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2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Review by Mark Fulmer +VIDEO


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A Solid Off-Roader with a Well Deserved Tough Rep

By Mark Fulmer
The Auto Channel


Back in the late 70's the Toyota small trucks had a reputation for being tough, reliable work horses. I experienced that first hand as my bass pro fishing nextdoor neighbor could back his boat off river levys and muddy lake ramps and climb over dirt logging roads. Over all kinds of roads, and in all kind of weather, the Tacoma earned it "tough" title again and again. That reputation has grown over the years and the 2020 version holds that banner high.


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Updates abound for the 2020, not the least of which is the Army Green clad TRD Pro Dual Cab. That color is quite an attention-getter - from men, women, young and old alike, I heard a lot of "Cool!" New additions include an upgraded infotainment system that now has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, a surround-view camera system and under-vehicle camera, and new wheels and LED daytime running lights. The off-road ready TRD Pro model also gets revised suspension.


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The Tacoma is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6, making 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. Standard are a push-button locking rear differential, hill-descent control, a crawl control system, and five unique off-road traction control settings. Also standard is a towing package, increasing capacity to 6,800 pounds with a Class IV hitch and improved cooling hardware for the engine. Fuel numbers come in at 18/22/20 mpg for the automatic and 17/20/18 for the manual.


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The 2020 Tacoma has a good crash test rating and a plethera safety tech standard including: adaptive cruise control - which, by the way, is also very good for increasing your fuel economy by making computer controlled speed adjustments in precise increments. Other safety tech includes automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams.


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For outdoor work or play, the "Taco" just keeps adding loyal owners and fans.