2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD PRO - Review by David Colman +VIDEO

A Monster Truck That Behaves Like a Sports Car

David Colman

Photos and Story by David Colman
Special Correspondent
THE AUTO CHANNEL

Climb up - and I do mean WAY UP - into the snug cab of the 2025 TRD PRO Tacoma, and you'll feel like you've enlisted in the infantry. The exterior color of "Mud Bath" (new for 2025) corroborates this truck's highly focused mission statement. Likewise, the no-nonsense layout of the interior, replete with oversize control knobs and massive steering wheel confirms weapons grade status. Just planting your butt in the mega-adjustable front seat takes a herculean effort since the TRD PRO scoffs at running boards. Instead, you get replaceable "rocker protectors." The floor of the cab stands 2 feet off the ground, with a further 15-inch lift needed to surmount the side bolster of the driver's seat. That 3-foot-high hurdle admits you to the flying bridge of Toyota's most exotic and expensive ($67,125) mid-size pickup. But once seated, you're in for the ride of your life, because the TRD PRO takes a backseat to nothing else for sheer driving exhilaration.

Under the long, wide, and heavy hood (which needs, but lacks a hydraulic strut) lies a hybrid powerplant consisting of a T24A-FTS gasoline-fueled engine, displacing 2393cc. This 'inline-4 has been turbocharged, intercooled, and linked to a 36kW electric traction motor feeding a 6.5Ah hybrid battery. The internal combustion motor's 278hp is boosted to 326 hp by the hybrid system. More importantly, its 317 lb.-ft. torque jumps to a whopping 462 lb.-ft. thanks to the electric motor's contribution. However, if you're looking for great mileage and long cruises between refills of the 18.2-gallon gas tank, you may be disappointed to learn that this hybrid posts a fuel economy rating of just 23 MPG in overall driving. This produces a maximum range of 418 miles between refueling stops. On the positive side, however, this rig is calibrated to tow a 6,000-pound trailer. The massive torque boost of the hybrid drivetrain guarantees you will surmount any mountain pass in North America with consummate ease, and that's a nice insurance policy.

While such highway practicality is reassuring, the real focus of the TRD PRO is mastery of off-road exploration. To that end, Toyota has thrown every Baja trick in the book at this truck to maximize its vast wilderness potential. Let's start with comfort optimization of the driver and front seat passenger. Over the roughest terrain imaginable, both occupants are afforded maximum retention by their IsoDynamic Performance seats, which are standard fitment on the TRD PRO. A glance at the recessed backsides of these complex seats reveals they are fitted with vertical and horizontal air chambers, which can be fine-tuned to match the type of terrain the Tacoma is traversing. Toyota provides an air pump/pressure gauge designed to tailor seat stiffness to rough terrain requirements. Four full pages of the Owner's Manual are dedicated to fine-tuning your IsoDynamic Performance seats. Due to the oversized front seatbacks, legroom for rear seat occupants is so limited that short hops are the order of the day for plus two occupants.

The genius of this newest generation Tacoma platform (which debuted last year) is fully realized in the new-for-2025 TRD PRO model. Toyota has lavished this truck with every trail-smart advantage the company has perfected over decades of off-road competition, with luminaries like Robbie Gordon and Ivan Stewart taking many wins at the Baja 1000. The suspension is infinitely adjustable, thanks to TRD-tuned FOX QS3 internal-bypass shocks. The rear FOX shocks feature remote reservoirs for the damping fluid. The front anti-sway bar can be completely disconnected when super rough terrain dictates you need both front wheels to react independently of each other. This Stabilizer Disconnection Mechanism (SDM) can be operated by a switch on the dash when travelling at 18mph or slower. TRD provides a logo-identified engine skid plate as well as a rear plate to protect the differential. A gander under this vehicle reveals the massive aluminum drive shaft that connects the powertrain's 8-speed automatic gearbox to all four wheels.

The system offers part-time 4WD which Toyota labels "4WDemand." This system provides a perfect compromise for street driving, when maximum off-road grip is not warranted. The TRD PRO is fitted with 18 x 8.5-inch TRD Black Alloy Rims mounting Goodyear Wrangler Territory RT radials (265/70R18) with a TW 500 treadwear rating. I was blessed with a completely traffic-free run up US 1, which proved the excellent adhesion this sophisticated suspension system/tire combo provides when pushed to the limit. This is truly a Sport Truck with a Capital S. You do not need to take it off-road to benefit fully from the sophistication of its underpinnings. I was amazed to discover that a 5,403lb. Monster Truck could behave like a veritable sports car on twisty mountain roads.

This ultimate Tacoma marks a milestone in engineering for Toyota. It will be hard to part with this one when my week is up.

2025 TOYOTA TACOMA TRD PRO

• ENGINE: 2.4-liter inline-4, turbocharged and intercooled plus AC Motor and Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery Pack
• HORSEPOWER: 326 hp
• TORQUE: 465 lb.-ft.
• FUEL CONSUMPTION: 22MPG City/23 MPG Highway
• PRICE AS TESTED: $67,125

HYPES: Superb Suspension, Killer Looks

GRIPES: Tight Back Seat

STAR RATING: 10 Stars out of 10

©2025 David E Colman