(Updated 6/30/2026) The Tacoma PreRunner arrived at a time when pickup trucks were beginning to evolve from simple work tools into lifestyle vehicles. Toyota recognized that many buyers wanted the rugged look of a four-wheel-drive truck but rarely ventured off pavement, so it built a clever compromise.
I have little recollection of this truck, but I did enjoy having it because both my father-in-law and brother-in-law were rabid Toyota truck fans, both owning several until my FIL switched to compact crossovers and my BIL switched to RAMs. I’m not really a pickup truck kind of guy, so I don’t get the appeal, but clearly I have family (including another BIL) who swear by pickups.
One thing I did notice re-reading this article is that the price in 2020 dollars is $34,303.86, which sounds kind of average today for a Tacoma, but was really on the high side in 1999. Remember that the MSRP for the base regular cab was about the same as the MSRP for a base Corolla. Today the Tacoma starts above the Camry in price. You do get a considerably nicer experience today when you drive out in the base model. My sister’s ex-boyfriend bought one of those base pickups back in 1991. No rear bumper, and he described the interior by whistling the tune from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, bringing up images of a desolate desert town.
Since the Prerunner was rear-wheel drive only, there were most likely several thousand dollars to go before you hit the top of the Tacoma price range.
At first, the new Toyota Tacoma PreRunner may seem like an answer to a question that nobody asked: A two-wheel drive pickup that looks like a four-wheel drive pickup. But four-wheel drive exacts a cost, weight, and fuel economy penalty for a feature that is rarely used by the masses, so it makes sense to add that tough look that people love to a less-expensive alternative.
Don’t think, however, that Toyota just raised the suspension and slapped some graphics on its compact truck and called it a day. Since the PreRunner name comes from those vehicles used to “pre run” an off road course before a race, Toyota blessed it with a double wishbone independent suspension with coil springs, a 1.02-inch stabilizer bar and hydraulic shock absorbers. Our truck had the optional TRD (Toyota Racing Development) Off-Road Package, which includes huge 31-inch tires on alloy wheels and other enhancements, as well as a locking rear differential for better traction if one does actually take it off road.
The PreRunner comes with either a 150-horsepower, 2.7-liter four cylinder, or a 190-horsepower, 3.4-liter V6. Our tester had the V6, which is characterized by lots of torque, a distinct growl, and distaste for the upper echelons of the tachometer. Acceleration is strong, and the standard four-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly. While initially limited to extended-cab models, the package will be extended to regular-cab models later in the model year.
While nothing fancy, the interior is a comfortable, well-thought-out environment with amenities that are becoming more common in trucks: power windows and locks, tilt-steering wheel, dual airbags, ABS, and cruise control. The extended cab area includes a pair of small forward-facing jumpseats most suitable for (very) small children. The ride is bouncy, as in most trucks, but handling is above average.
In case you ever decide to use the PreRunner as a truck, it can hold 1,480 pounds of cargo in its 6.2-foot bed, and the PreRunner looks best with the optional bedliner.
While not as cheap as you may expect, the PreRunner does look good. Think of it as a rabid sheep in stylish wolf’s clothing.
For more information contact 1-800-GO-TOYOTA
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: Extended-Cab Pickup
Engine: 190-horsepower, 3.4 liter V6
Transmission: Four-speed automatic
EPA Mileage: 18 city/23 highway
Tested Price: $22,290
Note: Another in a series of my reviews that appeared in the online version of African Americans On Wheels, a now defunct automotive magazine that was included as an insert in the Sunday newspapers of major cities.
I think I somehow have managed to take a look at a new Toyota truck every few years since the early ’90’s and every time I find myself disappointed that it seems like a downgrade compared to whatever one I looked at the time before. Of course then I look at another one a few years later and think the same about that one, i.e. the last one would have been the one to get, it’s curious how that can be but it just is (for me), I’m thus always thinking that peak Toyota truck was a rolling five years BEFORE whichever one is current, this trend continues to the present day. As such I never took the plunge although it’s been clear for several decades that from a value of money perspective as well as plenty of other reasons they make perfect sense.
The PreRunner package idea was a superb move by Toyota, allowing them to charge more for what amounts to an almost zero increase in production costs as there really isn’t much extra hardware, mainly just different components. Even better, the general public would have no idea that a “Pre”runner wasn’t 4WD, that’s actually something I found out in articles in car magazines that explained it just as you did here when this was introduced.
I remember when the Tacoma was introduced, my brother-in-law didn’t like it at all. “I don’t want a Tacoma. I want a regular Toyota truck!” I tried explaining that the Tacoma was just the next generation of Toyota’s compact pickup, but to no avail. Funny thing is that a couple of years later, he bought a 4WD TRD Tacoma almost identical to the one pictured above.
Great move on Toyota’s part, recognizing that the tiny wheels and tires on the base model truck could look quite silly.
One of my friends in high school drove a 2WD Tacoma Crew Cab with the Prerunner package, which he claimed was a one-off the dealership cobbled together. Is there a shred of truth to that?
