1990-1994 Toyota Pickup: Road Test

When behind the wheel, we discovered that Toyota's 150-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 is a little smoother than its Nissan counterpart, though neither has nearly the torque of the sixes in the domestics, such as the Ford Ranger or Chevy S-10. Nonetheless, performance from our 5-speed 4WD Xtracab SR5 V6 was good: 13.1 seconds in the 0-60 sprint--not bad for the heaviest model in the line. Braking also was laudable, with short stopping distances and good resistance to rear-wheel locking. Cab comfort, quietness, and driving ease all rate high. Even the ride is comfortable, especially for a tautly sprung 4WD model. It provides stable cornering and feels confident and surefooted. Toyota's 4WDemand system is easy to use and much more convenient than the other Toyota system. Less impressive is the tighter rear-seat room in Toyota's Xtracab, versus the Nissan King Cab or Isuzu's Spacecab.

Value for the Money
While payload and towing capacities are better than the Japanese norm, they don't quite measure up to the domestics. When comparison shopping, Toyota may have an advantage in the fact they have perceptibly higher quality of workmanship, which might offset possible higher prices.