Toyota has long been synonymous with off-road prowess, and the 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro continues this legacy, solidifying its position as the ultimate off-road pickup truck. Born from the grueling demands of off-road racing and Toyota Racing Development’s (TRD) expertise, the Tacoma TRD Pro is engineered for enthusiasts who seek adventure beyond the paved road. This model year marked the return of the Tacoma to the coveted TRD Pro series, joining the Tundra and 4Runner, and it arrived packed with factory-installed, performance-enhancing equipment designed to tackle the most challenging landscapes.
For those who live for extreme off-roading and demand peak performance from their vehicles, the 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro was built to exceed expectations. Toyota aimed to raise the bar with this second-generation TRD Pro product, equipping it with a range of new features and performance enhancements that set a new benchmark for off-road capability. Let’s delve into what makes the 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro a standout in the off-road segment.
Extreme Exterior Design for Uncompromising Off-Road Performance
The 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro’s exterior is not just about aggressive aesthetics; it’s designed to withstand and conquer the harshest off-road environments. Built upon the robust foundation of the Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4×4 Double Cab Short Bed model, it offers a choice between a 6-speed manual transmission (featuring a clutch start-cancel switch for added control in tricky situations) and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The exterior color palette for the TRD Pro includes Cement, Barcelona Red Metallic, and Super White, each enhancing the truck’s rugged appeal.
Key exterior features that define the 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro include:
-
16-inch TRD black alloy wheels with Goodyear Wrangler® All-Terrain Kevlar®-reinforced tires: These robust wheels and tires are engineered to provide superior grip and durability on varied terrains, while the aggressive wheel offset widens the track by 1.0-inch both front and rear, enhancing stability.
-
TRD Pro aluminum front skid plate: Constructed from ¼-inch thick aluminum, this skid plate provides crucial underbody protection against rocks, logs, and other trail hazards.
-
Rigid Industries® LED fog lights: These high-intensity LED fog lights from Rigid Industries® offer exceptional visibility in low-light conditions or adverse weather, featuring a cool white (6500K) light color and a 35-degree beam pattern for broad illumination.
-
Projector-beam headlights with black bezels, LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), and auto on/off feature: The headlights not only look striking with their black bezels but also incorporate LED Daytime Running Lights for enhanced visibility and an automatic on/off feature for convenience.
-
Taillights with black bezels: Matching the headlights, the taillights also feature black bezels, contributing to the unified aggressive styling.
-
TRD Pro badge on front door with diamond-pattern knurled finish: Distinctive TRD Pro badging on the front doors adds to the exclusivity, featuring a unique diamond-pattern knurled finish.
-
Black TRD Pro and 4×4 rear tailgate badging: Rear badging clearly denotes the model as a TRD Pro and highlights its 4×4 capability.
Further enhancing its unique appearance, the 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro is equipped with a heritage-inspired “TOYOTA” front grille with a color-keyed surround, a blacked-out hood scoop and graphic, color-keyed power outside mirrors with turn signal indicators, color-keyed door handles, black overfenders, and a color-keyed rear bumper. These elements combine to create a cohesive and aggressive off-road aesthetic.
Interior Sportiness and Advanced Convenience Technology
Stepping inside the 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro reveals an interior that blends sporty design with comfort and modern technology. Toyota understands that even in rugged off-road vehicles, comfort and convenience are paramount.
Standard interior features include:
- Black TRD Pro leather-trimmed heated front seats with TRD Pro logo: These leather-trimmed seats are not only heated for comfort in cold conditions but also feature the TRD Pro logo embossed in the headrests, adding a touch of exclusivity and sporty flair.
- 4-way adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support and 4-way adjustable front passenger seat: Ensuring comfort for both driver and passenger, the seats offer 4-way adjustability, with the driver’s seat also including lumbar support for those long off-road journeys.
- Entune™ Premium Audio with Integrated Navigation and App Suite: Staying connected and entertained is easy with Toyota’s Entune™ Premium Audio system, featuring integrated navigation and access to a suite of apps.
- TRD shift knob: A TRD shift knob adds a sporty touch to the interior, enhancing the driving experience.
- TRD Pro floor mats: Durable TRD Pro floor mats protect the interior while reinforcing the vehicle’s special edition status.
- Leather-trimmed tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio and Bluetooth® hands-free phone controls: The leather-trimmed steering wheel provides a premium feel and integrates controls for audio and Bluetooth® hands-free phone, allowing drivers to manage these features without taking their hands off the wheel.
- Rear parking assist sonar: Maneuvering in tight spots is made easier with the rear parking assist sonar system.
- Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA): Advanced safety features such as Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert enhance safety and awareness during daily driving and off-road adventures alike.
The instrument cluster in the 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro features analog gauges alongside a 4.2-inch color Multi-Information Display (MID). This MID provides essential vehicle information, including an inclinometer and tilt gauge for off-road driving, as well as outside temperature, odometer, trip meters, and average fuel economy. For capturing off-road adventures, a GoPro® mount is conveniently located on the windshield, allowing enthusiasts to easily document their experiences with GoPro® HERO cameras.
Pro Performance: Engineered for Off-Road Dominance
The heart of the 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro lies in its performance-oriented upgrades, meticulously engineered by TRD to elevate its off-road capabilities. Powered by a 3.5-Liter V6 DOHC 24-valve direct-injection Atkinson-cycle engine with VVT-iW (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent Wide) intake and VVT-I exhaust, the Tacoma TRD Pro delivers robust power and efficiency.
