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The Toyota Tacoma is, undeniably, one of the kings of the off-road world. It’s been the best-selling small pickup in America for 16 years. But it comes in so many flavors and trim levels it’s hard to figure out which to pick. Two of the most popular versions of the 2022 Tacoma are the Tacoma SR5 and the Tacoma TRD Off-Road, which are capable but slightly less expensive than the top-dog TRD Pro and the more luxurious Limited.

While the TRD packages, either Sport or Off-Road, proudly announce their TRD-ness on the bed, the SR5 simply has a small badge on the rear. The SR5 or TRD can be ordered as an Access Cab, two door, or Double Cab, or four-door.

The Toyota Tacoma SR5 is about $10,000 less, to start

What is the difference between Tacoma SR5 and TRD on the inside?

The differences are minimal on paper, but when added up could make a big difference in your comfort in the truck over the long haul. For example, the TRD Off-Road has a 10-way power driver’s seat, while the SR5 has a simple four-way adjustable seat. The Off-Road has leather trim, too.

The differences can also be in the niceties: the TRD has a power sliding rear glass while the SR5s is manual. The SR5 has projector-beam headlights. A power moonroof is available on the TRD.

Other differences are in size. The TRD is wider, thanks to fender flares, but that does equate to about two inches more of back-seat shoulder room.

The two have slightly different instruments.

What is the difference in powertrains from the SR5 to TRD?

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma sits in front of a house as a mid-size truck. But should you pick an SR5 or TRD variant?
2022 Toyota Tacoma | Toyota

The biggest difference between the SR5 and the TRD Off-Road is price. The TRD is $37,855 compared to the SR5’s starting price of $28,490.

The SR5 has a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 159 horsepower. But the TRD Off-Road gets the big six-cylinder that makes 278 horsepower, standard. But, you can order the SR5 with the V6. The TRDs, however, can be ordered in a number of special colors. The SR5 or TRD hold their value over the long term well.

The SR5 is standard as a two-wheel-drive truck, while the Off-Road is true to its name with a four-wheel-drive system that has an electronically-controlled transfer case. The Off-Road has different bumpers, and it has greater approach and departure angles, and Bilstein shocks. The Off-Road can also come with Crawl Control, which is magic at getting a truck un-stuck from the mud. The SR5, however, can be ordered with four-wheel-drive, just not the fancy Crawl Control.

Is the Tacoma SR5 a better truck?

The Tacoma SR5
Tacoma SR5 | Toyora

As with any truck, it depends on how you want to use it. For truck stuff, they’ve both pretty similar. But, the SR5 has a longer bed, at 73.7 inches compared to the TRD Off-Road’s 60.-inch bed.

Both trucks come standard with Toyota’s 36-month, 36,000-mile basic warranty that extends to 60 months, and 60,000 miles, for the powertrain.

The Limited is the most-expensive version of the Tacoma. It starts at $42,530 but includes most of the options from the Off-Road standard, such as blind spot monitoring, deck rail system, 18-inch wheels, and an upgraded navigation and stereo, but it can be ordered as a two-wheel or four-wheel drive.

RELATED: Toyota Sells 250,000 Tacoma Pickups a Year: But What About Resale Value?

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.