Want to Buy 2020 Tacoma TRD Sport 4x4 or TRD OR 4x4

Hi everyone, new member here from California. Wanted your expert opinion on TRD Sport 4x4 vs TRD OR 4x4 - Im looking to buy a new Truck by putting my stimulus check to good use as in actually stimulating the economy. My question is that which version is better to modify for looks and performance for both on road and off? Im considering adding Prinsu rack w mounted lighting, a skid plate with winch and Eibach 2 inch lift with 285 to 315 size tires - your input will be greatly appreciated.

 

You are not going to get a good answer to this. Just search sport vs off-road and see the many threads of petty banter.

long story short, go drive both. See what one feels better to you (suspension is different). Also be realistic on what you will be using it for. The off-road has a bigger diffs/locker, but do you really need it?

crawl control sounds cool in theory, but is pretty much a gimmick.

 

Off-road manual transmission

 

Off-road and buy a hood with a scoop or get a pro.

 

Like Suaveflooder said drive them both and get the one you like better.

Here is why I wwnt with the sport. I wanted an access cab and manual transmission so it was the sport for me. I really wanted that rear locker and non "scewped" hood, but wanted manual and access cab more. That said I have been very happy with the sport. It handles nicely on the street and has done well off road even with the stock tires. The ride is probably harsher off road, but I just take it easy and slow and she does just fine. The hill start assist works well and I find myself appreciating it more as time goes on. After it is paid off and if I am still missing the locker, I might go ARB or something similar.

If you are planning on serious off roading, you will probably like the OR better.

 

ARB locker is my plan as well. That and a good meaty tire.

 

I personally think the overall stance looks better on the OR variant. The wheels too. And frankly, I didn’t like the hood scoop at all. Considering how the prices between the two models are so comparable, it was an easy decision for me to choose the Off-Road.

 

^This! Same reason why I bought the sport. Canada gets the offroad access cab in manual though.

Differences is the offroad has a "softer" suspension compared to the sport. So you will have more body roll when driving on the pavement.

Offroad also has multi-terrain select as well as crawl control but you lose those if you get a manual transmission.

The offroad also gets the rear locker. Sport does not.

The offroad comes with 265/70/16 tires and the sport comes with 265/65/17.

Sport has the hood scoop and color matched fenders and bumpers. The Sport also comes with an "air dam" below the front bumper for better aerodynamics but can easily be removed.

Other than that they pretty much share everything else. Both are cable of being really great offroad but stock obviously the offroad model is a step or two ahead.

Also welcome to TW!

 

I like the sport the hood scoop makes the truck look more aggressive. The sport rides great on the road and with 4x4 can go anywhere you need to go. Though you need to buy the truck that will fill your needs.

 

I just traded in my 10 sport on a 20 Off Road. I did like the hood scoop, but it really does nothing other than look cool. One thing I was on the fence about was the rims. I liked both, but its personal preference. I really do like the color matched fender flares on the sport, but dislike the look and performance of the tires. For winter driving, the sport tires are horrible. All of the off road gadgets included in that package really aren't all that useful if you never go off the street. The locker could get you unstuck potentially in day to day situation. The shocks are different from what I saw between the two, the OR has the bilsteins and I think the sport has something different. Honestly, if my 10 would have been an OR, I would have gotten a sport just to have something different. I will say though, from some of the pictures I have seen on here, I REALLY like the looks of the sports with a more aggressive tire on it with the stock rims.

 

I'd say if you're planning significant mods, lift, air-lockers, etc, then save yourself some money up front and get the least expensive truck with the interior you want. No need to spend OR or Sport money if you're going to take off all the things that Toyota added and you paid for.

I bought the OR as I don't have any plans to significantly mod and if I'm being honest, it likely won't see any terrain rougher than a field or gravel road in a National Park. Having poured a ton in to off-road vehicles before, I always started with the cheapest platform possible. Saved myself cash up front I could pour immediately in to the build.

 

Great discussion here -- and I appreciate the thoughtful responses. I think three things will help crystalize your final decision:

1) As has been pointed out here, you really should drive both. That may be hard with this coronavirus situation but it is worth it given that you are on the fence about which model is right for you. It seems to me that the difference between the Sport and the OR is big enough (the suspension, the way they drive) that you really have to experience both to see which one is right for you. Too big a purchase to assess it via the specs. You have to feel it.

2) It makes sense to really think about how you will use the truck from a practical perspective. If you are never really going to go seriously off roading (I say that because all of the Tacomas are more than enough for most non-pavement driving short of serious off roading / over landing).

3) It also makes sense to get pricing in each -- Sport / OR -- so you have the real numbers in front of you. Right now inventory is low, configurations are hard to get, production has not ramped up and dealers are all over the place -- some want to move units and others are holding tight on pricing, etc.

In my own case, based on good feedback from these forums, I was looking at an SR5 versus OR. Given the driving I do the SR5 would have been more than enough for me (and I previously owned an SR5). My plan was to upgrade the shocks and the tires (probably not do a lift kit again since I didn't need it) and save the money by buying the SR5. That was in theory. In the real world, I found a dealer looking to move an OR who gave me a great price and the gap was not as big as I thought it would be on paper. And I didn't have to do the shocks and any other work.

I hope that helps ... look forward to hearing what you choose and how it all works out. Best of luck !

 

I have a sport and my only gripe is the shitty paint. Get magnetic, red, black, green, gray, anything but white.

 

Sport with MT has the same 8.5" rear end.

 

Sport comes with hitachi shocks. As well as limited, and SRs.

 

Same MSRP, OR gives a lot more features. If you want the suspension, people do OR and SPORT take offs all the time, easy swap. If you can find the truck/cab/transmission config you want in OR, I'd get the OR (at least, that's what I did....). Even if you don't use a locker, crawl control, etc, it's the same cost (NEW) to have them or not have them....To me that's a no brainer.

Everything you do that makes it better off road makes it worse on road, and visa versa. '

BUT most importantly, I think if you're talking about needing a winch, you're probably going to want to have a locker....

 

Non functioning Hood scoop no actual purpose (plastic male extension with no feeling). Fake, void filling, nonsense, sucker bait etc. Locker however very purposeful. MTS whatever maybe useful for that one situation in an unexpected sand trap but useless in mud. Suspension changed out at 200 miles so not a factor.

Disclaimer: Its not my money, buy and enjoy whatever you like even if it’s a non functioning hood scoop.

 

Test drive. Test drive. Then make your choice. Ultimately it’s your decision. What might be good for one, might not be good for someone else.
What ever model you decide on, you are making the best choice for you.

 

My 10 sport had the bilsteins like the off road version. I don't know when they stopped using them on the sports, but I can attest that they were/are a quality shock.

 

Price is exactly the same in the same configurations so test drive and pick the one you like.