2015 Toyota Tacoma: One More Time Around

The theory of evolution states that those creatures unwilling to adapt to their environment inevitably end up in the fossil record. The 2015 Toyota Tacoma has swum against the tides of change for the last decade or so, seemingly an exception to Darwin's directives as it continues to sell strongly despite only incremental improvements on a year-to-year basis. Of course, a lot of that sales momentum had to do with the unchanging - read, uncompetitive - nature of the mid-size truck market, which had been largely abandoned by the usual suspects in favor of full-size glory.

The recent introduction of a pair of all-new entry-level pickups from General Motors - the Chevrolet Colorado and the GMC Canyon - has changed the stakes for those shopping the sub-behemoth class. As a result, there's a freshly redesigned Tacoma on the way for 2016, but until then, the 2015 model soldiers on to sop up buyers who simply can't wait any longer for their small truck fix. All told, facing its first legitimate rivals in years has highlighted strengths and revealed weaknesses in Toyota's pickup formula.

• Also: 2016 Toyota Tacoma: We're Driving It This Week

Function First - And Second - And Third

The 2015 Toyota Tacoma's function-first philosophy is at once both its biggest asset and its most obvious fault. Fortunately, the good shines through more strongly than the bad, especially when approached in a vacuum. The fully-loaded Limited model that I drove was packed to the gills with features such as in-bed storage compartments and power points, under-seat compartments in the rear, and even a button that disables the side airbags should you take the truck off-road and be worried about triggering the anti-roll feature. The Tacoma's sheer utility was overwhelming, and the presence of a six-foot, one-inch cargo bed with the four-door body style gave it a practical edge even over a number of full-size trucks.

Contrasted against the more modern GM twins sniping at its heels, however, it's easy to see where the focus on practicality has drawn design attention away from the vehicle's interior finish. There's a lot of hard black or grey plastic to be found inside the Toyota Tacoma, and even the 'leather' seat coverings offered by the Limited felt semi-industrial to the touch. The vehicle's touchscreen audio system wasn't a chore to use, but it's light years behind anything like Chevrolet MyLink, and the switchgear was all clearly drawn from a parts bin that had been filled to the brim nearly ten years ago.

I think the word I am looking for is 'stark' - not necessarily a bad thing for a pickup, stylistically, but if you're paying over $40k for a mid-sizer, you'll want a little more return on your dollar. On the plus side interior space is good, with modest but usable second row accommodations, although I would have liked to see more space available with the back seat flipped up for stowing items that can't be kept in the open cargo area.

Power, The Old School Way

Another throwback can be found under the 2015 Toyota Tacoma's hood, although again, this isn't exactly a knock against the truck. Due to be replaced in the upcoming revision, the 4.0-litre V6 that came with my tester produces 236 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, and it does so without the aid of any fancy technologies such as direct fuel injection. Displacement is the name of the game here, and the end result is good acceleration even when fully loaded, as I discovered hauling a couple hundred kilos of wood home from the hardware store (even if its five-speed automatic transmission did occasionally wind the engine up fairly high on the highway). A smaller, 2.7-litre four-cylinder is available with the Tacoma, but I wouldn't recommend its 159 horses to anyone who planned on regularly towing or carrying a heavy load.

Like most mid-size pickups designed in 2005, the 2015 Tacoma drives very much like a truck, which means next to no steering feel, a wide turning radius, and a somewhat rough character out on the road, especially on broken pavement. This is a function of its task-focused suspension and body-on-frame design, and it's another separator between it and the Canyon/Colorado, which offer a more crossover-like drive.

Waiting Game

I found myself facing a split decision with the 2015 Toyota Tacoma. On the one hand, it's a great truck from the perspective of someone looking to get the job - almost any job, really - done. It's got a strong, if thirsty V6 drivetrain, a usable cargo bed, the choice between two-door 'Access' and four-door 'Double' cab body styles, and a reputation for four-wheel drive prowess that's difficult to match.

Then again, the Tacoma is definitely a legacy product, a vehicle that has more in common with the past than its future-facing competitors, especially when examining its interior trappings and how it drives. That's on the verge of changing with the 2016 redesign, which means you'll have to figure out what's important to you in a pickup before deciding whether to plunk down your cash now and score a deal on outgoing inventory, or sit tight and wait for the next generation to hit showrooms.