2002 Toyota Tacoma

The 1995-2004 Toyota Tacoma is the first generation of Toyota's compact pickup, replacing the model previously sold in North America simply as the Toyota Pickup. Engine options were the 2.4-liter 2RZ-FE and 2.7-liter 3RZ-FE four-cylinders and the 3.4-liter 5VZ-FE V6, paired with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. Rear-wheel drive was standard and a part-time four-wheel-drive system was widely available. Body configurations included a Regular Cab, an extended Xtracab, and a four-door Double Cab added for 2001.

Compared to the Pickup it replaced, the first Tacoma was designed specifically for North American buyers, with a wider track, a more comfortable interior, and softer on-road manners rather than pure commercial-truck priorities. The 5VZ-FE V6 and the 3RZ-FE four-cylinder both earned reputations for extremely long service life, and the PreRunner trim introduced the raised four-wheel-drive look on a two-wheel-drive chassis. The second generation that followed in 2005 grew substantially in size and power.

For used buyers, the appeal of a first-generation Tacoma is drivetrain durability and a strong resale market that has held values unusually high for a truck of this age. Frame corrosion is the defining concern for this generation and was the subject of a major Toyota inspection and frame-replacement program, so the condition of the frame rails and crossmembers matters more than the odometer reading. Lower ball joints were also recalled on certain years. A clean-frame example remains one of the most sought-after compact trucks on the used market.