While the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is a solid off-roading beast, there’s a bigger monster in town. The 2025 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter is the new off-roading and overland champion, and I learned a lot about it during my week with one. Here’s what you need to know. 

What you need to know about the Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter 

First of all, the 2025 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter is like the Godzilla of Tacomas. It’s such a large beast with a rigid shape, powerful roar, and even a shade of paint that looks like dark reptile scales. Plus, it’s a beast that is hard to stop. 

Upgrades include Old Man Emu suspension dampers, an ARB modular bed utility bar with removable panels, an air compressor, auxiliary switches, power outlets EVERYWHERE, rock rails, steel bumpers, amber lights, and more. There’s a lot of truck here to take in. 

1. The Trailhunter turns heads 

The 2025 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter will get tons of attention. People stared at me all week like they’ve never seen a girl driving a truck before. They were mesmerized by the way the Trailhunter looks, not me, though. 

People approached me to talk about the truck, asked to look at the interior, explore the bed, and complimented it. Even a little kid told me it was cool in the parking lot of a Petco. For a truck that’s supposed to get you off the grid, it attracts a lot of attention. 

2. The Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter is big 

The Toyota Tacoma is known for being a smaller truck that’s easy to whip around. However, the extra weight of all the extra steel and equipment brings the Trailhunter to 6,835 lbs. It has heavy steering which can hamper the driving experience at low speeds around town. 

It didn’t feel too heavy in the woods but sank a little in the mud at times. Of course, it has plenty of torque to escape slippery ditches. The Trailhunter is 79.9 inches wide and 227.4 inches long. Its size could be a problem on narrow trails. 

3. The rear seat is still small 

While the new Tacoma is bigger in most places, the back seat still feels cramped. There’s hardly any legroom behind the back seat. Only kids with tiny legs will have enough room. However, baby seats will fit nicely. 

The roofline of the Tacoma is higher, so you have more vertical space to work with. That’s good for carrying gear and taller drivers. Also, there’s more storage space with a bigger truck bed, glove box, center console, and tons of cubbies, trays, and cup holders. 

4. The Trailhunter is thirsty 

The Traillhunter comes with the 2.4-liter i-Force Max Hybrid powertrain, which cranks out 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. But it gets an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city and up to 24 mpg on the highway. 

I got an average of 17.4 mpg after taking road trips, running errands, and off-roading. I probably put close to 500 miles on the odometer. The gas tank is a bit small and holds 18.2 gallons. It can go about 260 miles on a full tank with weekly city driving. 

Good thing there are tons of storage and organization solutions so you can take gas cans into the wild. 

5. The 2025 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter is comfortable 

Usually, heavy equipment, chunky 33-inch tires, and a lift make trucks uncomfortable, bouncy, and loud. But the Trailhunter is impressively comfortable in the dirt and at highway speeds. 

It’s well-balanced and quickly dampens impacts for a smooth, confident ride. Wind and road noise is kept at bay for a peaceful cabin. But you do hear the engine roar from time to time. Also, wind can hit the snorkel in a way that makes it whistle. 

The front seats are massive, and well-padded for hours of support. There are tons of adjustment controls for people of all shapes and sizes to find the perfect driving position.