King of the Mountain: The 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD PRO

The current-generation Toyota Tacoma is going all-out for supremacy. The previous-gen (2016-2023) lived most of its life in an era where other midsize trucks were just making a comeback after a long period of dormancy.

Not only is it a hot segment now, but serious off-road chops, like those exhibited by the Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss and the Ford Ranger Raptor, are now coveted as...(if you've seen Severance, you know how that sentence ends). There are at least four Tacoma trims that are aimed at off-roading. I reviewed the TRD Off-Road last September. But if you want the ultimate off-roading Tacoma, you want the TRD Pro.

Under the hood, it's an iFORCE MAX 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid with 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is pretty good for that power---an EPA estimated 22 city/24 highway.

The transmission is an eight-speed automatic, there's a part-time 4X4 system with two-speed electronically controlled transfer case, TRD-tuned FOX internal bypass shocks with rear remote reservoirs, an electronically-controlled locking rear differential, multi-terrain select, crawl control with downhill ascent control, a stabilizer disconnect mechanism and TRD PRO twin exhaust tips.

With 11.5 inches of ground clearance, and approach, breakover and departure angles of 35.7, 25.3 and 27.4 degrees respectively, there's not much the TRD PRO can't handle.

There's a five-foot bed with 1,705 pound payload capacity and a max towing capacity of 6,400 pounds.

The one I drove was a Double Cab and rear seat legroom is virtually non-existent. The driver's seat is set for my 5'11" frame and the passenger seat is all the way back. The Toyota spec sheet says it should be 33.7 inches, but that's probably for standard seats and not the IsoDynamic performance seats in the TRD PRO, which at their thickest point are close to three inches. Unless the driver and front passenger are 5'8" or under, nobody in the back seat will be happy or comfortable.

The base price of the 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD PRO is $63,735 ($65,230 with destination) and includes the following as standard equipment, in addition to what we've already covered:

A comprehensive suite of active safety features, TRD PRO signature LED headlamps, Toyota Heritage grille with integrated LED light bar, hood scoop, ARB steel rear bumper with recovery hook, TRD front skid plate, rocker protector, Rigid Industrie LED fog lights, 18-inch TRD black alloy wheels, smart key, power open/close tailgate, synthetic leather-trimmed heated and ventilated front seats and TRD PRO leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, moonroof, a 14-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM Satellite radio, a ten-speaker JBL audio system with subwoofer and JBL FLEX portable speaker, and wireless device charging.

Our test vehicle also had some extra-cost options---$850 for the Towing Technology Package with wireless camera system, $355 for a rear differential skid plate, $70 for a ball mount, $575 for the spray-on bedliner and $45 for a mini tie-down.

That brings the as-tested price to $67,125.

That's pricey for the class, but frankly, given the feature content, I think it's remarkable that it comes in under $70,000. There's no question the competition is tough, but the Toyota Tacoma TRD PRO shows that Toyota isn't taking a single customer for granted.