With the newest version of the  2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Series on its way here to Toyota on the Trail, we thought now would be the perfect time to look at some of the best examples of drivers taking the Tacoma off-road. We compiled five of the best photos and videos on Instagram that were shared with the #Tacoma and offer a good glimpse at the midsize truck taking the dirt path, so check ’em out below!

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A photo posted by Jerry (@6oh_taco) on Oct 30, 2016 at 7:07pm PDT

A photo posted by Sam Chou (@samkchou) on Oct 31, 2016 at 3:00am PDT

A photo posted by F R E E D O M E D I A . O R G (@4runner_tacoma) on Oct 31, 2016 at 12:46am PDT

A video posted by Alex (@alex.busta) on Oct 30, 2016 at 7:24pm PDT

A video posted by @unleashed4x4 on Oct 30, 2016 at 1:13pm PDT

2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Series Specs & Features

For the 2016 model year, the Toyota Tacoma was completely redesigned and taken into its next generation. The result was a stunning new truck that delivered superior capabilities and a sportier design than ever before. Now in its sophomore year, Toyota introduced the return of the TRD Pro Series trim level for the 2017 Toyota Tacoma, and we cannot wait for its arrival. We figured we’d dive into some of our favorite specs & features, but you can see a full list of upgrades by looking back at our initial announcement of the new truck.

[ READ MORE: 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Series Canadian Release Date ]

“Toyota trucks already have a well-earned reputation for conquering the toughest conditions on the planet. With the Tacoma TRD Pro, we add exclusive performance and capability equipment to an already tough pick-up truck – ready to take extreme off-roading enthusiasts to places they’re never dreamed possible.”

– Cyril Dimitris, Vice President, Toyota Canada Inc.

Thanks to all of its TRD upgrades and enhancements, the 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Series is an off-roader’s dream. But it’s still a truck at heart, so we thought we’d look at its power and capabilities in this blog. For starters, the Tacoma TRD Pro is powered by a 3.5L V6 Atkinson cycle engine capable of doling out 278 horsepower alongside 265 pound-feet of torque. That kind of power allows it to have a 6,400-pound towing capacity and 950- to 1000-pound payload, depending on transmission. So whether you’re planning on taking the truck off-road, or just need it for another day at the jobsite, that Tacoma TRD Pro Series has got you covered.

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When will the Tacoma TRD Pro be available?

You will be happy to know that the new 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro Series has already begun rolling out of factories. As we type this, we’ve got one TRD Pro in stock, so be sure to schedule a test drive and come take one for a spin if you think you’re interested. We’re sure we’ll be getting more in the months to come!

2017 Toyota Tacoma Canadian Release Date

Earlier this year, we broke the exciting news revealing the 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Series truck, but since then we haven’t talked at all about the regular 2017 Toyota Tacoma Canadian release date. While not much is changing for the new model year, as it just underwent a major remodel for 2016, we’re still just as excited for the newest model as it delivers a great blend of efficiency and power with a heavy dose of versatile utility. How can you go wrong?

[ READ MORE: 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Canadian Release Date ]

“The engine is the heart of any truck – and the V6 in the Toyota Tacoma pick-up is a state of the art heart. This new engine delivers more driving fun, practical improvements to Tacoma’s towing capabilities, and increased fuel efficiency.”

– Cyril Dimitris, Vice President, Toyota Canada Inc.

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2017 Tacoma Specs & Features

As we stated, not much has changed for the 2017 model year – with the exception, of course, of the addition of the TRD Pro Series model. But some of our favorite specs and features are of course returning, including the GoPro Mount that had everyone excited before the 2016 Toyota Tacoma came out. The GoPro Mount does exactly what it sounds like, it lets you mount your GoPro in your front windshield so you can record your excursions.

Other features found in the 2017 Toyota Tacoma include a 6.1” display audio screen, a rear-step bumper, removable locking tailgate and halogen headlamps. As for specifications, let’s look at the standard performance and efficiency specs. The standard 2.7L 4-cylinder engine delivers 159 horsepower alongside 180 pound-feet of torque while achieving 12.1 l/100km through city streets and 10.1 l/100km on the highway.

If these specs & features have you interested in the upcoming 2017 Toyota Tacoma, be sure to schedule a test drive right here on our website or give us a call with any additional questions that you might have.

2016 Toyota Tacoma Off-Road Capability

Toyota trucks and utility vehicles have established a pretty good reputation in the realm of off-roading through the years, but many questions have been raised by the introduction of the all-new, next-generation Tacoma. Namely, can the 2016 Toyota Tacoma off-road capability measure up to the brand’s reputation? We surely think it can, and thought we’d tackle some examples of exactly why.

