Excellent video. In the end, I would put it this way. If you are in a situation where you are choosing to buy either a Tacoma TRD Sport or a Tacoma TRD Off-Road, then your life is in a very good place. There are no bad choices here. Thanks!
Thank you so much for this comment. I recently had the opportunity to finally pull the trigger on a 2017 trd sport and, although I absolutely love it, I live 10 miles down a dirt road. Been experiencing some doubt that I shoulda held out for a trd off-road but I need to keep reminding myself that a Tacoma is a Tacoma and that and I should be proud of finally being in the club.
Thanks for the really informative video! I’ve been cross-shopping the two TRD trims myself and think the Sport probably fits my needs better. I don’t off-road (not yet at least), just need a reliable 4WD car that can haul my motorcycle. Plus I am a fan of the hood scoop too!
Thank you for doing future Tacoma owner homework’s. I went with the off road 6 ft bed. I always thought and believe the 6ft bed looks more proportionally even. The short bed looks bumpy/chubby. I have more options with the off road than sport with the same price range. I tested drive the sport and didn’t like the hood scoop blocking my driving view a bit. The crawl control and rear locker got me. A truck no matter what it is for, needs these options. You never know in what situation you can be in the future. Also, FYI, the 6ft bed (long bed) is the original Tacoma. People should just say short bed for the 5ft bed Tacoma!
A 6-ft bed is a smart choice. You would have kicked yourself in the stomach when having to haul any large items with a 5-ft. bed. By the way, it’s a truck after all.
@@deplorablechump8758 I agree the five foot bed is to small I am going to do a lot of off roading as well some say the six foot bed is not as capable it all boils down to driver.
Great video I test drove both a I went with a 2022 sport. I don't off road just a few small easy trails and I love the hood scoop & painted fender flares can't go wrong with the sport or the off road they're both nice trucks. keep up the excellent videos
I bought the 2021 TRD 4x4 Offroad in Barcelona Red, I love off-roading, 4 wheeling, and though I haven’t used the crawl control, I do use the rear locker a good amount. I did a 3” lift with Fox 2.5 coil-overs w/Res front and 2.5 w/Res in the rear with SPC UCA’s, run 33” BFG K02’s on 17” TRD wheels. I also have the HiLine front bumper with Warn Zeon 10S winch, I love it!!! I love you did the Decked system as I am soon too. I had a 2017 SR5 4x2 and traded it for this one. For me, it was a no brainer. Thanks Chloe for sharing …..
I did the same as you before buying. Drove both a Sport and Off Road. Was leaning towards the Sport but, as you mentioned, the street comfort of the Off Road seems better so I went that direction too. The biggest thing beyond the street ride was the locker. Having done some off roading in a jeep without a locker I feel that is a VERY important thing to have to keep from getting stuck.
Choosing between a Sport or OFF ROAD 4x4’s was a great problem to have. I really liked the color matched flares, scoop and rear sway bar on the Sport but the upgraded larger rear axle with the Locking Diff in the OFF ROAD was a deal maker for me - 2020 OFF ROAD with no regrets ! Aftermarket Helwig rear sway bar ( even thicker than the OEM Sport sway bar ) is on the way and color matched flares is on my to do list…. A OEM Sport hood is on my mind rather heavily but not planned at this point. OFF ROAD package is for true 4WD enthusiasts needing/wanting a variety of traction aids and a true heavy-duty rear axle and the Sport 4x4 is a great looking ride for those who only need the basics for leaving the paved roads and are content with the standard Yota drivetrain …
Awesome breake down. I chose the sport for two reasons. 1. Appearanc - Love the fact that every thing is color matched and the scoop albeit non functional. 2. I put an ICON stage 3 suspension in and an ARB locker in it. 🤪
Great topic. Personally got the TRD OR because of the Rear Locker on the trails. However, now that I'm camping more than just trail driving... kinda wish I got the 6ft bed vs the 5ft bed for extra space/storage. Great video!
yeah 5 ft bed is useless lol. May as well have a 4runner. Access cab OR in a manual with 6ft bed is the ultimate taco imo. keep the short wheel base, still have four seats, long bed, looks the best, and a manual... perfection.
I definitely wanted the Off Road. Great ride on road and the locker is nice to have. I have a manual so no crawl control to mess with. But it can do everything a Sport can do and then some. But I wouldn't say that the other way around. To me it was the logical choice.
@@gerbermw lol. I have gone those speeds in my off road. Nothing scary about it. That locker and the off-road capabilities are super nice. Just be happy they both options for each person. Love my off-road. Won’t ever trade it unless there is a v8 4Runner in the future. And so far that seems impossible to happen. Don’t want turbo either unless it’s diesel.
@@AntilleanConfederation they’re both killer trucks man for sure. Slight different suspension will only change so much. They can both do what the other does just one is smoother at it than the other for off road or street
I bought a sport, and added so much to it for offroading and it has not disappointed. Either way you go, sport and OR are both good for diverse use. I personally like the Sport visual features like the hood scoop and color matched fenders.
I have a 2004 TRD with the 3.4 cast iron v6 and 5 spd. It has the electrically controlled resr locker and the clutch start override switch and both have been helpful. It has 277k miles and I have used it for towing cross country as well as on mountain dirt roads. My wife and a friend used it to tow a 19 ft travel trailer 10k miles in a month from coast to coast. She needed the locker once when she had to climb a hill on wet grass.
Thank you for all the help, DIY step by step, and info/demos, I’m SO GLAD you’re TEAM TACOMA, and not 4 runner, or tundra, or worse, jeep!!!! The arsenal is MUCH stronger, because of you!!
Access cab OR in a manual with 6ft bed is the ultimate taco imo. keep the short wheel base, still have four seats, long bed, looks the best, and a manual... perfection.
I think you covered it well. I prefer the stiffer ride of the sport on road. It really corners well for a truck and that's where most of my time is. It's 1900 miles to Arizona...the on road handling really matters. I did find the hood scoop obstructs the view in tight steep switchbacks when we went off road to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. The Sport really fills my use best but honestly I would've taken which ever one the dealer had with a manual transmission. Drove a hundred miles to find a manual...it was a red Sport. I wasn't leaving without it.
I work 1000km down the highway, then I go 1500kms down a washboard dirt road to a staging area. Washboard at 100kph sucks and I usually have to slow down to 80. I also tow a boat or side by side on the weekends . I currently do this in an old rav4. It's time to upgrade.
I have a TRD sport and my friend has a TRD off road. The main difference for me was that the off-road was really bouncy on the road and every time my friend or I would break the front would take nose dive. The trd sport definitely has a smoother ride on road and limited body roll.
I love your content and this is another great video. I nearly bought a TRD Pro two years ago but opted for an Audi S4 instead (I know, not even in the same side of the spectrum) but while I loved my Audi, I regretted not getting the Taco until TODAY. I picked up a 2923 TRD Sport (even though I thought I needed the Pro and then figured I’d “settle” for an Off Road model. Being it would be more of a daily driver and essentially on roads, it made more sense. It has the Advanced Technology Package, LEDs, remote tailgate lock, tie down brackets, exhaust tip, door edge guards, mud guards, all weather mats and sill protectors and essentially everything I would want it to have. I am sure I’ll do some mods at some point, but I am really happy with the decision I made. I am grateful for the videos you produce and look forward to learning more as I begin my Taco journey. 😊
Nicely done, had to go through the same process when I purchased the Sport. Mine is a highway princess, hauling horse gear and occasional light towing. But the big determiner for me is the 25,000 highway miles I put on it each year. If I used it like you I would have also chosen the off-road.
@@ceeIoc I doubt it. I think the SR5 is a great trim level. I fell in love with the Sport hood scoop and wanted the parking monitor and blind spot indicators that come with the Sport or I would have taken an SR5.
@@ceeIoc it has slightly better suspension but I wouldn't worry about that. You can get some bilstein 5100s for like 500 dls brand new and it's a better suspension over all of the tacomas except for the trd pro
Great video. Thank for it. I opted for the Sport model just due to looks and the fact that I wouldn't be doing much, if any, off roading. Love your Taco!
This is how I see it. I consider the Trd off road a trd pro “lite” as it comes with all the off road tech that the pro has, and depending how you spec the truck you can get all the extra stuff as well. It makes more sense for people that are planning to upgrade in the future to get the off road since it has a lower cost of entry. Just my .02 cents.
