Should You Take the 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road off-road?

The 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road is the perfect off-road vehicle for anyone looking to hit the trail or make their own path.
Written by Joshua Levy
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road is a stylish truck with the power to take on almost any off-road obstacle. If you’re in the market for a high-performance midsize pickup, look no further than the Tacoma TRD.
Offroading can be loads of fun, but it can also be dangerous. The best way to stay safe while making the most of your off-road journey is to make sure you have the right car for the job. The 2018
Toyota Tacoma
TRD Off Road is that car.
We know how hard it can be to research used vehicles. That’s why we compiled everything you need to know about the Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road. Here, we’ll cover everything from the TRD’s drivetrain to its clearance angles. 
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Can the 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road?

Yesyou can take the Tacoma TRD Off Road off-road. Saying the Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road can go off-road is almost an understatement. 
The 2018 Tacoma TRD Off Road is an overpowered pickup that packs the strength and performance of a full-size vehicle in the body of a midsize truck. Given its unreal performance, the Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road is a steal—even at the full market price.

Ground clearance

The TRD Off Road’s ground clearance is solid 9.4 inches, which gives it enough space to safely drive over almost any reasonable obstructions. The general recommendation for off-road clearance is between8.8 and 10.8 inches, meaning the Tacoma TRD fits perfectly in the ideal range. 
While the mid-range clearance means you won’t be able to drive over 10-inch rocks, that shouldn’t usually be an issue. In most off-road situations, you’ll be more than set with the TRD’s 9.4 inches of clearance. And if you’re still unsure about the height, you can always 
have it raised
at a professional auto shop.

Torque

While road vehicles typically boast high horsepower and ridiculous top speeds, you can better judge off-road vehicles by their
torque
. When you hit the trail, you won’t want to drive 200 miles per hour. But odds are that you’ll need the power to pull yourself over steep terrain from a dead stop. That said, off-road vehicles thrive on low-end torque—high torque at low rotations per minute.
The 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road comes packed with 265 lb-ft of torque. While some trucks get a whole lot more power, the TRD’s torque offers a respectable amount of power that’s perfect for handling almost any of your off-road needs.

Tires

The 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road comes equipped with Kevlar reinforced
all-terrain
265/70R16 tires. While the tires aren’t ideal for severe off-road conditions, they do a great job of getting through most trails. Of course, tires are also easy to replace.
If you’re planning to use your Tacoma for an extreme off-road trip, it may be worth investing in some sturdier tires. That said, the Tacoma TRD’s default 265/70R16 tires should do the job in most cases. 

Drivetrain

The 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road comes standard with four-wheel drive—a must-have for any serious offroaders. Plus, the 5-speed automatic transmission makes shifting gears easy and quick, no matter what situation you’re in.

Angles

One of the most important parts of a good offroad vehicle is its angles. Your truck’s angles largely dictate what kinds of obstacles you can handle. Here are the three most important angles for an offroad truck: 
  • Approach angle: The angle between your front bumper and front wheels dictates how steep of an obstacle you can safely approach.
  • Departure angle: The angle between your back bumper and back tires dictates the steepest obstacle you can safely leave without damaging your bumper.
  • Breakover angle: The angle between your tires and your car’s undercarriage dictates how tall of obstacles you can safely drive over.
Luckily, the Tacoma TRD Off Road comes equipped with relatively sharp angles, at a standard 29-degree approach angle, 23.5-degree departure angle, and a 23-degree breakover angle

Off-road rating: Rough and ready

To help you understand exactly how reliable the Tacoma TRD Off Road is for offroading, we’ve assigned it a rating based on Jerry’s super-technical DIRT system. Here’s a quick breakdown of the DIRT rating system:
Rating
Meaning
Description
D
Don’t Try It
Vehicles better suited to highway conditions
I
In a Pinch
Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances
R
Rough and Ready
Vehicles designed for casual off-roading
T
Trail Boss
True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain
The 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road safely earns anR rating. While it falls easily into the R rating, the TRD rests just under the line of a T rating. The main features holding it back from a top rating are its clearance and tires, which are both good enough for most conditions but not quite up to par for a professional off-road vehicle.

The best off-road alternatives to the 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road

If you’re looking for a solid off-road vehicle but don’t know if the 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road is for you, try not to worry. There are plenty of other options at comparable prices.
Here are a few of the best alternatives to the 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road:
Model
Price
Description
Chevrolet Colorado
$25,200
The Chevrolet Colorado is a midsized truck with standard rear- or four-wheel drive. Drivers can pick one of three engines that start at 200 horsepower and rise exponentially from there.
GMC Canyon
$26,800
The 2022 GMC Canyon may not have the highest offroad performance, but its V6 engine, respectable towing capabilities, and solid driving feel make it a great option for any first-time offroaders.
2019 Ford Ranger
$25,285
The 2019 Ranger comes fitted with a turbocharged 270 horsepower engine. That in addition to the 10-speed automatic transmission makes for an easy ride with the power to take on nearly any obstacle.
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How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles

Whether you choose to hop behind the wheel of your very own Toyota Tacoma TRD or some other off-roader, you’ll need the right car insurance coverage before you hit the road. Luckily,
car insurance
comparison shopping is faster and easier than ever with
Jerry
.
As a licensed insurance broker and
trustworthy insurance super app
, the Jerry app helps users compare personalized quotes collected from over 50 top providers like Progressive, Nationwide, and Allstate for free. Just download the app, answer a few questions, and review the list of competitive quotes the Jerry app sends straight to your phone. 
When you find a quote you like, Jerry can help you switch plans and even help cancel your old policy. Users save an average of over $800 a year on car insurance with Jerry—and it only takes a minute to sign up. 
Jerry
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