2015 Tacoma TRD Pro Series offers affordable off-road excellence

The 2015 Toyota Tacoma Pro Series will not be Toyota’s most competent off-road vehicle. That would be either the Tundra or the 4Runner, depending on what kind of off-roading you plan to do. However, it will be the company’s best off-road value by far. Since the retirement of the FJ Cruiser (moment of silence please…) this year, the Tacoma has become the brand’s only low to mid-$30K off-road offering. Stepping into a 4Runner TRD or Tundra TRD will cost you about $10K more.

2015 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Series Prices
Currently, the 2014 Tacoma 4x4 short bed with the V6, 6-speed manual and the TRD off-road extra value package prices out at only $ 29,780. Expect the TRD Pro series V6 to start just a bit higher and price out in the range of about $33K.

Tacoma Pro Series Gear
Included in that price will be softer springs for the front of the truck that add a 2” lift. These springs have a lower rate and are paired with TRD Bilstein shocks with remote dampers. Up front, the truck will have 1.75 inches of added travel and in the rear 1.5.” The dampers are one of the truck’s most important features. The idea being that yes, the truck will be able to handle more off-road abuse, but the dampers allow that to go on for a while. Tires for the Tacoma will be tough 16” BF Goodrich all-terrain KOs. The exhaust is a cat-back TRD system of stainless steel with dual polished tips. The skid plate up front is standard of course and is made of 1/8” powder coated steel. One example of how the other Toyota trucks are perhaps a little more capable than the Tacoma is that on the 4Runner and Tundra that skid plate is twice as thick. Rounding out the package is a TRD shift knob, TRD floor mats, and a unique throwback “Toyota” badge on the front and TRD badging.

Critics Agree This Truck Rocks
Motor Trend tested the 2015 Tacoma TRD Pro Series alongside its pricier siblings and had nothing but good things to say about the trucks. Our own Aaron Turpen recently tested the 4Runner TRD Pro and said it is “Easily as off-road ready as the 4Runner Trail, which is one of the best off-roaders you can buy as a factory-ready go-there machine.” Car and Driver tested the 2015 Tacoma TRD Pro and said “it is arguably the roughest-and-tumblest compact pickup Toyota has ever offered.” As to how they liked the ride, CD said “we confidently straddle certain obstacles we might otherwise have to steer around in lesser trucks, lest havoc be wreaked on their vital organs. The added wheel travel and the high-capacity shocks let us leap and bound with less risk of bottoming out, and like that of any good Baja-grade truck, the ride actually gets smoother the faster you go.”

Presently, about 40% of Toyota Tacoma trucks sold leave the showroom with some level of TRD equipment. Even more owners then add TRD equipment from Toyota via the parts counter. That will still be possible as Toyota reports that it is planning to continue to offer the parts to shade-tree mechanics, putting the TRD Pro Series level of off-roading within reach of even more enthusiasts on a budget.