Lol not even close. The off roads have way less features than the sports. Juat cause the sport doesn't have a rear locker. Or crawl control. That makes it more than pro lite
@@Jerlemi2 and jbl premium audio with sub, (you can get it without of course but its standard in the tech package) which includes pro led headlights, leather and Sunroof and maybe cover but heard that is usually an add on option but I've see all the off roads in my area and they all were either new or 2 years old and had way less features. Almost as if they are double cab sr5s with
Great video! As I just bought my TRD Sport a couple months ago, new to trucks, I'd wondered about what I was missing out on and kind of wished for the additional features on the Off-Road. However, as selection is horrible on trucks this year, my Voodoo Blue in 6M was only available locally (aka in western Canada) in Sport trim. I don't see any off-road requirement in my future, and am really happy with the road manners of my truck on both paved and gravel roads so far.
5:27 Hey Chloe, you could get your cake and eat it too, if you xpel wrapped the painted fender flares. It has self healing properties and can done at most popular detail or body shops. Just a thought.
Such a great video! I bought a 2021 TRD Sport last October. I went back and forth between the OffRoad and the Sport, but had to be realistic with myself…living in the city of Dallas, just how often will I actually go off road? Well…not very. So…the Sport won out. If I lived out in the country, then it would have been the OffRoad hands down
Bought an off road today mostly because the sport option was filled to capacity with bells and whistles and somehow was more expensive. Fortunately I knew a good road during the test drive and I felt like the off road felt better on shitty roads but comfortable enough on the highway. Watched your video before I went to the dealership and it was a helpful resource
'17 Sport. To be honest, I bought her because I had been waiting for a Taco with an auto trans to tow my boat out of the water and this one became available at an affordable price. I have had an SR5 of 1st + 2nd gen and loved them, but they were both 4 bangers with manual trans. My only off roading is on old logging roads so stumps and mud are bigger hazards than rocks and sand. I would like a locking diff and will be adding a bumper w/winch as I go solo. I lifted her a little with spacers sure to budget constraints and to keep the ride which I enjoy. Suspension upgrade may be in the future (I'll watch your install videos to see if you address ride quality.) Finally, I'll admit to really liking that hood scoop too. Keep up the good work, Lady.
Thank you for this video! You explained the differences a 100 X’s better than the dealership did. Which was basically that they didn’t know the differences LOL. I chose the Off Road also. That beefy suspension also comes in handy on city streets that are often potholed and rough.
After watching multiple videos and talking to the dealer, nobody could explain to me the Sport vs Off Road. I was dead set on the off road. They had a brand new SR5 4x4 in the showroom and zero new Sport or Off Roads, so I got the SR5. A month later and god knows how many videos, apparently all I missed out on was a locking differential. I’m in Florida where rocks and mud aren’t a problem so I’m happy. If I start getting stuck a lot I can trade in for an off road, but the Sport vs Off Road debate is like watching people debate iPhone models.
Suspension, crawl control and multi terrain select, rear locker, smaller rims for bigger tires, non paint matched front and rear bumper and fender flares to not show scratches as easily. Those are the main differences.
Very good video, I was in the same boat back in 2019. I just wanted a 2 wheel drive commuter Tacoma. But didn't know much about the different versions. But once I got to the dealer I knew I wanted the hood scoop, and all the electronic and safety features. I also heard good things about fox suspension, so it ended up being cheaper to buy the Pro then to get an off-road and add all the options.
There both awesome, I have the TRD sport with 4x4, I drive 90% on pavement and maybe once a month a little off road. The only thing I wish I had is a rear locker.
Good stuff, I knew next to nothing about the differences between the Off-Road and Sport when I purchased my 2014, went with the Off-Road at the time and stuck with that when I traded it in for my current 2017 Tacoma.
In Canada, deciding between a 2020 TRD Sport or a TRD off road came down to having to have a 6 foot box. The Sport was the only TRD trim with the long box. Also, majority of our use is daily driver and getting to the Cabin 6 hrs away via all paved highway mountain driving. My Sport transports the family and all of our gear nicely. The Sport does quite well up and down steep mountain passes. I drive it hard around steep mountain highway switchbacks and it performs better that I would have expected for a full body on frame 4X4. Cherry on top is it’s still a very capable off roader for the times we go exploring on all of our logging roads here in British Columbia. However, if I didn’t have the need for a 6 foot box the TRD off Road or 2022 Trail addition would be my first choice based on looks. I would be inclined to do more off roading as well with a locker and 5 foot box. In the end you can’t loose with whatever trim level you decide to go with. All the 3rd gens are such an eye catching, great looking truck. I especially love the 2020+ TRD grilles. I prefer the matte coloured fender flares as they look more rugged than my dainty colour matched flares. At this point in my life the TRD Sport DCLB 4X4 meets our family’s needs perfectly. Love the looks of your TRD off road. Nice job Chloe!
This is just it, I’m currently looking at a 2021 sport in Canada because you can’t get the 6 foot bed with a double cab in the Off Road! Kind of annoying as I would like the locker and other off road features- even if I never use them lol. I’m not too worried though as even the sport and Sr5s are very capable off road, but I feel that Toyota should have at least included a rear locker on all trims, and then they could have saved the electronic gadgetry for the off road trims.
Agree and I think these are great points! Thanks for writing this up and I'm glad the Sport trim fits your family--I'm sure someone will find your input helpful
I have a 2006 TRD Sport, which I run more like a go-cart on the streets, than I do any off-roading, so I'm happy with it overall. The Bilstein shocks seem to be holding up after 15yrs of use. Don't forget that tire sidewall stiffness has an affect on ride quality. I had a higher load rated tire that I could easily take a particular corner at 95mph and when I went to a lower rated tire, I lost that cornering ability...But, I liked the softer ride that they gave. Check out Fossil Creek if you get back into Arizona. Nice spot to spend the day.
I've had a 2003 Tacoma Off-Road since it was new and occasionally had use of the rear locker (the '03 had no crawl mode). I knew I wanted a rear locking diff. when I went to buy Tacoma #2 in 2017. The TRD Pro, which also has the rear locker, was either unavailable when I bought or the ones left (I was buying in Sept. '17) were marked up by dealers. I didn't really want a non-functional hood scoop anyway and the Sport's front spoiler just hindered ground clearance. I didn't even realize the suspension/shocks were different. In my 2003 Taco, I did have some kind of solenoid break-down once which knocked out the rear locker until replaced. In my '17 Taco, I've tried the crawl mode, but seldom go somewhere where I need it. It's comforting to have, however, as is having the rear locker. I do use 4WD often, particularly when it snows, as I often drive between California and Nevada. A manual transmission might be nice to have, but I'd worry as to when would a clutch need replacing before the clutch goes out. I already have a Scion FR-S with a clutch and there doesn't seem to be a good answer as to when or how many miles (I'm approaching 60K with the original clutch right now).
i agree about that front spoiler on the sport. i removed it right away on my TRD Sport and it looks way better. I chose the sport just because of the fact that i live in Houston. there’s really no need for all the extra off roading features, it’s just my daily commuter but i might upgrade in the future just to have those features if i ever go on an overland road trip or something.
Hi, you mention about the TRD Offroad having a Locker, which it does, and the Sport having an Open Differential, which it doesn't. Instead of the Locker, the Sport has a Limited Slip Differential that works w/a clutch. The Pluses and minuses of both: The "Locker" can only be used in 4Lo. It has to be used on a very slippery and forgiven surface like soil, ice, snow, and possible heavy rain. The Limited Slip is Automatic, and is automatically used, w/o switching anything, in 4Hi and 4Lo, on "ALL" kinds of surfaces, including pavement and dirt, snow, ice, and rain. I've owned both, and so if you do a great deal of off roading all the time, and especially do heavy rock climbing, then the locker is the best one to get. On the other hand, if you use your Toy mostly on pavement, w/an occasional weekend trip offroad, then the Limited Slip is the better option, especially on paved roads w/ice, snow, and rain. I just bought a new Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport. I wanted one w/the Access Cab, which the Offroad doesn't offer, and one w/a 6 Speed Manual, which is available in both models. The Access Cab, especially w/a 6 Speed Manual are both extremely hard to find. I had to travel over 600 miles round trip for one. The 6 Speed Manual has become the Optional Transmission now-a-days, where it use to be Standard. The only other thing I wanted was the Cement Gray but had to settle for the Gray.
Hi, I have to correct myself here folks. I had my TRD Sport up on a lift today and checked for my having a Limited-Slip Differential to make sure it indeed had one. If I had a Limited-Slip, when I turn one wheel, the wheel on the opposite side would turn in the same direction, which it did not. Instead, the other wheel turned in the opposite direction, indicating an open differential. The Toyota specs for the Sport says that it had a Limited Slip Differential, but there's a note shown in fine print, that says it uses the rear brakes by shifting the power to the non-slipping wheel via the brakes. This is what they refer to as a Limited -Slip. I used to own a 2003 BMW 330Ci, and it too used a similar design as well. A "REAL" Limited-Slip differential uses clutch plates in the differential, which the Sport does not have. So, in all essence, the TRD Sport really doesn't have a real Limited-Slip Differential. Anyway, I do apologize for my mistake.
