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Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro or 4Runner TRD Pro? | What Car or Truck Should I Buy Ep. 17

If going off-road is your goal and Toyota is your brand, there are a couple of different options.

We received a question from a viewer who is stuck between getting a Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and a 4Runner TRD Pro, so we’re here to help. And he or she already owns a 4Runner TRD Off-Road, so this is just an upgrade to a TRD Pro model. So which is better?

The first argument to be made is simply pickup truck versus SUV, though clearly the bed of a truck wasn’t an issue when this shopper purchased their 4Runner.

When it comes time to off-road, the Tacoma does offer slightly better angles with a 35-degree approach compared to the 33 degrees of approach of the 4Runner, while the 4Runner offers a little more ground clearance with 9.6-inches compared to 9.4-inches in the Tacoma.

Neither of these differences is likely enough to sway a purchase, but the powertain difference could be. The 4Runner still uses a 4.0-liter V6 mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, putting out 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque, an old-school engine that Toyota replaced in all its other vehicles except this SUV.

In the Tacoma, a 3.5-liter V6 is mated to a six-speed automatic, making 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque, and while that isn’t a big horsepower advantage, fuel economy is where the pickup should shine.

The Tacoma is rated at 18 mpg in the city, 22 on the highway and 20 mpg combined, while the 4Runner gets an 18 mpg combined rating thanks to 17 in the city and 20 on the highway.

How about price? The Tacoma TRD Pro starts at $42,810 USD, while the 4Runner TRD Pro starts at $46,615, so opting for the SUV will cost more.

So, which vehicle is the better choice? If you’re asking me, I would go with the 4Runner, mostly for the most comfortable, spacious cabin.

Which would you choose? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to watch our extreme icy torture test with the 4Runner TRD Pro below.