Michael SatterfieldBy the time most automakers have buried the manual transmission six feet under, Toyota has seen fit to dig it back up, slap a turbo four-cylinder on top, and send it screaming into the desert. Meet the 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro: an off-road weapon that lets you row your own gears even as it drowns you in digital displays, a steep price tag, and a chassis tuned for Baja-style runs.
We spent a week with the six-speed manual version of the new Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. Here’s how it fared on-road, off-road, and in the uncharted wilderness of modern truck pricing.
First Impressions
The new Toyota Tacoma looks amazing to me, but it didn’t pass the wife test, who thought it looked a little too much like a “bro truck.” It might have just been because it was Burnt Orange and we are Aggieland, but is does have some aggressive styling. The TRD Pro trim flexes a wide stance, high-clearance bumpers, aluminum skid plates, and 33-inch Goodyear Territory all-terrains that fill the arches with purpose. The heritage Toyota grille and built-in LED lights scream adventure, but not in a cosplay kind of way. This thing is built to move.
Under the hood, the TRD Pro is powered by the i-Force Max, a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder paired with a 48-hp electric motor integrated into an 8-speed automatic… unless you tick the box for the manual gearbox. That version features the gas-only 2.4-liter turbo, producing 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, which is channeled through a six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching and anti-stall programming. It’s the kind of combination off-road purists dream about and modern buyers tend to overlook. I will say the lack of a real emergency brake was a bit annoying and wouldn’t be ideal off-road, in my opinion. Sometimes, you just need to yank the e-brake.
Toyota Tacoma Manual: A Mixed Bag
On the surface, the idea of a manual Toyota Tacoma with a turbocharged engine sounds perfect. In reality, it’s more complex. The clutch is light, and the throws are long. The gearbox feels more agricultural than athletic, and the gap between first and second gear is wider than you’d like in tight traffic or technical trails.
That said, there’s something genuinely satisfying about being in full control. The rev-matching system works well enough to smooth out downshifts, and if you’re the type who learned to drive in a base-model pickup like me, the whole experience feels like being back home on the calf ranch. The engine itself has plenty of torque from down low, so you rarely need to wring it out unless you’re pushing it.
Still, this is no canyon carver. The Tacoma rides on a new coil-spring rear suspension that improves on-road composure dramatically compared to the old leaf-spring setup. It no longer feels like you’re dragging a trailer full of bricks. The steering is better weighted, the chassis is more confident in corners, and the brake pedal is firm without being grabby.
Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro: Off-Road, It’s a Monster
Toyota knows what it’s doing when it comes to off-road hardware. The TRD Pro gets 2.5-inch Fox QS3 shocks with remote reservoirs, a front stabilizer bar disconnect, and an electronic locking rear differential. The crawl control and multi-terrain select systems are intuitive, and low-range gearing is easy to engage even with the manual.
We took it into some Texas trails, which are really mostly just dirt roads, and it performed flawlessly, but I am sure it would do great in Moab and other real off-road destinations. At speed, the suspension soaked up sharp ruts and rock-strewn hills without drama. Even on factory tires, the grip was there when we needed it. If anything, the manual gives you better modulation in slow-speed obstacles, though you’ll wish for a lower first gear when things get especially technical.
Where the auto might breeze over with ease, the manual forces a little more planning, a little more finesse. It’s slower, but more engaging. And that’s the point.
Interior: Tech Meets Tradition
Inside, they went all in. The Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro gets IsoDynamic seats with built-in shock absorbers to reduce head toss over rough terrain. They’re supportive, if a bit stiff, and the effect is more subtle than game-changing. Still, it’s a party trick your buddy’s Bronco doesn’t have.
A 14-inch touchscreen dominates the dash with crisp graphics and an easy-to-navigate UI. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. You also get a head-up display, digital instrument cluster, and a JBL sound system with a portable tailgate speaker built in.
There’s a sense that Toyota tried to make the Tacoma’s interior feel premium without turning it into a Lexus. It mostly succeeds. Materials feel solid. Switchgear is truck-grade. Nothing here is delicate or finicky. It’s made to get dirty.
One downside: those trick front seats eat into rear legroom. If you’re planning to haul adults back there for long drives, be prepared for complaints.
Practical Matters
Fuel economy for the manual TRD Pro sits around 20 mpg combined. That’s not terrible for a truck with this kind of capability, but it’s not great either. The automatic hybrid version gets better numbers and more torque, but sacrifices driver involvement.
Payload comes in just under 1,400 pounds and towing maxes out at around 6,400 pounds in this trim. That’s plenty for dirt bikes, small trailers, or a weekend overland rig—but not quite full-size territory.
The bed has an available 400W inverter, composite lining, and multiple tie-down points. It’s functional, not flashy. And that’s what Tacoma buyers want.
The Price of Purity
Here’s the part that stings. Our Toyota Tacoma test truck clocked in at just over $58,000. Add dealer markup, accessories, or Toyota’s expansive options list, and you could be staring down $65K for a midsize pickup with a manual transmission.
That’s Range Rover Evoque money. That’s more than a base Silverado Trail Boss. And yes, it’s more than a Ford Ranger Raptor, which comes with 405 horsepower and a coil-sprung rear suspension, too.
But the Tacoma has something those trucks don’t: heritage. This is the truck your uncle drove through the Rockies in the 90s. This is the truck you learned stick on in high school. It’s the truck that still shows up in the Baja 1000, year after year, quietly finishing stages long after others drop out.
Verdict: Should You Buy A Toyota Tacoma?
That depends on what you want. If you’re looking for the best value or the most refined driving experience, the Tacoma TRD Pro manual isn’t it. There are smoother, more powerful, and more affordable options out there.
But if you’re chasing a connection to the vehicle, to the road, to the trail, to the history of what a truck should feel like, this is your unicorn. It’s flawed. It’s expensive. But it’s also analog in the best possible way.
In a world of CVTs, touchscreens, and drive modes you’ll never use, the manual Tacoma is refreshingly real. You’ll feel every shift, hear every turbo spool, and experience every trail with intention. No software is going to save you here. It’s just you, the truck, and the terrain.
Toyota didn’t build this Tacoma for everyone. It was built for the few who still believe driving should be an experience, not just a commute. For those people, the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro manual is more than a truck. It’s a statement.
And in today’s market, that might just be worth sixty grand.
Photos Courtesy of Toyota