[ READ MORE: 2016 Toyota Tacoma Specs & Features ]

Crawl Control

One important feature that enhances the off-road capability of the 2016 Toyota Tacoma is crawl control. Often stylized as just CRAWL, this feature will greatly enhance the off-road capability of any truck it’s equipped with. The Tacoma now offers you the ability to stay focused on navigating the difficult terrain instead of worrying about multiple things, as CRAWL will automatically modulate things like the brakes and throttle, spanning across five different low-speed settings.

Multi-terrain Select

Tackle the terrain in front of you the way that you’re supposed to by selecting the right terrain with this great MTS feature. Multi-terrain Select allows you to select one of five different terrain settings: Loose Rock, Mud and Sand, Rock and Dirt, Mogul and Rock. Picking the right one will adjust several settings including traction control and the engine’s throttle to the right setting for that terrain.

Electronically Locking Rear Differential

Lastly, the electronically locking rear differential will give you the ability to distribute the right amount of engine power between both back wheels evenly, making sure they spin at exactly the same speed, allowing you to get through road conditions and terrains with low traction much more easily.

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These are just three of the many great off-road-capability-enhancing features available in the 2016 Toyota Tacoma, so don’t be afraid to give us a call or schedule a test drive to come find out even more about how great the midsize truck is at tackling the tough terrains.

Trim Levels of the 2016 Toyota Tacoma

Tacoma has a long history of performance and good looks. This off-road vehicle is versatile and ready to rock, and there are multiple versions to fit with whatever your needs might be. So what are the 5 trim levels of the 2016 Toyota Tacoma?

[ READ MORE: 2016 Toyota Tacoma Specs & Features ]

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4×2 Access Cab

This model is the most basic and does not have four-wheel drive. It does have a lot of great tech features like Bluetooth capability, voice recognition, a 6.1” display audio touchscreen and much more. While it doesn’t come with an actual GoPro camera, it does have a handy mount on the dashboard so you can secure your camera and capture all your great off-road adventures. This trim level comes standard with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

4×4 Access Cab SR+

This four-wheel drive model version takes it up a notch with a 5-speed manual transmission, 16” aluminum-alloy wheels and a 6’ composite cargo bed, complete with tie-downs. Another nice feature of this model is the sliding rear window. It has the same technology as the 4×2, plus a back-up camera.

4×4 Access Cab SR5

The 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 is very similar to the SR+, the main difference being that it has a 6-speed automatic transmission. It also comes standard with advanced voice recognition.

4×4 V6 SR5

This trim level comes standard with a 6-speed automatic transmission, and you guessed it, a 3.5L V6 engine. It also comes with a GoPro mount and all the standard technology available on lower trim models. A nice bonus feature is that it comes standard with rear privacy glass.

4×4 Access Cab V6 TRD off-road

While this beauty is also a 6-speed manual, it has a 3.5L 6-Cylinder Engine and TRD off-road 16” alloy wheels. It’s a fun, tough truck to drive but it also has plenty of creature comforts like: front heated sport seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a garage door opener, an anti-theft system and the touchscreen is slightly larger at 7”. It also comes with integrated SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

[ READ MORE: 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Canadian Release Date ]

If you are looking for a workhorse, this trim level comes standard with a 7-pin Trailer Wiring Harness, Class IV weight distribution hitch and Active Traction Control (A-TRAC). Be sure to check out all the additional features that are available in a TRD off-road package.

One of the most durable, reliable and capable trucks in the world gets updated.

Exterior

The Tacoma has always sported a pretty wide stance and presented itself with a tough, sporty image. The new Taco gets a slightly more chiseled-looking face with an expressive chrome hex grille, and a set of bright LED running lights that grab your attention as it comes toward you.

The overall package looks more aggressive and more muscular to me. A detail that I really liked – the new stamped “Tacoma” logo on the tailgate and the LED brake lights flanking it. My review sample had black fender flares, TRD decals and 16-inch TRD wheels fitted with big 265-70-sized boots.

The truck got a lot of looks, particularly from drivers of older Tacomas. Of course, the inferno orange paint probably helped garner some attention too.

Interior/Tech/Convenience

Once you’ve conquered the Tacoma’s high step-in height and plop yourself into the comfortable heated sport seats, you’ll notice that the Tacoma’s car-like driving position remains the same, with the driver sticking his legs and feet toward the front rather than the sitting-on-a-chair feeling you’ll get in most trucks.

