Here’s Why Serious Off-Roaders Don’t Waste Money on the 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro
Toyota released an all-new third-generation Tundra for the 2022 model year. Its flagship off-road trim continues to be the legendary TRD Pro. But Toyota has jacked up the Tundra TRD Pro’s price by $17k. At the same time, Toyota began offering a TRD Off-Road package on several trim levels which some serious off-roaders are choosing over the TRD Pro.
What is the Tundra TRD Off-Road package?
TRD stands for Toyota Racing Development. The TRD Off-Road package is a Tundra option package that includes a factory lift, bilstein shocks, skid plates, and off-road driver aid software. It is available on several trim levels and is different than the TRD Pro trim level.
One major way the TRD Off-Road is different than the TRD Pro is that the TRD Off-Road is an options package available on multiple trim levels. So you can order anything from a 2WD Tundra SR5 TRD Off-Road to a 4WD Tundra Limited TRD Off-Road. The price of the TRD Off-Road package depends on the trim level you are adding it to: optioning a 2WD SR5 with TRD Off-Road will only cost you $1,440. Find out what the cheapest Tundra TRD Off-Road includes.
Another interesting thing about this package is that you can add it to many configurations of trucks. Want a short cab, long-bed SR5 with the base engine and a TRD Off-Road package? You can get one. Want a Crew Max, 5.5-foot bed version with the premium engine? That’s also available. But Toyota only sells its TRD Pro Tundra trim in one configuration: Crew Max cab and 5.5-foot bed.
Is the Tundra TRD Pro better than the Tundra TRD Off-Road?
Toyota’s 2022 Tundra TRD Pro trim and its TRD Off-Road package (available on several trims) have many of the same features, though the TRD Pro has some higher caliber components. Both come with a factory lift, skidplates, and off-road driver aids. The TRD Off-Road boasts a premium, hybrid engine option standard: the i-FORCE MAX.
Here’s a breakdown of the differences between the TRD Pro trim and the TRD Off-Road package:
4WD Tundra SR5 (TRD Off-Road) | Tundra TRD Pro | |
Price | $46,165 | $66,805 |
Output | 389 horsepower, 479 lb-ft of torque | 437 horsepower, 583 lb-ft of torque |
Suspension | Tuned Bilstein shock absorbers | 2.5-inch FOX Racing |
Rims | 18-inch TRD Racing | 18-inch BBS Forged TRD Racing |
Tires | Falken Wildpeak A/T (265) | Falken Wildpeak A/T (285) |
Want to see the latest Tundra TRD Pro trim level go head-to-head against the all-new Tundra TRD Off-Road package? Check out The Fast Lane (TFL) Off-Road’s matchup in the video review below:
Experts chose the Tundra SR5 (TRD Off-Road) over the TRD Pro
The experts at TFL Off-Road have driven both the 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro and trucks with the new TRD Off-Road package. The team had to admit the wide wheelbase and 2.5-inch FOX shocks made the TRD Pro more stable while off-roading at high speeds (think desert racing). That said, its lack of Raptor-like long-travel suspension left something to be desired at its $66k pricepoint.
TFL also expressed concern at the incredible weight of the Tundra TRD Pro–only available with a Crew Max cab and heavy hybrid powertrain. Certain trucks with the TRD Off-Road package might be incapable of the TRD Pro’s higher desert speeds, but they might actually make for much better (lighter and nimbler) low-speed rock crawlers.
TFL Off-Road is based in Boulder, Colorado, and much more interested in a trail truck–like much of America. In addition, the organization strives to offer value to the average truck buyer. With the TRD Pro price jumping from $49k to $66k in 2022 it is out of the budget of many truck drivers. For these reasons, the serious off-roaders at TFL Off-Road actually chose a 2022 Toyota Tundra SR5 (TRD Off-Road) for their longterm test truck, not a TRD Pro.
Next, read about the 2022 Toyota Tundra trim levels or see TFL Off-Road’s full 2022 Tundra buying guide in the video below: