It would be easy to accuse Old Man Winter of being nothing more than a poser this year.
Oh, sure, the Weather Network would frequently get all up in arms over some allegedly approaching low from Colorado that threatened to smother us with 30 or more centimetres of snow, but, in reality, we never saw more than 15 cm from any single “storm.”
And while Southern Ontario looked more like Virginia for most of the season, here in Ottawa, at least, we got something resembling winter. When our world finally turned white on Dec. 24, it remained that way to this day, giving us some good opportunity to test the 2012 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD V6 we borrowed from Toyota Canada for eight weeks.
Unlike a regular one-week test, the long-term experience provided enough time to genuinely measure what the Tacoma could do over a whole series of challenges, from hauling out big logs across a frozen swamp to carrying large objects in the bed to reaching my old, out-of-the-way cottage that sits at the end of an unplowed lane near Westport, Ont.
Through it all, the $37,125 Tacoma never faltered. Even on some treacherously icy roads recently, the Tacoma gingerly negotiated its way through and down various hills without so much as a single scrape from a branch, much the same as it did after a fresh snowfall that left my lane covered in 15 cm of new snow. Equipped with Toyo Observe GSi-5 winter tires, the Tacoma was pretty much unstoppable no matter what the weather. Its four-wheel-drive system and two-speed transfer case, activated by a simple switch on the dash, made all the difference. And only twice did I call upon L4 to carry me through, though H4 was used on a regular basis.
The 2012 Tacoma received some mild upgrades ahead of an entirely new model expected to come out either in 2013 or 2014 — the next new generation of Tacoma that is likely to borrow from the fifth-generation 4Runner SUV, itself a highly regarded and capable truck. For 2012, the Tacoma received modest changes to the front fascia and some interior upgrades that went a long way to making this model more current.
Still, there is much to build upon. Unlike the 4Runner, the Tacoma interior feels close. Side mirrors do not come with a defrost function. There is no sunroof option. Storage is less than bountiful. There is no 120-volt power outlet in the cab. Rear-seat legroom is tight. Interior lighting is subpar. Climate control is manual only (though it generates great heat). Some switchgear feels dated. There’s no fuel economy gauge. Outside, there’s no lock for the rear tailgate. There’s no factory bed light and I’m pretty certain I could live without the non-functioning hood scoop.
And while I might have criticized the ride from the TRD suspension as being unduly hard at the start of the test, I’ve grown to appreciate the firmness — at least with winter tires. Summer tires may prove to stiffen the ride a little too much, but the firm ride makes the Tacoma TRD feel extremely tough over a variety of harsh conditions. I liked it and found it easy to live with on a daily basis. At all times, the ride was quiet, solid and rattle-free.
The engine and braking are ample for the Tacoma. While it was surprising to see drum brakes in the rear, the stopping distances on dry pavement are good — though be careful on icy roads as the ABS is ultra sensitive. The 236-horsepower V6 and its 266 pound-feet of torque pull the Tacoma along impressively. Much less impressive is the fuel economy, which ranged from a best 13.6 litres per 100 kilometres on one highway excursion to a regular average of about 18.5 L/100 km from its 80-litre tank. That’s consumption closer to what a full-sized Ford F-150 with a 5.0-litre V8 or Toyota Tundra with a 4.6L V8 would achieve.
Fuel consumption aside, the 1,624-kilogram Tacoma remains more user friendly than an F-150 simply because of its size. At 1,670 millimetres high and 1,835 wide, the Tacoma never felt large and slipped easily into the parking garage, unlike many full-sized trucks that feel as though you’re piloting a cabin cruiser in narrow waters. That partly explains why I found the Tacoma such a delight over the course of the past eight weeks: Yes, there are some shortcomings as I have pointed out, but it was easy to drive and the Tacoma always did what was demanded of it — wherever, whenever and in whatever weather.
And now we’re at the stage where after eight weeks of driving I must bid the Tacoma adieu. Repeatedly, I have been asking myself if I should buy this Tacoma for myself since it handles all the jobs I need from a vehicle — from towing a boat in summer to reaching the old cottage on winter weekends — plus it comes with Toyota’s strong reliability and resale history.
But as much as I enjoy this truck, I don’t love it the way I do the 4Runner, which seems that much more refined and mature. That said, if I required a mid-sized pickup truck and its open box on a regular basis, I would not consider any other midsized truck after this long-term test. Those trucks include the Honda Ridgeline, Nissan Frontier, Suzuki Equinox, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon and Ford Ranger.
The 2012 Toyota Tacoma was a true winter slayer that slyly stole my affection each week to become a favourite companion over the season. It will be truly and deeply missed.
1:02 pm 
