​​Texas Auto Writers Association Names the Tacoma as the Truck of Texas, Again​ 

Don’t tell a Texan this, but their state didn’t invent the pickup truck. And thanks to a fair number of large cities, it doesn’t sell the most pickup trucks per person. That goes to Wyoming. But it definitely sells more pickup trucks than any other state, and once you get out of the cities, that Wyoming claim starts to look suspect. Texas clearly loves pickup trucks. Thus, Valley Hi Toyota is proud to announce that the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) has named the 2026 Toyota Tacoma its official “Truck of Texas.” 

This is the second year in a row that the Tacoma has won this award, or you could say it has won every year since the Tacoma’s last redesign. In addition, the full-size Tundra took the award in 2022 and 2024, meaning Toyota has had the Truck of Texas for four of the past five years.  

“It’s great to see Tacoma win the Truck of Texas again for the second year in a row. It caps a great 2025 with its best-selling year ever, continuing a run as the most popular midsize pickup in the U.S. the last 21 years in a row,” said Brock Cartlidge, Senior Manager of Toyota Vehicle Marketing and Communities. “We appreciate TAWA’s members recognizing the Tacoma as the first Truck of Texas from a segment other than full-size pickup.” 

TAWA, a nonprofit organization based in Texas, has supported Texas-based automotive journalists for over twenty years by fostering professionalism and high standards in journalism. Over time, it has become one of the most prominent and well-known automotive journalist groups in the United States. The organization hosts two major events each year—the Texas Auto Roundup and Texas Truck Rodeo—where members can test and experience vehicles from multiple manufacturers at once. 

Their annual Texas Truck Rodeo gathers journalists to assess the newest trucks and SUVs from automakers on both an off-road course and a street drive. Held in the fall at Eagles Canyon Raceway in Decatur, Texas, the event featured vehicles from leading manufacturers evaluated on 

• Interior 

• Exterior 

• Value 

• Performance 

• Personal appeal 

“Earning Truck of Texas honors for the second consecutive year underscores how the Toyota Tacoma continues to set the benchmark for durability, capability, and real-world performance as judged by the Texas Auto Writers Association,” said TAWA President Cory Fourniquet. 

It may be the Truck of Texas, but there is a lot of California in the Tacoma’s legacy. The first Toyota trucks sold in the US date back to the 1964 Stout pickup, which first came to this country with California as its beachhead. The Tacoma can trace its history directly back to the 1968 Hiux. However, things really picked up, so to speak, in 1971, when trucks were imported as cab-and-chassis models, with final assembly performed by Atlas Fabricators in Long Beach, California.  In this manner, they skirted the 25% “Chicken tax” on imported trucks that continues to this day.  

These trucks were all rear-wheel drive, though some enterprising owners, recognizing the potential, had built their own 4×4 conversions until 1979, when Toyota introduced its first 4×4 trucks. From 1964 to 1994, the trucks were compact-sized, but in 1995, they transitioned to the larger midsize truck, labeled the “Tacoma” for the first time, which was originally built in Fremont, California.  

Launched in spring 2023, the fourth-generation Tacoma features two new powertrains, including the i-FORCE MAX hybrid, which delivers up to 326 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque—75% more than the previous V-6. Designed by Calty Design Research in Newport Beach and built for North America, it remains the best-selling mid-size pickup truck by far, offering 11 grades to suit different lifestyles, including seven TRD models. Unlike most competitors, it continues to be offered in multiple cab and bed sizes. Models range from the base SR, with a starting MSRP of $32,245, to the highly comfortable Limited i-FORCE MAX, to the overlanding-equipped Trailhunter, to the extreme off-road, Baja-inspired TRD Pro. 

With that kind of power comes real responsibility on Texas roads. The state sees thousands of truck-involved collisions every year. If you or a loved one is ever injured in a truck accident, Truck accident lawyers can help injured Texans understand their rights and recover what they’re owed.

The Tacoma is more than just a truck; it is a revered institution. Sample one of its many versions at Valley Hi Toyota.