2021 Toyota Tacoma and its new wonder-child that is the TRD Pro V6
Overview
Pickup trucks are the lifeblood of the United States automotive market. They are as inseparable from the consumer base peanut butter from a jelly sandwich. At the smallest scale sit the compact pickup trucks. The compact pickup truck segment is witnessing a sort of a renaissance. Some are being enhanced, some revived, and some are brand new. The Toyota Tacoma is the undefeated king of this segment that has just been enhanced. Lovingly called the ‘Taco’ by its army of fans, the Tacoma received a major facelift just last year in 2020. So, this model year is mostly a carryover except for the new limited-edition Tacoma Trail Edition, of which only 7,000 units will be produced.
The current-gen Taco is now half a decade old since it was launched in 2016. Despite newer and more competitive rivals like the Ford Ranger, and the General Motor Twins, Colorado, and Canyon, the Japanese Taco has a staggering market share of almost 40%. The current lineup of the Toyota Tacoma consists of seven different trims starting with the base SR followed by SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, Nightshade, and lastly comes the TRD Pro. The “TRD” here stands for the Toyota Racing Development from which the overall aesthetic of this trim has been carved out. The TRD Pro is the hottest of all tacos and so is its price tag. Let us check out what this hot Taco has on the menu for us.
The 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro V6 at a glance:
- Starting Price: $45,350
- Only offered as a Four-Door, Double Cab, and a Short bed configuration
- 3.5 L Naturally Aspirated V6 with 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque
- Six-Speed Manual Transmission (Standard); Six-Speed Automatic Transmission ($2705 optional extra)
- All Wheel Drive System as standard
- Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure 265/70R-16
- TRD Off-Road Tuning, TRD Pro logos, TRD Exhaust System
- 8-inch Infotainment Display with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa connectivity.
- New TRD Pro exclusive paint scheme: Lunar Rock
- 6,800 pounds of towing capacity with the V6 Tow Package
What makes the TRD Pro spicier than other Tacos?
Any Toyota with a TRD badge is special. They look way cooler and they can go places that other variants can’t. The Tacoma TRD Pro looks exceptionally hardcore on the outside. It gets the “TRD” inspired grille upfront, blacked-out accents, raised suspension, and an aluminum front skid plate that imposes “TRD” on-to anyone who dares to step in its way. The squared-off wheel arches and deep creases running along the body enhance the broad stance. The TRD Exhaust System also adds to the overall flair of the hot taco. And all of this sits on top of the rough riding off-road style 265/70 tires snuggly resting on the 16-inch slotted black TRD Wheels which makes the whole package feel like something out of a Dakar rally.
Is it all show and no go?
Under the hood of the TRD Pro lies the Toyota’s trusty 3.5 L naturally aspirated V6 engine which puts out 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. The engine churns out a decent mid-range torque and with the TRD exhaust system, it has a pleasant, bass-heavy truck-like growl. It manages to hit 60 mph in about 7.7 seconds which is decent for a truck this size. However, the more modern V6 powered Chevy Colorado will do the same just 1.5 seconds faster. However, the tarmac is not the TRD Pros game. If the flared fenders and skid plates were not a giveaway, The amazing four-wheel-drive system with the long-travel suspension and crawl control sure is. The TRD Pro glides over large bumps and rocks with the off-road Goodyear tires hugging the uneven pavement. The suspension is already jacked up by over 1 inch compared to the next most off-road Taco. Moreover, the floor indentations are completely removed and now the floor sits flat atop the frame thus increasing the ground clearance even more. On-road, the suspension is too soft in the front and too stiff in the back. This frustration on the streets is what makes the hot Taco that much better off the streets. The TRD Pro is a seriously capable off-roader and people who won’t take it off the tarmac should stick to the less radical versions of the Taco.
It seems too focused is it really usable?
It might be a hipster truck but after all, it is a Toyota and it is a pickup truck. So practicality is never out of the picture. Buyers get the taco thinking it will last a lifetime without any major issues just like any other Toyota. It also gets a pretty usable bed with an electronic liftgate. The V6 engine is good enough for towing up to 6,800 pounds or a small boat. The interior cabin is also quite spacious as it comes as standard with the Double Cab (crew cab) configuration. The rear seat Leg-room in the back is a bit sketchy but that’s the case with all the pickup trucks of this size.
Being the most expensive Taco, the TRD Pro also gets the most expensive feeling interior with tons of features like an 8-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa connectivity. The interior is, however, more functional than luxurious. The seats come with leather upholstery and grippy bolsters that will keep you in place while attempting to scale a hill. The pilot also gets a 10-way power adjustable driving seat that helps in settling down on the flat floor.
Fuel economy is also quite decent with 20 miles in the city and 22 on the highway. Combining that with the 21.1-gallon fuel tank and you could be looking at a 400 plus mile of range.
Verdict: The Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is built for a select few.
The Tacoma TRD Pro is equivalent to the Ford Ranger Raptor, the only difference is unlike the raptor which is ideal for desert cruising, the hot Taco is meant to scale up boulders. Buyers who will never explore the terrain outside their hometown, or those who will never step out of the interstate really don’t need a 45 grand off-road-focused pickup truck. The Limited Trim can easily suffice their practical yet hedonistic needs. The TRD Pro is a different breed altogether for the people who can shake off a broken skid plate-like their Monday blues.
