Compare the2024 Toyota TacomaVS 2024 Jeep Wrangler

Safety
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The Toyota Tacoma has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Wrangler doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Tacoma has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Toyota Tacoma is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Jeep Wrangler, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Tacoma	Wrangler
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH	AVOIDED	No Slowing
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Brights	2 sec	No Warning
37 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	2.3 sec	No Warning

The Tacoma has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Tacoma offers an optional Parking Support Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Wrangler doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Tacoma’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Tacoma (except SR/SR5/PreRunner) offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Wrangler only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the Tacoma and Wrangler offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the Tacoma with Blind Spot Monitor also has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Wrangler’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

The Tacoma’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Tacoma and the Wrangler have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive and blind spot warning systems.

The Toyota Tacoma achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Wrangler is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the Tacoma have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 6.4 V8 in the Wrangler.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Tacoma has a standard 776-amp battery. The Wrangler’s standard 650-amp battery and largest (optional) 700 amp battery aren’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 9th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Jeep is ranked 26th.

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Tacoma uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Wrangler Rubicon 392 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Tacoma has a gallon more fuel capacity than the Wrangler 4Xe’s standard fuel tank (18.2 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Tacoma higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Jeep Wrangler (1 to 7). This means the Tacoma produces up to 47 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Wrangler every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Toyota Tacoma comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Wrangler.

The Toyota Tacoma manual has a downshift rev synchronizer that automatically raises engine speed to make downshifts perfectly smooth. This keeps the pickup from lurching during downshifts, preventing loss of control during cornering. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a downshift rev synchronizer.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Tacoma i-Force Max’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Wrangler:

	Tacoma i-Force Max	Wrangler
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	12.9 inches

The Tacoma’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the Wrangler Sport are solid, not vented.

The Tacoma stops much shorter than the Wrangler:

	Tacoma	Wrangler
70 to 0 MPH	171 feet	202 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

The Tacoma’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 70 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Wrangler Sport’s standard 75 series tires.

The Toyota Tacoma’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Jeep Wrangler only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

The Toyota Tacoma’s independent front suspension is much lighter than the Jeep Wrangler’s solid front axle, which allows the Tacoma’s wheels to react more quickly and accurately to the road’s surface, improving both ride and handling.

For superior ride and handling, the Tacoma has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Jeep Wrangler has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Tacoma offers an available. The Wrangler’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For much better steering response and tighter handling the Tacoma has rack and pinion steering, like Formula racecars, instead of the recirculating-ball type steering of the Wrangler.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tacoma XtraCab’s wheelbase is 35.1 inches longer than on the Wrangler 2-door (131.9 inches vs. 96.8 inches). The Tacoma 6-ft. bed Double Cab’s wheelbase is 26.7 inches longer than on the Wrangler 4-door (145.1 inches vs. 118.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Tacoma is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Wrangler.

For greater off-road capability the Tacoma XtraCab has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Wrangler 2-door (10.7 vs. 9.7 inches), allowing the Tacoma to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

For excellent aerodynamics, the Tacoma has standard flush composite headlights. The Wrangler has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

Passenger Space

The Tacoma XtraCab has .6 inches more front legroom, 2.9 inches more front hip room and 2.5 inches more front shoulder room than the Wrangler 2-door.

The Tacoma Double Cab has .6 inches more front legroom, 2.9 inches more front hip room, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Wrangler 4-door.

The front step up height for the Tacoma Double Cab is 1.3 inches lower than the Wrangler 4-door (23.7” vs. 25”). The Tacoma Double Cab’s rear step up height is 1.3 inches lower than the Wrangler 4-door’s (24.5” vs. 25.8”).

Cargo Capacity

The Tacoma Double Cab has a much larger cargo volume than the Wrangler 4-door with its rear seat up (39.8 vs. 31.7 cubic feet).

The Tacoma Double Cab has a much larger cargo area with its short-bed bodystyle than the Wrangler 2-door with its rear seat up (39.8 vs. 12.9 cubic feet). The Tacoma Double Cab has a much larger cargo area with its long-bed bodystyle than the Wrangler with its rear seat folded (48.5 vs. 31.7 cubic feet).

The Tacoma’s cargo area is larger than the Wrangler’s in almost every dimension:

	Tacoma XtraCab	Tacoma Double Cab	Wrangler
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	73.5”	60.3”/73.5”	37”/65.8”
Max Width	56.4”	56.4”	42”
Min Width	44.7”	44.7”	39.5”
Height	20.2”	21.2”	30”

The Toyota Tacoma has a standard easy lower and lift tailgate, which prevents the heavy tailgate from falling with a crash and causing injury. It allows adults and children to easily open and close the tailgate with one hand to better facilitate loading and unloading. The Jeep Wrangler doesn’t offer a tailgate assist.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Tacoma (except SR/SR5/PreRunner) offers an optional power cargo door, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a power cargo door.

Payload and Towing

The Tacoma’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Wrangler’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Jeep Wrangler 4-door is only 5000 pounds. The Tacoma offers up to a 6500 lbs. towing capacity.

The Tacoma has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Wrangler (1690 vs. 1327 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The Tacoma Limited/Trailhunter/TRD Pro has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Tacoma’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Wrangler has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Tacoma’s standard power windows allow the driver or passenger to lower and raise the windows without leaning over or being distracted. Power windows cost extra on the Wrangler.

The Tacoma’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Wrangler’s optional power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its front windows open automatically.

The Tacoma’s standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Wrangler’s optional power window controls are down in the center of the dashboard, away from the windows and mixed with controls for unrelated features.

If the windows are left open on the Tacoma the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Wrangler can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Tacoma’s standard power locks allow the driver or passenger to lock or unlock all the doors at a touch without leaning over. Power locks cost extra on the Wrangler.

The Tacoma’s standard Smart Key allow you to unlock the doors from the driver’s outside door handle and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Push Button Start standard on the Wrangler only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

The Tacoma’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Wrangler’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Tacoma’s headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Wrangler’s headlights are rated “Marginal” to “Poor.”

The Tacoma has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Wrangler only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

The Tacoma has standard power remote mirrors. The Wrangler only comes with remote mirrors at extra cost. Without them the driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

The Tacoma’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Jeep charges extra for heated mirrors on the Wrangler.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Tacoma (except SR/SR5/PreRunner) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Wrangler doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Tacoma’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Wrangler’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Tacoma (except SR/SR5/PreRunner) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Wrangler doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Model Availability

The Tacoma is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

The Toyota Tacoma outsold the Jeep Wrangler by 50% during 2023.

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