TRD Sport or Off Road?

I looked at both and went with the off-road. For about the same $ you get so much more.

 

I test drove both extensively before making my purchase in July 2017. Main reasons I chose Off Road rather than Sport:
1) as others noted, the hood scoop on Sport impacted visibility, and it tended to create glare from the sun.
2) being more a function over form guy, I couldn't see spending the exact same price for a truck simply for cosmetic things vs. function things (as others noted, better suspension, locking rear diff, traction controls (though I have a 6 speed manual which comes with a few less of those features, but adds ATRAC and my beloved glasses holder)
3) I found the road ride on the Sport to be very rough on speed bumps and bumpy dirt road where dealer let me test it. The Off Road was much more comfortable on rough road/bumps. Off Road does have a spongy ride that some don't like...but that is what makes it much more comfy on rougher roads/terrain.
4) I personally did prefer the Sport's color matched flares and rear bumper, but again...function over form for me.

 

I agree with 1cleanFG. I have color matched fenders, mirrors, and bumpers on my 2009 Sport, and I always hated the look. I love the fact that my 2017 OR doesn't look like that. I liked the fake scoop on the Sport, but I LOVE the MT I have on my OR. As far as the ride quality, I honestly don't notice much of a difference. The taller tires on my OR make a far bigger difference in feel than I noticed just from the suspension changes.

 

Agreed. I chose the Sport for it's road handling suspension. It hugs corners well and drives like a car on the road with a truck feel and size. I put E-rated Falken tires on it a few weeks ago and it rides even better. Hugs the road on corners and steering is extra tight. I like that. I drove a 2004 TRD OR for years and just hated the handling on the highway. Way too rough a ride and terrible cornering. Unless you are a SERIOUS off-roader that rock crawls and does insanely steep descents, you will never need the OR features. IMHO.

 

Fake News, just get what you will use. Simple as that

 

No, not fake... truth.
The Sport is a 'looks' model. It has no rear locker, no hydraulic brake booster, no A-TRAC.
You can't add those things to a Sport as they are built in and the electronics alone would be a nightmare to swap.
However, if you have an Off Road, you can easily add the Sport's bling: a scoop hood, colored mirrors, and colored bumpers, even switch to 17" wheels and (not bling) change the shocks!

 

Sport has the same suspension, brakes, color matched fender flares, air dam and differential as the SR5 but cost the same as an Offroad.

You do get a scoop to limit visibility, sunglasses holder and 17 inch wheels with road tires though, what's important to you?.

 

This question comes up a lot.

Comparison by model:

OFF-ROAD (top), Sport (bottom position)


Note the beating the Off Road has taken vs fake "head scoop" on the Sport.


The Pro

 

Had a 16 off road and traded it in for a 17 sport.

Like most people have said, get what you think will suit your needs more. Personally I didn't think I was ever going to go "off road" with my daily driver. After driving the sport for a total of 80 miles, I'd say I think the suspension feels better for on road purposes.

Good luck!

 

The Sports are nice trucks, it’s just hard for me to get behind the value aspects bc it seems the Sport should be significantly cheaper but they are the same price as the OR. I feel like my OR handles superbly on steep winding pavement in the mountains and highway, body roll feels minimal for my driving style but I love the cushy suspension and for stock tires these Wranglers have treated me really well - have done well in snow, dirt, wet rocky trails, and with a little crawl control help (only on the ORs) I’ve navigated some mud ponds successfully in them. I’ve only used the locker 2x in the last year but boy I was glad I had bc I probably would have needed assistance to get out of the spot I was in both times without it. Hood scoop looks cool, and I like the color matched vs chrome but for features vs aesthetics OR all day long

 

People have been adding lockers to trucks for decades. That is about the only thing that might be worth adding IMO.

The fake hood scoop does nothing for me. I prefer the OR's wheels and black fender flares. The locker is a nice addition too.

The chrome bumper on the the OR's is because they don't have the tech package with rear radar. Than can come bodycolor (or the endcaps can be swapped out)

 

Keyword: Canada

All of this can be had on the off-road in the USA.

#Murica

 

17 TRD OR DCLB, premium tech package: comes with Parking sensors so automatically comes with paint matched rear bumper covers.

I just wanted the upgraded JBL stereo but it came with some other goodies too that I’m not mad about lol.

 

I was thinking about the A-TRAC as the thing that can't be added as it is so much tech and brake system integrated. A-TRAC is like having lockers on all four wheels without the limitations or steering difficuty. Yet, I only hear the locker being praised on the Off Road. Just wondering if anyone actually tries the A-TRAC / MTS first? The locker may never be needed as it has only half the traction (rear tire only). Since A-TRAC, the locker is more of a sales tool. Even Toyota says it is to be used only in an emergency. Before A-TRAC, I used the locker a lot. On this truck, not needed as the A-TRAC is amazing at crawling up, over, or through stuff!

 

Brakes working back and forth is shock loading the differential and wearing the brakes.

The locker is much easier on your brakes and powertrain. No questions asked, no ifs and or buts, two wheels will turn at the same time with a locker.

It is not a selling point to me. For the most part I get along pretty good with gentle throttle application and open diffs with no traction control at all.

 

Maybe not a selling point to you but if someone is looking at two trucks, Sport or the Offroad, both at the same price, one comes with it and one without, why not get the truck with it?

 

The truck's brake system is the strongest component (for safety reasons). There isn't a bunch of braking the way you describe... the system is moving you, not stopping you. A spinning tire does not move you and is a waste of energy. A-TRAC applies just enough brake force to balance the power split evenly between the left and the right... equalizing tire rotation. The big game changer is this is on all 4 wheels, not just the rear and as the "locking" is only momentary (as needed) when a tire spins, the steering is not hampered as when a differential is locked, allowing no rotation differences. That is why the locker is for emergency use (per Toyota), too dangerous if not driven slowly and in a straight line.

I will remind you again that I owned two other Tacomas with the rear locker (for 10 years) and the Off Road 4x4 is the only model I have ever owned, so I am very familiar with using the locker, and it is GREAT. The A-TRAC is just world's better when you compare the two over the same bad conditions.

 

Off Road

 

Test drive both. In the end, it’s your truck. You won’t go wrong with your decision. Best wishes.

 

The brakes actuate on the spinning wheel to make the other one drive, I know it isn't stopping you.

I do something similar with the differential brakes on my tractors, gently step on the brake for the wheel that is spinning. Each rear drivewheel has its own brake pedal. Have to be gentle so you don't blow up the differential when you do it though (it says in the manuals not to do that actually)

I get the gist of how the system works, it just isn't something I would lose sleep over not having.