You nailed it for me your video was awesome. I have the Trd off-road. I love the way the sport looks. I bought the truck for big bear snow days with the family and some occasional easy trails. It feels really good, knowing I have extra features and just in case you never know out there, the conditions of off-road
I looooooove my TRD Sport. I chose 275/70/R17 Wildpeak A/T, mbrp dual exhaust, and it came equipped already with a pedal commander. Tacomas are amazing, no matter which trim, but I love mine so much! Got it in Magnetic Gray Metallic, and it looks so pretty blacked out. Great video Chloe, this has made me feel even better on my purchase.
I got the TRD Offroad because I'd like to go on trails with it. Although mine does have the rear lockers, I don't have multu terrain select or crawl mode since I have a 6speed Manual. I love my truck. And do not regret buying it one bit
What year? I have a 2021 TRD Off Road manual and it has ATRAC which is better than crawl control. I've gotten out of unplowed snowy driveways/roads and sand where other trucks had to be towed.
I looked for an off road in a access cab for 8 months and could not find one in the US at all. And I wanted the off for the rear locker and crawl control features but I had to settle for a sport model, but I bought at perfect time, one month before the situation started. But anyways all your points are spot one with this video, great job on the break downs of the models.
This was a very helpful video. I have a deposit down for a TRD Sport. I have had some second thoughts though. I don't expect to do a lot of off roading but may go to the beach from time to time. For most of my needs, a Sport is great. I do have this voice telling me that not having the Off Roads extra tools is a wasted opportunity though. I now know that I can always add a rear locker and that this in many ways is a better option as I can pick a more effective system then the stock one on the OR. What I am planning to do is get a set of Falken Wildpeaks which I am thinking will serve me well for most of the off-roading I might do initially. As well as a good small compressor so that I can drop pressure on my tires as needed.
I love my Tacoma Sport and less off road maintenance cost. Here in Phoenix roads are mostly flat. I also did a lift with 33 Renegade tires and Fox shocks for lighter off roading or camping nothing extreme.
I just picked up the TRD Sport and used to drive the TRD Off-Road. I like the ride in both. But I don’t go off roading a lot. That’s the reason I went with the TRD Sport. But eventually I will put a Detroit Locker on my TRD Sport so I can have the differential.
Originally I was shopping for a 4Runner, but with the long wait times to get one I started looking at Tacomas. A local dealer had 2 on the lot and I just purchased a 2022 Tacoma TRD Sport. I had the choice between a Sport and an Off Road. The dealer had installed $3k worth of options on both. There was a $10k difference between the 2. The Off Road was a manual and had a Decked style hard clam shell tonneau cover. They were both black, black out packages, double cab 5 foot bed. I chose the sport because it was cheaper, an automatic and had a soft roll up tonneau cover.
Nice honest comparison, nice job Chloe! I picked up the TRD pro in 2020. I feel in love with the Army green color and wanted all the perks of the pro. I special ordered a MT and got an amazing deal. I would have considered the Off-road that year if they offered the color and if the price was right. I’m super happy with the pro and from what I read in the forums, lots of people paid for for there off roads than what paid. Keep up the good work. Also, I just picked up a Skydio drone, If you picked one up I think your video angles wound be amazing.
I have never owned a Tacoma but I owned a Grand Cherokee WJ and a Z71 Colorado with a G80 rear locker. I’m telling you if you’re into medium-heavy offroad, the locker is a must have in my book. I plan on getting a TRD Offroad solely for the rear locker. Crawl control is cool but I’ll probably never use it. It would cost more to get a locker put into a sport than it would be to just buy the offroad so I’m going with the offroad
I got the Tacoma Sport as a daily driver for my semi retirement out of the trades. Needed something smaller to drive around, give estimates and carry some basic tools. My vehicles always stand out, really liked the bad ass look of this Taco's grill and hood scoop. That and over my lifetime owning 2 Nissans and having a Lexus, the reliability made this a no brainer. I like the TRD intake system (you showed in a video) but am also looking into their upgraded exhaust and tuning to make the truck as good as is can be. At some point want to swap the rims to matte black, get the biggest tires I can get without doing the lift kit. I park my Road Glide next to this in the driveway and all heads turn, makes life worth living!
Does the Sport have 4x4? I currently drive a 2007 4Runner and I would like the same comfortable drive with a 6 foot bed to use as daily driver and take care of some DIY projects at home. I don’t do any off-roading.
@@82dupont Pretty sure they do. but if you do not do any off roading why the 4x4? You're insurance will be more. You can get a simple lift kit for the front, it will give you the off road look for your daily driver.
Very nicely done video. Two months ago I got myself a 2021 TRD off-road and I really like it a lot. I have not had a chance to try it out off-road but I suspect this winter (in Maine) it will get a good work out. This is the first of your videos I have seen but now I will definitely have to check out your other ones.
I feel a rear locker is a must if you off road. I’ve had an off road and now a pro. Each trim lever has its strong and weak points. I too like the fake hood scoop. I think it looks nice.
Mike, I was SO torn between the Sport and OR, but went with the Sport and got it lifted and have Gear rims and 33's with the KO2s. Love it, and you must love the Pro!
Lockers are irrelevant on stock 4x4 tacomas. I own a sport and an off road. And my sport will go anywhere an off road can. Any 4x4 tacoma will apply the brakes front and back to the spinning wheel sending power to the wheel with traction. I've had my sport balancing on 2 wheels and it goes right over it with hardly any wheel slip. The off road when shifting in to 4lo is just open diffs so it literally get stuck on anything making you think omg thank God I have a locker. I off road all the time and yes a locker is better but most definitely not necessary unless you plan on doing some serious off roading which at that point just get a jeep. Also the suspension on the off road is garbage if you plan on using your truck as a truck, It doesn't like having weight in the back.
My dad has a TRD off-road 2018. It kept up with everything on the black Diamond trails in stock form at Hatfield McCoys. He just traded it in for a 2022 trd off road with factory lift. He put 80,000 miles on his and only spent like 4 grand more to get a brand new one
Great channel! Very informative and professional. I'm retiring the end of this year. Go FIRE! I will be buying a tacoma. Want to build a off road as well as over the road camp truck to fly fish and climb. Perfer the 6 foot bed. What top 5 mods, club or crew cab AND the new engines available in 24 ? would you folks recommend? Blessings All
Two minutes in and you helped me decide. Locking diff is a must off road and the hood scoop looks good but it is kinda annoying from the driver's seat.
Just took delivery of my green OR last week. Still getting used to it since I’ve been driving a Scion xA for 16 years: Been a week and STILL can’t roll straight into a parking space, LOL!
You’re absolutely right about people needing different trims on the truck you have the off-road your truck was the sport and I didn’t go with either one I went with the TRD pro. So there you go different strokes for different folks.
Great talking points! Thank you very much for sharing your experiences. Ha...I was just thinking last week....hmmm...did I really need to get the off road trim. We live in Ouray, which is an off road mecca area. On my very first off road session in our 2019 off road, I used crawl control coming down off the pass. After 10 minutes, I could smell the heat coming off the system. Since then, I have not used crawl or selective terrain, nor the rear locker. I have just relied on decent wheel placement and not going on the trails after a rain storm. Safe travels
I got a 2020 TRD off-road. In my personal opinion I think it looks sharper. The hood scope is nice on the sport but it’s a bogus hood scoop. That would annoy me, if it was functional maybe that’s a different story. The off-road has more features which makes it worth it. Crawl control is excellent. Might not use it a lot but when you need it, you need it. Overall I just like the off-road better but the off-road and the sport are both amazing trucks and I’d be happy with both either way at the end of the day.
Very informative video...researching and ultimately buying a 22 Tacoma. More than likely choosing the sport and doing my own upgrades. I like the scoop and color matched flares and don't really do much off road with the truck itself...I just need to tow my 20 ft travel trailer with my Honda CRF450RL and CT 125 in the back. Once I get to the trails I'm good to go!
Good discussion chloe The Tacoma trd off road is good I’m debating what year I want to get and I agree the trucks market is getting good growing up in Maryland I always wanted a truck when I was younger the first truck I got was Chevy s10💪🏾💯
Chloe, love your videos. I was overseas when I ordered my TRD Sport in 2016. It does have a rear diff locker just like your OR, but that may have changed in later models. My son-in-law has a 2019 OR, and having ridden in both, I do prefer his OR as the Sport suspension is stiffer.
2018 TRD Off-Road in silver, manual transmission- no crawl control option for me. Stock everything and I love it. I’ve always had Chevys but wanted something more reliable. Outperformed any Chevy I ever owned on day 1. Remember scratches on your truck are like scars on your body, yeah maybe it really hurt at the moment but it’s a story/memory of your life.
