2023 Toyota Tacoma
Independent review & score by Carivo
Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | Truck |
| Base Price | $30,555–$36,457 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
With an overall Carivo score of 8.0/10, the 2023 Toyota Tacoma earns a Recommended rating among the trucks we've scored. Its strongest dimension is Reliability at 9.0/10, while Technology at 7.1/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a solid all-rounder that delivers across most dimensions without obvious deal-breakers.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. We rate the Toyota Tacoma's reliability at 9.0/10 — among the strongest in our truck database, reflecting the nameplate's track record and recall history. On safety it earns 8.1/10: respectable, if not class-leading — several competitors bundle more driver-assist tech as standard. Check your trim's official ratings at nhtsa.gov.
Performance lands mid-pack at 7.6/10: enough power and composure for everyday needs, without the dynamics that distinguish the segment's driver-focused options. Technology comes in at 7.1/10 — functional and modern, with wireless connectivity and core ADAS features, though some competitors pack more standard tech at this price point.
Priced from $30,555–$36,457, 22 MPG, seating 5, the Toyota Tacoma sits in the mid-market bracket of the truck segment. Value lands at 7.6/10 — you get what you pay for, no more and no less, with a few rivals offering slightly better per-dollar returns. At 3 years old, it's worth checking whether a newer generation or refresh has addressed any weaker dimensions — compare it to the current model year before buying.
Bottom line: Think of the 2023 Toyota Tacoma as the dependable pick rather than the exciting one. Shoppers who value predictability over headlines will be well served.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2023 Toyota Tacoma ranks #1 of 515 trucks in the Carivo database — better than 100% of the segment. Its 8.0/10 overall score is 0.6 points above the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $30,555 starting price undercuts the segment's median of $35,138 by about 13%.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full Truck ranking → · Best Trucks under $35k →
| Fuel (75,000 miles) | ~$11,930 ($2,386/year at $3.50/gal) |
|---|---|
| Recall repairs | $0 — 4 campaigns on record; recall work is always free at franchised dealers |
| Insurance | Varies widely by driver and state — always quote the exact trim before buying |
We only print costs we can compute from sourced data (EPA fuel economy, NHTSA recalls). We don't estimate maintenance or depreciation — anyone who gives you one number for those is guessing.
Smart-money pick: the 2020 Toyota Tacoma scores 7.7/10 — within striking distance of the 2023's 8.0 — and starts roughly $3,000 lower. If you don't need the newest model year, that's money better spent on a higher trim or kept in your pocket.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8.0/10 | $32,445 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 8.0/10 | $32,445 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 7.9/10 | $31,500 | Read review → |
| 2023 (this review) | 8.0/10 | $30,555 | |
| 2022 | 7.8/10 | $29,610 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 7.8/10 | $28,665 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.7/10 | $27,720 | Read review → |
| 2019 | 7.6/10 | $26,775 | Read review → |
| 2018 | 7.6/10 | $25,830 | Read review → |
| 2017 | 7.5/10 | $24,885 | Read review → |
| 2016 | 7.6/10 | $23,940 | Read review → |
| 2015 | 7.5/10 | $22,995 | Read review → |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle with our free VIN recall checker.
| Child seat / Vehicle latch anchor 21/07/2022 · 22V520000 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Tacoma vehicles. One or more of the individual welds in the upper child seat anchors may be insufficient. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of… |
|---|---|
| Steering / Column 12/07/2023 · 23V480000 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, 2023 Lexus RX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX500 Hybrid, 2023-2024 Lexus NX250, NX350, and NX350 Hybrid… |
| Power train / Axle assembly 27/02/2024 · 24V152000 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturer (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Tacoma vehicles. The axle shaft sub-assembly may separate from the axle housing due to debris causing improperly secured fasteners. |
| Steering / Column 29/01/2025 · 25V040000 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, Lexus RX350, 2023-2024 NX250, and NX350 vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired… |
Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
Own a 2023 Toyota Tacoma that's been repaired repeatedly for the same problem? It may qualify under your state's lemon law — run the free lemon law check →
We rate the 2023 Toyota Tacoma's reliability 9.0/10 — one of the stronger records in its class. It has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
4 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 8.0/10 overall, ranking #1 of 515 trucks in our database (better than 100% of the segment). A solid choice for most buyers — compare it against the segment leaders before deciding.
The 2023 Toyota Tacoma starts at $30,555 and ranges up to $36,457 across trims (MSRP when new). At 22 MPG, expect roughly $2,386/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Based on our year-by-year scoring, the weakest Tacoma years we've rated are 2017 (7.5/10), 2015 (7.5/10) — each at least half a point below the nameplate's best (8.0/10). See the full year table above before deciding.
The documented issues for the 2023 Toyota Tacoma are its NHTSA recall campaigns, which involve: Child seat, Steering, Power train (details in the recalls section above; repairs are free at dealers). For wear-and-tear patterns beyond recalls, owner forums are the best source — we only report what federal data documents.
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