However, it’s the TRD-installed suspension and exhaust enhancements that truly set the TRD Pro apart:
- FOX 2.5 Internal Bypass shocks tuned by TRD: These high-performance FOX 2.5 Internal Bypass shocks are specifically tuned by TRD to provide exceptional damping and control across varied off-road conditions. Featuring 2.5-inch diameter aluminum bodies, FOX patented Internal Bypass technology, position-sensitive damping, and Internal Floating Pistons (IFP), these shocks offer improved suspension droop travel and bottom-out resistance.
- Front: TRD-tuned FOX 2.5 Internal Bypass Coil-overs with TRD coil springs.
- Rear: TRD-tuned FOX 2.5 Internal Bypass Shocks with TRD Off-Road specification Leaf Springs.
- TRD-tuned front springs with a 1-inch lift: Unique TRD-tuned front springs provide a 1-inch lift, increasing ground clearance and improving approach angles for better off-road maneuverability.
- TRD-tuned rear suspension with progressive-rate off-road leaf spring: The rear suspension is tuned by TRD and includes progressive-rate leaf springs derived from TRD Off-Road models, optimizing articulation and load-carrying capability.
Every 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro comes standard with 4WDemand part-time 4WD, featuring an electronically-controlled transfer case and Automatic Limited-Slip Differential (Auto LSD). It also includes a V6 Tow Package, featuring a Class-IV towing receiver hitch, ATF cooler (automatic transmission models), engine oil cooler, power steering cooler, 130-amp alternator, 4- and 7-pin connectors with converter, and Trailer-Sway Control (TSC). An electronically controlled locking rear differential is also standard, ensuring even power distribution to both rear wheels for maximum traction in low-grip situations.
For automatic transmission models, the Tacoma TRD Pro is equipped with Crawl Control (CRAWL) and Multi-terrain Select systems. Crawl Control automatically modulates the throttle and brakes across five low-speed settings, allowing the driver to focus on steering through challenging terrain. Multi-terrain Select provides five modes that regulate wheel spin by automatically adjusting engine throttle and traction control, optimizing performance for various surfaces when combined with the Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain tires. Hill Start Assist Control (HAC), also for automatic models, prevents rollback when starting on inclines.
Manual transmission Tacoma TRD Pro models feature Active Traction Control (A-TRAC), a 4WD traction control system that uses the 4-channel ABS system to manage power flow to the front and rear wheels without cutting throttle input, ensuring consistent traction in demanding conditions.
Street Cred and Off-Road Heritage
The TRD Pro Series represents the pinnacle of Toyota’s off-road truck expertise, building upon a legacy that began in 1998 with the introduction of the first Off-Road package for Tacoma. TRD has been instrumental in Toyota’s global racing successes for nearly four decades and applies this motorsport-derived engineering to develop high-performance accessories for Toyota vehicles.
Like all Toyota vehicles, the 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro is backed by Toyota’s factory warranty, including a 36-month/36,000-mile basic new-vehicle warranty and a 60-month/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Toyota Care, a complimentary maintenance and roadside assistance plan, is also standard.
The 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc. (TMMTX) in San Antonio, is more than just a truck; it’s a statement of unwavering off-road capability and a testament to Toyota’s commitment to engineering vehicles that can conquer any terrain.
2017 TACOMA TRD PRO PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS
| Tacoma TRD Pro | |
|---|---|
| Wheels | -16” TRD black alloy-Aggressive wheel offset widens the track +1.0-inches front and rear |
| Tires | -Goodyear Wrangler® All-Terrain Kevlar®-reinforced tires |
| Shocks | FOX 2.5 Internal Bypass shocks Tuned by TRD– Front: TRD-tuned FOX 2.5 Internal Bypass Coil-overs with TRD coil springs– Rear: TRD-tuned FOX 2.5 Internal Bypass Shocks with TRD Off-Road specification Leaf Springs– 2.5-inch diameter aluminum bodies– FOX patented Internal Bypass technology– Position-sensitive Damping– Internal Floating Pistons (IFP)– Hardened, oversized shock shafts are protected by redundant dust boots– Improved suspension droop travel and bottom out resistance |
| Springs | -Unique TRD-Tuned front springs provide a 1-inch lift-TRD-tuned rear suspension includes progressive-rate leaf springs from TRD Off-Road models. |
| Fog Lights | – Rigid Industries® LED fog lights– Cool white (6500K) light color-35-degree high intensity beam pattern– Instant On/Off |
| Skid Plate | – TRD PRO front skid plate – Constructed of ¼-inch aluminum |
| Exterior | – Unique heritage-inspired “TOYOTA” front grille with color-keyed surround– Blacked-out hood scoop and graphic– Black bezel headlights, taillights, and overfenders– Color-keyed mirrors, door handles, rear bumper– Black “TRD PRO” badge on front door with diamond-pattern knurled finish– TRD Pro and 4×4 rear tailgate badging |
| Exterior Colors | -Cement, Barcelona Red Metallic, Super White |
| Interior | – Black TRD Pro Leather-trimmed heated front seats– TRD Pro logo located in headrest– TRD Shift Knob– TRD Floor Mats |
