Need help!! 2.5 gen or 3rd??

I stand corrected! Another good datapoint for OP

 

We live in a crazy world, where a pickup truck driving decision is whether it has Car Play or not.

 

Also something you can add at minimal cost, OE or aftermarket. I'll admit CarPlay is a plus to have for navigation purposes right on the screen.

 

I know, I've added a wireless charger to the wife's Sequoia armrest and wireless Android Auto as well. Was about $500. Can upgrade the head unit, too, but none of us like a TV in the dashboard. Display quality on her 22 is pretty good anyways.

 

Not a bad thing on road trips!

Plus my close-up vision ain't what it used to be, so I like the bigger display.

 

Yes, but I only change vehicles once every 10-15 years or so. So when it was time, I knew I wanted Apple Car Play. I passed up a very low mileage '19 when I found out the '20's had Apple Car Play. I use it every time I'm in the truck.

 

Supercharged 2.5

 

I was against it for years. Honestly it’s so nice for when the family is in the truck or for navigation. Mind changed.

My SR5 can spend the week moving mulch and stone, then take the family to visit relatives on weekends. Win win, love this truck

 

What will you be “hauling” OP? (Other than the aforementioned family and dog)?

if it’s just the camping accoutrements that your Tacoma has been handling then the 5.5ft bed of the Gen 2 crewmax will be fine and you and the family will enjoy the extra cabin space. The 3rd Gen crewmax has less cabin space than the 2nd but does have the option of a 6.5’ bed if needed.

Towing a camper/boat/anything? Both Gens will bring an instant upgrade to capability and comfort when towing but from everything I’ve read here the 3rd gen has a pretty significant edge when it comes to towing performance. Meaning a comfortable handling and smooth acceleration and braking perspective- not how fast you can rip a 10k trailer to 60mph, which is stupid.
For transparency, I’ve never sat in, driven, nor towed with a 3rd gen but some members on this forum who I respect have, and they have provided the information I’m discussing here.

 

I better have a reliable engine in the cheapest possible truck and then just navigate using my phone. Not that I needed navigation app much in past years. Not using streaming services either. I'd have a second opinion on that matter if I could display the Garmin InReach topo map on the HU, but Android Auto does not allow that. Only Google Maps, which is useless in the woods.

 

OP needs to add a pole to the top.

 

I'm pretty sure On X Offroad works on Android Auto. Something to keep in mind.

 

Love the insight! I've driven the 2.5gens but not the 3rd. Just seems like most I come across, even the dealers say to avoid the 3rd gen. I'm currently selling my 08 tacoma and then will make my purchase. Found a couple SR5 2020s that I like. Just now doing now research and debate on whether I would like to find a Sport or Off Road package. As far as what I haul, I haul occasional trailer with appliances and furniture to a second home up in the mountains, maybe 5000lb at most at a time but it's not often. It'll mostly be me and family and a few small things in back. Think the crew cab will be perfect for what the family needs. I love the look of the 3rd gen but the engine recall issues worry me. I'm not a huge tech guy that's more my wife but not necessarily one of the bigger things I look for when purchasing a truck

 

For me a head unit that did Android Auto/CarPlay was all the tech I need (not that you can't add it on) but the fact that my SR5 came with the TRD OR package, the LED headlights, and a couple other niceties was perfect. I probably wouldn't use anything much more advanced than that anyways.

 

Do all the 2020-21 SR5s come with that? Or is that with the Sport/OR packages? The touch screen apple play/Droid should be more than enough for me. I've found a few I'll look at. White, Cement grey (which I'll have to look for build options because that color throws me off. Almost like light blue in some light. Trying to avoid black because the of AZ heat but the gun metal metallic does have a nice look

 

I'm not actually sure. It looks like the LED lights came with the TRD OR package and the SP package added the big fuel tank and a bunch of other stuff. If you put the VIN into the Toyota app you can look up what options it has.

 

I definitely have been reading up on all of them. Still searching so we'll see. I may have options, a 20' SR5 TRD Off road with some upgrades and 42k miles on it or a 24' SR5 TRD Off road with 7k miles. Both $45k asking

 

The second gens are a great value especially compared to the Tacoma tax you can get second gens for “cheap” I got my 2016 sr5 trd 4x4 not too long ago for 28k with 75k miles one owner SoCal truck

 

After debating the same thing (2.5 vs 3) and coming from a 2011 Tacoma, I recently pulled the trigger on a 2021 Platinum w/ 75k miles. As others have said, depends on what's important to you but I decided to go with the reliability of the V8 and gas mileage isn't that much different between the two to be a deciding factor for me. Good luck with the decision, at the end of the day they're still both Toyotas.