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PART 1: 2005 Toyota Tacoma X-Runner
With this TORC road test came some hard decisions. Toyota now has 18 different types of Tacoma trucks to choose from including the fast new X-Runner, Regular Cab, Access Cab and Double Cab versions, long bed and short bed versions, 4X4 and 2 Wheel Drive versions and PreRunner and TRD Sport Package versions too. Toyota makes a Tacoma to suit many people’s truck needs and wants. It is impossible and impractical to test all of them so we chose to test two models from Toyota’s Tacoma lineup. First driven was Toyota’s new X-Runner because it is currently Toyota’s sportiest vehicle in the lineup since the MR2, Celica and Supra are no longer available. We also tested the very practical 4-cylinder Tacoma Access Cab PreRunner.
Upon first seeing the Tacoma X-Runner, it might be easy to dismiss this truck as just some body kit option package with big wheels and low-profile tires. That would be foolish to do, because this truck is so much more than that. When Toyota engineers were planning this truck, it was decided early on to use the Nissan 350Z as the benchmark for making a sport truck. Whoa, back up the truck! Yes, it’s true because they really wanted to blend the best of a sports car and a truck into one vehicle. Too bad the Supra is not around anymore, that’s why a competitor’s sports car was chosen as the benchmark to create the best sports truck possible. Of course there was probably a little inspiration from the big American performance trucks like Ford’s Lightning, Chevy’s 454 SS of the past and Dodge’s current Viper powered Ram SRT-10.
The X-runner may not be as muscle bound as those big three high-horsepower monsters but what the Tacoma gives up in muscle, it gains in handling and adds a fun factor to driving a pickup. By the way, Toyota claims a sub 0 to 60 MPH time of less than 7 seconds. That is not slow for a 3,690 pound pickup. To put things into perspective, Dodge’s Viper powered SRT-10 truck does 0 to 60 MPH in 5.2 seconds and has four more cylinders to do just that. The X-Runner is a torque monster too. It has 282 lb-ft of torque to propel this truck down the road like a freight train on full speed. The power delivery is totally linear and there is so much torque in reserve, even when stepping on the throttle in a higher gear it quickly gets up to speed easily with no downshifting needed.
Does the X-Runner equal the performance of the chosen benchmark 350Z? It comes very close considering that this is a pickup after all. How many other trucks can exceed 0.9 g on the skidpad? Some sports cars can’t even equal numbers like that! The X-runner comes standard with high grip, high performance tires to swiftly guide this truck though twisty mountain roads in a similar manner that a sports car would do. This truck will make you corner faster and flatter than most stock pickups will ever be capable of. The torque on hand may tempt you to do burnouts like a muscle car so go ahead and budget for a new set of tires if you purchase an X-runner and are tempted to do such things.
The only transmission available with the X-Runner is a smooth shifting 6-speed manual to keep with the “sports car” nature of this vehicle. Other performance features unique to the X-Runner are the superb Bilstein performance shock absorbers, front and rear stabilizer bars, very shapely 18 inch alloys with low-profile high performance Bridgestone Potenza tires normally found on sports cars only, a limited-slip differential and lastly a unique X-shaped brace on the frame to increase body rigidity which in turn improves handling significantly. The X-brace is also one of the motivators that created the name of this fast truck.
Seen on the outside is a full body kit that blends into the overall styling of the truck very tastefully, a full color-keyed grill, side mirrors and front and rear bumpers, a discreet body colored X-Runner nameplate on the tailgate and one of the nicest looking hood scoops of this decade. When looking out over the hood, it gives the impression that there is some power under the hood before you even twist the key. Sadly, the hood scoop is not functional and is only there for a styling touch. It would be great if there were some sort of 60’s muscle car Ram-air device on the other side of the hood scoop to force more air into the engine to create a few more ponies. Hey TRD, is that a possibility?
The exterior design of this pickup may be just too attractive, especially in the electrifying Speedway Blue that was on the X-Runner for this test. During the TORC road test, two separate incidents happened with the police. The first one happened while driving at night when a police car moved in close behind and then quickly moved alongside, the policeman was clearly checking to see that this truck was not lowered beyond the legal permissible level. Little did he realize that this truck was totally stock and can be bought just like that from any Toyota dealer. The second incident occurred while stopped in traffic with the driver’s window down, a policeman in the next lane rolled down his window and said “beautiful color” and gave the thumbs up! The Speedway Blue of our test truck sure makes people notice this truck and is the most unique color of the three color choices available for the X-runner.
The interior of the X-runner provides plenty of legroom, headroom and shoulder room for even drivers that are way over 6 feet tall. The back seat of the Access cab portion is best left for cargo uses and very short trips with children due to the uncomfortable upright backrest of the two rear seats. Underneath the seats are hidden storage areas. The best use of that area is to fold the seats forward which turn it into a very usable cargo platform. If you need room for 4 passengers then take a look at the Tacoma Double Cab 4-door model, there you will find the most comfortable and car-like back seat of any mid-size truck currently on the market.
The interior of the X-Runner may be the one of the only areas where the X-Runner falls short. This is NOT a criticism of the interior because the interior of this truck is comfortable and roomy, the dashboard design is very stylish and all controls are easily reachable. The area where it falls short is that this is the same exact interior as other Tacoma models except for the lightly bolstered standard sport seats. The rest of the X-Runner was purposely made to be different and to perform better. The X-Runner deserves an interior that goes with the very sporty nature of this pickup. Maybe seats with more bolstering and different coloring and a thick sporty looking steering wheel and shift knob would work. Minor things like this could go a long way into integrating the sporty exterior with a sporty interior to slide into which would make the X-Runner even more enjoyable. For now, the aftermarket is there to provide these upgrades.
Specifications:
2005 Toyota Tacoma X-Runner
Engine: 4.0 Liter V6
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Engine Code: 1GR-FE
Horsepower/torque: 245hp/282 lb.-ft.
Front Suspension: Coil-spring double wishbone Rear Suspension: Leaf spring with staggered outboard gas shock absorbers
Turning Circle: 40.7
Brakes: Power-assisted ventilated front disc brakes/rear drum brakes, 4-wheel ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist
Front Tires: P245/75R16 Rear Tires: P245/75R16
Wheels: 18 inch alloy
Curb Weight: 3690 lbs.
Towing Capacity: 910 lbs.
Required Fuel: 91-octane premium unleaded.
Fuel Tank: 21.0 Gallons
EPA Fuel Economy 6-speed manual: 16 city/21 highway
TORC Test actual MPG, 6-speed manual: 18.21 MPG Average Lowest MPG: 16.89 MPG Highest MPG: 19.04 MPG
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TORC Test Evaluation (5 stars is top rating) |
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Future Classic Potential.......... «««« Fuel Economy......................... « Handling.................................. «««« Braking.................................... «« Acceleration............................ ««««« Comfort and Room................. ««««« Tuning Potential...................... ««« Fun to Drive............................ ««««« Styling and Design.................. «««« |
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TOYOTA’S NEW TACOMA GETS BIGGER AND BETTER |