2024 Toyota TRD Professional and Trailhunter excel at quick and sluggish

Do you need to go quick or go far? That’s the query Toyota Tacoma Chief Engineer Sheldon Brown posed once I requested how somebody chooses whether or not to purchase the 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Professional or Tacoma Trailhunter. One other query price asking is, how a lot is in your finances?

Toyota’s off-road Tacoma flagship has been cut up in two, every with its personal character. The TRD Professional is supposed to go quick over sand and filth, whereas the Trailhunter is constructed to crawl over off-road obstacles.

The outgoing Tacoma TRD Professional was meant to be the do-everything Swiss Military knife of midsize pickup vans, Brown defined. Nevertheless, attempting to be good at every thing usually makes a product mediocre at most issues. 

After spending time behind the wheel of each the 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Professional and Tacoma Trailhunter pickups, it’s clear the automaker targeted every truck on its devoted mission. Nevertheless, neither truck is the off-road king of the hill.

Let’s go off-pavement and dig in.

2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Professional and Trailhunter go hybrid

Each Tacoma TRD Professional and Trailhunter pickup is a hybrid. RIP to the previous V-6.

Underneath the hood sits a 2.4-liter turbo-4 mated to an electrical motor situated within the 8-speed computerized transmission. Complete output checks in at 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. On paper these numbers outgun the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 turbo-4’s 310 hp and 430 lb-ft. The Toyota additionally bests the Ford Ranger Raptor’s 430 lb-ft of torque score, however falls wanting beating the Raptor’s 405 hp quantity.

The hybrid system offers solely first rate gasoline financial system numbers at 22 mpg metropolis, 24 freeway, and 23 mixed for each vans. I didn’t get to drive these vans on pavement, so I can’t touch upon real-world gasoline financial system.

I did expertise this powertrain on-road in a Tacoma Restricted mannequin lined with leather-based. Like different Hybrid Max-badged Toyotas, the hybrid powertrain is robust, however considerably underwhelming, with no wallop of energy off the road or on the freeway regardless of the excessive torque quantity. 

Off-road, the story is completely different, although it’s nonetheless a combined bag. The electrical motor contributes to speedy torque that gives loads of grunt at low speeds and when crawling within the Trailhunter. Energy supply is easy, as anticipated as a result of Toyota has develop into the chief at hybrid energy mixing. 

Within the TRD Professional, nonetheless, as soon as the electrical motor’s enhance trails off the turbo-4 merely doesn’t ship the identical kick within the pants because the bigger 2.7-liter turbo-4 within the Colorado ZR2. Additionally, no Tacoma gives paddle shifters just like the Ranger Raptor. Brown mentioned the workforce considered paddle shifters for the TRD Professional, but it surely wasn’t actually certain how many individuals would use the guide shift functionality. I’d’ve whereas driving at excessive speeds off-road as a result of if programmed accurately it permits for extra management to remain within the energy band when wanted.

The turbo-4’s noise, even with the efficiency exhaust of the Trailhunter and TRD Professional, isn’t in the identical class because the throaty high-pitched turbo V-6 burble of the Ranger Raptor. It’s notably deep for a turbo-4, although. That’s partially because of the TRD efficiency cat-back exhaust system. On the Trailhunter, the exhaust dumps out excessive simply in entrance of the rear axle, the place it’s tucked away from to stop injury. On the TRD Professional, the exhaust splits into two welded black suggestions that exit on the motive force facet simply behind the rear wheel.

2024 Toyota TRD Professional goals for Raptor and ZR2

In some methods the Tacoma TRD Professional hits the mark and bests the competitors, however in some ways it falls quick.

The Tacoma TRD Professional can certainly go quick off-road, to some extent, as I realized on a bumpy gravel street.

After I pointed the TRD Professional down the rock-strewn gravel hearth street, my right-seat companion, Andy, an expert stunt driver, advised me to hit the hump within the street at 40 mph. That pace would ship the truck flying. Any quicker and we would land and bury the nostril into the bottom, a lot much less and we wouldn’t get the air I needed. I hit 48 mph earlier than the hump, then lifted as instructed by Andy. Our pace dropped to 36 mph as we crested the hump. The truck took flight for just a few ft and landed softly.

“That wasn’t dramatic sufficient,” I advised him, noting we had been going to want to do this once more. 

The entrance tires hit the hump the second time with the speedometer at 46 mph, a bit quicker than instructed.

When the truck landed the two.5-inch Fox QX3 shocks with small piggyback distant reservoirs went to just about full compression and took the hit. I don’t assume the rear finish hit the hydraulic Fox jounce bumpers (the Trailhunter doesn’t have these), but when they did, they took the blow so properly I didn’t even discover.

