If you’re looking for a rugged, off-road truck, Toyota offers two great options with the Tacoma TRD Pro and the new Tacoma Trailhunter. Although both are perfect for off-road adventures, each offers unique strengths. The TRD Pro now comes with new features to enhance its performance on rough terrain. The Trailhunter is a brand-new model designed specifically for overlanding adventures. Let’s explore how these two heavyweights compare and what makes each one unique.
Interior Features
Both the 2024 Tacoma TRD Pro and Trailhunter offer comfort and quality but with different priorities. The TRD Pro has a sportier feel, with SofTex-trimmed seats, contrast stitching, and camo-pattern inserts. This model also offers power-adjustable heated and ventilated seats and a heated leather steering wheel with a red center stripe. A standout feature is the isodynamic performance seats, designed to minimize body movement during fast off-road driving with built-in shock absorbers for stability on rough terrain.
Toyota built the Trailhunter for practicality. It comes with tough, all-weather floor mats and an ARB switch panel for hooking up extra gear. It also has a bed-mounted air compressor, making it ideal for overlanding. You still get heated and ventilated seats and a large 14-inch touch screen, but the overall feel is more rugged. It’s designed with extra storage to handle longer trips with ease. The 60/40-split rear seats provide additional storage space for your gear when you’re out exploring.
Both trucks offer several advanced technology features, including wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a JBL sound system, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. The Trailhunter adds MOLLE storage panels on the seatbacks to secure extra gear, which is ideal for your adventure getaways.
Exterior Features
Although the 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Trailhunter are both built for off-road adventures, they serve different purposes. The TRD Pro is ideal for high-speed desert runs, featuring bold touches such as 18-inch black alloy wheels, chunky 33-inch Goodyear territory R/T tires, and a blacked-out grille with LED fog lights. It has a fierce look with its hood scoop, wider stance, and TRD black performance dual exhaust system. The high-clearance front bumper and TRD Pro skid plate help it navigate steep dunes and rocky trails effortlessly.
Toyota designed the Trailhunter for more leisurely, overland adventures through forests and rugged terrain. It comes with stylish Bronze Oxide 18-inch wheels and the same tough Goodyear Territory R/T tires as the TRD Pro. The load bed features an ARB modular utility bar with removable MOLLE panels for custom gear setups and a standard roof rack for extra cargo or a rooftop tent. The Trailhunter also has a high-mount air intake and RIGID Industries dual-color LED fog lights, making it perfect for both long journeys and off-road adventures.
Engine and Performance
A turbocharged i-FORCE MAX 2.4L hybrid I-4 powers both the TRD Pro and Trailhunter. In the TRD Pro, it delivers 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. While the Trailhunter produces slightly less horsepower at 323, it delivers the same torque. This engine pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission, enhancing performance and fuel efficiency.
Toyota has tuned the Trailhunter to provide more torque at lower speeds, which is helpful when you’re rock-crawling or tackling steep terrain. This makes it easier to stay in control when you’re navigating rough trails.
Toyota has made the TRD Pro for speed. Its throttle response is quicker, which makes it suitable for faster off-road driving. The TRD Pro’s engine gives you the burst of power you need to keep up the pace.
Off-Road Features
The TRD Pro and Trailhunter highlight Toyota’s top off-road capabilities, each designed for different adventures.
The automaker has equipped the TRD Pro with TRD-tuned FOX QS3 shocks that offer a 2-inch lift and adjustable compression stiffness, combined with reinforced rocker protection for high-speed runs and jumps. It also comes with Toyota’s multi-terrain select, crawl control, a locking rear differential, and a front stabilizer bar disconnect, making it versatile for driving in different conditions.
Toyota has built the Trailhunter for overlanding with its Old Man Emu 2.5-inch monotube suspension, which increases load-carrying capacity and impact absorption on long journeys. It also has multi-terrain select, crawl control, a rear differential, and a front stabilizer bar disconnect but with added features such as high-strength underbody protection and frame-mounted rock rails. This makes the Trailhunter ideal for tougher, more technical terrain where stability and durability are key.
Towing Capacity
Towing and payload capacities differ slightly between the TRD Pro and Trailhunter. The TRD Pro can tow up to 6,000 pounds, which is perfect for hauling ATVs, dirt bikes, or other off-road gear. Its payload capacity is also quite impressive at 1,680 pounds, which is ideal for carrying moderate loads without compromising on performance. The Trailhunter can also tow 6,000 pounds, but its payload is slightly lower at 1,475 pounds since it’s the heavier truck by 260 pounds.
Price
For 2024, Toyota’s off-road trucks come with a slightly higher price tag. The Tacoma TRD Pro’s starting price is $63,900, which reflects its advanced high-performance features, such as isodynamic performance seats. The Trailhunter, which Toyota has priced at $62,900, is slightly more budget-friendly. It’s basically built for overlanding and has several practical features. Both are pricey, but their features and capabilities make the cost worth it.
Check Out the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Trailhunter at Longo Toyota of Prosper
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Trailhunter offer exceptional off-road capabilities, each with unique strengths. Although the TRD Pro is slightly costlier, it’s perfect for high-speed desert adventures, while the Trailhunter is ideal for overlanding. Both are a significant investment but deliver impressive performance. If you’re in the Prosper, Texas, area and interested in these models, we invite you to visit Longo Toyota of Prosper to schedule a test drive or browse our other Toyota lineups to find your perfect off-road vehicle.
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