Should You Take the 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road V6 Off Road?
The 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road V6 was built with off-road adventures in mind and performs brilliantly on rough terrain.
Folks looking for the ultimate used compact V6 for trail-riding need not look any further than the 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road V6. It’s tuned specifically for driving on exciting and challenging off-road trails, with a ground clearance of 9.4 inches.
Especially when combined with the optional four-wheel drive, the
Toyota Tacoma’s
3.5-liter V6 engine can produce 278 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 265 pound-feet of torque at 4,600 rpm. That means you’ll be plenty able to get over tough obstacles while driving to the very top of a mountain outlook, just like in the commercials.Here to walk you through everything you need to know about the 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road V6 off-road rating is
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Can the 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road V6 go off road?
Absolutely! “Off-road” is right there in the name, and it’s there for good reason. The TRD Off-Road Tacomas have been tuned and geared specifically for off-road driving. While fuel consumption may not be ideal, you’ll find getting to the top of that mountain to be worth it.
According to
Kelley Blue Book
, you’ll spend about $41,000 on a 2020 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab TRD Off-Road with a Premium Off-Road Package, which comes standard with the V6 engine upgrade. Although this isn’t the most affordable off-road vehicle out there, it’s incredibly powerful and capable and will retain its resale value well if you keep it in good condition. So, what is it about the 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road V6 that makes it so good at going off-road? Let’s investigate!
Ground clearance
One big aspect that makes the 2020 TRD Off-Road great for off-roading is the fact that it has quite a high ground clearance. Ground clearance is the measurement of the distance between the lowest point on the vehicle’s chassis and the ground. A higher ground clearance protects your vehicle’s undercarriage from damage caused by uneven terrain and obstructions.
A 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road V6 has a ground clearance of 9.4 inches, which sits very comfortably between the 8.8 and 10.8 inches recommended by driving experts for safe off-roading. To compare, a classic
Jeep Wrangler
has 9.7 inches of ground clearance.Torque
Torque is definitely one of the more complicated car specs to understand as a layperson navigating the wide world of automotive engineering. Torque essentially measures the force with which a car’s wheels are able to push off the ground. If you want to be able to get out of slippery situations without spinning your wheels out, you need good low-end torque.
Have you ever tried driving a motorcycle and revved it up a little bit, only to send yourself flying? That immediate speed is made possible by torque from the engine providing traction to the wheels.
Luckily, the 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road V6 can generate 265 pound-feet of torque at 6,000 rpm, which will provide plenty of traction in off-road situations.
Tires
Torque measures the energy coming from your engine, but if you want that torque to go somewhere meaningful, you need good tires built for gripping the sort of terrain you’ll be driving on. Owners of a 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road V6 enjoy specially selected 16-inch Kevlar-reinforced
all-terrain tires
.Drivetrain
When it comes to drivetrains, four-wheel drive is good to have in off-road situations, because it means the torque from your engine is being sent through all of your wheels.
Angles
Another set of specifications you may not have been paying attention to prior to off-roading is your vehicle’s approach angle and departure angle. Here’s a breakdown of each:
- Approach angle: The maximum angle at which a vehicle can climb without interference
- Departure angle: The maximum angle at which a vehicle can descend without interference
With its powerful V6 engine, the 2020 TRD Off-Road achieves an approach angle of 31 degrees and a departure angle of 29 degrees, both of which are impressive figures.
Off-road rating: Trail Boss
Jerry
has used its super-technical DIRT rating system to determine how your 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road V6 measures up to the competition in terms of off-road-readiness: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 |
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You shouldn’t be surprised at this point that we’ve given the Tacoma a T rating—it’s one of the best off-road-ready vehicles you can buy!
The best off-road alternatives to the 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road V6
If you’re not quite ready to shell out $41K for a used truck, there are older options that are nearly as good. But if you need something with more all-around pickup capability—perhaps something bigger than the Tacoma—you can always look into alternatives.
Here’s how other great off-roaders compare to the 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road:
Alternative | Model | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Best affordable alternative | 2005 Nissan Frontier 4x4 | Around $7,000 | Better on fuel and more affordable, but they’re harder to find nowadays. |
Best eco-friendly alternative | 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4WD with 3.0L diesel engine | $53,623 | Much better gas mileage and a better all-round pickup. |
Best alternative for serious off-roading | 2022 Ram 1500 Rebel | $47,850 | The ultimate out-of-the-box off-road machine. |
MORE:
Cheap off-road trucks
How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles
It should come as no surprise that a newer off-road vehicle is going to require rather expensive insurance. Going off road means your vehicle is more at risk of being damaged.
You shouldn’t have to compromise coverage because of high insurance prices, and with
Jerry
, the #1-rated car insurance app, you can make sure you’re always getting the best deal on the policy that’s best for you. Jerry can even function as your own licensed insurance broker
once you find a new plan that you want!You’ll join a community of users who save an average of $800+ a year on their car insurance!
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