Toyota set out to make the 2016 Tacoma the best off-road pickup truck in the class. This quality was baked into the Tacoma DNA from the beginning, and Toyota did not want to let up on the off-road capability. They looked to improve it.
The keys to a good off-road vehicle are: ample ground clearance, approach/departure/break-over angles, suspension articulation, and tires. A fair amount of torque is good too.
Enter the 2016 Tacoma TRD Off-Road grade. It comes without the front chin spoiler and class leading 32 degrees of approach angle. The ground clearance is 9.4 inches, and the 16 inch alloy rims are wrapped in Goodyear Wrangler tires.
The crawl control and the terrain management systems feature the latest generation of sensors that are more precise and offer more control. The crawl control system has five speed settings for off-road traversing. The driver can simply focus on the steering and the system handles braking and acceleration while crawling.
Toyota is also using supplemental coil springs inside the shock absorbers to help cushion the ride on rough terrain.
There are so many new details that it’s difficult to cover. Check out these technical documents for the gory details.
Tacoma Press Release and Pricing
Watch this new Tacoma trucks negotiate difficult off-road trails and courses.