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Many car models have successful runs. A select few – think Porsche 911 or the Jeep Wrangler – fill an emotive niche we previously did not know existed. These models inspire a passionate, perhaps sometimes too passionate, base of enthusiasts. Sales numbers are immune from market forces. Used car values surpass anything resembling common sense. Updates are few and far between, and that’s how the fans prefer it. Count Toyota’s beloved and durable “Taco” among that few. And the Tacoma TRD Off-Road is a prime example.
The Good: Off-road capability. The TRD Off-Road perks up like an eager puppy when you leave the pavement behind. With true high and low gears, a specially tuned suspension, Bilstein shocks and Kevlar-reinforced Goodyear Wrangler tires, it is well outfitted for elementary off-roading. For the more ambitious, it also features crawl control, hill start assist, multi-terrain select settings and an electronically locking rear differential. Competitors may offer a token 4×2 manual with a base engine. Toyota will give you a stick with the V6 and the higher-end trims.
Who They’re For: Someone energetic and outdoorsy whose 9-5 gig is a means to get them to the beach, the trail or their remote cabin in the woods on the weekend. He or she may be parting, begrudgingly, with a first or second generation Taco.
Watch Out For: The Taco is not as eager on pavement. Even the 3.5L V6 putting out 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque can prove downright truculent when pushing the throttle or climbing a hill. Toyota tuned the automatic transmission to shift at low revs, and it can be spotty in highway driving. Fuel economy numbers, 18/23 mpg in city/highway driving, underwhelm and were hard to match in real conditions. The cabin can be tight, especially when you throw an infant car seat into the mix. While classified as a mid-size, this is far from a compact vehicle. Larger configurations leave the TRD Off-Road within inches of the length of a full-sized truck (and with similar parking anxiety).
Alternatives: The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 ($40,360) is as close an off-road competitor as can be found on the current market. Until Ford’s new Ranger comes along, these two will duke it out on the trails. The ZR2 starts at $5,000 more than the Taco Off-Road, but does offer some attractive equipment, like front and rear locking differentials (the Tacoma offers only a rear locker) and an optional diesel engine. (See Chevy’s comparison chart between the ZR2 and the top-end Tacoma TRD Pro here.) Given Toyota’s traditional reliability and longevity, and given the Tacoma’s relative affordability, we feel it comes out on top.
