Even with renewed competition from its rivals, the Toyota Tacoma continues to be the best-selling mid-sized pickup truck in the U.S.A.
Our first encounters with the new Tacoma yielded a lot of praise. We love the performance of the turbocharged i-FORCE four-cylinder engine and its ability to cut through two off road courses to prove its agility and capability. Aside from our initial testing of a SR5 Double Cab model, we had a brief second test of a Tacoma TRD Off-Road Double Cab to test out its CRAWL Control and Downhill Assist Control while digging deeper into its four-wheel drive system.
2024 Toyota Tacoma
There had been talk of when the turbocharged hybrid driveline – called the i-FORCE Max – was to arrive alongside the other models. Part of this driveline are the most capable models Toyota has ever developed. One of those models was the new generation TRD Pro model.
To our surprise, we received a 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro with the i-FORCE MAX hybrid driveline for a lengthy test. There is certainly a lot of talk about with this top-of-the line truck.
To review, the 2024 Tacoma is built on a more robust high-strength boxed steel ladder frame derived from the latest Toyota Tundra full-size pickup truck. It is also shared with the new Land Cruiser, the latest Lexus GX and the upcoming 2025 4Runner. This frame forms the basis of several new components and drivelines that have made a huge difference in the Tacoma’s drivability and strength.
2024 Toyota Tacoma
The TRD Pro comes in the four-door Double Cab combined with a five-foot bed. A lot of cues tell you it is a TRD Pro – from the aggressive front end, large black fender flares, the 33-inch all-terrain tires on 18-inch black alloy wheels, the ARB rear bumper, and the TRD Pro logo stamped on the power tailgate.
Overall, the exterior design itself is bolder than the previous model. It appeared evolutionary, but solid enough to distinguish it from its bigger sibling, the Tundra. TRD Pro, included.
The cab starts with a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster with various levels of customization. A lot of the controls work much better than previous generation of Tacomas. A 14-inch infotainment touchscreen dominates the center stack. You get a chunky shifter and plenty of off-road controls on the center console.
2024 Toyota Tacoma
In the Double Cab, there is supposed to be space for five. The front seats dominate the rear seating area with the TRD Pro’s IsoDynamic performance seating system. Using an air-over-oil shock absorber system, these front seats were designed to keep the front occupants stable over extreme off-road maneuvers. Because of this mechanism, the seats do not recline, but are adjustable for rake, height, and lumbar support.
The i-FORCE MAX hybrid driveline powering our TRD Pro combines the turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor. All told, this driveline is specified for 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. This is connected only by an eight-speed automatic transmission sending power through a two-speed transfer case to all for wheels.
2024 Toyota Tacoma
Our TRD Pro also gets CRAWL Control, along with Downhill Assist Control. Combined, the system automatically controls the Tacoma’s ability to get through various traction challenges – including both up- and downhill maneuvers.
The rear suspension features an independent coil spring multi-link set-up. This was developed with delivering superb on- and off-road ride and handling. The TRD Pro adds 2.5-inch FOX Internal Bypass QS3 shocks on all four corners. These shocks include piggyback-style remote reservoirs, along with ride adjustment switches on the shocks themselves.
2024 Toyota Tacoma
The result in an improvement in the driving experience compared to the last generation model. We tested this on- and off-road and found the ride quality pretty good overall. Maneuverability was fine and you can get into parking spaces and make turns at intersections, yet you will get resistance in tighter turns when you out it into four-wheel drive.
The braking is quite good on the TRD Pro. We experienced solid stops in normal, wet, and panic situations.
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma lineup starts at $31,500. You now have eleven trim levels to choose from – including five i-FORCE MAX Hybrid models. Our TRD Pro tester came with a sticker price of $65,869.
The Tacoma is primed to continue its dominance in among mid-sized pickup trucks. It still has plenty of competition that it compares very well to. Currently, the Tacoma TRD Pro is compared to the Ford Ranger Raptor, Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, GMC Canyon AT4, Honda Ridgeline TrailSport, and Nissan Frontier PRO4-X.
If you want an off-road warrior, you now have plenty of choices – including two Toyota Tacoma models. The TRD Pro model is for those who crave extreme conditions to tackle every time they set off the highway.
Credits: CarSoup Editors
