TOYOTA TACOMA TRD PRO

OVERVIEW

Displacement: 211 cu in, 3456 cc

Power: 278 hp @ 6000 rpm

Torque: 265 lb-ft @ 4600 rpm

TRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

• Dimension

Wheelbase: 127.4 in

Length: 212.3 in

Width: 75.2 in

Height: 71.6 in

Passenger volume: 100 cu ft

Curb weight: 4500–4600 lb

HISTORY

The Toyota Tacoma is a pickup truck manufactured in Mexico and the U.S. by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota since 1995. The first-generation Tacoma, model years 1995 through 2004, was classified as a compact pickup. The second generation, model years 2005 through 2015, and third generation, in production since 2015, are classified as midsized pickups and are produced in the U.S. and Mexico. The Tacoma was Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year for 2005.

As of 2015, the Toyota Tacoma is sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Bermuda, and the French territory of New Caledonia.

The TRD Pro package was offered for 2015 models. Based on the TRD Off Road, the Pro package added a 2″ front lift with Bilstein 2.5-inch front shocks and 2.0-inch rear shocks with remote reservoirs for extra wheel travel, BFGoodrich all-terrain tires on 16-inch black and silver bead-lock-style wheels, and TRD cat-back exhaust system. Cosmetic upgrades included the scooped Sport hood, black badges, blackout lighting elements, a TRD Pro matte-black grille with TOYOTA lettering, and various TRD-badged interior parts. About 1200 TRD Pro Tacomas were made.

DESIGN

All TRD Pro models are Double Cab four-door, four-wheel-drive short-bed models that expand beyond mere TRD Off-Road versions with Fox 2.5-inch-diameter internal bypass shocks; the suspension lifted an inch up front and wearing progressive-rate leaf springs in back; beefy model-specific 16-inch wheels and tires; loads of funky TRD Pro logos; Rigid Industries–branded fog lights; a TRD exhaust system; specific LED headlights (with sequential turn signals) and taillights; and an aluminum front skid plate that announces “TRD” in red letters.

There’s also now a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat available that enables the pilot to adjust out at least some of the awkwardness from the Tacoma’s floor-hugging driving position.

Most of the Taco’s mechanical substance carries over from 2019. The TRD Pro is still powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 (a 2.7-liter inline-four is standard on lesser models) that uses both port and direct injection to produce 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. While the six-speed manual transmission is available, the trucks we drove were all equipped with the familiar six-speed automatic (a $2705 option on 2019 models). And beyond that was Toyota’s part-time four-wheel-drive system with an electronically engaged two-speed transfer case. There’s also an electronically locking rear differential for harder-core off-road situations.

SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOYOTA TACOMA TRD PRO

The Tacoma TRD Pro equipped with Fox shocks, Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires, and a 1-inch lift suspension, this is Toyota’s most capable midsize truck. For the 2020 model year, the Taco TRD Pro’s transmission got a few updates, the most important of which is that it prevents the truck from lurching forward on the transition from park to drive, something we recently complained about on the 2019 Tacoma. The 16-inch alloy wheels lost about 4.1 pounds each, which was enough for engineers to make minor changes to the tuning of the shocks and springs in an effort to improve the truck’s ride on- and off-road. The Taco still suffers from some brake dive, but it has improved over the 2019 model.

The 3.5-liter V-6 engine still produces 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque Toyota also didn’t change anything with the 4×4 system; the Taco still comes with a two-speed transfer case and a locking rear differential, both of which we used in Utah and Colorado.

The Tacoma’s good articulation and suspension lift were pretty spectacular on some of the obstacles, particularly near the trailhead, where the narrow, rocky passes are especially tricky. The smooth power delivery made it easy to get through those obstacles.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR CAR?

Fixing deep scratches on your used car before the rust forms with something as simple as a dab of touch-up paint will save you endless trouble in the long run.

• Keep it clean

Giving your Toyota a regular all-round wash is a great way to keep it in the best possible shape and inspect the bodywork and interior for any  wear-and-tear that you can attend to before it becomes a big concern.

Similarly, if you allow brake-dust and road grime to accumulate on your used car’s alloy wheels, it will, over time, leave dark spots or make your used car’s rims appear dull.

It is very important to remember that you should never wash your used Toyota, or any other used car for that matter, with standard dish washing liquid or other household cleaning detergent.

Think about it: If your Toyota TRD Pro is regularly equipped with clean filters, oil and other lubricants, its engine will operate without any undue strain. This will lead to better fuel consumption and better engine performance in the short term and greater durability in the long term.

• Keep an eye on your tyres

Make it a habit to regularly check your tyre tread and the tyre pressure of your Toyota.

Inspecting the tyre tread helps you to quickly identify irregular wear patterns, such as wear on the outside of the tyre. If you spot this early enough, you can address it and extend the life of your tyres.

If you see an irregular tread pattern, you may need to check each wheel’s balancing or the alignment between the wheels at an approved tyre fitment centre.

Checking your tyre pressure is equally important. An under-inflated tyre will cause more wear and tear and will increase your vehicle’s fuel consumption. An over-inflated tyre will, in turn, cause uneven wear on the tyre and may negatively influence your vehicle’s steering and wet-weather performance.

• Monitor your fuel economy

Keeping an eye on your fuel economy is a great way of tracking the mechanical integrity of any used vehicle.

By keeping an eye on your tyres, bodywork, fuel economy and by regularly servicing your Toyota, you can be sure that it will maintain its value very well as a used vehicle and it will give you many years of trouble-free service.

Source: caranddriver, wikipedia, motortrend.