Toyota is globally known for making some of the most reliable and sturdiest production cars and trucks for motorsports. As it turns out, Toyota’s performance divisions can co-exist stateside. For more than 40 years, TRD or Toyota Racing Development has been the brand’s performance division specialized in making performance accessories and products for the Japanese automaker, including suspension components, wheels, and superchargers. Its engineers invested a significant amount of their time developing a reputation of racing performance and service for its fans and car owners worldwide.
Even with the introduction of newer models, some older models have managed to hold their own with new parts. Some cool modified cars and trucks are a workhorse compared to new models. With that being said, here are some of the coolest Toyota TRD cars and trucks that have undergone rigorous testing to ensure that they hold up against gravel, black ice, and many other challenging roads.
8 Toyota Corolla TRD 2000
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It’s not that often that you come across cars so rare that the company’s representatives have no idea they exist, but that’s the case with the 1994 Corolla TRD 2000. This auto is rarer than even most supercars, including the Ferrari 250 GTO.
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In fact, the words “obscure” and “rare” don’t almost enough describe how special the car is. Toyota insists on calling it the TRD 2000 to illustrate that it’s an entirely different animal. Only 99 of the TRD 2000 Corollas were made, and it’s alleged that only ten units were sold. Its price tag then was slightly under $32,000, which in today’s money equals about $56,000.
7 Toyota TRD2000GT
The Toyota 2000GT is a classy car that handles well compared to others in the 95 limited series. Its body is wider by 2 inches over the standard MR2 and it corners with ease.
The car gives a decent grip for daily racing, and it’s easy to enhance with a bit of work. Weight transfer is excellent, and the turbo does not lag.
6 Toyota TRD3000GT
The wide-body Toyota 3000GT is a special Toyota based around the GT500 super-touring race car. It has extra vents and the front bumper is designed to give it killer aero power. This car comes with a vented hood to give it a more relaxed yet powerful engine.
Speed lovers will adore this car because it can make 600 horsepower, and the brakes can be upgraded to an 8-piston setup.
5 The Toyota Tacoma PreRunner
When the PreRunner arrived in 1998, it took an entirely diverse approach to many other rugged trucks of its age. However, it shared a few specifics with the 4WD version of the truck. Precisely, it featured most of the 4WD’s interior design, suspension, and it came with knotty tires and a choice of either a 3.4L 190-hp V6 or a 150-hp 2.7L engine.
What distinguished it from other versions was its rear-wheel-drive package. Coupled with a locking rear differential, the PreRunner relied on the driver’s skillset to help it avert sticky situations.
4 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
This is one of the oldest trucks in its class but with a 3.5-liter V6 engine. It has 270 horsepower and its 265 pound-feet of torque is enough to propel it with genuine force. The Tacoma has an easy-to-modulate throttle, and it might need a bit of finesse. The vehicle has fox shocks, a two-speed transfer case, and a skip plate to ensure it maneuvers easily in various terrains.
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The Toyota Tacoma is not sluggish on the road with a six-speed automatic, and its gearbox holds up well. This means that it can trail easily in several terrains, and it also has a low-speed trail camera.
3 The Toyota Tundra TRD Pro
The Toyota Tundra pro shares the same platform as the Toyota Sequoia. Both come with fox shocks, skid plates, and off-road tires, making them ideal for off-road enthusiasts. The Tundra TRD Pro, however, has a better trail option owing to its 30-degrees approach angle. It sits 10.6 inches above the ground and has a 5.7-liter V8 engine churning out 381 horsepower.
This vehicle does not have multi-terrain select settings or crawl-control, unlike the Toyota Tacoma. It is 19.0 feet long and 6.7 feet wide and weighs 5640 pounds. It can also go up steep inclines with ease because it is lighter and slightly over the three-row sibling.
2 The Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro
The 4runner TRD pro truck is one of the best of its kind because it has several features that other SUVs in its segment simply don't. It comes with crawl control, fox shocks, multi-control, a locking gear doff, skid plates, and many more. It is a mid-size SUV with a 270-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 engine designed to take on off-road terrains as well as haul families.
This car is 15.9 feet long and has a rear overhang with a short front to make it more successful than others in its category. The ground clearance range is 9.6 inches, and it has a 26-degree departure angle.
1 The Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro
The Sequoia is a solid option for off-road enthusiasts due to its 2.5-inch fox shocks, a front skid plate, and running boards. It offers up to 10.0 inches of ground clearance and a 27-degree approach angle coupled with a 5.7-liter 381-hp V8 power plant.
The accelerator has a fluid response on inclines, and it tips the scales at 5985 lbs. It measures 19 feet long and 6.7 feet wide with grippy Michelin tires ideal for any road.