2015 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro: Around the Block

The new Tacoma TRD Pro packs a mix of Bilstein and TRD suspension components, TRD wheels, BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, TRD exhaust, and naturally, some cosmetic touches, in this case blacked-out lettering and optional orange paint. Brad's truck might have an extra inch of lift, longer control arms, two more inches of tire, and the trail rash to prove his truck is no pavement pounder, but I have faith that this factory-fresh Tacoma has what it takes.

Tires aired down, traction control off, stability control off, RSCA (whatever all that is) off. I leave the truck and two-wheel high and put my foot down. The TRD exhaust spits out a throaty V-6 bark and the back end squats. Moment of truth -- I stay on the gas and feel the back end pop to the surface. Now I'm scooting

across the sand, kicking up a healthy rooster tail in my rearview. Who needs a drift car? Just leave the TRD Pro in two-wheel and it's just as chuckable.

Enough impersonating Ryan Tuerck; it's time to get this Tacoma vertical. Leading the way I flip it into four-wheel high and set my sights on the biggest dune I can find.

With the Tacoma TRD Pro's long wheelbase and lack of a long-travel suspension, I have to ease up on my speed at the base of the dune. Once past the point of full compression, I feather the upper end of the throttle and feel the tires fighting and clawing their way forward.

Off-roaders can endlessly debate tire choice and suspension setups. But when it comes to out-of-the-box fun and performance, it really doesn't get much better than the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. At the end of the day, there wasn't a dune left unclimbed.