When it comes to off-road performance, no one knows the ins and outs of dirt better than Toyota, with their long history of rugged vehicles like the Land Cruiser and Tacoma. The new Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is another example of why Toyota is a force to be reckoned with.
Introducing the New Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
When competition started nosing around the Tacoma, Toyota kicked it in high gear and doubled down on some of the best parts of their off-road performance game. Once the TRD engineers got under the hood, it was clear that they were bent on creating a beast that could leave the rest of the mid-sized trucks in the dust. The new TRD Pro can fly according to MotorTrend.com’s most recent review of the new ride as all four wheels left the road during a test drive. If you can fly, you can beat the competition.
Unveiling the TRD Pro: Design and Features
The 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is a new animal for a new breed of off-road enthusiasts craving adventure without giving up their creature comforts. They want to eat dirt from a front-row seat that reminds them of their favorite chair. Toyota stepped in to accommodate their wishes by making many changes to the TRD Pro that help drivers stay focused on fun while making it easy to adjust to their surroundings.
Photo by Toyota
Exterior Design
At first glance, you might notice the beefier body style than previous models or the hood scoop, but before you can get to its good looks, you have to look at what’s under that gleaming exterior. Toyota planted the new Tacoma on the same chassis that you find under the body of Toyota’s big boys like the Land Cruiser 300 or the Tundra.
This new TNGA-F chassis brings high-strength steel together with lightweight aluminum to create a foundation made for speed and agility. Laser welds keep it solid for better rigidity without the weight, which translates to more hang time and more breathlessness. Toyota sought to simplify its frame setups by moving from around 100 different platform variations to five, and the TNGA-F is one of those five and represents the body-on-frame group of vehicles.
If you’re not sure you’re looking at a TRD Pro, Toyota is less than subtle about its badging campaign with TRD Pro emblems stamped in almost every nook and cranny of the truck. One of the biggest features in the overall appearance is the high-clearance front bumper that greatly improves the approach angle, so you can see if your TRD Pro will fly.
It has a return to the Heritage grille with the old-style TOYOTA emblem on it, as well as blackout paint. Some reviewers have noted that the paintwork on the black trim is not up to standards as it tends to chip. While the hood scoop is cool looking, it goes nowhere; it sends air over the top of the engine, so it’s for looks only, which is too bad since this is a turbo. However, the overfenders are cool-looking and made from a sturdy composite material that can withstand rough trail debris.
The front grille does have an integrated LED light bar and LED fog lights that can light up a dark trail, and the LED headlights have sequential turn signals. The light bar is controlled with a flip of the switch inside the cab, and three other auxiliary buttons give you a place to add more lighting if you choose.
This model is only available in a double cab body style with a 5-ft bed. It is equipped with a heavy TRD Pro aluminum skid plate, under-body protection, fuel tank protection, and rocker protection for those wild off-road trips you want to take. The ARB steel rear bumper has tow hooks, and there is a power tailgate. It has a curb weight of 4,400 pounds and can tow up to 6,400 pounds.
Photo by Toyota
Interior Comfort and Technology
Toyota upped the luxury game in the 2025 TRD Pro when it comes to interior ride comfort. With the introduction of heated/ventilated IsoDynamic Performance seats in the front row, you lose the normal stiffness of a race-style seat and gain the comfort of a passenger car-style seat. These seats are designed with air-over-oil shocks with side flex that offer more comfort without losing any of the support you need for off-roading. The extra flex helps keep your head steady during whoopdeedoo.
Since these seats have built-in shocks, the backs of the seats tend to take up a considerable amount of room from the backseat legroom, which is only a problem if you’re one of the backseat passengers. Since they are not an option, you will never have full use of the backseat leg area, so passengers may not be an option for this truck, even though it is designed to seat 5. If you’re tall, there is no room between the back and the front seat with the seat all the way back. These seats are electric, so you can move forward and backward, but to recline the seats, there is still a manual adjustment knob.
In addition, there is a 14-inch touchscreen display that is home to all of your infotainment, including Apple CarPlay® and Android™ apps. The multi-terrain view monitor gives you a 3D view of the area in the front, back, and sides.
The 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster lets you see all of the Tacoma’s vital signs in one spot. From safety features to navigation to off-road components, it is designed to keep your eyes on the road where they belong. Another great point is the center console placement of the buttons for trailer select, drive mode, CRAWL, and other controls. They are all within reach.