Andy mentioned I might now go as quick as I might comfortably see down the remainder of the fireplace street. He was fallacious. With the pedal buried I quickly realized the truck was about to rattle aside if it went a lot quicker. The shocks weren’t maintaining with all of the bumps. I didn’t see my pace as a result of I used to be expecting rocks so I wouldn’t blow aside the underside of the truck (been there, accomplished that, sorry, Chevy). The hood was shaking so violently that I let off the throttle a bit. I might’ve gone quicker, the truck I’m not so certain.  

Brown advised me the three-way adjustable Fox shocks had been set to degree two. Degree one is for street use. Degree two is for hearth roads, which is what we had been on. Degree three is supposed for desert-style Baja driving with extra compression damping. Apparently, I can see at Baja-level speeds. Brown famous that if he had recognized somebody can be keen to go that quick down the fireplace street he would’ve switched the shocks to degree three. Subsequent time, Brown. 

The TRD Professional’s steering weight was almost excellent as I didn’t need to noticed backwards and forwards on the  thick perforated TRD-branded steering wheel to maintain the truck going straight. 

Primarily based on my time with each the Colorado ZR2 and Ranger Raptor, each vans would have gone quicker on the fireplace street, not less than with the Tacoma’s Fox QS3 shocks set to Degree 2. Not like the TRD Professional, these vans additionally don’t require a driver to manually flip a knob on every shock to regulate them, because the ZR2’s Multimatic DSSV shocks continually alter to situations whereas the Raptor’s Fox Stay Valve shocks alter electronically based mostly on the chosen drive mode. 

The TRD Professional and Trailhunter are 3.0 inches wider than the bottom Tacoma SR5, which itself is about 3.0 inches wider than the outgoing SR5 mannequin. With the 33-inch Goodyear Territory R/T tires tucked below the bulging fenders, it’s hulking compared to an older Tacoma. Sorry youngsters, 35s aren’t going to suit with out rubbing.

That vast stance helped give the TRD Professional a steady feeling whereas blasting round corners and down straights within the filth on a motocross course. The brand new coil-spring rear suspension saved issues planted and the tires involved with the earth for higher traction. However full-time four-wheel drive is nowhere to be discovered not like on a Colorado ZR2 and Ranger Raptor. That’s simply being low cost, Toyota.

The assorted off-road modes of the Multi-Terrain Choose system now work in 4Hi and 4Lo, and the crawl management system, which is like off-road cruise management, now not clunks and thunks. Nonetheless, there’s no Baja mode or something that really kicks the TRD Professional’s powertrain within the pants. The off-road drive modes are restricted to Mud, Grime, and Sand. Coming round banked activates the motorcross course, the powertrain typically slowed down and bought caught flat footed. The transmission merely didn’t need to shift rapidly sufficient. Can we get a Baja mode, Toyota?

Inside, the TRD Professional’s cabin is generally commonplace Tacoma fare. Chunky knobs and buttons function controls starting from local weather and audio features to off-road options such because the rear locker. Nevertheless, the entrance seats boast built-in shock absorbers to assist with lateral stabilization whereas off-roading. They work. With air-pressure changes, these seats stabilize the motive force’s physique throughout high-speed off-roading for much less jostling and fatigue. They is likely to be the perfect seats in an off-road pickup, definitely within the midsize phase. The draw back is the shocks, and their brackets, severely eat into rear seat legroom, taking it to “do I’ve to sit down again there?” standing. 

In idea, I just like the obtainable crimson and black colour schemes, however the required camouflage seat sample is just too Bro Truck for me. I might additionally do with out the TOYOTA title stamped into the passenger facet of the dashboard. Brown confirmed that is a part of a three-piece molding and eradicating it could require all the dashboard’s trim to be swapped out. 

2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter likes to take it sluggish

Trailhunters swap out the TRD Professional’s Fox QS3 shocks for ARB Previous Man Emu position-sensitive 2.5-inch shocks with small piggyback distant reservoirs. They’re softer than the TRD Professional’s Fox shocks for much less jarring actions whereas clambering over obstacles. I’ll be curious to check each vans on the street to see the variations on pavement.

No Toyota on the TNGA-F platform (of which the Tacoma shares with the Toyota Land Cruiser, 4Runner, Tundra, Sequoia, Lexus LX and GX) gives a entrance locker; the chief engineer for the Lexus GX mentioned “we don’t want it.” Perhaps, however a Ford Ranger Raptor and Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 each have one. 

