(Motor Authority) — When pictures of the redesigned Toyota Tundra TRD Professional leaked I puzzled for a split-second if the Japanese automaker had created a Ford F-150 Raptor competitor.
It didn’t.
As soon as full particulars had been launched, it grew to become clear that the 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Professional continues to be an off-road trim degree with out the intense off-road functionality of a Raptor. It additionally now will get slapped-on bits that really feel like they got here from the aftermarket.
Listed below are the professionals and cons of the 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Professional after spending every week driving round in a blizzard, hauling the household to the ski hill, and working errands round city.
Professional: Tundra’s TRD Professional’s exhaust growls
It’s exhausting to imagine there’s a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 beneath the hood. A surprisingly deep, guttural burble emits from the TRD exhaust system upon chilly begin that sounds prefer it’s only one octave increased than a V-8. The exhaust word quiets down after just a few seconds, however nonetheless sounds deep and wealthy. If you happen to hear intently whereas driving, it’s fairly simple to listen to the turbos spool up after which blow off as you dip into the throttle and let off. I dig it.
Con: Camo comes normal in and out on Tundra TRD Professional
If you happen to don’t need camo bits in your truck, the Tundra TRD Professional isn’t for you. Camo adorns the fender flares, entrance and rear bumper trim, and tailgate trim, and all of it appears to be like prefer it got here from a JC Whitney or Tough Nation aftermarket components catalog. The fender flares make the Tundra about an inch wider than different trims and necessitate the amber working lights as a result of the truck’s simply over 80 inches large. Inside, consumers have the selection of a purple or black inside, however both method the seat bottoms and backs are lined in a camouflage sample. A for effort, however F for execution. It comes off as cheesy. The additional visible pop of the purple inside choice makes it worse.
Professional and Con: Tundra TRD Professional comes with factory-integrated mild bar
This looks as if a good suggestion in idea, however in actuality it’s considerably poorly executed. Further mild output is supposed to extend how far you possibly can see down the street and subsequently enhance response occasions. This grille-mounted driving mild doesn’t try this. At 3,000 lumens, the TRD Professional’s mild bar is about as brilliant as a $30 hand-held flashlight. At evening, I may detect no further mild down the street when utilizing the low beams, and it added solely a smidge of sunshine to the edges of the street. Toyota permits the sunshine bar to be turned on with the low beams and when the excessive beams are off of their auto mode. It’s principally for present.
Professional and Con: The Tundra TRD Professional is ready up for bigger tires
To enhance off-road functionality, the Tundra TRD Professional rolls on 33-inch Falken Wildpeak 3 all-terrain tires. It additionally sports activities 2.5-inch Fox Racing remote-reservoir shocks, a bigger TRD entrance sway bar, TRD entrance springs, and BBS cast 17-inch wheels. The sway bar and comes are painted purple, which is neat, I suppose. The truck rides too firmly, and it bounces over Midwest potholes and damaged pavement. It’s not comfortable and soft like a F-150 Tremor. As Wes Siler from Outdoors identified, this setup drives as if it’s meant to accommodate 35s straight from the showroom with the right turning radius and no tire scrubbing whereas managing the additional weight of the bigger tires. Placing 35s on the Tundra TRD Professional would doubtless settle the experience and repair a few of the harsh impacts that you just wouldn’t anticipate in an off-road-focused truck. A manufacturing unit 2.0-inch carry equipment from Toyota would additionally doubtless enable 37s to suit comfortably.
Con: No full-time four-wheel drive
Each four-wheel-drive Tundra has a part-time system. Sure, together with the TRD Professional. No full-time four-wheel-drive system is out there like on primary road-oriented Ram 1500s, Chevrolet Silverados, GMC Sierras, and Ford F-150s, to not point out the off-road variants. No less than the TRD Professional encompasses a rear locking differential.
Con: Too costly
Off-road vehicles aren’t low-cost. However the Tundra TRD Professional as examined price $71,475, which is about $2,000 lower than a Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 and $7,000 lower than a Ford F-150 Raptor. However it’s about $9,000 greater than a base Ford F-150 Tremor, which has full-time four-wheel drive. Add a Torsen limited-slip differential to the Tremor, load up the choices so the Toyota and Tremor are apples-to-apples, and so they practically price the identical value with the Tremor that includes higher off-road hardware and software program. A Silverado ZR2 is way extra succesful off-road for just a few grand extra, and this Tundra isn’t even in the identical class when it comes to functionality or energy because the F-150 Raptor.
The 2023 Toyota Tundra Professional appeals on the floor. It appears to be like powerful and brawny and has enhanced off-road functionality. Nonetheless, just like the Tundra Capstone, the Tundra TRD Professional feels prefer it’s enjoying following the chief with a bunch of stuff added to make it look cool. It comes off as a half-hearted effort. No less than bigger tires would each look cool and enhance the experience high quality.
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––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Professional
Base value: $71,215, together with vacation spotWorth as examined: $71,475Powertrain: 437-hp twin-turbo V-6 hybrid, 10-speed automated, part-time four-wheel driveEPA gas financial system: 18/20/19 mpgThe hits: Sounds good, factory-integrated mild bar idea, prepared for bigger tiresThe misses: Cringey camo trim, lacks full-time four-wheel drive, suspension tuning with 33s, lightbar execution
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