When it comes to audio, Toyota added a JBL system to the Tacoma, and one of the speakers is removable, so you can take it from its cradle on the dash and carry it outside the truck to move your party to the campfire rather than the trail.
Performance and Off-Road Capability
Let’s talk about what happens under the hood because here is where it gets really interesting.
Engine Power and Performance
When you think about the power of a Tacoma, you may not even consider the hybrid as an option, but this new TRD Pro is hybrid-powered. The 2.4L turbo 4-cylinder T24A-FTS delivers the power you need to get through the muck and mire, and the nickel-metal hydride battery powering the 48-hp electric motor brings the fuel efficiency up to a manageable level of 23 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway.
Driven by the i-FORCE MAX, you’ll get 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque from the combined power transferred through the 8-speed automatic and two-speed transfer case with a push-button locking rear differential.
This power arrangement outperforms the Chevy Colorado and the Ford Ranger, making the Tacoma Hybrid the most powerful mid-size pickup on the market today.
Off-Road Enhancements
Off-road features of the Tacoma are always exciting, but this new TRD Pro has upped the game again with a manual electronically disconnecting front anti-roll bar, 33-inch Wrangler Goodyear tires, and a push-button electronically locking rear differential for extra grip when you need it.
The TRD-tuned FOX® QS3 Internal Bypass shocks sit on each corner of the body and deliver fade-free performance for high-speed action. They are 2.5-inch aluminum housings with rear remote reservoirs. You have control over the dampening to create the ride you need based on the terrain.
This Tacoma is designed for high-speed handling on and off the road.
Photo by Toyota
Pricing and Trim Options
When it comes to pricing, the TRD Pro is the premium model that comes with all of the bells and whistles you would expect from a Tacoma, so it’s no surprise that it’s pricier than the SR or SR5 models.
Pricing and MSRP
The MSRP of the 2024 Tacoma TRD Pro is currently $65,395, and there is only one model with no optional equipment available.
Here is how the rest of the Tacoma models line up:
| Model | MSRP |
|---|---|
| SR | $31,500 |
| SR5 | $36,200 |
| PreRunner | $38,100 |
| TRD Sport | $39,400 |
| TRD Off-Road | $41,800 |
| Limited | $52,100 |
| Trailhunter | $64,395 |
Prices are approximate as of 2024 and do not include destination fees or other costs. For more information on pricing and equipment of the rest of the Tacoma lineup see this article on the 2024 Toyota Tacoma prices.
Photo by Toyota
Available Trim Levels
As noted, the TRD Pro only comes in one trim level, which includes the following equipment:
- i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain
- TRD cat-back dual-tipped exhaust
- Electronic locking rear differential
- Red aluminum front TRD upper control arms
- Integrated LED light bar and LED headlights
- Front swaybar disconnect
- IsoDynamic front seats
- Prewired aux switches
- Fox bypass suspension dampers
- Moonroof
Here is a breakdown of the other models:
| Model | MSRP |
|---|---|
| SR – XtraCab 4×2 LB | $31,500 |
| SR – Double Cab 4×2 SB | $33,700 |
| SR – XtraCab 4×4 LB | $34,700 |
| SR – Double Cab 4×4 SB | $36,900 |
| SR – Double Cab 4×4 6MT SB | $36,900 |
| SR5 – XtraCab 4×2 LB | $36,200 |
| SR5 – Double Cab 4×2 SB | $37,200 |
| SR5 – Double Cab 4×2 6ft Bed LB | $37,700 |
| SR5 – XtraCab 4×4 LB | $39,400 |
| SR5 – Double Cab 4×4 SB | $40,400 |
| SR5 – Double Cab 4×4 6ft Bed LB | $40,900 |
| TRD Sport Double Cab 4×2 SB | $39,400 |
| TRD Sport Double Cab 4×2 6ft Bed LB | $39,900 |
| TRD Sport Double Cab 4×4 6MT SB | $41,800 |
| TRD Sport Double Cab 4×4 SB | $42,600 |
| TRD Sport Double Cab 4×4 6ft Bed LB | $43,100 |
| TRD PreRunner XtraCab 4×2 LB | $38,100 |
| TRD Off-Road Double Cab 4×4 6MT SB | $41,800 |
| TRD Off-Road Double Cab 4×4 SB | $42,900 |
| Limited Double Cab 4×4 SB | $52,100 |
| Trailhunter | $64,395 |
Pricing does not include destination charges or other costs. Prices are approximate according to 2024 information.
