I’m thinking of getting a Toyota Tacoma. What are the most reliable years, and what should I watch out for when buying used? I’m currently driving a 2012 VW Jetta but might move out west for work in the environmental field, so I need something dependable with 4WD. I know Tacomas are known for their reliability, but every generation has its quirks. I plan to daily drive it, camp out of it, and do cross-country trips, so mechanical reliability and durability are super important. I’m not too worried about cosmetic stuff and have some basic mechanical knowledge. I don’t want to cheap out, but I’m also a recent grad with a limited budget. Any advice? 
You’re driving a Jetta, so honestly, any Tacoma generation will be more reliable than that. Don’t get caught up in overthinking it. Just pick one and go for it.
Touché. I’ve got 160k on my Jetta with the original motor and clutch, no major issues so far. I stay on top of maintenance and take good care of it.
I’ve got an '11 Jetta TDI and a '15 Tacoma 4x4. The Tacoma can go anywhere, and I haven’t had any problems with either of them.
TDI Jettas are a different breed, for sure.
Yeah, I love mine for commuting. Getting 38-42 mpg is a huge plus compared to my Tacoma.
My first car was a 25-year-old VW diesel Rabbit. It had 279k miles on it and got 45 mpg. That kind of car leaves an impression – you think every car should last 200k miles and wonder why you need a hybrid to get 40 mpg. It’s tough when your first beater turns out to be magical.
I had a 2014 Jetta that was a total lemon, so I traded it for a 2023 Tacoma. The only reason I kept it so long was that I had other cars. I’ll never let anyone in my family get a VW again.
My friend had a GLI with a similar story. The 2.5 engine in mine has been reliable, though it leaks a bit of oil, but that’s kind of expected with VW.
I had to get my engine replaced under warranty. Even the new engine isn’t great. I also had headlight issues. Have you noticed that every Jetta of that body style has a daytime running light out? Ever since mine went, I see it on every Jetta I pass. VW just isn’t cutting it anymore.
Volkswagens are straight-up garbage compared to Toyotas.
They’re still probably the most reliable of the big three German brands, and they’re definitely ahead of the big three in the US.
Maybe they were, but not anymore. My 2019 Alltrack had a turbo oil leak and needed a 4WD clutch replacement before it even hit 50k km.