If there’s one thing Toyota has no trouble doing, it’s moving metal. The wildly popular RAV4 crossover was the world’s best-selling individual model last year, and even with a new generation on the way, the current version continues to fly off showroom floors. The Camry, Corolla, and Grand Highlander are also among the brand’s high-volume staples.
However, one Toyota model that has really stood out this year is the Tacoma Hybrid. Not long ago, hybrid pickups were practically nonexistent, yet now brands like Toyota and Ford each offer several electrified trucks. The midsize Tacoma Hybrid has emerged as one of Toyota’s biggest 2025 success stories, recording a staggering year-over-year sales jump of more than 400%.
The 2026 Tacoma receives modest updates along with higher prices, prompting the question of whether the outgoing model may present a better value.
Introduced for the 2024 model year, the Tacoma Hybrid is finally gaining momentum. During the first three quarters of 2024, Toyota sold only 4,526 Tacoma Hybrids, although the truck wasn’t available for the full year.
In 2025, over that same period, Toyota delivered 22,773 units, an astonishing 403% increase. By comparison, sales of the entire Tacoma lineup grew by just over 60%, meaning the hybrid is expanding at a far quicker pace than the range as a whole.
Under the hood, the Tacoma Hybrid pairs a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with electric motors (known collectively as the i-Force Max), producing an impressive 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. That’s a substantial jump from the strongest non-hybrid variant, which manages 278 hp and 317 lb-ft.
Beyond its extra muscle, the Tacoma Hybrid delivers up to 23 mpg combined with four-wheel drive, while the non-hybrid Tacoma 4WD returns 21 mpg. It may cost more, but its combination of power and efficiency is tough to overlook.
The 2025 Toyota Tacoma, completely redesigned last year, enters the new model year as a segment leader, though the competition is beginning to heat up.
Part of the Tacoma Hybrid’s surging momentum can be attributed to its lack of direct competition. None of its key rivals, including the Chevrolet Colorado and Ford Ranger, offer hybrid powertrains, leaving this corner of the market entirely to Toyota.
Jeep once planned a plug-in-hybrid Gladiator called the 4xe, but ultimately canceled the project, citing low demand for electrified pickups. Yet Toyota’s performance suggests that isn’t the full story. Ford does build hybrid trucks, but none in the midsize class. Its Maverick Hybrid is smaller, cheaper, and less powerful, while the F-150 Hybrid sits in the full-size, higher-priced category.
Although Toyota previously caught criticism for its slow EV rollout, the brand seems to be having the last laugh. It’s well ahead of the competition in hybrids, precisely the segment many buyers are gravitating toward today. Demand is so strong that Toyota is investing $912 million into domestic manufacturing to increase production of electrified models.
With no true alternatives from competing brands, the Tacoma Hybrid’s upward trajectory appears likely to continue.
