If you are looking for a quality, dependable truck and can get your hands on a 2018 Toyota Tacoma, grab it. This truck received several U.S. News awards for Best Cars for the Money, Best Cars for Families, and Best Vehicle Brand. Rated the top-selling midsize pickup in America, the Tacoma is sure to please.

The 2018 Toyota Tacoma is well-reviewed

The 2018 Toyota Tacoma offers a lot of truck for a great price, valued between $21,599 and $37,014 depending on the trim package and installed options. Kelley Blue Book gave the 2018 Tacoma a 4.4-star expert rating and 4.3-star consumer rating out of a possible 5 stars.

After taking the Tacoma for a test drive, they highly recommended the pickup stating, “If you’re looking for a reliable work truck, a capable surf wagon, a durable dirt-bike hauler, a comfortable daily driver or an ultimate off-road adventure vehicle, you’ll like the 2018 Tacoma.”

When Edmunds took a look at the 2018 Toyota Tacoma, they also loved it, giving the award-winning pickup truck an 8.2 score out of a possible 10. What stood out for them with this truck are the off-road capabilities that handle well on uneven terrain. The composite truck bed impressed with a power outlet and moveable tie-down cleats.

Edmunds “liked the feel of the V6 engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission.” They did shave a few points off their score because the shifting seemed a little sluggish and had an economy feel to it. Edmunds chose the Toyota Tacoma as one of its Best Midsize Trucks of 2018.

Best Compact Truck of the Year

U.S. News ranked the 2018 Toyota Tacoma as the Best Compact Pickup Truck of the year. Beating out the competition of the Honda Ridgeline and GMC Canyon, this best-in-class truck has everything a driver could want. The advanced safety features that are standard in the 2018 Tacoma add value and dependability to an already sturdy vehicle.

J.D. Power agreed, giving the Tacoma a 4.5 out of 5 predicted reliability rating. U.S. News said, “The Tacoma’s composed handling and smooth ride make it a solid commuter. The Tacoma is also at home when taken off the unbeaten path. The standard four-cylinder engine has plenty of power for your daily travels, but you’ll want the available V6 engine if you plan on towing or off-roading often.”

Compared to other vehicles in its class, U.S. News declared, “Ultimately, the Tacoma is a better value.”

Consumer Reports didn’t seem to agree with everyone else

Strangely enough, Consumer Reports went against the norm and disagreed with the rest of the industry when it came to the 2018 Toyota Tacoma. They gave it miserable ratings across the board, saying, “The Tacoma drives like a primitive, agricultural-era relic.”

They continued, commenting that it “seems as though Toyota slept through the past decade’s advances in truck technology and interior design.” According to their rating system, they gave the Tacoma a mere two out of five points for owner satisfaction. Odd findings for a truck that is so well-regarded by other industry experts.

Other recent model years of the Tacoma that haven’t done quite so well

Despite being No. 1 in 2018, the Tacoma didn’t fare quite so well in other recent model years. The 2019 and 2020 fell to No. 3 on the U.S. News list of Best Compact Pickup Trucks. This is attributed to the “lackluster engine power” and “harsh ride.” The earlier model Tacoma trucks consistently rate in the top five, so regardless of the year, the Tacoma is a solid choice.