![]() ![]() A wireless phone charging pad and a larger 8-inch multimedia screen with Apple/Android functionality are also welcome additions.Īll controls fall within easy reach of the driver and they have rugged, rubberized grips that feel good to the touch. The interior includes the full Toyota’s Safety Sense Portfolio, dynamic cruise, forward braking assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams - plus keyless access and ignition as well as blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alerts. My tester had leather-covered chairs and weirdly a sunroof, which I find odd on a pickup, especially a mid-size one. The 10-way driver’s power-adjustable seat, which now includes lumbar support and seat height adjustment is great and makes the driving position almost perfect, and I say that because the telescoping wheel doesn’t quite telescope enough leaving you a tad too far away from the wheel, especially when using it off-road. The brakes, while great off-road are somewhat grabby at lower speeds on-road, and modulating them is tricky at times, at one point one of my one sarcastic passengers asked me if they were on Mr. At higher speeds, the Taco tracks straight, the steering is light but relatively precise and more direct than the Gladiator. Also, the TRD cat-back exhaust moans and groans and sounds like an outboard motor, the sound gets tiring after a while. More ratios would help its fuel economy, we averaged 15.4 mpg for the week we had it. This is where you have to make some compromises if you want to use it as a daily commuter vehicle, the 6-speed auto needs more ratios, it hunts around and is not particularly smooth. ![]() It powered through with barely a misstep and only occasionally brushing the front skid plate. Not wanting to damage the Tacoma or get it stuck we didn’t get too crazy and it coped very well with all that we threw at it including testing Hill Descent and negotiating some fairly deep ruts. ![]() My TRD PRO model had a push-button locking rear differential, a crawl control system, hill-descent control, and five unique off-road traction control settings. There is no full-time system for use on dry pavement you have to switch back to two-wheel drive. These features show a view of the front and side cameras through the new 8.0-inch infotainment screen, which was quite helpful when the going got tricky.Īll Tacoma TRD PROs are almost 12 inches off the ground, and four-wheel-drive is operated via a knob in the center stack. Two systems help the driver negotiate tougher terrain in the Tacoma, firstly the Multi-Terrain Monitor (MTM) and Panoramic View Monitor (PVM), both of which are standard on the top-trim. The Tacoma has an undeniable cachet among the off-roader community, so we didn’t want to make fools of ourselves. We headed out for hills in search of some mud, dust, and hills to climb to check out the Taco’s off-road prowess. The exterior has the rugged looks that buyers want especially the front view with that gaping air intake and skid plate. It looks the part too my tester came with Lunar Rock paint (plus an optional paint protection film for $269) and a black interior with leather seats. For those that like numbers the TRD PRO will get to sixty in around 7.7 seconds, but it’s not worth trying more than once. Amazingly you can still get a six-speed manual. It uses both port and direct injection to produce 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed manual transmission. There are two engine options but avoid the four-cylinder which is underpowered and go for the V6 instead which is used across several other models. There are also several nifty TRD PRO decals, which we ended up getting covered in mud after our off-road tests. The front suspension has been lifted an inch and it has progressive-rate leaf springs in the back as well Rigid Industries branded fog lights, a TRD exhaust system, LED headlights and taillights, and an aluminum front skid plate that has “TRD” emblazoned on it in red letters. My 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD PRO crew cab tester is the Tacoma to get since it comes standard with an electronic locking rear differential, Fox 2.5-inch-diameter internal bypass shocks, and chunky 16-inch wheels and tires. It has somewhat of a cult following among off-road aficionados and competes in the same space as the Jeep Gladiator and the Chevy Colorado which are the most capable factory off-road pickup trucks ever developed. The current Tacoma (Taco) is aging gracefully since it has been around since 2005, although it did receive a refresh for 2016. ![]()
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