Used 2021 Toyota Tacoma for Sale nearRaleigh, NC

How much does the 2021 Toyota Tacoma cost?

Prices have held steady compared to this time last year, signaling a stable and predictable market for this model year.

There are 4,460 listings available, which gives you a solid amount of inventory to compare before you buy.

Is the 2021 Toyota Tacoma a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Toyota Tacoma earns a 4.9/5 user rating and a 6.5/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Look and feel at 8/10.

Owners consistently praise its value, reliability, resale potential, durability, and the truck’s overall capability. The Tacoma also gets credit for features and performance, though some drivers want more advanced technology and feel it can be underpowered compared with rivals.

That lines up with the truck’s use-case: you’re getting a rugged midsize pickup that’s built for towing, hauling, and off-roading rather than refinement. The trade-offs are sluggish performance and poor handling, but the market still shows 34.0% good or great deals, which suggests there are worthwhile listings if you shop carefully.

Is the 2021 Toyota Tacoma reliable?

Owners rate it 4.9/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

User feedback points to reliability, durability, and resale potential as recurring strengths, and drivers describe the truck as dependable and built to last. The expert review also notes the Tacoma’s excellent reputation for reliability and its ToyotaCare coverage, which includes two years or 25,000 miles of free factory-scheduled maintenance and two years of roadside assistance.

For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is that a truck this capable may have been worked hard, so condition and maintenance history matter a lot.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Toyota Tacoma?

At 70.1% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a thorough pre-purchase inspection, especially if the truck has off-road equipment or signs of heavy use. Focus on body condition, suspension wear, tire condition, and evidence of uneven maintenance, since those are the areas most likely to reveal how the truck was driven.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The SR trim gets a 7-inch touchscreen, while other trims get an 8-inch touchscreen. Higher trims add more equipment, and the TRD Pro stands out with model-specific off-road styling and hardware.
• Powertrain: You can choose a 2.7-liter four-cylinder or an optional 3.5-liter V6. The V6 is available with a manual transmission, and the Tacoma also offers rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
• Safety package: Standard driver-assist features include forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.
• Infotainment: Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio are standard. The base SR gets a 7-inch touchscreen, while other trims get an 8-inch screen.
• Fuel efficiency: The base four-cylinder returns 21 mpg combined, with 20 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. The V6 with the automatic returns 21 mpg combined in rear-wheel-drive form, while the manual V6 drops to 18 mpg combined.

Which 2021 Toyota Tacoma trim should I buy?

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma is offered in 6 trim levels: SR, SR5, TRD Off Road, TRD Sport, Limited, and TRD Pro.

Here's the short version:

• SR: This is the entry point, and it makes sense if you want the lowest-cost Tacoma and are comfortable with the most basic setup.
• SR5: This is the best-value trim for most shoppers because it adds more everyday usability without pushing you into the pricier off-road or luxury-focused models.
• TRD Off Road: Choose this if you want the Tacoma’s off-road hardware and capability to be a bigger part of your ownership experience.
• TRD Sport: This is a good fit if you want a more road-oriented Tacoma with a sportier feel than the off-road trims.
• Limited: This is the comfort-leaning choice if you want a more upscale Tacoma without going all the way to the top.
• TRD Pro: This is the most off-road-focused Tacoma model, with standard four-wheel drive and the most rugged hardware in the lineup.

The safety package is strong across the lineup, but the Tacoma’s headlights vary by trim level, with some ratings better than others.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Toyota Tacoma?

The market looks moderate and selective, so you have room to shop, but the best listings may not last long.

• Deal availability: 34.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 4,460 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have held steady compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 70.1% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $30,911, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Toyota Tacoma's resale value?

The current average of $31,640 sits slightly below last year's $31,930.

That small decline suggests the Tacoma has held value fairly well, even as the market has softened a bit year over year. For a future seller, that kind of stability is helpful because it points to steady buyer interest rather than a sharp drop in demand.

The Tacoma’s broad appeal, strong reputation, and durable image should continue to support resale strength. Well-kept trucks with clean histories and desirable trims are likely to remain easier to move than rougher examples.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.9/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Toyota Tacoma safe?

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma earns Good IIHS crash-test results in most tests, with an Acceptable score in the passenger-side small overlap front test, and it earns four-star overall ratings from NHTSA, with four-star ratings in frontal and rollover crash testing and five-star ratings in side crash tests.

It earns a 7/10 safety score from our experts.

Standard driver-assistance features include forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. That’s a solid safety suite for a truck, though the Tacoma’s headlight ratings vary by trim level, with some trims rated lower than others.

Should I buy a 2021 Toyota Tacoma or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 34.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 70.1% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have held steady compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.9/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It adds two special editions and standard dual-zone automatic climate control on all V6 models.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $30,028, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $31,640 average.
• It remains popular for capability, size, and dependable off-road features.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $32,518, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $31,640 average.
• It keeps the easy-to-use tech and adds a strong fit for adventure-minded buyers.

The bottom line: If you want the current-year Tacoma with stable pricing and strong owner satisfaction, the 2021 is a sensible pick. If price matters most, the 2020 is the better value path; if you want to spend more for a newer model-year alternative, the 2022 is worth a look.

How does the 2021 Toyota Tacoma compare to the 2021 Ford Ranger?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2021 Toyota Tacoma:

• Pros: Manual transmission available, Easy-to-use technology, Excellent off-road capability.
• Cons: Sluggish performance, Poor handling, Underwhelming base engine.

2021 Ford Ranger:

• Pros: Spacious, Easy-to-use technology, Multiple body styles.
• Cons: Uninspired styling, Interior materials feel cheap, Outdated technology.

Our experts score the 2021 Toyota Tacoma 6.5/10 and the 2021 Ford Ranger 7/10. The Tacoma is the better pick if you care most about off-road ability and the availability of a manual transmission. The Ranger has the edge if you want a roomier-feeling truck with more body-style flexibility. Both are easy to use, but the Tacoma’s weaker performance and handling keep it from matching the Ranger overall.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 10, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.