2021 Tacomas: Which configuration has the smoothest, most car like on pavement ride?

I’m kinda partial to the Pro.

 

Was having a side chat with a buddy today and said almost the exact same thing. It's really as if Toyota built the Tacoma as an open invitation to be modded. This isn't a criticism at all, I'm super happy for the huge aftermarket ecosystem. But it is a little frustrating how underwhelming the factory "stuff" is (like the speakers, as one example).

 

The Sport does not come with Bilsteins.

 

I'm the original poster and find it quite interesting to hear that the 4WD TRD off road has a softer, less jarring ride than the RWD SR because in the pre-Tacoma generations of Toyota pickups the reverse was true; i.e. the 2WD models rode smoother than the 4WD.

 

My bad, meant to say hitachi.

 

Exactly, the speakers come to mind too. The speakers on my sr5 were literally made out of paper. The factory supplied shocks are adequate for most people’s intended use. I agree that Toyota knows the Tacoma is a versatile platform, and that people love to make the truck their own. Look what happened new defender.
They undoubtedly lost many of their serious off-road fans because of how much harder the new gen defender is to modify. Can’t just bolt siders to the frame and modular bumpers, winch etc..

 

As in larger diameter shaft? If so then wow, didn’t think you get go lower that 4600s.

 

The long bed will ride smoother because of the wheelbase, the OR, has the softest spring rate, well dampened ride, these together, in my opinion, would offer the smoothest, least jarring on road ride. Be that as it may, you'll have to test drive and give it the butt o meter test for your driving style.

 

I just went from a 2016 SR5 to a 2020 OR. The OR rides way smoother on the road absorbing bumps, etc. From what I’ve read on here this is the general consensus. I had heard that before but was really surprised at how big of a difference there was. The breaking roll or handling when going around turns doesn’t bother me. I also drive slow so that might be part of the reason for that.

 

The orange off-road has a winch, armor, and an aftermarket grill. It probably has beefier aftermarket suspension that made it ride harsher.

 

My Sport rides good and handles great for a truck. I have not driven the other models so can't give a comparison.

Like others have said, your best bet is to drive then back to back on the same roads.

 

That’s my bosses truck. I’ve driven it since it was new. It now has a Dobinsons lift.

 

Slowing the force? That doesn't make any sense. Forces are finite and not a velocity vector. Call it semantics if you want, not understanding how it works is pretty obvious when your say things like that. Uncontrolled/under dampened rebound will translate into more upward force exerted on the chassis after compression. I'm not arguing anything, just stating how a spring works. Saying that the speed of the suspension rebounding has no effect on how the bump feels demonstrates your misunderstanding of how the system works. Rewording your explanation of compression and rebound damping doesn't help your "argument". The truck doesn't compress the suspension further than static load, the upward force from changes in the road surface compresses the suspension. That is not semantics, it's a basic understanding of how suspension works.

 

lol, everyone likes to parrot that line but its not true.

You can buy basic bitch stripped down 2 wheel drive fleet pickups with crank windows but people don't buy them.

 

I’ve owned two 2nd gen TRD sport models. When I started looking at buying a 3rd gen I decided to drive an OR just to make sure I wasn’t missing something. I found that I preferred the ride and handling of the sport.

Just drive them and figure out what you like. I agree with another post though.... if you want a truck that drives like a car check out the Ridgeline.

 

The Sport Tacoma trucks that I’ve driven rode better than any Camry or Avalon. It has a really nice SUV ride quality, I love it

 

"Sporty ride" and "truck" don't belong in the same sentence. I also have a particular hatred for fake hood scoops. The automotive equivalent of stuffing your pants.

 

I don't think you can find many vehicles at all sold in the US that even have crank windows anymore.

 

The 2021 F150 still has it as an option for the base model. The Dodge Dakota had it too before that was discontinued.

 

I did read something that does confirm that base fleet F-150 indeed still have roll up windows, l doubt there are very many other vehicles outside of that if at all.