The 2019 Toyota Tacoma is a third-generation truck, a member of the line that has been on sale since the 2016 model year, and the TRD Pro is its most off-road-focused trim. For 2019 the TRD Pro gained a high-mount desert air intake, a black chrome exhaust tip, an updated TRD skid plate with a red logo and a power moonroof. Every 2019 Tacoma also added dual USB inputs on the audio system.
The 2019 Tacoma and What Changed
Toyota’s mid-size pickup was largely carried over for 2019, with the headline changes concentrated in the TRD Pro. The 2019 Tacoma was offered in SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited and TRD Pro trims, in two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive forms, in Access Cab and Double Cab body styles. Most models used the 3.5-liter V6; some entry models used a 2.7-liter four-cylinder.
The third-generation Tacoma is a body-on-frame truck that shares its basic architecture with the global Hilux, but with engineering tuned for North American comfort and ride quality rather than maximum payload. That is why the Tacoma and the Hilux feel different on the road despite their common roots.
Engines and Transmissions
Two engines were available. A six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission was offered depending on the trim, and four-wheel-drive models had a two-speed transfer case with an automatic disconnecting differential.
| Engine | Output | Transmission |
|---|---|---|
| 2.7 L inline-4 | 159 hp; 180 lb-ft | 6-speed automatic (5-speed manual on some 4×4) |
| 3.5 L V6 | 278 hp; 265 lb-ft | 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic |
The six-speed manual was not limited to base trucks: it could be ordered on the four-wheel-drive TRD Sport and TRD Pro, which is unusual among modern automatic-first pickups.
TRD Pro: Chassis and Off-Road Hardware
The defining hardware of the 2019 Tacoma TRD Pro was its suspension: 2.5-inch Fox Internal Bypass shock absorbers at all four corners, tuned by Toyota Racing Development. It also came with an electronically locking rear differential, Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, Hill Start Assist, a TRD cat-back exhaust, skid plates and all-terrain tires on 16-inch wheels. The TRD Pro was four-wheel drive only.
The step below it, the TRD Off-Road, also had a locking rear differential, Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select, but used Bilstein shock absorbers instead of the Fox units and rode on different wheels. In practice the Fox dampers and the TRD Pro’s unique body details are what separated the two.
Interior and Technology
Inside, the 2019 Tacoma used a Display Audio touchscreen with Bluetooth, a reversing camera and a multi-information display. Toyota Safety Sense P was standard on every Tacoma and combined a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, automatic high beams and dynamic radar cruise control. TRD Pro models featured embossed headrests, leather-trimmed seats and a JBL audio system on higher specifications.
The TRD Pro cabin was otherwise close to the TRD Off-Road, so most of what a buyer paid for sat underneath the truck rather than in the trim.
The TRD Pro’s Fox Internal Bypass dampers contain additional internal fluid pathways that open under hard compression, letting the shock absorb big impacts without stiffening the ride over small bumps. The technology is shared with Ford’s F-150 Raptor, though the Tacoma’s units were tuned specifically by TRD.
Toyota gave the TRD Pro a unique grille with a “TOYOTA” script, a black chrome exhaust tip and TRD-stamped 16-inch wheels, along with the desert air intake added for 2019. These touches made it instantly recognizable among Tacoma trims.
As a work vehicle, the Tacoma used a double-walled composite bed and could be specified with a bed-mounted 400-watt power outlet on some trims. Toyota said the composite bed was resistant to dents and corrosion.
Cab, Bed and Payload Options
The Tacoma came as an Access Cab with a six-foot bed or a Double Cab with either a five-foot or six-foot bed. The Double Cab seated five; the Access Cab seated four. Payload and towing varied with the combination. In Double Cab TRD Pro form the 2019 Tacoma weighed about 4,445 lb and was rated for a payload of up to 1,155 lb on a 60.5-inch bed.
Dimensions and Towing
Maximum towing capacity for the 2019 Tacoma was about 6,400 lb for the TRD Pro, and other configurations ranged from about 3,500 lb for the four-cylinder Access Cab up to 6,800 lb. Every V6 truck came with a Class IV weight-distribution hitch, a 7-pin wiring harness and Trailer Sway Control. Four-cylinder models were rated lower, in part because they used a five-speed or six-speed automatic rather than the stronger V6 drivetrains.
Pricing and Market Position
U.S. pricing for the 2019 Tacoma began at $25,850 for the SR Access Cab 4×2 before destination, rising through SR5 at $27,625, TRD Sport from $32,545, TRD Off-Road from $36,765 and the Limited from $37,790, to the range-topping TRD Pro from $42,960. In Canada the TRD Pro package was listed from CAD 56,435. The Tacoma was the best-selling mid-size pickup in the United States through this period, comfortably ahead of its nearest rivals.
Readers can compare the Tacoma with stablemates in our 2019 Toyota Tacoma Redesign and Review and our 2019 Toyota Highlander Price and Review articles. This feature is part of our wider Toyota Review coverage.
