Fuel economy (city / highway) | 20 / 26 MPG |
| Engine | 2.4L Turbocharged I4 i-FORCE (228 hp tune) |
| Horsepower | 228 hp |
| Torque | 243 lb-ft |
| Seating capacity | 5 passengers |
| Cargo space | 38.1 cu ft |
| Pillar | Score (0–100) | Class median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of ownership | 84 | 69 | +15 |
| Powertrain | 63 | 59 | +4 |
| Safety | 73 | 92 | -19 |
| Driver assistance | 43 | 49 | -6 |
| Livability | 39 | 57 | -18 |
The 2026 Toyota Tacoma scores 84/100 on cost of ownership — 15 points above the trucks median. The Midsize Truck class median 5-year ownership cost is $47,698 (15,000 mi/yr, national average rates). Largest annual recurring expense: fuel or charging.
The 2026 Toyota Tacoma scores 43/100 on driver assistance — 6 points below the trucks median. All scores reflect standard equipment at base MSRP; optional driver-assistance packages are not scored.
The 2026 Toyota Tacoma scores 63/100 on powertrain — 4 points above the trucks median. Key figures: 23 MPG combined, 228 hp.
Verdict
The 2026 Tacoma delivers the best resale value of any vehicle on the MotiveGrid platform — period — backed by legendary Toyota reliability and genuine off-road capability. Safety scores are strong, and driver-assistance is standard across all trims. Fuel economy and livability scores are mid-pack, reflecting the body-on-frame truck design. For buyers who want a midsize truck that will outlast the loan and hold its value like a savings account, the Tacoma is untouchable.
Best for
- Best resale value of any vehicle on the platform
- Legendary Toyota reliability with genuine off-road capability
- Driver-assistance standard across all trims
Watch out for
- Fuel economy is mid-pack for the segment
- Livability reflects the body-on-frame truck design
2026 Toyota Tacoma
Five measured pillars, weighted into one score.
Cost, Powertrain, Driver Assistance, Livability, and Safety — each scored against its class, then combined into a single MotiveGrid Score. Built by our engineering team and benchmarked against independent sources like NHTSA, IIHS, and CarEdge. How it’s calculated →
Verdict
Based on median-price trimThe 2026 Tacoma delivers the best resale value of any vehicle on the MotiveGrid platform — period — backed by legendary Toyota reliability and genuine off-road capability. Safety scores are strong, and driver-assistance is standard across all trims. Fuel economy and livability scores are mid-pack, reflecting the body-on-frame truck design. For buyers who want a midsize truck that will outlast the loan and hold its value like a savings account, the Tacoma is untouchable.
Cost of Ownership
Five-year cost is driven mostly by energy; tires is a minor share.
Adjust for your situation
State
Ownership Cost
Powertrain
Fuel efficiency weighed with long-term ownership confidence.
Reliability from NHTSA complaint records, adjusted for how many were sold. How we measure it
Combines real-world energy efficiency (EPA-verified MPG or MPG-equivalent vs. class) with long-term ownership confidence (warranty coverage, platform maturity, and reliability data). Methodology →
Driver Assistance
Strongest in highway driving support, but parking convenience and hands-free automation are limited.
💡 Tracks where the car can drive itself (highways vs. local roads) and how much driver supervision is needed (up to fully driverless).
PoorStandard driver assist — no hands-free operation
Combines highway support, parking convenience, and hands-free automation capability into one score. Methodology →
Livability
Passenger space and everyday maneuverability, scored within its class.
Combines how comfortably this vehicle fits passengers and cargo with how easily it maneuvers in real-world conditions — normalized within its Midsize Truck segment for fair comparison. Methodology →
Safety
Based on standard crash-avoidance features.
NHTSA has not assigned an overall star rating for this model year yet — its full test program (including side impact) is still in progress. The individual results shown here are final.
Combines crash-test protection — NHTSA frontal, side, and rollover ratings plus the IIHS crashworthiness sub-tests (small- and moderate-overlap front, side, headlights) — with standard crash-avoidance technology. New model years without published crash tests are scored on crash-avoidance features alone and capped until tested. Methodology →
Frequently asked questions
- What is the MotiveGrid Score for the 2026 Toyota Tacoma?
- The 2026 Toyota Tacoma earns a MotiveGrid Score of 69 out of 100. The score combines five pillars — cost of ownership, powertrain, safety, driver assistance, and livability — into one number, so you can weigh a vehicle's all-round strength at a glance.
- What is the 2026 Toyota Tacoma safety score?
- The 2026 Toyota Tacoma earns a MotiveGrid safety score of 73/100. The score combines NHTSA and IIHS crash-test results with the standard active safety equipment included at base price.
- What driver assistance features does the 2026 Toyota Tacoma include?
- The 2026 Toyota Tacoma scores 43/100 on driver assistance. MotiveGrid evaluates only standard equipment — features included at base MSRP — across four areas: highway automation, parking support, collision avoidance, and visibility aids. Optional driver-assistance packages are not scored.
- Is the 2026 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
- The 2026 Toyota Tacoma has an above average reliability profile for its class, based on NHTSA complaint data. MotiveGrid calculates a reliability proxy score of 79/100 from complaint rates per 1,000 vehicles sold over a trailing multi-year window.
- What is the 2026 Toyota Tacoma fuel economy?
- The 2026 Toyota Tacoma is EPA-rated at 23 MPG combined. MotiveGrid uses this figure as the basis for its annual fuel or charging cost estimate.
- How does the 2026 Toyota Tacoma rank among trucks?
- The 2026 Toyota Tacoma is in the top 69% of trucks on the MotiveGrid composite score. All vehicles in the same segment are scored on an identical five-pillar framework, making the percentile a direct comparison.
- How does the 2026 Toyota Tacoma compare to the Ford Ranger?
- See the MotiveGrid side-by-side comparison page for a full breakdown across cost of ownership, safety, powertrain, driver assistance, and livability. Both vehicles are top-scored options in the trucks segment.
- Is the 2026 Toyota Tacoma spacious and practical?
- The 2026 Toyota Tacoma scores 39/100 on livability, which covers interior passenger space, cargo capacity, and maneuverability. This score is compared directly against other trucks in the same segment.
Analysis by the MotiveGrid Engineering Team · MotiveGrid Score last computed 2026-07-03