I have the sport , they have a more low profile tire on them so they ride a lil rough on the road , first thing I did was put a standard size tire on it , 15mm taller made a world of difference
I have a 2018 TRD Sport, upgraded from Toyota Pickup. Despite not having the rear locker, the Taco Sport is very trail-worthy (live in NorCal). Updated the suspension to Bilstein 5160/6112 (too broke for Fox) and it handles very well on highway, trail and washboard. Went with TRD because I love the outlet in the bed and bigger screen for the nav system. At that point, the rest was just cosmetic (coolness of fake hood scoop). Handles mud, trails, snow and bad weather very well. I have no regrets.
I am surprised to hear you like the bilsteins, I've got that setup on my tundra and the tide is so ridiculously stiff, personally can't wait to upgrade to fox 2.5
@@Millirawk Fox is a great shock, but I use my truck mainly to get firewood and haul stuff to the dump. The Bilsteins are heavenly compared to the stock Hitachis (some areas I do need 4x4). It also handles pretty well in snowy conditions.
I feel like a really important point is you might as well just buy the off-road and if you like anything from a sport you can always buy it and add it later. My local dealership adds the sport Hood to all the off-road trims
I hate that fake scoop. I personally don’t like anything just for looks rather than function. If it looks ugly but functions I still like it. If it looks cool and functions I love it. If it looks cool and non functioning I tend to hate it and will never consider it for myself. Part of the reason I didn’t get the new Supra. Full of fake air vents. Hate that crap.
I own both!!!!! Main things to keep in mind. OR: the suspension is garbage for towing or hauling stuff and pretty much for everything OR: has a different and very expensive brake booster for crawl control OR: stronger diff for the extra stress the locker puts on it. OR:rear locker So the sport, sr, sr5 actually come with Atrac standard and it's always on when in 4lo. The off road when switching in to 4lo is just open diffs front and back which usually makes people think it's more capable than the basic tacoma because it makes you think thank good I have a locker but in reality even a sr 4x4 has Atrac and can most definitely get you over everything. In conclusion if you are keeping it stock they're all getting you where you need. The 4x4 system outperforms the clearance and chassis. I've had my sport balancing on the two wheels (chassis flex) and it pulls no problem with minor wheel spin, Obviously the locker is going to be smoother. So what I'm trying to say it that if you get an sr 4x4 v6 It is guaranteed that it can go everywhere the off road can if they're stock. I paid 2k less for my sport over the off road and let me tell you that it goes everywhere my off road does. You will run out of clearance, smash your rear bumper or highe center before you can actually push your 4x4 system. 2 weeks in after buying my sport brand new and i had no rear bumper covers and the front bumper was scratched.
No disrespect to anybody who bought the off-road. I hear a lot of off-road people bashing the people who bought a sport. I don't go off-road, most of my driving is pavement driving. Even though I grew up in the country, I grew up on flat land and frankly I don't need what they off road version offers. I love my sport and being a Toyota it should hopefully last me for a long time. I do have the 4x4 version, so if I need to hop the curb at home depot I should be okay! If I off roaded like you guys do, I definitely would have gotten the off-road. However, I don't and I enjoy the ride of the sport coming from a two-wheel drive Tundra. If you bought the sport, great! If you bought off road, great! For my purposes, the sport is more than enough for me. Everyone enjoy your truck and have fun! I'm sure either way you won't be disappointed!
Completely agree! I think the sport is a great trim and it was smart of Toyota to make it for some of the reasons you describe 😊 Not everybody needs or wants an off-road
I bought an off road was yesterday. The deciding factor was what she said. The ride was better for me. That was on pavement. I also wanted the crawl option. Since this is my zombie truck I think any option is a good option. 🧟♂️
We bought the TRD Off Road because we live in a very mountainous area of north central Washington state and in a few years we will be building our retirement Log house on our property in north west Montana and we’ll need the extra Off Road capabilities for plowing our road to the county road. The rear locking differential will come in handy.
Like the Comparison i myself got the sport cause i like the look and i don't off road much, but i have wanted to try it on my truck to see if it could handle it. I totally agree with you on the suspension it could be a bit smoother i am thinking of upgrading them.. like always you make great vids
Can’t believe you were in my state and I didn’t get a chance to hit the trail with you! Lots of great off roading here. I’ve got the Sport and love it, it’s a beast.
My reason for 2016 tacoma off road access cab is reliability. Don't need a full size truck, love the movability of the tacoma. I like full size bed to put plywood and whatever else in the back. Yep like the locker in rear vs having to install later. Mine is more daily driver.
I have a fully loaded 2017 TRD Off Road with Blistein shocks and springs upgrade. True the MPG isn't great and I agree with the other parts of the review. But, for a midsized sport truck 4WD it has great capability and comfort. I'm a RN that does nursing visits in the Sierra and it handles the variety of roads well. You have to understand the engine type, the Atkinson computer engine and how it operates. You can't expect it to be like a Ford or Dodge. If you owned a Japanese motorcycle before you might understand better. But, the computerized engine is generally superior to manual driving, a concept I fought for a long time. The engine adjusts to your driving style too. But, you can always shift into S mode, and it literally becomes manual; so what's to complain about? It's hybrid automatic/manual, best of both words, again I usually let the computerized automatic do it's thing. Haven't used the AI 4WD low feature yet, if you get stuck you just stear and break and the computer will figure out the traction. Plenty of RUclips videos of guy burying the Tacoma and using the AI feature to get free.
my 2014 Off Road 4 liter 6 speed manual. I don't like the hood scoop on the Sport. Plus both differentials front and back lock up when I am in 4x4 low on mine :)
taking delivery of my TRD Sport Premium in 2 weeks. I went Sport because I wanted the double cab and long bed more than I wanted the locking diff. As the off-roading I do is not very hard. Might be 0.5% of my driving. good video!
@@ChloeKuo thanks! Pretty happy. I got army green with trd bronze wheels and some 265/70r17 FALKENs . Evaluating what I want to do for suspension. I’m thinking it’s between bilstein 5100 or 6112’s for what I will be using it for.
Thank you for the great comparison and review of Both models. I am currently on the fence on what package to get it but like you I do prefer the look of the sport more!
Excellent video. In the end, I would put it this way. If you are in a situation where you are choosing to buy either a Tacoma TRD Sport or a Tacoma TRD Off-Road, then your life is in a very good place. There are no bad choices here.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for this comment. I recently had the opportunity to finally pull the trigger on a 2017 trd sport and, although I absolutely love it, I live 10 miles down a dirt road. Been experiencing some doubt that I shoulda held out for a trd off-road but I need to keep reminding myself that a Tacoma is a Tacoma and that and I should be proud of finally being in the club.
@@jefflistner4516 welcome to the club.
Tacomas are trucks many want but many also can’t afford Being able to have a Tacoma Is for sure something to be thankful for 🙏🏽
Test drove both. The Sport ride wasn't as mushy on the street. I spend 99% on the street so the Sport is for me. I still got 4x4 when I need it.
I have a TRD Off Road which very rarely leaves the pavement. I wish I'd gone with the Sport so I'd have a little less body roll.
Hard choice 22 Sport 😎
Facts
True
But you got no locker for when you need it
I test drove a TRD Sport and an Off-road and the TRD Sport felt a lot more smoother and quieter compared to the Off-road
That’s because its suspension is more built for the road, it’s a common fact.
@eddielombera5862 ye I was new to the Tacoma world then so I didn't know that then until a little later.
Thanks for the really informative video! I’ve been cross-shopping the two TRD trims myself and think the Sport probably fits my needs better. I don’t off-road (not yet at least), just need a reliable 4WD car that can haul my motorcycle. Plus I am a fan of the hood scoop too!
Thank you for doing future Tacoma owner homework’s.
I went with the off road 6 ft bed. I always thought and believe the 6ft bed looks more proportionally even. The short bed looks bumpy/chubby. I have more options with the off road than sport with the same price range. I tested drive the sport and didn’t like the hood scoop blocking my driving view a bit. The crawl control and rear locker got me. A truck no matter what it is for, needs these options. You never know in what situation you can be in the future.
Also, FYI, the 6ft bed (long bed) is the original Tacoma. People should just say short bed for the 5ft bed Tacoma!
I ordered the 6 foot bed trd off road.
A 6-ft bed is a smart choice. You would have kicked yourself in the stomach when having to haul any large items with a 5-ft. bed. By the way, it’s a truck after all.
@@deplorablechump8758 I agree the five foot bed is to small I am going to do a lot of off roading as well some say the six foot bed is not as capable it all boils down to driver.
I actually sleep in my truck while camping, which is not normal it seems. The 6’ bed is the only way to go if you sleep in your truck.
Same reason I went with the OffRoad ❤love it.
