Questions about potential Tacoma purchase

Hello all,

I currently own a 2015 JKU, but after buying my wife a 2018 4runner (out first Toy) I started looking at the Tacoma. I've gone on the Toyota site and started building the truck I wanted but I noticed a few things in the TRD model line up that maybe you can help out with...

- I like the hood scoop, but why is it only offered on the Sport and Pro?
- The Off Road doesn't have HAC, but the Sport does?
- Am I missing it or does the Tacoma not have full leather seat options?

I'm also trying to figure out where the Sport and Off Road fit in. Thanks!

 

#1 Because it’s fake. JK. Not sure honestly.
#2 I think manual trans have that. Not auto. Could be wrong.
#3 Leather seats come with premium package on all trims except limited. Think it’s standard on that.

 

#2 Thread on HAC:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/what-is-your-experience-with-hill-start-assist.459729/

 

Toyota marketing sees it as a 'street truck trim'. While both those trucks are off road capable, that's not who they are pitched too. It's fake anyway. But before you get too enthused, be sure you sit behind one and test drive a good bit. Some folks don't like them at all for glare, vision obstruction, etc.

IIRC that's manual trans vs auto option?

Better aftermarket choices exist anyway. Even though there are some options as mentioned above.

Mostly the suspension. OR is 'softer' in the eyes of many. Which means it's actually more compliant in articulation, making it better, wait for it, off road. The Sport is more 'street tuned'. I think the OR has the locker as well.

If you are the kind that wants to change the suspension anyway, it doesn't much matter which you pick.

Lots of folks choose the $10k less SR or SR5 then just add back a small handful of items to have it perform as they wish.

 

Off Road and Pro with Manual Trans do not have Hill Start Assist

 

Go test drive both the off road and sport, then decide how they fit.

Folks complain about the scoop, some say the glare is too much, I have no issues with mine. Except for the smile factor. Some say the sport scoop makes it so you can't see when off roading, I don't expect to off road that intense as to be concerned with this. If I do, I will have armor then anyways.

I have not driven the off road as the sport just looked awesome and handles corners when taken faster than they should, which works for me and my 95% pavement driving.

For the money, the sport is overpriced when compared to the off road model, but the manual transmission negates the crawl control on the off road models.

Test drive, test drive and test drive a little more, then post Picts of what you get.

 

If you want manual trans and access cab/long bed you can only get it in the Sport.

 

The A-TRAC System replaces the Crawl Control on Manuals.

 

Just depends what you're using the truck for. Personally I don't plan on doing any significant upgrades to mine, just running it stalk and I don't plan to really do any off roading except maybe on that one rare occasion where i'm trying to get to a camping/ fishing spot. So 99.8% road usage. Therefore the OR features didn't make sense for me. I chose the sport because I liked the upgrades that separate it from the SR5 models (same but different upgrades on the OR) and I liked the overall appearance of the sport better (rims, color fender and bumper, scoop, etc.) Its all about what you will do with the truck and what you want out of it. Most TW users get the OR because they either do a lot of ORing or they tell themselves they do, so there is definitely a bias here for that model. But as others have said, test drive both.

To answer your question of where the two come in. Basically OR and sport are the same "trim" level a step above the SR5 and one below the limited which comes with all the creature comforts standard. Pro has everything.

For the record the scoop does not interfere with visibility, even in OR situations ...why would they put it on the Pro if it did?

 

Sport is a street tuned truck which is very capable off road and in snow etc. But you give up a few OR features like lockers. The OR is of course a off road tuned truck that is at home on the street but in this case you do give up some street features. A lot softer suspension which could annoy some people after awhile especially in a daily driver that sees very little OR action.

The two versions are priced almost identically so you need to decide if you want great street capabilities and are willing to give up the high end off road features (going with Sport) or you can live with an okay street truck that has all of the OR features (going with the OR)

Hood scoop... well they are cool looking but meh, I could live without one and certainly would not make that a deciding factor. Then there is the color keyed fender flares on the Sport vs the black ones on the OR. Me, I like both. The color keyed seem cleaner, but the black are more function especially when off roading.

I went through this same decision making and ended up with a Sport. I don't do OR for the sake of it and have yet to drive anywhere off road that the Sport couldn't easily handle. I do 98-99% of my miles driving on neatly paved roads with the occasional need to drive on a graded dirt/gravel road and short distances over grassy fields. Hunting fishing and such.

 

I came from an SR5... the OR suspension felt too spongy and the Sport felt too stiff.

In the end I got a Sport... it was either a DCSB OR or an ACLB Sport for the exact same price: $34,418. Bed space was the deciding factor.

The Sport suspension has been nice for towing though... it doesn't squat like my SR5 did.

 

@vxmine

Missing from your initial post is location, Canadian options differ greatly from our American brethren.

My OR has HAC but it's utterly useless on the auto. It rolls backwards like three feet before it catches. And it sounds awful. Super annoying IMO.

Scoops a Scoop. It's already been answered. But as a side note, the fronts of all trucks are obnoxiously long and tall these days. It's a front collision safety thing. But It's hard to see what's in front of you on the trail. You basically crest a hill blind to what's in front of you. There are camera mods for the taco so you can utilize a front camera with the stock head unit. Which solves that problem rather elegantly.

Initially I wanted color matching fenders, but in the end I'm glad theyre matt black. It sure helps hide scratches.

The OR also has Crawl Control which in 36000miles I have used once. And never again. And the locker in the offroad can only be used in low 4 which is annoying.

 

The Off Road will come with the larger 8.75" Rear Diff and the upgraded Brake Booster, the Sport will also have the larger 8.75" Rear if equipped with a Manual Trans

 

Is the upgraded brake booster to compensate when using crawl control? I didn't know it had that.

 

Correct, the Sport has the traditional style vacuum booster

 

I just like that any manufacturer will still put on a hood scoop, fake or not. Means that passion is still alive with a few manufacturers.

 

Thanks for all the responses. I plan to test drive a couple this week.

It’s funny, I wasn’t even in the market until I drove my wife’s 4Runner. It’s so nice. I love my JKU, but as a DD I like the idea of a similar size vehicle that is off-road capable.

 

Mpgs are going to be different between 4runner and Tacoma if that matters to you. As many others have said, there are some differences. I decided that the OR was for me just to have the rear diff lock, not wanting to do aftermarket work later. You'll figure it out eventually.

 

BTW the AC is ONLY a LB

 

Uh, yeah I am aware.