The 2026 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro was delivered to me, and all I kept thinking was “Check out that 4x4. That is hot!” I felt like I was in a modern version of Back to the Future, and decided to compare if the modern Tacoma TRD Pro lives up to Marty McFly’s classic 1985 Toyota Pickup SR5.
Starting on the front, the original had those popular KC lights on its front bumper. For the Tacoma TRD Pro, you get a multiple lights in the form of the LED light bar integrated into the grille, and the Rigid Industries LED fog lights with switchable white and yellow colors. Marty’s Pickup had custom tubular bumpers and the TRD Pro gets a higher clearance front bumper, with an ARB rear steel bumper.
The inside definitely shows we’re in the future. The red isodynamic performance seats have built in suspension via air pressure, to absorb movement when you decided to go where there are no roads. With Marty being a musician, the 10 speaker JBL system with a subwoofer and the portable speaker, played music loud and clear.
Under the hood, the TRD Pro gets a 2.4L turbocharged hybrid 4-cylinder engine. It is delivering 326 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque, compared to the 116 horsepower and 140 lb.ft. of torque for the Pickup. Its safe to say that the TRD Pro wins the power category but it still leaves me wanting to have the 6-speed manual with the hybrid powertrain.
Overall, I think the 2026 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is worthy of the Marty McFly’s modern day replacement.