Great video I test drove both a I went with a 2022 sport. I don't off road just a few small easy trails and I love the hood scoop & painted fender flares can't go wrong with the sport or the off road they're both nice trucks. keep up the excellent videos
I bought the 2021 TRD 4x4 Offroad in Barcelona Red, I love off-roading, 4 wheeling, and though I haven’t used the crawl control, I do use the rear locker a good amount. I did a 3” lift with Fox 2.5 coil-overs w/Res front and 2.5 w/Res in the rear with SPC UCA’s, run 33” BFG K02’s on 17” TRD wheels. I also have the HiLine front bumper with Warn Zeon 10S winch, I love it!!! I love you did the Decked system as I am soon too. I had a 2017 SR5 4x2 and traded it for this one. For me, it was a no brainer. Thanks Chloe for sharing …..
I think the TRD off road is about the best off road value in the market, love mine! Some good tires and it does everything I need.
I did the same as you before buying. Drove both a Sport and Off Road. Was leaning towards the Sport but, as you mentioned, the street comfort of the Off Road seems better so I went that direction too. The biggest thing beyond the street ride was the locker. Having done some off roading in a jeep without a locker I feel that is a VERY important thing to have to keep from getting stuck.
Choosing between a Sport or OFF ROAD 4x4’s was a great problem to have.
I really liked the color matched flares, scoop and rear sway bar on the Sport but the upgraded larger rear axle with the Locking Diff in the OFF ROAD was a deal maker for me - 2020 OFF ROAD with no regrets !
Aftermarket Helwig rear sway bar ( even thicker than the OEM Sport sway bar ) is on the way and color matched flares is on my to do list….
A OEM Sport hood is on my mind rather heavily but not planned at this point.
OFF ROAD package is for true 4WD enthusiasts needing/wanting a variety of traction aids and a true heavy-duty rear axle and the Sport 4x4 is a great looking ride for those who only need the basics for leaving the paved roads and are content with the standard Yota drivetrain …
Awesome breake down. I chose the sport for two reasons. 1. Appearanc - Love the fact that every thing is color matched and the scoop albeit non functional. 2. I put an ICON stage 3 suspension in and an ARB locker in it. 🤪
How's that suspension handling?
This is the way.
Great topic. Personally got the TRD OR because of the Rear Locker on the trails. However, now that I'm camping more than just trail driving... kinda wish I got the 6ft bed vs the 5ft bed for extra space/storage. Great video!
yeah 5 ft bed is useless lol. May as well have a 4runner. Access cab OR in a manual with 6ft bed is the ultimate taco imo. keep the short wheel base, still have four seats, long bed, looks the best, and a manual... perfection.
I looked at SR5, TRD OR and TRD Sport. Earlier this year I got a '21 TRD OR and couldn't be happier with it!
I definitely wanted the Off Road. Great ride on road and the locker is nice to have. I have a manual so no crawl control to mess with. But it can do everything a Sport can do and then some. But I wouldn't say that the other way around. To me it was the logical choice.
both are great the sport can go 100 on highway without any sway, where as the off road cannot.
Both are great as i said
@@gerbermw lol. I have gone those speeds in my off road. Nothing scary about it. That locker and the off-road capabilities are super nice. Just be happy they both options for each person. Love my off-road. Won’t ever trade it unless there is a v8 4Runner in the future. And so far that seems impossible to happen. Don’t want turbo either unless it’s diesel.
@@AntilleanConfederation they’re both killer trucks man for sure. Slight different suspension will only change so much. They can both do what the other does just one is smoother at it than the other for off road or street
in a manual the crawl control is called A-Trac and it works great
@@bearburrell6104 indeed. Although the 4Runners have both. I'll still take the manual Tacoma though.
I bought a sport, and added so much to it for offroading and it has not disappointed. Either way you go, sport and OR are both good for diverse use. I personally like the Sport visual features like the hood scoop and color matched fenders.
Eww. Off road for me. But that’s why they make the models different
I did same thing with my taco sport. Love it!
I have a 2004 TRD with the 3.4 cast iron v6 and 5 spd. It has the electrically controlled resr locker and the clutch start override switch and both have been helpful. It has 277k miles and I have used it for towing cross country as well as on mountain dirt roads. My wife and a friend used it to tow a 19 ft travel trailer 10k miles in a month from coast to coast. She needed the locker once when she had to climb a hill on wet grass.
Thank you for all the help, DIY step by step, and info/demos, I’m SO GLAD you’re TEAM TACOMA, and not 4 runner, or tundra, or worse, jeep!!!! The arsenal is MUCH stronger, because of you!!
Access cab OR in a manual with 6ft bed is the ultimate taco imo. keep the short wheel base, still have four seats, long bed, looks the best, and a manual... perfection.
I think you covered it well.
I prefer the stiffer ride of the sport on road. It really corners well for a truck and that's where most of my time is.
It's 1900 miles to Arizona...the on road handling really matters.
I did find the hood scoop obstructs the view in tight steep switchbacks when we went off road to the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
The Sport really fills my use best but honestly I would've taken which ever one the dealer had with a manual transmission.
Drove a hundred miles to find a manual...it was a red Sport. I wasn't leaving without it.
There's tons of manuals now, zero automatics 😂
I work 1000km down the highway, then I go 1500kms down a washboard dirt road to a staging area. Washboard at 100kph sucks and I usually have to slow down to 80. I also tow a boat or side by side on the weekends . I currently do this in an old rav4. It's time to upgrade.
I have a TRD sport and my friend has a TRD off road. The main difference for me was that the off-road was really bouncy on the road and every time my friend or I would break the front would take nose dive. The trd sport definitely has a smoother ride on road and limited body roll.
I love your content and this is another great video. I nearly bought a TRD Pro two years ago but opted for an Audi S4 instead (I know, not even in the same side of the spectrum) but while I loved my Audi, I regretted not getting the Taco until TODAY. I picked up a 2923 TRD Sport (even though I thought I needed the Pro and then figured I’d “settle” for an Off Road model. Being it would be more of a daily driver and essentially on roads, it made more sense. It has the Advanced Technology Package, LEDs, remote tailgate lock, tie down brackets, exhaust tip, door edge guards, mud guards, all weather mats and sill protectors and essentially everything I would want it to have. I am sure I’ll do some mods at some point, but I am really happy with the decision I made. I am grateful for the videos you produce and look forward to learning more as I begin my Taco journey. 😊
Nicely done, had to go through the same process when I purchased the Sport. Mine is a highway princess, hauling horse gear and occasional light towing. But the big determiner for me is the 25,000 highway miles I put on it each year. If I used it like you I would have also chosen the off-road.
The off roads suspension is complete garbage if you actually load your truck or tow.
Is the trd sport better than sr5 for highways?
@@ceeIoc I doubt it. I think the SR5 is a great trim level. I fell in love with the Sport hood scoop and wanted the parking monitor and blind spot indicators that come with the Sport or I would have taken an SR5.
@@ceeIoc it has slightly better suspension but I wouldn't worry about that. You can get some bilstein 5100s for like 500 dls brand new and it's a better suspension over all of the tacomas except for the trd pro
Great video. Thank for it. I opted for the Sport model just due to looks and the fact that I wouldn't be doing much, if any, off roading. Love your Taco!
This is how I see it. I consider the Trd off road a trd pro “lite” as it comes with all the off road tech that the pro has, and depending how you spec the truck you can get all the extra stuff as well. It makes more sense for people that are planning to upgrade in the future to get the off road since it has a lower cost of entry. Just my .02 cents.
what happened to your face plastic surgery was done by michael j fox
Fox shocks, skid plate, hood scoop, fog lights, rims, one inch higher suspension, grille.
Lol not even close. The off roads have way less features than the sports. Juat cause the sport doesn't have a rear locker. Or crawl control. That makes it more than pro lite
@@Jerlemi2 and jbl premium audio with sub, (you can get it without of course but its standard in the tech package) which includes pro led headlights, leather and Sunroof and maybe cover but heard that is usually an add on option but I've see all the off roads in my area and they all were either new or 2 years old and had way less features. Almost as if they are double cab sr5s with
Great video! As I just bought my TRD Sport a couple months ago, new to trucks, I'd wondered about what I was missing out on and kind of wished for the additional features on the Off-Road. However, as selection is horrible on trucks this year, my Voodoo Blue in 6M was only available locally (aka in western Canada) in Sport trim. I don't see any off-road requirement in my future, and am really happy with the road manners of my truck on both paved and gravel roads so far.
What year did you get?
5:27 Hey Chloe, you could get your cake and eat it too, if you xpel wrapped the painted fender flares. It has self healing properties and can done at most popular detail or body shops. Just a thought.
