2016 TRD Sport vs OffRoad

Yes, but we do not need ATRAC at the mall...why pay for it?

 

I think it depends on the color. The tan definitely needs the black flares. inferno looks good too with the flares. Other colors I could go either way, I do like the blue with black though and I think white with black would make a nice stormtrooper, especially with the black trimmed wheels on the OR

 

One thing to consider with the color matched bumper is unless you want to not use features you paid for you will not be able to put an aftermarket bumper on (blind spot monitoring, or whatever else is in the bumper). I don't have a problem with the chrome bumper but if I ever got tired of it I'd definitely go aftermarket. Ive seen somecreally nice rear bumpers for the 2nd gen and have faith that some vendors will make nice ones for the 3rd gen

 

What does that even mean? Do you buy a 4WD truck for paved roads, I don't!

 

I can see their pros and cons, again though if someone really doesn't like them or the chrome bumper, you can pay a professional and they will make it match the truck. Especially if you go to toyota and buy the paint from them. Toyota is not going to make two separate pieces for the truck. I can almost bet that the fender flares on the sport are the exact same piece except toyota painted them. It would not be cost efficient to make two different kinds. Tons of car manufacturers have done it.

 

Yes, the or.

 

Isn't Crawl Control and ATRAC offered together in some 4Runner models ?

 

It would be more accurate to say that multi terrain select (MTS) is what replaces/upgrades ATRAC. Crawl control builds on top of MTS. You can use MTS without ever using crawl control. Theoretically you could use crawl control without MTS but it would be useless and i doubt toyota would program that to be possible. In the Tacoma both MTS and crawl control share a common control knob but they are different systems.

 

I have been writing this for a few weeks. No one seems to care that Crawl Control has not replaced ATRAC.

 

If that is what they have done with A-TRAC, I trust Toyota... Since A-TRAC was so great at giving us front and rear locker-like traction, Crawl must do some additional stuff to improve on it?

 

No, MTS offers 5 levels of ATRAC. Crawl Control just uses MTS/ATRAC to keep the wheels turning at the same speed.

 

It operates the wheels independently to keep the vehicle traveling at a preset rate. Realize that off road, the computer may have to vary the speed over obstacles at times to maintain control.

 

Comparison on 4x4 after reading posts and articles I found on the web.

TRD Sport

• 17-inch wheels
• Hood scoop
• Plastic front underbody guard
• Sport-tuned shocks
• Cabin noise is lower than TRD Off-Road on highway
• TRD SPORT DOUBLE CAB 4X4 V6 AUTO LB $34,340

TRD Off-Road

• 16-inch wheels
• Crawl-control (4x4 A/T only)
• Multi-terrain Select (4x4 A/T only)
• Electronically controlled Locking Rear Differential
• Active Traction Control (A-TRAC) (4x4 M/T only)
• Off-road tuned suspension with Bilstein shocks
• Clutch Start Cancel (manual transmission only)
• Suspension feels rough on the highway & more cabin noise on highway
• TRD OFF ROAD DOUBLE CAB 4X4 AUTO LB $34,340

 

I have had 3 4x4 Off Road TRD Tacomas (2001, 2005, 2010)... the first two I put over 100,000 miles in about 4 years before trading in for the newer model. The 2010 has 78,000 miles in 5.5 years.
95% is daily driver/ work truck (I am self-employed in the landscape irrigation industry) and the off road part is mostly in Baja California in deep sand, rocky climbs, mud bogs, washboard roads and some offroading in our nearby Anza-Borrego Desert/ Ocotillo Wells ORV Park and other San Diego backcountry driving.

All that being said, and I have test driven a Sport TRD 4x4, the Off Road suspension has NEVER felt rough or noise was loud in the cabin (except when I once ran mud terrain tires).

In fact, the suspension on the Off Road (especially the second generation 4 door models) is quite soft and comfortable and far from rough. It needed help when heavily loaded or rear seat passengers onboard on my 2005, and less so after 5 years on my 2010 with the after-market addition of Ride Rite air bags and Bilstein 5100 shocks (larger than the stock Bilstein shocks).

The Off Road 4x4 has equipment that actually functions to improve the truck's ability to easily go beyond any other stock truck, thanks to A-TRAC (MTS now) and the Rear Locking Differential.

The Sport is a 'looks' package, with colored body parts and a decorative, non-functioning hood scoop. It has no additional traction abilities than all other 4x4 model Tacomas, except the Off Road 4x4 which stands alone with low range drive power to all 4 tires regardless of surface conditions, thanks to A-TRAC/MTS.

 

and this is why I get the sport for the warden. if we need to off road, we are doing this in my 4runner

 

Whoa Whoa Whoa... The TRD Off-Road isn't the more expensive build?

 

I believe those as base prices without the packages. Also Sport has more exterior/interior features than Off-Road.

 

I had just blindly ruled out the Off Road. Figured it would be more expensive with the added off road features. Guess I will have to take another look. Still got a month before they start showing up in my area anyway.

 

AFAIK the TRD OR still has all of the interior features such as wireless charging, back up camera, reverse sensor, optional heated seats, push button start (AT's only I think), optional BSM and RCTA, etc. The brochure specifically says the TRD OR packages "adds to or replaces features on the TRD Sport"

Also, the TRD OR is listed above the TRD Sport in the brochure... just saying

 

Even if the OR package is an additional 2 or 3k -- in the grand scheme of things when you're already dropping over 32-34k on a truck it's not much difference for the added capability and performance IMO.