The Trailhunter trades out the TRD Professional’s fancy entrance seats for normal Tacoma thrones. My tester’s seats had been coated in artificial leather-based in a mineral grey colour trimmed with gold piping. The fabric was way more interesting to the attention than the TRD Professional’s camo-covered seats. Additionally they make the rear seat tolerable, although the Colorado ZR2 nonetheless has extra rear seat house with extra consolation. The dashboard trim appears to be like prefer it was reduce out of granite with its matte end, and the Toyota title continues to be molded into the passenger facet of the sprint.

2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter and TRD Professional angles and capacities

Each the TRD Professional and Trailhunter solely are available four-door crewcab physique types. Whereas every may be had with a 5-foot mattress, the Trailhunter is obtainable with a 6-foot mattress for elevated cargo capability for off-road adventures.

Apparently, the TRD Professional checks in with higher off-road angles with 11.5 inches of floor clearance, a 35.7-degree method angle, a 25.3-degree departure angle, and a 27.4-degree breakover angle. These numbers eclipse the Trailhunter’s 11.0 inches of floor clearance, 35.2-degree method, 22.3-degree departure, and 24.0-degree breakover angle. 

Ought to a miscalculation be made when off-roading, the TRD Professional options 6-mm thick aluminum skid plates from the entrance finish to the again of the engine. The Trailhunter upgrades these skid plates as they’re comprised of high-tensile metal. Trailhunters additionally get a entrance skid plate that goes to the again of the engine, and provides skid plates for the switch case, transmission, and rear differential. Each fashions function a resin protect across the gasoline tank.

Each the TRD Professional and Trailhunter come commonplace with an electronically disconnecting entrance sway bar for extra suspension articulation. A contact of a button helps hold the entrance tires involved with the earth. Ford and Chevy lack this neat function.

Each vans are rated to tow as much as 6,000 kilos with the 5-foot mattress, and the Trailhunter’s non-compulsory 6-foot mattress drops towing capability barely to five,950 kilos. Brown advised me the Trailhunter would be the higher tow automobile because it’ll squat lower than the TRD Professional.

The high-speed off-road TRD Professional is rated to haul as much as 1,675 kilos of payload, whereas the Trailhunter is barely rated to haul as much as 1,475 kilos with the 5-foot mattress, and that drops to 1,425 with the 6-foot mattress. 

Payload and towing match or greatest the competitors. The Colorado ZR2 checks in with a tow score of 6,000 kilos and is rated to haul as much as 1,280 kilos of payload. The Ford Ranger Raptor is rated to tow as much as 5,510 kilos and haul as much as 1,375 kilos.

2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter and TRD Professional lighting

Each the Tacoma TRD Professional and Trailhunter embrace lightbars mounted of their grilles, however not like the Tundra and Sequoia TRD Professionals these lightbars might be extra purposeful. The lightbars on the full-size autos solely put out about 5,000 lumens. An $80 flashlight can create extra gentle output than that. The lightbars on the Tacoma fashions have a ten,000-lumen score. It was daytime once I drove the vans, so judgment day will come later.

Each off-roaders function LED driving lights mounted of their entrance bumpers, however the Trailhunter’s setup, supplied by Inflexible, can change between cool white or amber. Neat trick. Trailhunter vans even have white lights mounted on the mattress rails that come on with the inside entry lights. An ARB sport bar is mounted to the entrance of the mattress with Molle panels to mount off-road gear. It’s a neat bit no different competitor has and it offers actual performance.

2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Professional and Trailhunter price massive bucks

Worth isn’t baked into the Tacoma TRD Professional or the Tacoma Trailhunter.

The Tacoma Trailhunter prices $64,395 together with $1,495 vacation spot cost with the 5-foot mattress, and one other $500 must you go for the 6-foot mattress. The Tacoma TRD Professional prices much more at $65,395.

These costs make the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 appear to be an absolute steal at $48,790, and the Ford Ranger Raptor appear affordable at $57,065. Each have entrance lockers and full-time four-wheel drive that the Toyotas lack.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Professional and Tacoma Trailhunter each do a superb job of fulfilling their mission. The TRD Professional handles the punishment of quick off-roading, whereas the Trailhunter is more proficient when it comes time to select your method down a path. 

Nevertheless, on condition that the Ford and Chevy have extra superior shocks, full-time four-wheel-drive programs, Baja modes, and so they each really feel faster, I’m left questioning how a lot the Toyota Tacoma title can justify the value premium. These fancy seats with built-in shock absorbers are unbelievable, however not $8,330-$16,605 unbelievable.

Toyota paid for journey, lodging, and I bought sunburned to deliver you this firsthand report.