The popular Toyota medium-sized truck Tacoma comes in a wide range of models, packages, and styles. The suspension of the truck also varies for different packages. Two of the Tacoma versions that are great for extreme terrains are SR and TRD Off-Road.
If you are going to buy a new Toyota Tacoma and planning to drive off-road, you might have some confusion. Most car enthusiasts often don’t understand the difference between Tacoma sport vs. off-road suspensions. Which one is better is a long discussion and needs several considerations.
In this blog, I am going to discuss the advantages of both of the suspensions and which matters for what. Stay with me and go through the whole post.
What Is Toyota Tacoma Sports?
The latest Toyota Tacoma 2022 has three different versions that are suitable for sports. The versions are Tacoma SR, Tacoma SR5, and TRD Sport. Here, SR stands for Sport Rally, and TRD stands for Toyota Racing Development.
Toyota Tacoma sport version is designed for street driving and participating in sports. TRD is better for racing on the street though it comes with a suspension like an off-road one.
What Is Toyota Tacoma Off-Road?
The majority of the Tacoma owners like to ride on muddy roads and extreme terrains. For those people, Toyota Tacoma off-road is the ideal version.
The latest Toyota Tacoma for off-road is TRD off-road version that features a locking rear differential. This special feature can lock the axles together to achieve maximum torque.
This version of Tacoma is more popular among people who love to go camping. Regardless of the road type, the vehicle provides complete support.
Tacoma Sport vs. Off-Road Suspension Comparison
The first thing to understand is if you are a general user and hardly ride on off-roads, you can directly go for the sports edition.
The suspension on Toyota Tacoma sport is good enough to make the occasional rides smooth. A new user won’t even notice any difference between the suspensions without carefully monitoring them.
But what about if you are going to ride the vehicle mostly off-road, and even a slight change of the suspension matters to you?
In such cases, you need to compare the suspensions. The Toyota sports suspension is configured more for street driving. It means the suspension can give the best experience when riding it on the roads.
The off-road Toyota Tacoma suspension is configured more for driving on off-roads. It means while driving on rough and muddy roads, the suspension will provide maximum shock absorption. You might feel that the suspension is providing the support almost like a sport in Tacoma. But as said earlier, it is configured more for off-road, and the suspension lasts longer.
The off-road approach angle is more suitable for hard surfaces like rocks and other obstacles. While maneuvering the truck in such conditions, it maintains the balance, and the vehicle remains stable. The driver doesn’t feel much stress.
Another major difference between the Tacoma sport and off-road suspension is the wheel size. Sport Tacoma comes with 17” wheels, while the off-road Tacoma comes with 16” wheels. The larger wheels might look fancy and preferable for some truck enthusiasts.
There is a misconception about the off-road Toyota Tacoma. People often think the off-road vehicle is not suitable for sports. It is only true if you consider the look of the vehicle. The sports version used to come with a stylish sporty look. For instance, the vehicle might have some cosmetic features not intended for performance. You will miss such things on the off-road. Other than that, it is always better to go for the off-road Toyota Tacoma.
Besides the suspension style and wheels style, another biggest difference between both versions is the pricing. While the sports version ranges between $25,000-$30,000, the off-road pricing starts from almost $35,000.
With a shoestring budget and you still want to have a truck for sporty rides, consider the Tacoma sport suspension as well as the models.
TRD Off-Road Tacoma VS TRD Sport
Which Toyota Tacoma Is Best for Off-Road?
For off-road driving, Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-road is the best choice. You may consider the limited edition as well.
Can You Replace Stock Suspension of Toyota Tacoma?
Yes, you can replace the stock suspension of Toyota Tacoma sport and Toyota Tacoma off-road. In fact, most car enthusiasts keep in mind that they are going to replace the suspension no matter what.
Many suspensions are available in the market that are suitable for different Toyota Tacoma models. You can replace both the shocks and struts for Toyota Tacoma, and it won’t take much effort.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace Stock Suspension of Toyota Tacoma?
The cost of shocks and struts replacement for Toyota Tacoma mostly depends on the region of the mechanic and the parts costs. It could be roughly within $500 to $1500. The pricing for parts varies for the vehicles’ models.
A Toyota Tacoma TRD off-road 2022 and a Toyota Tacoma SR 2015 won’t have the same type of suspension. For the actual cost, always consult with an expert who has replaced suspension multiple times and has better knowledge about the quality.
So, if you are trying to find the Tacoma TRD sport vs. off-road suspension cost, the final budget will depend on the parts and vehicle model.
Should You Replace Suspension of New Toyota Tacoma?
Some truck lovers even replace the suspension just after buying a new unit. That happens mostly when the person is going to ride it off-road only. But in general, experts used to recommend replacing the suspension after 50k to 100k miles with the vehicle.
The golden rule is to change the vehicle’s suspension when you feel like it. If you find the suspension is not as comfortable as you expected, go for a replacement.
Wrapping Up
Tacoma sport vs. off-road suspension comparison clearly shows that the off-road one is more reliable. But the pricing will be high. The sport version of Toyota Tacoma is good for street driving and beauty. Another major factor that might inspire you to buy a Tacoma sport is its mileage. You will get better mileage compared to the off-road edition.
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