Simple & Budget Mods For Your 3rd Gen’s Interior
New mods don’t have to break the bank — although, we all know they often do. If you’re jonesing for that little dopamine rush, we’re here to cover a few of our favorites.
In this article, I’m sharing 10 mods for 2016-2023 Tacoma interiors that are under $100 and require minimal effort to install. If quick and easy budget-friendly upgrades that make a noticeable difference sound good to you, keep reading.
1. Glove Box Organizer
What are my least favorite parts of my Tacoma’s interior? Until I installed these mods, they were, without a doubt, the center console and glove box. I’m probably not the only one who feels this way either.
Without a decent organizational system, this space becomes a black hole for napkins, pens, random multi-tools, and maybe a CD or two. If you’re lucky, you can find your registration in that mess when you get pulled over for speeding. Just kidding — that will never happen, you drive a Taco.
The glove box organizer is perfect for sectioning off areas to keep small items like your wheel lock and Allen wrenches.
Find It Online
2. Center Console Organizer
The console organizer has a similar effect to the glove box. It allows you to fully section off the top without having to pile everything up. There are designated spots for things like sunglasses, your phone, change, etc.
An integrated hole in the tray can also be used as a passthrough if you need to run a cord from the 12v outlet at the bottom of the console.
Find It Online
3. Center Console Hidden Storage Box
Stash away your valuables like bank cards or your ID inside this discrete storage box that fits snuggly on the bottom of your center console’s lid.
However, the included adhesive tape wasn’t strong enough to secure the flip-down storage slot effectively. This was an easy fix – replace those with wider strips from your local hardware store. Works like a charm!
Find It Online
4. Center Console MOLLE Trays
Center Console MOLLE Trays are perfect for your phone, wallet, keys, and other trinkets like a knife or small flashlight. If you want a quick and easy solution that looks cool and doesn’t require drilling into your center console, this is it. It only takes a few minutes to install and the black powder coat has an OEM look. They integrate seamlessly around the two front cupholders and are secured with sturdy 3M tape.
For best results, remember to first clean the area with isopropyl alcohol and let it dry fully before attaching the adhesive.
Find It Online
5. Colored Liner Kit
Whether you want a blacked-out truck, simple chrome deletes, or an accent color, these interior liners help inject your style into your Tacoma’s interior.
My favorite accessory is the Complete Liner Kit. These little rubber mats make a much bigger impact than you’d expect. They’re easy to wash with warm water and dish soap, keep your cupholders and console clean, and stop items from sliding around in the cupholders and storage areas.
Keep in mind that you won’t be able to charge your phone on the wireless charging station while the liner is in place (or, at least it doesn’t work for me). The liner is a great place to store sunglasses or glasses since the Tacoma doesn’t have a designated spot for these. The red accents are also a nice touch and match the next mod on this list well.
Find It Online
6. TRD Pro Style Shift Knob
The shift knob upgrade looks so much better than the standard variant in my opinion. The pop of red really helps give the all-black interior of my Tacoma a little personality. Save money compared to OEM with the same styling!
Find It Online
7. Aluminum Vent Rings
I got them in black, but there are other colors available like red, blue and white. The aluminum has a semi-gloss finish for a high-end look.
I’m doing a full chrome delete and these took care of the chrome rings around the vents without taking them apart (as you often have to do with similar aesthetic vent mods). These fit perfectly over the stock chrome rings and are secured with included adhesive strips.
Find It Online
8. Door Handle Covers
These are an affordable and effective way to delete one of the Tacoma’s most noticeable interior chrome accents. You can order these in a handful of different colors including black, khaki, red, and more. They snap right over the chrome door handles for simple installation and have a perfect fit that won’t shift once installed.
Find It Online
9. Oversized Cupholder
Nothing is more annoying than not being able to fit your go-to water jug in your cupholders. You end up throwing it in the passenger seat where it inevitably leaks onto the upholstery or having to listen to it roll around on the floor.
The Oversized Cupholder does require you to remove the center console face panel and shift knob for installation. However, it’s worth it. Once installed, it sits completely flush and looks OEM. I have a 32oz Hydroflask that I take everywhere and finally have a cupholder that fits it! There’s even room to spare, so if you roll with a Big Gulp cup or a jug larger than 32oz, it’ll likely fit too.
Find It Online
10. Complete Interior LED Kit
You know you’ve been dying to kiss those dull, yellow stock interior lights goodbye. The Tacoma’s interior lighting situation is notoriously lackluster. There are a lot of after-market options for lighting kits on Amazon, but they can be glitchy. You never know what you’re going to get as far as quality and compatibility.
This kit is just as affordable (if not more so) than comparable options from Amazon. The LED bulbs are direct replacements for the dome, overhead, vanity, and license plate lights. After reading claims that these are even brighter than most aftermarket LED kits, I was skeptical. After installing this interior lighting kit, though, I was impressed. These bulbs are without a doubt, brighter than any other aftermarket kit I’ve tried in either my Tacoma or 4Runner.
Each bulb installs in minutes. If you’re having trouble getting the stock bulbs out, try looping a piece of duct tape onto the bulb and use that to pull it out.
Find It Online
Final Thoughts
Upgrading your Tacoma’s interior doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Most of the interior mods and accessories in this article cost not just under $100, but less than $50! I’m not overstating it either when I say they make a major difference in the user experience.
Being able to keep my truck cleaner and more organized makes driving it a lot more pleasant. Tacoma’s have small cabs to begin with, so making the most of the space you have makes a big difference.
While some might think aesthetic mods like door handle covers and color-keyed vent rings are frivolous, I do not. Changing up the interior accents adds some personality to your Tacoma and gives you a bit more pride of ownership. These little details make a bigger impact than you might expect and are a great way to tide yourself over between bigger, more expensive mods.
