Trail Edition vs TRD Off Road

Sorry guys, I've tried to find this info online and I keep running into conflicting reports/reviews with regards to the SR5 Trail Edition vs TRD OR. I'd appreciate it if some of you veterans could chime in. My understanding is as follows.

TRAIL EDITION

• Slight Lift
• Super sharp set of rims IMO. Better looking than the TRD OR.
• Cooler/Storage Bins in the truck bed.

TRD OR

• MTS/Crawl Control for ATs.
• Wider range of trim level options

That's all I can really differentiate between the two models. Let's say we pit a SR5 TE w/AT vs TRD OR with a MT (I'm most interested in a MT). Which of the two is the more capable off roader? Is the suspension setup of the OR superior? Thanks for helping me out guys. Im totally stressing over making these decisions, lol.

 

Can't get a TE with a MT.

Contest over for those that care about that.

 

lol - my bad.

 

Here's the specifics for the TE which is a slightly tarted up SR5 DCSB (only available configuration)

1.1” front lift and “0.5 rear lift
2 Bed Lock Boxes (Removable)
Special tan stitching for the black seats
16” bronze wheels modeled off the TRD Pro wheels
Heritage Toyota Grille with Bronze Lettering
Trail Badge on tailgate and black emblems
Skid plate from the TRD OR
120V Bed Plug
Rear Locking Differential
All-weather floor mats

No DCLB or AC configuration and a limited choice of colors

 

the off road comes with a rear locker (idk if the trail edition does)

the post above this says it does so by that means both are equipped with a rear E locker

 

It does. Last years version did not.

 

Improvements I see!!!

 

I was looking into this same question. One thing that I think gets overlooked is that the TE won’t have standard TRD features since it’s an SR5 edition. I’m pretty sure that means it doesn’t get push button start, for example.

 

Come on over to one of our threads, sir. You can learn all you want! But I will cover some of it here. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2022-tacoma-trail-edition-4×4.723589/

For those who don’t know what the Trail Edition is, it’s technically a package built on the SR5 trim level. Some details:

• Originally launched in ‘21, the ‘22 Trail edition is completely different
• It is available in Lunar Rock, Army Green, White, and Black
• The package adds $3765 to the price of an SR5 DCSB 4x4 (only available configuration)
• Includes:
  • 1.1” front lift and “0.5 rear lift
  • 2 Bed Lock Boxes (Removable)
  • Special tan stitching for the black seats
  • 16” bronze wheels modeled off the TRD Pro wheels
  • Heritage Toyota Grille with Bronze Lettering
  • Trail Badge on tailgate and black emblems
  • Skid plate from the TRD OR
  • 120V Bed Plug
  • Goodyear A/T tires
  • Rear Locking Differential
  • All-weather floor mats

So, in short, you gain lift, lock boxes, interior, wheels, grille, mats, with the Trail. In the TRDOR, you gain MTS/CC, Smart Key, Qi Charging Pad, LED DRLs, and Bilstein shocks. You lose everything listed on the trail.

For the best base for offroading, I think most would say, including myself, a future Trail owner, that the TRDOR is best. Especially if you want a manual, no brainer as it doesn't come with one. Most people who are serious offroaders are going to be spending a lot on their truck replacing components, and even a Pro is not the right fit for them.

The suspension on the TRDOR is superior, but most who are serious about offroading upgrade that and lift the truck immediately so I think it doesn't matter. The main benefits of the OR, to me, is that it unlocks the capability to add on things like LED headlights, premium interior, etc.

Most of us buying a Trail love it because it comes how we want it from the factory with a warranty. I don't want to mess with a lift, I love the wheels it comes with, I don't want to mess with a new grille install which could potentially throw off the safety sensor if I do it wrong, and I personally don't feel like I am going to miss MTS/CC, Smart Key, Qi Charger, LED DRLs, or Bilsteins. The only thing I am sad about it the capability to option the LED headlights, but they do cost more, it's not like they're standard.

It comes exactly how I like it from the factory with a warranty, and I am not missing out on anything I care about other than an optional feature I'd have to pay more for anyways. I think it also comes down to what's available given the limited supply. I outline it in the linked post, but I could choose from the trail or a price-bloated OR that I wasn't confident I could get the best price on. I took the $2k difference in my pocket and am happy.

That's my take, come peruse the last 10 pages of that thread I linked if you want, or read this, where I answer your exact question in detail as to why one may choose the Trail: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2022-tacoma-trail-edition-4×4.723589/page-26#post-26745632

 

Useless upgrades except lock.
Lift does not improve clearance.
Bling does not improve suspension.

 

No six foot bed option keeps me from ever considering a TE or a Pro.

 

Please explain how a lift doesn’t improve approach/departure angles?

And I’d say the majority of this forum has cosmetic upgrades, I think value is subjective there.

 

Very valid.

 

It does.

 

Bed boxes, completely useless. Wheel wells take up 90% of those boxes. Toyota's worthless ideal.

 

Oh so you were specifically talking about ground clearance.

 

They are removable, and can be useful for some people, but yes I think they could’ve made use of space better

 

I would basically toss out the Qi charger, mine is a joke

 

I’d recommend you see what I posted right after your comment, there are entire threads dedicated to this conversation. Also, you’d be correct, you lose out on push button start in a few other things listed in my comment. You however gain other things so it’s just a matter of what important to you

 

That’s one thing I’m actually looking forward to not having, and since I don’t have the charger there’s a deeper cubby there from my understanding. They really need to revamp that charger, when I test drove one I couldn’t even get my phone to charge because it couldn’t balance properly