Modern times require modern vehicles and, arguably, one theme rises above the rest for vehicle attributes: versatility. One of the greatest multi-purpose vehicles on the market is the mid-size pickup truck leader, 16 years and running, the Toyota Tacoma. First introduced last year, the Tacoma Trail Edition returns with an emphasis on storage, styling, value, and a focus on off-road performance built around the Tacoma 4×4 Double Cab.
Take to the Trails
Tacoma owners love to get outside and explore, and the 2022 Trail Edition adds some key upgrades that make it the ideal travel companion. Based on the best-selling SR5 grade and only available in 4×4 Double Cab, Tacoma Trail Edition gets additional lift both at the front and rear of the truck to help tackle the road less traveled.
Toyota engineers lifted the front of the new Tacoma Trail 1.1 inches thanks to taller coil springs. The front air dam found on the standard SR5 is deleted to help improve ground clearance. With the air dam removal and the front suspension lift the approach angle of the truck improves to 34 degrees. The rear suspension receives attention too, and it is lifted 0.5 inches thanks to a spacer between the rear axle housing and leaf springs to help level the truck’s profile and improve departure angle to 23.6 degrees. Breakover angle is also improved to 26.4 degrees.
Based initially on SR5 4×4, Tacoma Trail Edition gets upfitted with a standard locking rear differential to offer added traction when it’s needed most in slow-speed four-wheel-drive situations. Reinforcing the fact that some of the most important parts are the ones you don’t see, the undercarriage skid plates are borrowed from the TRD Off-Road grade to provide added protection.
Style and Function Collide
Tacoma Trail Edition offers distinctive styling to set it apart from the lineup. Four exterior color choices are available, headlined by new Trail Edition option Lunar Rock, but there’s also returning colors Army Green, Midnight Black Metallic, and Super White in the mix. Regardless of paint choice, black exterior badging accents the truck, a new Trail Edition badge is fitted on the rear tailgate, and the rear bumpers are now color-keyed to match the exterior paint color.
Tacoma Trail Edition greets paved and unpaved roads with the heritage-inspired grille first found on TRD Pro, but this grille stands apart thanks to its unique bronze-colored lettering. The bronze-accented grille nicely complements the new bronze-finished wheels that are adorned with a Toyota center cap. More than just looks, the wheels offer a 0.5-inch wider track width both front and rear for a broader stance, and they are fitted with new Goodyear all-terrain tires that feature an aggressive sidewall tread pattern.
Added versatility in the truck bed comes in two forms: storage and power. Lockable bed storage means gear can be safely stored when in transit or away from the vehicle, and best of all, the driver’s side storage includes insulation and can double as a cooler. Trail is also equipped with a 120V power outlet in the bed, adding additional power options for whatever needs arise away from home.
Tacoma Trail Edition comes standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. The engine features Toyota’s VVT-iW technology and Atkinson-cycle combustion to help maximize efficiency, and it also employs Toyota’s D-4S fuel injection system that incorporates both direct injection and port injectors.
The Tacoma Tow Package comes standard on V6-equipped models, like Tacoma Trail Edition, offering the Double Cab model a maximum towing capacity of 6,400 pounds (per the SAE J2807 tow standard). The package includes a Class IV towing receiver hitch, engine oil cooler, transmission fluid cooler (automatic transmission only), power steering cooler, 130-amp alternator, 4- and 7-pin connector with converter, and Trailer-Sway Control (TSC).
It’s What’s Inside That Counts
Tacoma Trail Edition will lead many owners to outdoor adventures, and the time spent in the vehicle can’t be overlooked. A host of standard features await, including a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat featuring 2-way power lumbar support, dual-zone automatic climate control, and standard all-weather floor liners help catch the outdoor elements that occupants’ feet bring in, just to name a few. Giving Trail Edition its personal flair, the black fabric seating features unique tan stitching.
The standard 8-inch multimedia touchscreen features Apple Carplay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Other features include a six-speaker sound system, hands-free Bluetooth® phone and music capability, a USB media port, two USB charge ports, and an integrated backup camera display. In addition, all Tacoma multimedia systems include Android Auto™, Apple CarPlay®, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM capability with a three-month All-Access Trial.
TSS-P: Standard Safety on All Tacomas
Although the Tacoma Trail Edition gains some added off-road performance thanks to its lift, that doesn’t mean that Tacoma’s standard safety features were forgotten. TRD engineers ensured the Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P) features are all standard. TSS-P includes Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, High-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert, and Automatic High Beams.
Every Tacoma is also equipped with the Star Safety System, which includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), and Smart Stop brake override technology (SST). Tacoma also features the driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System, driver and front passenger knee airbags, and front and rear Roll-sensing Side Curtain Airbags. Active head restraints for the Tacoma’s front seats are designed to move up and slightly forward during a rear-end collision to help reduce the risk of whiplash. Additional standard safety features include a Tire Pressure Monitor System.
A North American Story
CALTY Design Research, Toyota’s American design studio in Newport Beach, Calif., and Ann Arbor, Mich., helped give the Tacoma an unmistakably athletic and stylish identity. The Toyota engineering team at Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor takes great pride in the role it played helping to develop the current generation Tacoma pickup. The Tacoma is assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Baja California (TMMBC), in Baja California, Mexico.
