Why the 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is the coolest midsize truck

Toyota’s mid-size truck dominates the market, outselling the competition for the past 20 years. A lot of credit goes to the undeniably awesome range-topping TRD Pro model, which touts a ton of off-roading gear and cosmetic upgrades that make it the truck you really want, even if it isn’t necessarily the one you can afford. The TRD Pro’s been around for a while, but we think its coolness still beats out the competition.

Related: Is the 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport worth $40,895?

The 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is a serious off-road rig

Lots of trucks come with off-roady bits from the factory, but the newest TRD Pro comes with all of the off-roady bits. It gets adjustable FOX coilovers and shocks, a lift of an inch in the front and half an inch in the rear, Rigid LED fog lights, and a front light to emphasize the truck’s willingness to adventure.

Toyota didn’t stop the tweaks there, though. 18-inch TRD Pro wheels and 33-inch all-terrain tires offer a serious aesthetic upgrade and grant some additional ground clearance and better traction on less-than-paved surfaces. A front skid plate, old-school Toyota grille badging, a high-clearance front bumper, and a steel ARB rear bumper all add up to a truck that has some serious curb appeal. Even if there isn’t a curb for miles.

Toyota’s given the 2025 TRD Pro neat performance parts

The TRD Pro receives a small selection of factory performance parts that you won’t see on other trucks, either within or outside the Toyota family. While it lacks the snorkel intake that the Trailhunter model gets, it does enjoy a factory cold air intake system and a black-painted cat-back performance exhaust that gives the truck a little bit more growl and enhances the performance theater.

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Speaking of performance, that’s another reason the 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is a cool choice in its segment. There aren’t that many hybrid trucks around, with the Ford F-150 and Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro being two of the few available options. The TRD Pro’s hybrid powertrain makes 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 48 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque over the last generation model’s naturally aspirated V6. The jury’s still out on long-term reliability, but we think that’s a certifiably cool amount of performance gains.

The cockpit of the truck feels special, too

You don’t get to see the outside of the truck when you’re driving, so the coolest midsize truck needs to have an interior that matches, right? Rest assured that Toyota delivers.

Unique TRD Pro-badged “IsoDynamic Performance Seats” tout heating, ventilation, and red contrast stitching, but their most defining feature is a pair of shock absorbers that offer better lateral and vertical motion when the going gets rough. They’re basically a set of off-road seat suspension.

Related: Toyota Tacoma vs. Ford Ranger: which midsize truck wins in 2025?

While the camo-draped inserts throughout the cabin aren’t really my style, they still give the cabin a sense of occasion. Much more agreeable are the red accents adorning the top of the steering wheel, gear selector, engine start button, and dash badging. Red TRD lettering on the bottom of the steering wheel reminds you of what you’re driving and matches the contrast stitching on the dash, door panels, and center console.

Final thoughts

The 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro has more competition than its previous generations, and its rivals are better trucks than they’ve ever been. In fact, you wouldn’t have to look far to find one that tows more, costs less, or makes more power. But you won’t find a truck that’s cooler or that offers a more complete package than the top-dog Tacoma.

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