It has been a long time since Toyota redesigned the Tacoma Pickup truck. But when they decided to go, they went big and better than ever. This is especially true with the TRD Off-Road trim. It may be a midsize truck, but it’s bigger than before and works harder than ever. How does more power, more trims to choose from, and upgrades inside and out sound?
A Much-Needed Turbo Power Boost
The Tacoma’s V-6 engine is gone. Instead, you’ll find a 2.4-liter turbo four-cylinder under the hood. The iForce engine delivers 228 horsepower for the base SR trim, but the rest of the models, including the TRD Off-Road, get 278 horsepower out of it. This 278 horsepower may sound familiar since it is the same as what the V-6 delivered, but the torque is much more impressive at 317 pound-feet. Along with the extra torque, it also gets better fuel economy, and it can tow up to 6,400 pounds.
A More Sophisticated Rear Suspension for Doing Truck Stuff
When you’re hitting the trails, the suspension can mean the difference between a good ride and a great ride. The Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road has a newly updated coil spring suspension that smooths out the ride so much that it almost feels like you’re riding a car.
A Toyota Made for Off-Roaders
If you like to spend your time taking on rough terrain and testing your driving skills when the pavement ends, this is the Toyota truck for you. It comes standard with four-wheel drive, it has 17-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, and it has skid plates for the fuel tank, engine, and transfer case. The shocks are upgraded, too. The Bilstein monotubes have remote reservoirs for better control, even when taking on the harshest terrain.
Taking Infotainment to the Big Screen
The previous generation Tacoma was a little behind the times when it came to technology, but this is not the case with this latest Toyota Tacoma. You’ll have all the modern conveniences you’ve come to expect in a vehicle.
The available 14-inch touchscreen comes loaded with a wireless version of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s so large inside the relatively small cabin that you might even feel like you’re sitting too close to the TV. But it’s worth it. The clear graphics have a modern layout, and the entire thing is configurable, so you can choose a style and theme to fit your personality.
Get Comfortable in this New Cabin
One of the best things about the newly designed cabin is that it fits adults taller than 6 feet. It’s still not a large cabin—this is a Toyota Tacoma—but it has enough clearance now that even if the driver is over six feet, they can sit comfortably and even fit a kid in the seat behind them. Add the Premium Package, and you’ll get extra features such as heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a sunroof.
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