Such a great video! I bought a 2021 TRD Sport last October. I went back and forth between the OffRoad and the Sport, but had to be realistic with myself…living in the city of Dallas, just how often will I actually go off road? Well…not very. So…the Sport won out. If I lived out in the country, then it would have been the OffRoad hands down
Bought an off road today mostly because the sport option was filled to capacity with bells and whistles and somehow was more expensive. Fortunately I knew a good road during the test drive and I felt like the off road felt better on shitty roads but comfortable enough on the highway. Watched your video before I went to the dealership and it was a helpful resource
I bought the sport because, I like the look and only do light trail occasionally.
'17 Sport. To be honest, I bought her because I had been waiting for a Taco with an auto trans to tow my boat out of the water and this one became available at an affordable price. I have had an SR5 of 1st + 2nd gen and loved them, but they were both 4 bangers with manual trans. My only off roading is on old logging roads so stumps and mud are bigger hazards than rocks and sand. I would like a locking diff and will be adding a bumper w/winch as I go solo. I lifted her a little with spacers sure to budget constraints and to keep the ride which I enjoy. Suspension upgrade may be in the future (I'll watch your install videos to see if you address ride quality.) Finally, I'll admit to really liking that hood scoop too. Keep up the good work, Lady.
Got the off-road for the eventual overland build I plan on but I do enjoy the hood scoop on the sport
Thank you for this video! You explained the differences a 100 X’s better than the dealership did. Which was basically that they didn’t know the differences LOL. I chose the Off Road also. That beefy suspension also comes in handy on city streets that are often potholed and rough.
After watching multiple videos and talking to the dealer, nobody could explain to me the Sport vs Off Road. I was dead set on the off road. They had a brand new SR5 4x4 in the showroom and zero new Sport or Off Roads, so I got the SR5. A month later and god knows how many videos, apparently all I missed out on was a locking differential.
I’m in Florida where rocks and mud aren’t a problem so I’m happy. If I start getting stuck a lot I can trade in for an off road, but the Sport vs Off Road debate is like watching people debate iPhone models.
Suspension, crawl control and multi terrain select, rear locker, smaller rims for bigger tires, non paint matched front and rear bumper and fender flares to not show scratches as easily. Those are the main differences.
I’m leaning more towards the sport since I don’t go off-roading want to eventually but mostly mountain biking.
Very good video, I was in the same boat back in 2019. I just wanted a 2 wheel drive commuter Tacoma. But didn't know much about the different versions. But once I got to the dealer I knew I wanted the hood scoop, and all the electronic and safety features. I also heard good things about fox suspension, so it ended up being cheaper to buy the Pro then to get an off-road and add all the options.
There both awesome, I have the TRD sport with 4x4, I drive 90% on pavement and maybe once a month a little off road. The only thing I wish I had is a rear locker.
Good stuff, I knew next to nothing about the differences between the Off-Road and Sport when I purchased my 2014, went with the Off-Road at the time and stuck with that when I traded it in for my current 2017 Tacoma.
I bought a 2023 TRD off road in December and it is a awesome truck and I’m very happy I decided on that truck
We just got our new off road last week. Loving it so far.
Congrats on the new truck!
In Canada, deciding between a 2020 TRD Sport or a TRD off road came down to having to have a 6 foot box. The Sport was the only TRD trim with the long box.
Also, majority of our use is daily driver and getting to the Cabin 6 hrs away via all paved highway mountain driving. My Sport transports the family and all of our gear nicely. The Sport does quite well up and down steep mountain passes. I drive it hard around steep mountain highway switchbacks and it performs better that I would have expected for a full body on frame 4X4.
Cherry on top is it’s still a very capable off roader for the times we go exploring on all of our logging roads here in British Columbia. However, if I didn’t have the need for a 6 foot box the TRD off Road or 2022 Trail addition would be my first choice based on looks. I would be inclined to do more off roading as well with a locker and 5 foot box.
In the end you can’t loose with whatever trim level you decide to go with. All the 3rd gens are such an eye catching, great looking truck. I especially love the 2020+ TRD grilles. I prefer the matte coloured fender flares as they look more rugged than my dainty colour matched flares. At this point in my life the TRD Sport DCLB 4X4 meets our family’s needs perfectly. Love the looks of your TRD off road. Nice job Chloe!
This is just it, I’m currently looking at a 2021 sport in Canada because you can’t get the 6 foot bed with a double cab in the Off Road! Kind of annoying as I would like the locker and other off road features- even if I never use them lol. I’m not too worried though as even the sport and Sr5s are very capable off road, but I feel that Toyota should have at least included a rear locker on all trims, and then they could have saved the electronic gadgetry for the off road trims.
Agree and I think these are great points! Thanks for writing this up and I'm glad the Sport trim fits your family--I'm sure someone will find your input helpful
I have a 2006 TRD Sport, which I run more like a go-cart on the streets, than I do any off-roading, so I'm happy with it overall. The Bilstein shocks seem to be holding up after 15yrs of use. Don't forget that tire sidewall stiffness has an affect on ride quality. I had a higher load rated tire that I could easily take a particular corner at 95mph and when I went to a lower rated tire, I lost that cornering ability...But, I liked the softer ride that they gave. Check out Fossil Creek if you get back into Arizona. Nice spot to spend the day.
I've had a 2003 Tacoma Off-Road since it was new and occasionally had use of the rear locker (the '03 had no crawl mode). I knew I wanted a rear locking diff. when I went to buy Tacoma #2 in 2017. The TRD Pro, which also has the rear locker, was either unavailable when I bought or the ones left (I was buying in Sept. '17) were marked up by dealers. I didn't really want a non-functional hood scoop anyway and the Sport's front spoiler just hindered ground clearance. I didn't even realize the suspension/shocks were different. In my 2003 Taco, I did have some kind of solenoid break-down once which knocked out the rear locker until replaced. In my '17 Taco, I've tried the crawl mode, but seldom go somewhere where I need it. It's comforting to have, however, as is having the rear locker. I do use 4WD often, particularly when it snows, as I often drive between California and Nevada. A manual transmission might be nice to have, but I'd worry as to when would a clutch need replacing before the clutch goes out. I already have a Scion FR-S with a clutch and there doesn't seem to be a good answer as to when or how many miles (I'm approaching 60K with the original clutch right now).
i agree about that front spoiler on the sport. i removed it right away on my TRD Sport and it looks way better. I chose the sport just because of the fact that i live in Houston. there’s really no need for all the extra off roading features, it’s just my daily commuter but i might upgrade in the future just to have those features if i ever go on an overland road trip or something.
Hi, you mention about the TRD Offroad having a Locker, which it does, and the Sport having an Open Differential, which it doesn't. Instead of the Locker, the Sport has a Limited Slip Differential that works w/a clutch.
The Pluses and minuses of both:
The "Locker" can only be used in 4Lo. It has to be used on a very slippery and forgiven surface like soil, ice, snow, and possible heavy rain.
The Limited Slip is Automatic, and is automatically used, w/o switching anything, in 4Hi and 4Lo, on "ALL" kinds of surfaces, including pavement and dirt, snow, ice, and rain.
I've owned both, and so if you do a great deal of off roading all the time, and especially do heavy rock climbing, then the locker is the best one to get. On the other hand, if you use your Toy mostly on pavement, w/an occasional weekend trip offroad, then the Limited Slip is the better option, especially on paved roads w/ice, snow, and rain.
I just bought a new Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport. I wanted one w/the Access Cab, which the Offroad doesn't offer, and one w/a 6 Speed Manual, which is available in both models. The Access Cab, especially w/a 6 Speed Manual are both extremely hard to find. I had to travel over 600 miles round trip for one. The 6 Speed Manual has become the Optional Transmission now-a-days, where it use to be Standard. The only other thing I wanted was the Cement Gray but had to settle for the Gray.
Thank You for the great info!!
Hi, I have to correct myself here folks.
I had my TRD Sport up on a lift today and checked for my having a Limited-Slip Differential to make sure it indeed had one.
If I had a Limited-Slip, when I turn one wheel, the wheel on the opposite side would turn in the same direction, which it did not. Instead, the other wheel turned in the opposite direction, indicating an open differential.
The Toyota specs for the Sport says that it had a Limited Slip Differential, but there's a note shown in fine print, that says it uses the rear brakes by shifting the power to the non-slipping wheel via the brakes. This is what they refer to as a Limited -Slip. I used to own a 2003 BMW 330Ci, and it too used a similar design as well.
A "REAL" Limited-Slip differential uses clutch plates in the differential, which the Sport does not have.
So, in all essence, the TRD Sport really doesn't have a real Limited-Slip Differential.
Anyway, I do apologize for my mistake.
