TRD Sport vs TRD Pro

I hope this is the right forum, if not mods please advise...

Hi all. I’m a new forum member and I’ve joined because I am planning on buying a Tacoma, probably when the 2021 models are released. I’ve narrowed down my choices on trims between the TRD Sport and TRD Pro (both manual transmission) based on current year specs and have some questions that I’m hoping I can get some thoughts on via forum members. By way of exposition: I currently drive a manual Subaru Crosstrek, which I love, but which is underpowered and doesn’t have the kind of cargo capacity I need (I haul bicycles and a lot of scuba gear).

To be honest, I don’t currently have a lot of plans to do a bunch of off-roading, so the Sport seems like a better choice, except that the Pro has a lot of the options and styling I’m interested in; options I think I’d have to pay a lot extra for on the Sport.

My big question has to do with the suspensions. The Sport is listing as having a "TRD sport-tuned suspension” which I gather to mean that it is geared towards street driving. The Pro is listed as having a "TRD-tuned off-road suspension with 2.5-in. FOX Internal Bypass coil-overs and rear remote reservoir shocks” which I am not enough of a car guy to decipher. What is the difference? And how much will the off-road suspension affect street driving - meaning, will it be sloppy on curves, etc.? (I come from the Mario Andretti school of driving… accelerate till such time as one needs to break…).

Thoughts on the above, as well as general thought about the two models, will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

The Sport suspension pretty much sucks, but you can get 5100s and an AAL for about $500. Plus, if you want a 6' bed and MT it only comes in Sport in the US.

 

Here's my take on the trim levels.

SR5 = 100% for the utility of the truck, I will modify it how I want and save some money
Sport = I want a nice truck with some bells and whistles but the most off road thing I'm doing is probably launching a boat, and the occasional forest road
OR = I plan to off road enough where I will need a rear locker, and the occasional crawl control (in before people say CC is garbage) and also want some nice bells and whistles and will likely modify the suspension/lift it how I want
Pro = I like having the best of the best. It looks the coolest (subjective) and I can afford it. I do plan to offroad it enough where a rear locker and CC is useful, but I do not have any plans at all to modify the suspension and enjoy having everything done for me at factory with a warranty.

Edited to clarify things mentioned later in this thread.

 

Contrary to the above, I absolutely love the sport suspension, it handles great on pavement and is fun to sport around on the freeway on/off ramps, truck feels more like a sports car on road.

 

Forgot to add you get the rear locker in Pro and OR. But if you're serious about off roading you should probably have good AT tires, maxxtrax and a winch ($2000 total) and many owners will have them. A lot of people think you "need" a locker but if one rear wheel doesn't have traction, a locker doesn't help.

 

OP, what is about the styling of the Pro you like? It may be easy to reproduce that on the Sport.

 

Wait, what? Is that not exactly why you want a rear locker? Lifted / no traction on one rear wheel?

 

I think the TRD Sport suspension is great, too (considering this is a truck and not a WRX). A 4WD Sport will get you anyplace a Crosstrek will take you, of course, and be much more enjoyable to drive on road where I'm guessing 99.5% of your driving will really be. And I don't think you get the nifty Crawl Control on a manual either way, so don't factor that neat feature into your decision making.

 

You could still be in sand or mud.

 

Pretty accurate except that the sport and off road have the exact same available features, the off road doesnt come with "nicer" features. Apart from the hood scoop and color keyed fenders (sport) and rear locker and CC (off road), the models are exactly the same. Comes down to how you're going to use the trucks and what you like more.

 

Ahh okay, I don't have to deal with either so neither of those scenarios even came to mind lol

Good point, I wasn't aware you could still get all the features in a sport too.

 

Me too, I'm on pavement all the time, but many of our roads are shit so it's often like being off road on road.

 

from a MT truck perspective there is one big difference for an MT driver between the two trucks. the Sport has HSA hill start assist which cannot be disabled. i call it an obnoxious nanny but that's just me. the Pro MT doesn't have that nonsense.

 

But you can ebrake, nuetral, clutch cancel, start?

 

i believe so, just the HSA cannot be disabled. but that's a total deal breaker for some.

 

Does HSA even work correctly in the MT's? My auto doesnt really stop me on hills more than it does slow me down from rolling back as fast. In a manual I always just do the E-brake thing if anyone's actually on my ass that close.

 

some here may comment. there are quite a few MT Sports around here. @tonered doesn't seem to mind it.

 

You have no idea how a locker works, do you?

 

Pretty much on target, but the SR5 only stickers about $1800 less than a sport or Off Road so it's not quite saving a bunch of money.

 

The MT HA is completely different than the ATs. On the MTs it is a timed line lock that holds the rear brakes firmly for a couple seconds.

That is correct that I don't mind it most times. Basically in 2Hi. It will release immediately with any throttle input. It is a wee bit annoying with the 2LM as it takes no throttle to get moving. So, I am often guessing about the disengagement timing and catching it with the clutch.