We Let Tucker Pick, and the 2027 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Walked the Obstacle Course

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Oct 3, 2026
The 2027 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, finished in the new Honeycomb paint, splashes through a mud hole on the obstacle course at the Texas Auto Writers Association's Texas Truck Rodeo. (Photo by Kevin McCauley)
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When Tucker picked our next speed date at the Texas Auto Writers Association’s Texas Truck Rodeo, he had one request: more obstacle course. So Holli, Tucker, and I climbed into the 2027 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, painted in the new Honeycomb color, and pointed it at the rocks. The Tacoma is the reigning Pickup Truck of Texas and is going for a third straight title, and after a few minutes on the course, it was easy to see why.

Built for the Rough Stuff

Rear view of a yellow TRD Pro truck parked on a dirt path with trees in the background.
The TRD Pro tailgate stamping and black rear bumper give the Honeycomb Tacoma a tough look from behind. (Photo by Kevin McCauley)

The TRD Pro is the most off-road-focused Tacoma you can buy. It rides higher, wears off-road wheels and tires, and adds underbody protection, TRD-tuned FOX QS3 shocks with rear piggyback reservoirs, an electronically controlled locking rear differential, Multi-Terrain Select, and Crawl Control. Power comes from the i-Force Max, a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid that makes 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, so there is plenty of instant grunt at crawling speeds.

Event rules had us drop into 4Lo before the first obstacle. From there, the Tacoma simply walked up the opening rock climb. Through the cross-axle holes, the suspension kept the tires planted, and on the teeter-totter we lifted a front wheel and a rear wheel off the ground without losing any momentum. I held steady throttle the whole way, and the truck never flinched. Up another rocky incline, down into the mud, and back out again, it handled everything without a second thought.

Great Cameras, With Strings Attached

A bright yellow pickup truck driving swiftly on a dirt road, kicking up dust in the background.
With FOX QS3 shocks and the 326-horsepower i-Force Max hybrid, the Tacoma TRD Pro is just as happy picking up speed on the dirt. (Photo by Kevin McCauley)

Toyota does off-road cameras well. In 4Lo, the Multi-Terrain Monitor puts the front camera with trajectory lines, views of both front tires, and pitch and roll readouts on one screen. When the hood is pointed at the sky on a steep climb, that information is a huge win.

My nitpick: you only get that full layout in 4Lo, and the feed cuts out once you pass about 12 MPH. Sometimes you are going 13 MPH through an obstacle. In 4Hi, you lose the tire views and get a single camera you can pan or zoom. That feels like a software fix, so please, Toyota, let us have a little more fun.

Why Tucker Rode in the Middle

Close-up of a TRD Pro badge on a yellow vehicle, with droplets of water on the surface.
Mud speckles the TRD Pro badge after a run through the Texas Truck Rodeo obstacle course. (Photo by Kevin McCauley)

Tucker says he chose the middle seat for the view, since sitting behind a front seat blocks what he can see. The more practical reason is space. The Tacoma’s back seat is already tight, and the IsoDynamic Performance front seats make it even tighter. For our 49-inch-tall son in his booster seat, the middle was the only spot that worked.

Those IsoDynamic seats have their own suspension to keep your head steady off-road. They help, but the event’s cobblestone section was the roughest we have seen it, and we still bounced around. If you plan to use the back seat for anything beyond gear or short trips with a child, the TRD Pro asks for a real compromise.

Holli did find some everyday wins up front: a cubby for her phone, a hook that is perfect for a small trash bag, open storage in the dash, a decent glove box, and hardly any gloss black trim. Those touches are on every Tacoma, including the luxury-focused Limited, so you do not need the TRD Pro to get them.

Our Take on Honeycomb

Close-up of a dirty yellow vehicle hood with a black vent cover, showing splashes of mud and water droplets.
The black hood scoop is one of the dark accents that help the Tacoma wear the new Honeycomb paint best of the four TRD Pro models. (Photo by Kevin McCauley)

Honeycomb is one of the new yellow hues for the 2027 TRD Pro lineup. Holli has mixed feelings, though she likes that it is darker than school bus or taxi yellow. Of the four TRD Pro models wearing the new yellow, I think the Tacoma wears it best, thanks to its black hood accents, black roofline, and black wheel arches. Last year’s Wave Maker blue looked just as good on it. Either way, we will never complain about a truck with real color.