You nailed it for me your video was awesome. I have the Trd off-road. I love the way the sport looks. I bought the truck for big bear snow days with the family and some occasional easy trails. It feels really good, knowing I have extra features and just in case you never know out there, the conditions of off-road
I looooooove my TRD Sport. I chose 275/70/R17 Wildpeak A/T, mbrp dual exhaust, and it came equipped already with a pedal commander. Tacomas are amazing, no matter which trim, but I love mine so much! Got it in Magnetic Gray Metallic, and it looks so pretty blacked out. Great video Chloe, this has made me feel even better on my purchase.
Sounds like a nice build!
I got the TRD Offroad because I'd like to go on trails with it. Although mine does have the rear lockers, I don't have multu terrain select or crawl mode since I have a 6speed Manual. I love my truck. And do not regret buying it one bit
What year? I have a 2021 TRD Off Road manual and it has ATRAC which is better than crawl control. I've gotten out of unplowed snowy driveways/roads and sand where other trucks had to be towed.
You got that atrac though which is also super useful off road. Atrac for the front wheels and rear locker is a nearly unstoppable combo
@@tylercurtis265 I have a 2021
I have 2021 trd off road
Great video. Thanks for helping me make a decision. Getting a 2022 Off-Road.
I looked for an off road in a access cab for 8 months and could not find one in the US at all. And I wanted the off for the rear locker and crawl control features but I had to settle for a sport model, but I bought at perfect time, one month before the situation started. But anyways all your points are spot one with this video, great job on the break downs of the models.
This was a very helpful video. I have a deposit down for a TRD Sport. I have had some second thoughts though. I don't expect to do a lot of off roading but may go to the beach from time to time. For most of my needs, a Sport is great. I do have this voice telling me that not having the Off Roads extra tools is a wasted opportunity though. I now know that I can always add a rear locker and that this in many ways is a better option as I can pick a more effective system then the stock one on the OR. What I am planning to do is get a set of Falken Wildpeaks which I am thinking will serve me well for most of the off-roading I might do initially. As well as a good small compressor so that I can drop pressure on my tires as needed.
I love my Tacoma Sport and less off road maintenance cost. Here in Phoenix roads are mostly flat. I also did a lift with 33 Renegade tires and Fox shocks for lighter off roading or camping nothing extreme.
I just picked up the TRD Sport and used to drive the TRD Off-Road. I like the ride in both. But I don’t go off roading a lot. That’s the reason I went with the TRD Sport. But eventually I will put a Detroit Locker on my TRD Sport so I can have the differential.
Originally I was shopping for a 4Runner, but with the long wait times to get one I started looking at Tacomas. A local dealer had 2 on the lot and I just purchased a 2022 Tacoma TRD Sport. I had the choice between a Sport and an Off Road. The dealer had installed $3k worth of options on both. There was a $10k difference between the 2. The Off Road was a manual and had a Decked style hard clam shell tonneau cover. They were both black, black out packages, double cab 5 foot bed. I chose the sport because it was cheaper, an automatic and had a soft roll up tonneau cover.
I VALUE YOUR OPINION. I JUST PURCHASED MY NEW 2022 TRD 4X4. THANKS YOUR FOR YOUR VIDEOS
Nice honest comparison, nice job Chloe! I picked up the TRD pro in 2020. I feel in love with the Army green color and wanted all the perks of the pro. I special ordered a MT and got an amazing deal. I would have considered the Off-road that year if they offered the color and if the price was right. I’m super happy with the pro and from what I read in the forums, lots of people paid for for there off roads than what paid. Keep up the good work. Also, I just picked up a Skydio drone, If you picked one up I think your video angles wound be amazing.
Nice! And I will check out the skydio drone, thanks for the recommendation!
I have never owned a Tacoma but I owned a Grand Cherokee WJ and a Z71 Colorado with a G80 rear locker. I’m telling you if you’re into medium-heavy offroad, the locker is a must have in my book. I plan on getting a TRD Offroad solely for the rear locker. Crawl control is cool but I’ll probably never use it. It would cost more to get a locker put into a sport than it would be to just buy the offroad so I’m going with the offroad
Very good point
I got the Tacoma Sport as a daily driver for my semi retirement out of the trades. Needed something smaller to drive around, give estimates and carry some basic tools. My vehicles always stand out, really liked the bad ass look of this Taco's grill and hood scoop. That and over my lifetime owning 2 Nissans and having a Lexus, the reliability made this a no brainer. I like the TRD intake system (you showed in a video) but am also looking into their upgraded exhaust and tuning to make the truck as good as is can be. At some point want to swap the rims to matte black, get the biggest tires I can get without doing the lift kit. I park my Road Glide next to this in the driveway and all heads turn, makes life worth living!
Does the Sport have 4x4? I currently drive a 2007 4Runner and I would like the same comfortable drive with a 6 foot bed to use as daily driver and take care of some DIY projects at home.
I don’t do any off-roading.
@@82dupont Pretty sure they do. but if you do not do any off roading why the 4x4? You're insurance will be more. You can get a simple lift kit for the front, it will give you the off road look for your daily driver.
@@billysyms5761 …I live in an area where we get snow, hence 4x4.
@@82dupont Yeah, that's not to much of a concern for us So Cal's........
@@billysyms5761 …I hate the heat, enjoy California. Stop buying up all the Taco’s as well, we need them in Northeast.
Very nicely done video. Two months ago I got myself a 2021 TRD off-road and I really like it a lot. I have not had a chance to try it out off-road but I suspect this winter (in Maine) it will get a good work out. This is the first of your videos I have seen but now I will definitely have to check out your other ones.
I feel a rear locker is a must if you off road. I’ve had an off road and now a pro. Each trim lever has its strong and weak points. I too like the fake hood scoop. I think it looks nice.
Mike, I was SO torn between the Sport and OR, but went with the Sport and got it lifted and have Gear rims and 33's with the KO2s. Love it, and you must love the Pro!
Lockers are irrelevant on stock 4x4 tacomas. I own a sport and an off road. And my sport will go anywhere an off road can. Any 4x4 tacoma will apply the brakes front and back to the spinning wheel sending power to the wheel with traction. I've had my sport balancing on 2 wheels and it goes right over it with hardly any wheel slip.
The off road when shifting in to 4lo is just open diffs so it literally get stuck on anything making you think omg thank God I have a locker. I off road all the time and yes a locker is better but most definitely not necessary unless you plan on doing some serious off roading which at that point just get a jeep. Also the suspension on the off road is garbage if you plan on using your truck as a truck, It doesn't like having weight in the back.
My dad has a TRD off-road 2018. It kept up with everything on the black Diamond trails in stock form at Hatfield McCoys. He just traded it in for a 2022 trd off road with factory lift. He put 80,000 miles on his and only spent like 4 grand more to get a brand new one
Great channel! Very informative and professional. I'm retiring the end of this year. Go FIRE! I will be buying a tacoma. Want to build a off road as well as over the road camp truck to fly fish and climb. Perfer the 6 foot bed. What top 5 mods, club or crew cab AND the new engines available in 24 ? would you folks recommend? Blessings All
Rear locker is also being added to the Trail Edition package for 2022.
One thing you might consider is painting your flares with a bed liner material to help protect them.
That is a great idea (and one that I’d definitely benefit from on the trails!)
Two minutes in and you helped me decide. Locking diff is a must off road and the hood scoop looks good but it is kinda annoying from the driver's seat.
Liked your show. I've got the off road as well. But haven't got to try it out off road yet.
Great Video, I just got me the Sport yesterday 4/3. Great smooth luxury feeling. 🤘🏼👍🏼
great video as usual. This is some good info for those trying to decide what Tacoma to buy.
Just took delivery of my green OR last week. Still getting used to it since I’ve been driving a Scion xA for 16 years: Been a week and STILL can’t roll straight into a parking space, LOL!
You’re absolutely right about people needing different trims on the truck you have the off-road your truck was the sport and I didn’t go with either one I went with the TRD pro. So there you go different strokes for different folks.
Great talking points! Thank you very much for sharing your experiences.
Ha...I was just thinking last week....hmmm...did I really need to get the off road trim. We live in Ouray, which is an off road mecca area. On my very first off road session in our 2019 off road, I used crawl control coming down off the pass. After 10 minutes, I could smell the heat coming off the system. Since then, I have not used crawl or selective terrain, nor the rear locker. I have just relied on decent wheel placement and not going on the trails after a rain storm.
Safe travels
I got a 2020 TRD off-road. In my personal opinion I think it looks sharper. The hood scope is nice on the sport but it’s a bogus hood scoop. That would annoy me, if it was functional maybe that’s a different story. The off-road has more features which makes it worth it. Crawl control is excellent. Might not use it a lot but when you need it, you need it. Overall I just like the off-road better but the off-road and the sport are both amazing trucks and I’d be happy with both either way at the end of the day.
Very informative video...researching and ultimately buying a 22 Tacoma. More than likely choosing the sport and doing my own upgrades. I like the scoop and color matched flares and don't really do much off road with the truck itself...I just need to tow my 20 ft travel trailer with my Honda CRF450RL and CT 125 in the back. Once I get to the trails I'm good to go!