Materials are nearly all hard plastics, with a couple of rubbery inserts on the dash in front of the passenger seat and on the door panels. I liked the body-coloured trim pieces, which brightened things up a tad. Toyota’s excellent 7-inch touchscreen (which handles the usual stuff including the navigation system) and a dual-zone automatic climate control system take up most of the dash space.

In this trim, the Tacoma has relatively limited driver assistance technology – a back-up camera, the smart key system and a push-button starter is all you get.

Rear Seats

Here you will find a pair of jump seats that, thankfully, fold up and out of the way. The headrests also fold down so they’re not blocking your rear view. And this is where those seats and headrests belong.

To say the access cab seats 2 people, which Toyota claims, is misleading. Perhaps amputees or well-behaved (and small) dogs. But not whole people. Nope. My kids (only two of them fit, obviously) felt completely cramped back there and hated driving in it. The two I took with are 5 and 8 years old. And not very big. I did commit to trying it out myself – so don’t say I don’t do anything for you. With the front seat all the way forward, I was able to squeeze myself into the back seat, jamming my knees against the back of the front seat. That was, may I remind you, all the way forward and thus, completely unusable for most drivers. Not only was I squished, but I was sitting on completely flat, way too low seat cushions that are way too hard, and my back was completely upright and vertical against what barely qualifies as a seat-back. And my head was touching the roof.

If the CIA wanted to force a confession out of someone and they weren’t cracking under pressure, I’d say put the in the back of the Tacoma’s Access cab and drive them to the nearest 7-11. By the time you’ve arrived at Slurpee Heaven, that bird will be singing all their state secrets just to be let out of that torture chamber. Have I made it clear that the rear seats suck?

Now with that said, when they’re folded up and out of the way, there’s plenty of space back there to put your stuff (including some handy floor bins) and I found that convenient. Other than having to open that weird half-door after you open your front door. I can’t imagine why anyone would go for the access cab, personally, but hey, that’s just me.

 

Storage

As I’d expect from a well thought out truck, there are plenty of places to put your stuff. Great door bins, a useful glove compartment, an open bin under the centre stack and a sizable carpeted bin (with a 12V plug) under the armrest lid make for a very storage-friendly cabin.

Of course, the 6-foot cargo bed is the truck’s real storage solution. I loved the removable, locking tail gate with the Easy Lower functionality, which slowly and softly drops the tail gate down once you’ve unlatched it. In terms of functionality, the Tacoma’s box is well thought out. It comes with tie-downs in the cargo bed, and four tie-down cleats that can be moved along the deck rail system for infinite positioning possibilities – and a ton of flexibility. Not to mention the 400W 120V household plug (which is switchable from inside) and a couple of in-bed storage compartments. You can throw 1150 lb (520 kg) worth of payload in there.

Under the Hood

There’s a new-to-the-Tacoma 3.5-litre V6, running on the lean Atkinson cycle, motivating things. It puts out 278 HP at 6000 RPM and 265 lb.ft of torque at 4600 RPM and gets paired to a 6-speed automatic. And of course a proper part-time, on-demand 4×4 system with a 2-speed transfer case.

Fuel economy is good for a truck – Toyota rates it at 13.1 L/100 km (18 US mpg) in the city and 10.5 L/100 km (22 US mpg) on the highway. I averaged an impressive 12.9 L/100 km (18 US mpg) which absolutely blew my previous Tacoma experiences (where I got somewhere around a ridiculously horrible 19 L/100 km) out of the water.

 

The Drive

The push-button ignition fires up the V6 with a loud whoosh. Trucks aren’t usually this light – in this trim, the Tacoma tips the scales at 4225 lb (1916 kg) – and so Toyota is able to make this one handle well. I’d go so far as to say this is the best-handling truck on the market – it was actually kind of fun to drive, something that trucks usually aren’t. And it has plenty of power off the line, so there’s no shortage of pull around town. There is an interesting functionality here that I haven’t seen before. You’ll find an “ECT Power” button, which nobody seems to understand. Even the user manual is very nebulous. After some research, I found that it defeats the Tacoma’s normal transmission programming which is an endless search for the best fuel economy. It alters the throttle response and shift points, allowing you to get more out of your Taco’s powertrain. Of course that will come at the expense of some mileage, but what are a few litres of fuel between friends, right? It is an excellent way to augment your driving experience in the mountains or while towing.

Sport mode for the transmission that isn’t very transformative, and doesn’t make things any more sporty – it just hangs on to gears a bit longer from what I could tell. You can shift gears manually. As you might expect, the changes are slow, but this is useful when off-roading.

