Toyota gave me exactly what I asked for, time with the 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. I had the Tacoma Trailhunter but knew that all of the heavier suspicion upgrades probably made it feel different compared to the regular truck. I was right, and now have a clearer idea about how the new generation compares to the older one, with one big problem. 

Only one personal problem hurts the 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro 

While I had a thrilling week with the 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, I’m just too short for it. It has an 11.5-inch ground clearance, which is awesome for off-roading. But I’m 5’1”. 

I’m used to climbing into lifted trucks and SUVs like a spider monkey. But there isn’t a grab handle on the driver’s side to utilize. Grabbing the steering wheel to climb in felt awkward, so I just grabbed part of the door frame. 

Adding side steps would help, but I wonder how easy that would be with the rock rails. Also, the truck has a high liftover height. Get ready to use a lot of muscle to load heavy items in the back. Can a sister get a bumper step or something to simplify access? 

I had to lift my dog, Bruce, up pretty high to get him in the backseat. It was too tall for him to jump in or out on his own. Plus, the rear door openings are a bit narrow, making it trickier to heave him up there. 

Bruce is a blue heeler beagle mix that weighs a healthy 40 lbs. I couldn’t imagine lifting a lab or German shepherd in the back. 

Other than that, this Tacoma builds upon the outgoing generation in epic ways. Before I cover what I liked, I’ll share potential drawbacks for drivers of average height so y’all won’t spam this post with false comments about how Toyota pays me to review things. 

• The back seat lacks leg space (but there is more surface area compared to the outgoing generation) 
• Things like the power tailgate and isodynamic seats seem like an unnecessary, expensive add-ons (but they really do hold you in place)
• The MSRP is $63,735! 

Now the 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro has phenomenal improvements over the 2023 model I reviewed. But that one was better for short folks. 

Anyways, the i-Force Max hybrid engine pairs a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and battery pack to generate 325 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, which is plenty of power. 

It corners well and has little to no body roll despite sitting high above the ground. The steering is well-weighted and responsive. My only complaint is that the brakes felt a little soft, but they’re a massive improvement over the old drum brakes. 

The Tacoma Hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city and up to 26 mpg on the highway. Using the hybrid mode makes a massive difference in saving fuel. Plus, it’s not noticeably slower. 

The new coil-spring suspension absorbs impacts with ease for a noticeably smooth ride, even in beat-up areas of the woods. Thicker glass cuts down on wind and road noise and your driving mode adjusts how loud the engine noise is. 

In the Tundra TRD Pro, engine noise is constantly piped in, so I enjoyed having more control in the Tacoma. It;s the loudest in Sport Mode, and I had to change it in the Taco Bell drive though, because the workers couldn’t hear me over the engine. 

One of the biggest improvements is related to the new bucket seats. They’re well-padded with plenty of adjustment controls for hours of comfort. 

The taller cabin height provides more passenger space in the front. The rear still lacks legroom but there is more surface area in the back seat for things like car seats and pets. 

Plus, the cabin has a well-planned layout that keeps everything you need right in reach. The outgoing model has a lockable center console, but now you get a lockable glove box. Plus, every storage cubby and tray has been slightly enlarged. 

The tech is still simple and non-distracting. But it is much more advanced and more convenient than before with large chunky buttons and clear menu screens. The 14-inch touchscreen is vibrant and the 360-degree camera display provides clear visibility. 

Unfortunately, Asheville, NC is still recovering after Hurricane Helene. Most of my off-roading spots are just gone. They got washed away, so I didn’t put the Fox internal bypass suspicion dampers or front swaybar disconnect to the true test. 

But I did enjoy cruising through dirt trails in the woods and running errands. Living with this truck is fun, comfortable, and easy. However, it would be much better if I wasn’t vertically challenged.