Good discussion chloe The Tacoma trd off road is good I’m debating what year I want to get and I agree the trucks market is getting good growing up in Maryland I always wanted a truck when I was younger the first truck I got was Chevy s10💪🏾💯
Nice!!
Chloe, love your videos. I was overseas when I ordered my TRD Sport in 2016. It does have a rear diff locker just like your OR, but that may have changed in later models. My son-in-law has a 2019 OR, and having ridden in both, I do prefer his OR as the Sport suspension is stiffer.
2018 TRD Off-Road in silver, manual transmission- no crawl control option for me. Stock everything and I love it. I’ve always had Chevys but wanted something more reliable. Outperformed any Chevy I ever owned on day 1.
Remember scratches on your truck are like scars on your body, yeah maybe it really hurt at the moment but it’s a story/memory of your life.
Dude the ATRAC in the manual is better than having crawl control.
@@tylercurtis265 I guess I’m gonna have to read my owner’s manual again
This guy has a simple explanation on ATRAC-> ruclips.net/video/8JXqpQmOxLk/видео.html
I have the sport , they have a more low profile tire on them so they ride a lil rough on the road , first thing I did was put a standard size tire on it , 15mm taller made a world of difference
I have a 2018 TRD Sport, upgraded from Toyota Pickup. Despite not having the rear locker, the Taco Sport is very trail-worthy (live in NorCal). Updated the suspension to Bilstein 5160/6112 (too broke for Fox) and it handles very well on highway, trail and washboard. Went with TRD because I love the outlet in the bed and bigger screen for the nav system. At that point, the rest was just cosmetic (coolness of fake hood scoop). Handles mud, trails, snow and bad weather very well. I have no regrets.
I am surprised to hear you like the bilsteins, I've got that setup on my tundra and the tide is so ridiculously stiff, personally can't wait to upgrade to fox 2.5
@@Millirawk Fox is a great shock, but I use my truck mainly to get firewood and haul stuff to the dump. The Bilsteins are heavenly compared to the stock Hitachis (some areas I do need 4x4). It also handles pretty well in snowy conditions.
I feel like a really important point is you might as well just buy the off-road and if you like anything from a sport you can always buy it and add it later.
My local dealership adds the sport Hood to all the off-road trims
I hate that fake scoop. I personally don’t like anything just for looks rather than function. If it looks ugly but functions I still like it. If it looks cool and functions I love it. If it looks cool and non functioning I tend to hate it and will never consider it for myself. Part of the reason I didn’t get the new Supra. Full of fake air vents. Hate that crap.
I'm getting my Tacoma Off-road in a few weeks, I choose it because of the off road capabilities even if I don't use them to much.
I own both!!!!! Main things to keep in mind.
OR: the suspension is garbage for towing or hauling stuff and pretty much for everything
OR: has a different and very expensive brake booster for crawl control
OR: stronger diff for the extra stress the locker puts on it.
OR:rear locker
So the sport, sr, sr5 actually come with Atrac standard and it's always on when in 4lo.
The off road when switching in to 4lo is just open diffs front and back which usually makes people think it's more capable than the basic tacoma because it makes you think thank good I have a locker but in reality even a sr 4x4 has Atrac and can most definitely get you over everything.
In conclusion if you are keeping it stock they're all getting you where you need. The 4x4 system outperforms the clearance and chassis. I've had my sport balancing on the two wheels (chassis flex) and it pulls no problem with minor wheel spin, Obviously the locker is going to be smoother.
So what I'm trying to say it that if you get an sr 4x4 v6 It is guaranteed that it can go everywhere the off road can if they're stock.
I paid 2k less for my sport over the off road and let me tell you that it goes everywhere my off road does.
You will run out of clearance, smash your rear bumper or highe center before you can actually push your 4x4 system. 2 weeks in after buying my sport brand new and i had no rear bumper covers and the front bumper was scratched.
You’re rich 🤑
@@jaymoar3561 I wish
I’ve had a Sport for 5 years and I off road a lot. It is a beast and I’ve never been stuck.
No disrespect to anybody who bought the off-road. I hear a lot of off-road people bashing the people who bought a sport. I don't go off-road, most of my driving is pavement driving. Even though I grew up in the country, I grew up on flat land and frankly I don't need what they off road version offers. I love my sport and being a Toyota it should hopefully last me for a long time. I do have the 4x4 version, so if I need to hop the curb at home depot I should be okay! If I off roaded like you guys do, I definitely would have gotten the off-road. However, I don't and I enjoy the ride of the sport coming from a two-wheel drive Tundra. If you bought the sport, great! If you bought off road, great! For my purposes, the sport is more than enough for me. Everyone enjoy your truck and have fun! I'm sure either way you won't be disappointed!
Completely agree! I think the sport is a great trim and it was smart of Toyota to make it for some of the reasons you describe 😊 Not everybody needs or wants an off-road
I bought a 2020 offroad for the locker. Love it . I rock crawl it on the weekends ! At SMORR! Great place 👌
Great job !! Breaking down the main important points...thank you.
I bought an off road was yesterday. The deciding factor was what she said. The ride was better for me. That was on pavement. I also wanted the crawl option. Since this is my zombie truck I think any option is a good option. 🧟♂️
Mine is an Off-road 2wd and the factory locker is very important and good to know I have 🤷🏼♂️🤙🏻
We bought the TRD Off Road because we live in a very mountainous area of north central Washington state and in a few years we will be building our retirement Log house on our property in north west Montana and we’ll need the extra Off Road capabilities for plowing our road to the county road.
The rear locking differential will come in handy.
Like the Comparison i myself got the sport cause i like the look and i don't off road much, but i have wanted to try it on my truck to see if it could handle it. I totally agree with you on the suspension it could be a bit smoother i am thinking of upgrading them.. like always you make great vids
Can’t believe you were in my state and I didn’t get a chance to hit the trail with you! Lots of great off roading here. I’ve got the Sport and love it, it’s a beast.
My reason for 2016 tacoma off road access cab is reliability. Don't need a full size truck, love the movability of the tacoma. I like full size bed to put plywood and whatever else in the back. Yep like the locker in rear vs having to install later. Mine is more daily driver.
I have a fully loaded 2017 TRD Off Road with Blistein shocks and springs upgrade. True the MPG isn't great and I agree with the other parts of the review. But, for a midsized sport truck 4WD it has great capability and comfort. I'm a RN that does nursing visits in the Sierra and it handles the variety of roads well. You have to understand the engine type, the Atkinson computer engine and how it operates. You can't expect it to be like a Ford or Dodge. If you owned a Japanese motorcycle before you might understand better. But, the computerized engine is generally superior to manual driving, a concept I fought for a long time. The engine adjusts to your driving style too. But, you can always shift into S mode, and it literally becomes manual; so what's to complain about? It's hybrid automatic/manual, best of both words, again I usually let the computerized automatic do it's thing. Haven't used the AI 4WD low feature yet, if you get stuck you just stear and break and the computer will figure out the traction. Plenty of RUclips videos of guy burying the Tacoma and using the AI feature to get free.
I’ve got the off road , it’s better for me to have the features for whatever rather than saying later that I wish I had it.
Thanks as always for your super helpful content!
I have a 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport n I love cuz I don't do off roading
Hate the bug catcher!!ohh I mean the hood scoop thingy😂😂😂
Great info. I was wondering about those features so that was really in depth as far as first hand experiences in each vehicle.
my 2014 Off Road 4 liter 6 speed manual. I don't like the hood scoop on the Sport. Plus both differentials front and back lock up when I am in 4x4 low on mine :)
taking delivery of my TRD Sport Premium in 2 weeks. I went Sport because I wanted the double cab and long bed more than I wanted the locking diff. As the off-roading I do is not very hard. Might be 0.5% of my driving. good video!
my dealer only got the sport and both in manual......
U live in a city or something? Manuel is better off road and cheaper.
Congrats, that is exciting!!
@@ChloeKuo thanks! Pretty happy. I got army green with trd bronze wheels and some 265/70r17 FALKENs . Evaluating what I want to do for suspension. I’m thinking it’s between bilstein 5100 or 6112’s for what I will be using it for.
You can get a long bed and a double cab in the Off Road too.
Both my brother and I have the TRD Offroad and My pops actually has a 4X4 SR5
I recently purchased a 2016 TRF offroad mainly for reliability and want to start off-road
Do you have any videos on off roading with your truck , would like to watch them .
Thank you for the great comparison and review of Both models.
I am currently on the fence on what package to get it but like you I do prefer the look of the sport more!
I don’t off road so I ended up with a White TRD Sport/ Technology Package. Cement interior. Will be delivered in December.