The Tacoma doesn’t just handle well – it rides really nicely! What a pleasant surprise to get into a truck that rides almost like a car over most surfaces.

When you step on it, the V6 makes a lot of noise, but otherwise, the Tacoma has become surprisingly quiet, even at highway speeds. With that said, the Firestone Winterforce tires my review truck was equipped with have to be the loudest tires I’ve ever driven with. The road noise is insane. On the freeway at about 80 km/h, we couldn’t even hear ourselves talking, never mind thinking. I can’t imagine anyone buying those tires and keeping them. Of course, that’s not a knock against the truck itself.

If you’re pulling things, you’ll like the Taco’s 6500 lb (2950 kg) towing capacity. It comes with a trailer hitch (with a 7-pin wire harness) and trailer sway control.

Off-Road Details

Toyota has imbued the Tacoma with now-legendary off-road capabilities from day one. The new one comes better equipped than ever, particularly in TRD trim. There’s a standard skid plate to protect the engine and the impressive 9.4-inch ground clearance (238 mm) for starters. Going climbing? You’ll love the 29 degree approach and 23.5 degree departure angles.

There’s the independent front end and leaf springs in the back, all controlled by heavy-duty Bilstein shocks which are part of the TRD Off-Road package. This package also nets you a 4-wheel crawl control, multi-terrain select, rear differential lock and protective plates for the fuel tank and transfer case. I didn’t do any true off-roading, but did some soft-roading that would have got some smaller crossovers in trouble. The Tacoma clears absolutely anything you drive it over. It doesn’t even hesitate. The suspension feels perfectly tuned and capable of handling anything.

The crawl control automatically adjusts acceleration and braking, minimizing wheelspin and maximizing traction obviously, which allows you to focus on nothing but the steering. It lets you choose a speed from 1-5 miles per hour (about 2-8 km/h). Truly a crawl function, and perfect for tackling the most challenging terrain. And yes, you can lock the rear differential.

A nifty detail – all Tacoma models come equipped with GoPro camera mounts on the windshield. It’s located right near the rear-view mirror and allows you to capture every moment of adventure, successful or not.

The Verdict

The 2016 Tacoma is definitely an improvement on a truck that didn’t have much to prove. It’s already a legend, and Toyota has improved on many facets.

WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) was low, as she’s not a big truck fan. But she’s about as far away from this vehicle’s intended demographic as it can be.

If you’re looking for a small truck, the Tacoma remains the champ. It delivers on everything it promises to do. It remains highly competent and capable. It should be extraordinarily reliable, and should retain stratospheric resale value. Just don’t get that silly Access Cab.

Pricing: 2016 Toyota Tacoma

Base price (4×4 Access Cab V6 trim): $35,425

Options: $2,475 TRD Off-Road package

Freight: $1,730

A/C tax: $100

Price as tested: $39,730

Blog provided with permission from Tom Sedens, a local automotive blogger in Edmonton, Alberta, and member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). For more vehicle reviews, visit wildsau.ca.

2016 Toyota Tacoma Specs

The 2016 Toyota Tacoma was revealed earlier this year and since then we have been getting bits and pieces of information about it. Now Toyota has released even more information about specific features and capabilities. Today we’re going to look at just how tough the 2016 Toyota Tacoma is and if it will be able to live up to your expectations.

The 2016 Toyota Tacoma is a compact sports pick-up that’s always ready for the road ahead. This new edition has fresh styling, ungraded performance, segment-leading features and the ability to handle any terrain or climate. The Tacoma can handle dirt, rocks, pavement and more. One of the best things about the 2016 Tacoma is that there are a variety of choices to pick from that will ultimately let you configure the perfect truck. There are two engine sizes, three transmissions, two drive trains, two cab configurations, two cargo bed and twelve trim levels. With all these options, you will be able to find the perfect model for your driving needs.

No matter which model you choose, it will come fully equipped with a generous amount of standard features for comfort, convenience and safety features. Some new standard features for this edition includes Toyota’s latest Display Audio system, a new multi-information display with integrated outside temperature gauge, door scuff plates, fog lamps, power adjustable heated exterior mirrors, and a new reinforced locking and removable tailgate with Easy Lower, just to name a few. As we’ve mentioned before, the Tacoma also comes standard with a GoPro mount on all models. It is located near the rear view mirror and allows drivers to easily mount their GoPro camera to capture every moment of their adventure.

Now that you know even more about the 2016 Tacoma, you can decide which model configuration is the right match for you. Now you can be ready to schedule a test drive as soon at the 2016 Toyota Tacoma arrives at Wheaton Toyota on the Trail this fall. Call or visit us today for more information.