Photo by Toyota
Customer Reviews
Since this version of the Tacoma TRD Pro is relatively new, the reviews are mostly from professional reviewers like those at MotorTrend or the staff at Car and Driver. However, the reviews that are coming in are mostly positive, especially when it comes to the driving force of the hybrid-powered turbo. If there was any skepticism about the replacement of the old V6 with a hybrid, those doubts have dissipated once the pedal met the metal.
While some reviewers found some of the features to be gimmicky – like the removable speaker – most of the upgrades and updates to the cabin were welcome except for the seats. There is a lot to be said about the new seats. From a driver’s perspective, the front seats are a definite upgrade that keeps movement to a minimum, so much so that it’s hard to tell if you’re on or off-road, which is a good thing when it comes to comfort. However, as everyone has expressed, the loss of the backseat is a bad thing. The backs of the front seats are just too big to make any good use of the backseat. When you see the back of the seats and the shock system, you can see where the space all went. On the plus side, there is an air pump you can use to adjust the seats to your liking, but that doesn’t give anyone any more room, it just makes your ride more comfortable.
All in all, if you’re looking for wild adventure, this TRD Pro delivers. If you want a passenger vehicle, check out one of the other Tacomas.
Comparison with Competitors
Edmunds did a comparison test on the TRD Pro and two competitors that tested its speed, its off-road capabilities, and pricing.
| Make Model | Engine | Horsepower | Torque | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma TRD Pro | 2.4L Hybrid Turbo | 326 | 465 | 6-speed AT |
| Ford Ranger Raptor | 3.0L Twin Turbo V6 | 405 | 430 | 10-speed AT |
| Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison | 2.7L I4 Turbo | 310 | 430 | 8-speed AT |
The results from the Edmunds’ test can be summed up as follows:
Powertrain
The best acceleration was from the Ford Ranger at 88 MPH in a 15.27 quarter with the TRD Pro right behind it at 78 MPH in a quarter.
Suspension and Handling
The Fox live valve shocks performed better on the Ranger when it came to high-speed whoopdeedoo.
Rock Crawling
The Bison has a ground clearance of 12.2 inches, which was better than the other two models, and it was equipped with a steel skid plate. The Ranger was too low to the ground for real rock climbing, and the side steps were a detriment to off-roading.
Solid Off-Road Performance
The TRD Pro has effective traction control that makes it a solid choice in all off-road conditions.
Overall
Edmunds found the Bison was the best at rock crawling, the Ranger was decent on high-speed desert runs, and the TRD Pro was a versatile vehicle for any surface and condition.
Pricing
None of these models are inexpensive, but the Raptor is under $60,000, but not by much. The Bison and the TRD Pro are both priced in the $65,000 range.
Visual Showcase
If you want to see the Tacoma TRD Pro more, then enjoy the following photos by Toyota.
Maintenance and Resale Value
Like all vehicles, maintenance must be a priority if you want to protect your investment, and the TRD Pro is quite an investment. Remember to always follow Toyota’s recommended maintenance schedule for the best performance of your TRD, and replace worn parts with OEM Toyota parts and accessories. The maintenance schedule for your truck will be in your owner’s manual, and your Toyota dealer will have information on any recalls or other service bulletins you may need over the life of your truck.
By maintaining it and keeping it in good condition, you increase the resale value, which is money in your pocket.
Maintenance Tips and Ownership Experience
In addition to changing the oil, the following will help you keep your truck running its best:
- Rotate tires
- Check fluids
- Change the brakes
- Wiper blades
- Cabin air filter
In addition, when you play hard, always clean and inspect your truck after a day on the trail. Check ball joints, connections, fittings, and anything else that could have jarred loose after a day of hard driving.
Resale Value and Forecast
According to the Department of Energy, the 4WD is the most common drivetrain of all vehicles, so it doesn’t appear that the love affair between the dirt and the driver is going away any time soon.In fact, as of 2022, the percentage of AWD or 4WD vehicles is 60% or better. With the diverse landscape in North America, it stands to reason that more people are getting out of their driveway and onto a back road in search of adventure. The nature of the pandemic led many people to look for an escape route, and they found it in their vehicles. That trend does not appear to be abating, so keeping your truck in good shape will give you an advantage when it comes time to sell it. If you would like more information on the new Tacoma or are in the market for a used Tacoma, contact us and we’ll help you get the Tacoma you want. We also offer a selection of Renoca Windansea retro-mod custom Tacomas. Call us or contact us today.
