Tech & Auto
The Coolest Toyota Truck Doesn’t Even Have Four Wheel Drive
By ALEX HEVESY
The Toyota Tacoma is competent, backed by Toyota's legendary reliability, but it never stood out from the crowd — until Toyota brought back the TRD PreRunner trim level.
On paper, the PreRunner is "less" than other options, as it's limited to a single cab, rear-wheel drive layout with some off-road parts for good measure. However, less is more.
The PreRunner weighs 175 pounds less than 4x4 versions. You get a six-foot bed as standard, the passenger seat folds flat, and fuel tank guards are also standard.
The front suspension’s lift allows the truck to "hop" over obstacles, and the locking differential gives both wheels the grip needed to push the truck on rough terrain.
You may think four-wheel drive is necessary for off-roading, but that isn't totally true. The rear-wheel PreRunner gives skilled and experienced drivers the tools they need.
While its 278 horsepower won't burn the tires off, 317-foot pounds of turbocharged torque cranks up the mischief a considerable degree. At under $40,000, it’s quite the offering.