In any case, his was a fantastic truck, I’d love to have one today.
I was a wee bit perplexed when Toyota first came out with the PreRunner package, but it was obviously quite a smart move. Toyota had their finger on the pulse of the compact truck market. Or more like a stranglehold.
I figured out Prerunner fairly quickly, but I always felt TRD was a slight Electrolux “sux” type error from the Toyota marketing dept. Then there was always the argument over what SR5 meant, I wrongly thought it meant “sport ratio 5 speed.”
I had a 2002 PreRunner Tacoma with the V6 up until last year, it was a great truck even here in Iowa. My commute is here in town and even on snowy days I often bike to work so I never really missed 4wd.
And I enjoyed the lighter weight and better economy on long summer camping trips.
I replaced it with a 2012 Tacoma 4×4 V6 6 speed and it’s debatable I gained anything…
The PreRunner used the same 6 lug hubs and wheels as the 4wd trucks, at a time (first and second gen Tacoma’s) when the base 2wd trucks used smaller 5 lug components. I believe now with the 3rd Gen, that both 2wd and 4wd Taco’s share the 6 lug parts. I remember when I noticed the security guards who drove around the corporate parking lot at my Silicon Valley job had been assigned PreRunners and not base Tacoma’s. I suppose at least it made sense they weren’t 4wd, but honestly they could have used golf carts. Or better yet, walked or ridden bikes. Maybe they got a really good deal on them.
I just picked up 1999 Taco per runner for $5250 with 297k miles RW 4 sp auto.. I had a 1996 Taco with 389k ext cab. Sold it for $2000. I like the 3.4 L V6 with that acceleration power and more cargo capacity. I love Taco truck style and hold it’s value.
Looks nice and now I know why some were slightly higher like this one .
No question these were well designed and built light trucks, so many still rattling around So. Cal. as beaters and gardeners / Tradesman rigs, near impossible to kill .
My question : is this the same Toyota V6 that tends to die horrible deaths even when not abused ? .
I’d rather have a 4 banger in any case .
My son bought a one owner rig similar to this, it was lower and had a stout 4 banger and 5 speed manual box, he added body and suspension lift kits and ran it hard (stress cracks everywhere on the body) in Desert off roading (2WD !), after a while he let his then fiance (now wife, 10 years & counting) drive it, she didn’t like ti down shift going around corners in town so after a couple years the rods became loose and noisy, he pulled the oil pan and all four were worn through the Babbitt to the copper shell, he showed them to me and asked what to do, I said “if the crankshaft journals are okay maybe wet polish them with Crocus Cloth and slip in new bearing shells, he just slipped in new bearing shells (std.) and it was running fine years later when it got so badly dented up he couldn’t stand looking at it and it was too rough for me even free, I bet it’s still out there hauling the mail =8-) .
Good looking, long lasting, economical to run and fix, what’s not to like ? .
Prolly a better truck in every way than my 2001 Ford Ranger but .
-Nate
“My question : is this the same Toyota V6 that tends to die horrible deaths even when not abused ? .”
No, the older 3.0 V6 liked to eat head gaskets, but the 3.4 V6 wears like iron. Even if you go out of your way to kill it, it will fight you every step of the way.
In the SF Bay area these days any small to medium Toyota truck has absolutely insane resale value. Never been a big Toyota fan, but plenty are and they do seem to have absolutely the best reputation for reliability and longevity, although none that I’ve driven have really been nice cars to drive. But people love them.
My Grandson got hit in the side in an ’02 Tacoma, not severe damage, but would have been expensive to fix as it needed not just a pair of doors, but rocker work too. His Dad kept it around for a couple of years, thinking of of fixing it, but finally just sold it. Quickly, for a good price with 280 on the ODO, a beat interior from miles and a teenage boy driving it for a few years. Actually kind of beat all over, he wasn’t gentle in his youth, vehicle wise. It needed a starter and a MAF sensor north of 250 somewhere, starter was a PITA, but those aren’t unreasonable repairs.
Again, around here they have just ridiculous resale values, good, bad, whatever, people want them. Badly.
I wonder if anyone ever purchased a PreRunner not knowing it wasn’t 4WD. When I was fist looking at used Tacomas several years ago, I didn’t realize the PreRunner was RWD at first glance before reading the details, which in some cases may not have been provided.
I vaguely remember when these came out, and my thought was “really, 2wd?” The thing is, where I live you routinely find you need 4wd in the winter, or if you need to do truck things. I suspect these were seen as kind of a poser’s truck in rural MT, which isn’t entirely fair, but when you need 4wd…
Snow and off-roading aside, I’m sure they were a solid truck. I sometimes wonder if down south people buy 4wd trucks because they “need it,” then never actually put it in 4wd. If you don’t need it… Anyway, I’d never buy one, but that’s just because I know my way around Ford trucks; I wouldn’t argue a Ranger is better, but so many people think Toyota trucks are gold-plated that they tend to be priced well beyond their real value.