Personally, I found it easier to move 2x4s or anything longer than approx. 5 feet (fishing poles) in my Prius because the Tacoma I had, had such a short bed. Otherwise I was sticking crap through the Tacoma window which was super jank.
Oh the irony.
But I didn't buy it for hauling lumber, it was way more practical imo than an suv for camping and moving furniture and basically moving anything that isn't really long and thin. And full size pickup trucks are no better.
But yes, ironically, if the main thing you move is small quantities of 8' lumber, a sedan is better
IMHO, with a Taco, you really need to pick an option.
Option 1: I carry people more than things, in the city. Double cab + 5ft bed (aka the common one)
Option 2: I carry things more than people, in the city. Access cab + 6ft bed
Option 3: I carry things and people, and am willing to access the turning radius and parking compromises. Double cab + 6ft bed
Honestly, for urban trucks I always liked the Honda Ridgeline (Gen 1, not sure if they still do) openable divider style. Because most long stuff isn't wide... just long. So it's fine putting it up over the center console.
...at roughly the same price as a full size truck which is pretty much a non-starter for anyone who cares.
The Colorado actually fills that niche at an acceptable price poiont.
The Tacoma costs what a fullsize truck does and you buy one if you don't want a half ton for image reasons but also won't buy domestic because that's what upper middle class people have been trained not to do.
>probably more people that have big pickups would have all their needs met with a tacoma sized one.
People buy full size trucks because if they did their "once a month max usage" routine with a smaller truck you would be chastising them for "being unsafe" instead.