Best Trim for Daily Driving on Pavement

So I've read a few threads that ask what's the difference between the TRD OR and TRD Sport, and my take away is that the TRD OR absorbs more impact so it's better for off road use and the sport suspension is tighter so it handles better on the road but it can be very rough/bouncy off road.

Here are my questions:
(1) I'm planning to daily drive 20 miles each way on the highway (NOVA to DC) in a lot of traffic with lots of nasty potholes and poorly maintained city roads. Will the TRD OR be a more comfortable ride or the TRD sport? What would the downside be with the TRD OR if it's got a softer suspension, more body roll than the sport?

(2) If the recommendation is to get the TRD sport over the OR for city/highway driving and I do decide to want leather, am I better off getting the limited for the value (the leather seat package on the sport is like $5k, at that point, would i be better off with limited)?

 

1 depends on you. I drive 30 mikes a day one way in the OR


2 if u want the sport with leather get clazzios imo.

 

SR or SR5 would make for the best on road driver. I doubt if there is much of a difference between the stock suspension on the Tacoma.

 

The sport is not all leather seats. They are leather trimmed and cheap vinyl where your but and back go. I was sure not impressed.

 

You really should test drive a few different models to see what works best for you.

 

Consider that realistically, 97% or more of your driving will be on pavement or managed gravel roads, not on off-road trails. I have have a 4x4 Sport and it does just fine on every trail that I've been on. Granted, I don't do crazy rock crawling that require spare parts to be brought along and the only armor I have are sliders with a front skid for the occasional "oops" moments. I also added Bilstein 5100's on each corner that didn't require any changes to the stock suspension, installed @HeadStrong Off-Road 's aftermarket AALs designed for 3rd Gens, added 255/80/17 Falken Wildpeak AT/3Ws @ 38 PSI, left my sway bar on, and took the front spoiler chin off. All of that gave me an affordable 3" lift ( 1.5" from the shocks and another 1.5" from the tires ) with only a 1.5 hit on my MPGs. I'm careful about the trails I choose to run and rely on good friends to tell me if I'm within my comfort/truck capability level or not off the pavement. All that said, I'm very happy with my setup with the ride on pavement being smooth and I feel like I have more control over the "spongy" feeling from the rear that I had with the factory setup.

Regarding the difference from the OR version, my type of off-roading shouldn't require a locker nor should I need to be told if I'm getting too far off-camber because your eyes and intuition should warn you well in advance.

 

With roads like you described I doubt you'd notice the difference.

Big ass pot hole will rattle your brains no matter what kinda suspension you have. Unless you idle over them.

 

I'm liking the ride on my 2020 sr5 v6 auto much more as it gets more mileage accumulated. Its starting to get more compliant on the roads here vs being very harsh riding for the first 6 months owned. As far as the engine and transmission, they perform fine, no issues plus good fuel economy for these trucks.

 

SR5 with 245s and stock suspension.

I liked how the offroad drove due to it being softer, but the mileage is worse.

 

I drive 23 miles each way in the burbs. I have an OR and it's what I'd always get.

 

FWIW, my 2021 Pro handles better than my Suburban and worse than my Corvette

Too be honest, it handles better than the 2018 RAV4 it replaced, but my wife drove that one 99% of the time.

 

Actually its the other way around, bolsters are softex/synthetic and where you sit its actualltly leather.

 

You would think.

 

I think my SR5 is great on the highway.

 

I’m happy with my OR (on my second one). For the past 4 - 5 years I’ve been doing mostly city driving on less then stellar Pittsburgh roads. I lack comparison to the Sport, so all I can offer is my own positive experience with my DD OR. I doubt however that the sport would have a noticeably diminished ride quality.

 

Personal preference
If you're one that is always questioning factory suspension tunes, you'll probably swap out shocks and springs anyways.

 

I actually prefer my sr5 on secondary highway roads than the interstate highways. It has a taunt suspension, and handles those roads like a decent sports car. On the interstate going 70-75 mph it tends to get bouncy. Imo, it seems the shocks aren't calibrated quite right.

 

read my lips S- R -5