Final Thoughts

A yellow Toyota truck driving through an off-road path with dry grass and trees, while a person walks in the background.
Climbing out of the water crossing, the Tacoma TRD Pro shows off its off-road tires, red tow hooks, and underbody protection. (Photo by Kevin McCauley)

The 2027 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is a tough, fun, and seriously capable midsize truck that makes hard obstacles feel easy. It is not the family hauler in the Tacoma lineup, and the back seat proves it. However, if your weekends involve trails more than car pool lines, it is hard to beat. Pricing starts at $64,350, and our tester came in at $67,444. Learn more about the full lineup on Toyota’s Tacoma site.

2027 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Specs

A yellow pickup truck driving on a dirt path with a blurred background, suggesting motion.
The 2027 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro starts at $64,350, and our Honeycomb tester came in at $67,444. (Photo by Kevin McCauley)

Powertrain

  • i-Force Max 2.4-Liter Turbocharged Four-Cylinder Hybrid
  • 326 Horsepower, 465 lb-ft of Torque
  • 8-Speed Automatic Transmission
  • EPA Fuel Economy: 22 MPG City, 24 MPG Highway, 23 MPG Combined

Drivetrain and Off-Road

  • 4WDemand Part-Time 4WD with Two-Speed Electronically Controlled Transfer Case
  • TRD-Tuned FOX QS3 Internal Bypass Shocks with Rear Piggyback Reservoirs
  • Electronically Controlled Locking Rear Differential
  • Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control with Downhill Assist Control
  • Front Stabilizer Disconnect Mechanism
  • Multi-Terrain Monitor
  • TRD Front Skid Plate and Rocker Protectors
  • ARB Steel Rear Bumper with Recovery Hooks

Interior and Technology

  • Heated and Ventilated IsoDynamic Performance Front Seats
  • Heated TRD Pro Steering Wheel
  • 14-Inch Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • 10-Speaker JBL Audio with JBL Flex Portable Speaker
  • Qi Wireless Charging and Moonroof
  • Toyota Safety Sense 3.0

Pricing

  • Base MSRP: $64,350 (Excludes Destination)
  • As-Tested Price: $67,444
A yellow pickup truck driving on a dirt road, creating a dust cloud in its wake.
A bright yellow pickup truck speeding down a dirt road with a blurred background, suggesting motion.
A bright yellow pickup truck speeding across a dirt field with a driver visible in the cabin.
A yellow pickup truck driving on a dirt road surrounded by dry grass and trees under a clear blue sky.
A yellow Toyota truck parked on a dirt road surrounded by dry grass and shrubs.
A yellow Toyota truck parked on a dirt path, with a woman in a yellow shirt standing nearby, looking towards the vehicle. The background features grassy hills and a parking area with other cars in the distance.
A bright yellow Toyota truck driving through a shallow muddy creek, with a woman standing nearby watching the vehicle.
A yellow Toyota truck driving through a muddy water crossing in a natural landscape, with grass and bushes surrounding the area.
A yellow Toyota vehicle driving through muddy water on a rugged terrain, with two passengers visible inside, and a person watching from a distance.
A bright yellow Toyota off-road vehicle driving on a dirt trail near a stream, with a person walking in the background on a hillside.
A rear view of a yellow truck parked on a gravel road, showcasing the TRD Pro logo and surrounding trees in the background.
Rear view of a yellow TRD Pro truck parked on a dirt path, surrounded by trees and grass under a cloudy sky.
Close-up of a yellow vehicle's headlight and hood covered in dirt and water spots.
Close-up of a TRD Pro badge on a yellow vehicle with raindrops on the surface.
Close-up of a muddy hood scoop on a yellow vehicle, showcasing dirt and water splashes.

Photos used with permission by Texas Auto Writers Association and Kevin McCauley.