The Toyota Tacoma has been one of America’s best-selling pickup trucks for a number of years now, and it shows no signs of slowing down, especially when Toyota are producing updated versions which have vast improvements over the ones before it.
With updated tech in the form of comfort and convenience features and advancements in off-road usability and assistance modes, the Tacoma is almost unbeatable on any terrain. The new TRD Pro is the best Tacoma in Toyota's lineup and features slight styling changes and some heavy duty off-road upgrades to help with exploration. Below are some of the best features of the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro.
10 Styling
The Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro looks as good as ever with an exterior heritage grille and some LED fog lights to round off the front. There are small TRD logos around the exterior, too, just to remind other road users that you only accept the best in the Tacoma lineup.
When it comes to interior features, there are also some unique additions over the standard version, such as the black leather seats with red accent stitching. Again, as you may expect, TRD logos are plastered all over the cabin and that also goes for the leather wrapped steering knob.
9 Versatility
Being marketed as mainly an off-roader, the TRD Pro is perhaps best when the going gets tough. However, it still performs admirably when in less intense conditions such as a daily commute or when running to the store.
The versatility of the TRD Pro is almost unmatched and this is down to the exceptionally smooth ride and the almost noiseless cabin, providing a sophisticated and comfortable everyday driving experience. For a moment, you could forget you are driving such a powerful and large off-road pickup.
8 Air Intake
It's likely possible that the first thing you'll notice about the TRD Pro is the huge air intake routed out of the hood. This isn't just for looks of course and provides functionality when off-roading.
This is important because off-road driving means lots of debris, mud, or water could hinder your vehicle if it has more conventionally mounted air inlets. Toyota's solution is to provide a way to allow your Tacoma to breathe properly if you do so wish to drive through the wilderness with a top mounted air intake.
7 Storage Space
Being a pickup, the TRD Pro also exists to help with transporting cargo. The Tacoma was designed with a sheet-molded composite truck bed, which is capable of carrying a maximum payload of up to around 1,170 lbs.
As well as this, the tow hitch can haul up to a massive 6,400 lbs. Handy storage areas are dotted around the cabin too, with rear seat door pockets and even a few storage bins intelligently hidden under the rear seat cushion.
6 Tuned Suspension And Skid Plate
One aspect of the TRD Pro that sets it apart from the competition is its TRD-tuned suspension. The included 2.5-inch FOX Internal Bypass shocks give the Tacoma a raised front height, whilst the huge shock shafts provided some added durability.
For steeper angles and large objects like rocks, the included quarter inch aluminum TRD Pro Skid Plate protects the under body during more extreme off-road expeditions. The rear suspension is also made with progressive-rate leaf springs.
5 Wheels And Exhaust
One of the coolest features of the TRD Pro are its set of black 16-inch TRD wheels and tuned black exhaust. Interestingly, these wheels are actually lighter than those found on the previous models of the TRD Pro.
The TRD logo engraved exhaust helps provide a great sound under acceleration and help elevate the car slightly in terms of status, although it may not have all that much of an effect on the performance of the TRD Pro.
4 Infotainment And Tech
Toyota have also included a great deal of tech for the Tacoma TRD Pro With DRL headlights, sequential turn signals and even a passenger smart key which provides the passenger with keyless access. The Multi-Terrain Monitor and Panoramic View Monitor also provide some much-needed assistance when off-roading too.
The included 8.0-inch touchscreen is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The screen is also used in tandem with the Multi-Terrain Monitor and Panoramic View Monitor, which utilize the front and side cameras to help show a nearby view of the vehicle to help the driver navigate difficult areas with the best view possible. One of the handier comfort inclusions is the Tacoma's 10-way driver's power adjustable seat with lumbar support and height adjustment.
3 Crawl Control
Crawl Control is almost like an off-road cruise control system included on the Tacoma by Toyota. It that has five different low-speed settings which help to automatically ensure a good level of traction is achieved so the can focus on steering.
It's also very useful to use if you get your vehicle stuck in some awkward to manure terrain like mud or sand, as it can assist in giving you the best chance to remove the vehicle from the tough spot.
2 Multi-Terrain System
The multi terrain select feature is similar to the crawl control system in many ways, but it allows the driver to choose specific powertrain calibrations for traveling through difficult areas with lots of sand, mud, rocks and so on.
The selectable modes help limit wheel spin to maximize traction, again helping the driver to advance. The system regulates everything from wheel spin to brake pressure and throttle response, ultimately increasing traction. All you have to do is select the driving mode that corresponds with the surrounding terrain.
1 Engine And Performance
The Tacoma TRD Pro actually has the same engine as other Tacoma models with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 278 hp with transmission choices of both a six speed manual or six speed automatic. The TRD Pro should see no issue with climbing obstacles due to the 9.4-inch ground clearance also.
This is a decent amount of power and makes off-road driving and especially city driving a breeze. The Tacoma's fuel tank has a max capacity of slightly over 21 gallons with EPA mileage estimates of 17 for city driving and 20 for highway.