​​The Toyota Tacoma was Named the ”Truck of Texas”​ 

The 2025 Toyota Tacoma has been winning awards and the hearts of its owners. Our best-selling mid-size pickup truck offers a wide range of drivelines and trim levels – each with a specific mission. From work trucks to overlanding rigs, there is a Tacoma for everyone.  

The journalist members of the Texas Auto Writers Association agree. That is why they awarded their prestigious Truck of Texas award to the Tacoma. In fact, it became a back-to-back winner of this award for Toyota, the fourth in five years. The Tundra won this honor in 2022 and 2024. 

The 2025 Tacoma was among the many trucks and SUVs out to test at the 32nd annual Texas Truck Rodeo put on by TAWA. Its journalist members convened at Eagles Canyon Raceway in Decatur, Texas, to take these trucks and SUVs from various manufacturers through a course of rugged terrain and maneuvers, while evaluating their interiors, exterior design, performance, value, and personal appeal.  

Why would an award from a group of journalists in Texas matter to us in South Dakota? 

We have a deep truck culture in our part of the country. We used them on the farm, on the ranch, or out exploring various terrain, from the Black Hills to over state lines. We use them to get through the snow, the mud, or anything our climate will throw at us. The right truck is one we can use its capabilities with confidence through anything we encounter on our path.  

The 2025 – and 2026 – Toyota Tacoma is exactly what we South Dakotans expect in a mid-size pickup truck. Based on Toyota’s TNGA-F platform, it is built from a strong frame engineered for both work and play. A strong construction yields a useful and functional cab and bed designed for comfort, convenience, and utility.  

The Tacoma also offers the choice of power. The standard i-FORCE turbocharged engine has 317 pound-feet of torque capable of climbing hills and carrying an entire job to the worksite. It is also rated to tow up to 6,500 pounds. The i-FORCE MAX Hybrid driveline offers more. With 465 pound-feet of torque and a payload of up to 1,680 pounds, it would also return an EPA-rated 24 MPG on the highway. It is also one of the few pickup trucks available with a six-speed manual transmission.  

Even with a wide choice of trim levels, there are some that stand out above the rest. The overlanding-focused Trailhunter adds Old Man Emu suspension for its 33-inch rugged-terrain tires and ARB protective equipment, from rear bumpers to underframe protective plates. There is nowhere the Tacoma Trailhunter is capable of going when adventure calls.  

These are among the many reasons why the journalist members of TAWA chose the 2025 Tacoma as their Truck of Texas. Is a 2026 Tacoma your choice for Truck of South Dakota? Contact us at Sharp Automotive to see one soon to find the right one that fits your work – or your next adventure!