SR5 vs TRD Off Road acceleration

Hey guys. I posted about this over on reddit but it didn't really get much of a response so I figured I'd share here.

Short version - The SR5 is WAY faster than the TRD Off Road (with some big disclaimers)

Long version
I own a 2019 TRD Off Road and recently went on a work trip where my rental was a 2019 SR5. This rental is a BEAST. The acceleration of this thing is night and day better than my Off road. I don't have official numbers or anything, but it's very easy to tell the difference in pull between the 2 trucks. The SR5 just accelerates so much quicker than my truck does.

Couple things that are likely the reason for this are, I live in Colorado at elevation which doesn't help. The rental I have been driving is in the midwest, so there's quite the difference there of about 5,500ft. Also, I tried looking up the curb weight of each and it looks like the TRD Off Road is a couple hundred pounds heavier than the SR5. Mine also has an additional 200 ish pounds as I've added a diamondback cover and a sub and amp. The rest of my truck is stock.

Another thing, the shifting performance is a lot better on the SR5 which makes me wonder if there's a TSB that needs to be installed on my truck. Again, this may just be the elevation difference, but this SR5 does not shift nearly as much while going down the highway up and over little hills. It feels great and I really wish my truck felt like this. I would really like to see how my TRD Off Road performs in the midwest, but in the meantime I'm going to take it to the dealership and make sure everything is up to date.


So to anyone who says the tacoma feels sluggish, drive a SR5 at low elevation and I think you'll be surprised. This thing really hauls ass!

 

I'd guess that due to it being a rental it's been beat on and the transmission learned to drive that way

 

I reckon the elevation is the main factor. It can play a massive role.

 

This was what people were saying on reddit, but if this is the case does that mean I should drive my truck like I stole it just for it to feel normal? Doesn't seem like it should be this way.

 

Define normal.
Also as the other poster stated elevation plays a huge role as well.

 

Academically, the SR5 basically has an open rear diff with a ring gear that is smaller so there's less rotating mass and it should accelerate quicker.

Edit: Don't know how much difference in weight or if you could feel it though.

 

Normal meaning the truck doesn't have to downshift when it sees a 1% gradient at 65mph.

 

NA engines will almost see a 50HP loss at 5500ft. Elevation is huge. No one is setting drag strip records a mile high.

edit; HP Loss = (elevation x 0.03 x horsepower @ sea level)/1000

(5500 x 0.03 x 278 (crank hp of 3.5 Liter 2GR-FKS V6)) = 45870 / 1000 = 45.87 crank hp loss

That's a 16.5% decrease in power at the crank compared to sea level.

 

Jesus that's significant. Oh the price I pay to live out in CO..

Thanks for the info man!

 

I'll take the HP hit no doubt.

 

Yeah, It's definitely the elevation. I live in CO as well. Huge difference out here compared to flatland. You should also feel the difference if you leave the Front Range and drive up to 10,000+ feet.

 

The smaller 245 tires on the SR5 will also make a difference as well.

 

Is this just another Friday thread?

went to CO last summer and I basically flored the rental the entire week I spent there....

 

Well, the Kevlar on the Offroad trucks might offset. Not sure about the weight difference between the two.

 

#theydidthemath

 

I don't think it's just the elevation. I live in Salt Lake City and drive a 2018 TRD off road which feels like a slug on any sort of gradient. Last week I had an issue with the parking brake locking up so I took it into the dealership and was given a 2020 SR5 loaner. It drives like a completely different car. My wife who drives the tacoma more than I do asked me to trade in our TRD for an SR5 thinking it was a superior model.

The acceleration is crisper, it's not hunting for gears constantly, and it's getting an average of 24 mpg driving the same routes my TRD does while averaging 19 mpg. I drove it up Big cottonwood canyon today and was amazed how nicely it did. No bucking me in my seat with constant down/up shifts. I was convinced toyota re-did the tune or mapping (or one of those ECU things), or possibly changed the gearing, but after looking online toyota doesn't mention any such changes.

My guess is the tires, softer suspension and heavier weight play a big role, but it's such a marked difference between the two that it's hard to believe it's just that. My TRD is bone stock and spends probably >90% of its time on pavement so i'm seriously considering trading to an SR5. The driving experience was just so much more pleasant. I get my car back tomorrow so I'll ask one of the service guys if they can explain the difference and let you guys know if i hear anything that hasn't been mentioned.

 

245s and elevation make a difference.

I live at 3600ft and driving at sea level seems like a turbo charger, even on crappy old cars. Can't imagine denver.

 

Agreed. But i live at 4200 ft, and drive up to 8000 ft twice a week to ski, and I'm telling you the difference between the way these two cars drove was very significant.

 

Yep! Finally someone who's driven both models. It's one hell of a crazy difference isn't it? That SR5 I drove felt like a rocket, whereas my truck(Off road) feels like a bus. Recently started using ECT mode and that has helped a little, but it's not the same.

I'm not necessarily complaining either. I bought this truck to be used as an off road capable rig and not a street racecar, but the difference is worth mentioning.

 

I had an SR5 as a loaner too, and I also noticed the difference. I guess I am not the only one either.