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Electric Lime Taco: Toyota Beefs Up Off-Road Muscle, Style for 2022 Tacoma TRD Pro and Trail Edition Trucks

Toyota TRD ProPhoto courtesy: Toyota
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Toyota upgrades its TRD Pro Tacoma plus offers an Updated Double Cab Trail Edition 4×4.

The new-look, upgraded TRD Pro Tacoma — and updated Trail Edition 4×4 — look perfect for overlanding adventures and off-road fun. For 16 years now, Toyota has offered various Tacoma trim levels and door configurations to appease the masses for the midsize truck market.

From two doors and four doors, to even its access cab with suicide doors, Toyota has maintained a stronghold on the adventure vehicle segment.

And this month, the Japanese automaker announced enhancements to make the 2022 Tacoma TRD Pro and Trail Edition 4x4s even more capable.

2022 Tacoma TRD Pro & Trail Edition 4×4 Updates

New Suspension Lifts for Challenging Terrains

The 2022 Tacoma TRD Pro will showcase TRD-tuned Fox internal bypass shocks paired with a loftier suspension lift — 1.5 inches up front and 0.5 inches for the rear. The Trail Edition, only available in a Double Cab, also lifts but with only 1.1 inches for the vehicle’s front and 0.5 inches in the rear.

Toyota TRD Pro shocks
Photo courtesy: Toyota

The additional lift on both models will allow off-road enthusiasts more off-tarmac allowance when navigating over challenging terrain or through off-camber situations.

Toyota also improved the new Tacoma TRD Pro’s clearance angles over last year’s model. It now boasts a 36.4-degree approach angle, 24.7-degree departure angle, and 26.6-degree breakover angle. The Trail Edition Double Cab follows with a nearly equal setup of 34 inches for the approach, 23.6 degrees for the departure angle, and an improved 26.4-degree breakover angle.

Coupled with the increased lift, the Tacoma TRD Pro features new TRD-engineered machine-forged aluminum upper control arms round out the front. These add extra strength and robustness to the setup.

Meanwhile, the Tacoma Trail Edition now gets a standard locking rear differential — an essential upgrade to have when the off-tarmac trails prove challenging. Additionally, skid plates usually found on the Tacoma TRD Off-Road, now grace the Trail Edition, providing additional underbody protection.

New Look, New Features

2022 Toyota Tacoma Trail Edition
Photo courtesy: Toyota

Both vehicle types receive fresh looks and accouterments, too. In the TRD Pro department, a new exclusive color, Electric Lime Metallic, joins the trio of existing TRD Pro colors for 2022. The Trail Edition 4×4 will don a new hue as well: Lunar Rock. Super White, Magnetic Gray Metallic, and Midnight Black Metallic will carry over to both vehicle models.

Toyota continues to echo its name throughout the lineup but brings forth a few changes. A new Toyota TRD Pro rear quarter panel stamping more clearly delineates “TRD” and “Pro,” and other badging receives updates from the previous model year. All TRD Pro badges will remain black.

The Trail Edition accents will also be black, with a new badge adorning the rear tailgate. Rear bumpers will match the exterior paint color, too. Bronze-colored lettering accents the heritage-inspired front grille, which will tie to the bronze wheel type.

Toyota TRD Pro
Photo courtesy: Toyota

Armed with a 0.5-inch wider width, the Trail Edition wheels are now shod with beefy Goodyear all-terrain tires. Coupled with a smartly designed lockable bed storage system and 120V power outlet, the Tacoma Trail Edition is set to power years of future adventures.

Powerful Powerplant & Safety Systems

Both TRD Pro and Trail Edition Tacomas boast a 3.5-liter V6 powerplant, generating 278 horsepower and 265 lb. ft. torque. Buyers can pair the V6 with either a six-speed manual transmission or the six-speed automatic. Towing capacity for both models is 6,400 pounds.

Both models will feature an eight-inch screen that’s compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, and will include several safety systems and cockpit creature comforts. The new Tacoma TRD Pro and Trail Edition models will be sure to please a plethora of off-road adventurers.

Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, Trail Edition: Pricing, Availability

The 2022 Tacoma TRD Pro and 2022 Tacoma Trail Edition’s projected dealership arrival is slated for this fall. While Toyota has not released pricing yet, we anticipate both models to increase in price from this model year.

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