Toyota provided a bevy of teasers a week ago, but we’re not sure they revealed much about the new Tacoma Trailhunter trim. Will the new 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter fit into the mix as a range-topper heading above the TRD Pro, or will it be somewhere else in the mix? Right now, we can only venture a guess.

Spy shots and teasers are all we get for the new 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter

Whether it’s a spy shot with a Tacoma with a contraption that reminds us of a street sweeper brush covering its rear or the teaser images that only give us a look at the headlights, we’re intrigued. We want to know more about the new Trailhunter trim, but that’s not in Toyota’s plans.

Although we don’t have any clear views of this new midsize Toyota pickup, we have rumors from some experts about what’s going on under the camouflage and where this truck should fit in the lineup. Let’s see what a couple of experts have to say.

Why did Toyota put a brush-like garb over the back bumper of the Tacoma?

The brush on the rear covers the rear bumper and disallows a clear view of the suspension setup. MotorTrend guesses this new suspension is a multi-link, live rear axle with coil springs like the current Toyota Tundra. Could this new Toyota truck take on many of the same qualities as its full-size sibling? That’s entirely possible.

Will the hybrid powertrain make it to the 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter?

Toyota confirmed that an i-Force Max hybrid engine will make it to the TRD Pro trim of the Toyota Tacoma. Will this powertrain also find its way into the Tacoma Trailhunter? That might depend on where in the lineup this trim falls.

Whether the hybrid engine arrives in the new trim or not, the testing mule couldn’t hide the taller suspension than what’s available on other Tacoma models. It also revealed the use of disc brakes instead of drum models for the rear, and the response to this is a resounding “hallelujah, it’s about time.”

Could the Tacoma Trailhunter be an overlanding truck?

One indicator that this new trim might be made for overlanding is the new ARB bumper and recovery point teased for the rear. ARB is a big name in overlanding, making it easy to combine the two together. Additional evidence of this direction for the Trailhunter trim came last year at the SEMA show. A concept version of the Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter was displayed as an overlanding concept truck.

Where does the new 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter fit into the lineup?

Many midsize trucks have several off-road versions, with at least one trim decked out in trial-riding garb. The team at The Fast Lane Truck offers the thought that the new Trailhunter trim will compete in the middle of the off-road truck pack. If that’s the case, this is what the midsize off-road truck models would look like:

• Chevy Colorado – Z71, Trail Boss, ZR2
• Ford Ranger – FX4, Tremor, Raptor
• GMC Canyon – Elevation, AT4, AT4X
• Toyota Tacoma – TRD Off-Road, Trailhunter, TRD Pro

Of course, this guess could be wrong. The new 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter could go up against the Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison Edition as a specialized, hard-core off-road truck. We’ll just have to sit back and wait for more teasers from Toyota to put this puzzle together.