ENGINEER TAKES 2024 TACOMA TRAILHUNTER OFF-ROADING

The only way to truly understand the full capability of the new 2024 Tacoma Trailhunter is to take it overlanding - through the hills, over the river beds, and through knee-deep creek. This is exactly what Automotive Engineer David Chao did with the Tacoma Trailhunter - the flagship off-roader that's offered for the very first time. Watch the entire video and pretend that you are in the truck with David as he traverses through some of the toughest conditions with the Trailhunter.
Automotive Press is owned and managed by David Koichi Chao, a global expert in the field of automotive evaluation, engineering, and strategy. With over 35 years of engineering experience, David is able to review vehicles from unique perspectives utilizing technical and specialized methods. David is a board member and a director at AJAC (Automobile Journalist Association of Canada).
David is known around the world as an authentic specialist of Lean/Agile Thinking, and travels all around the world to review vehicles and teach latest engineering methods. Born and raised in Japan, David has an engineering degree from University of British Columbia and post-graduate education from MIT and Harvard Business School in Boston.

[@jimmyamico4713]

Hi David, Very cool riding with you…❤

[@AutomotivePress]

Glad you enjoyed it Jimmy!

[@timzilinski4630]

Thank You David. I am also from Canada and enjoy your reviews. My choice was made January when I cancelled my order for a Canyon Denali and added myself to the Limited Hybrid list, your videos confirm I made the right choice in Black as you have reviewed. Now I continue to practice patience.

[@antonroux6737]

The prices are insane 😢

[@greensandbeansgaming1358]

Toyota has become the new Lexus in prices, just for window shopping for most. Think of all you got that will eventually break in these hybrids, a lot.

[@dcl97]

Even if everything works perfectly the lifespan of the cheap nickel metal hydride batteries they are using is only in the 100k mile range. At $3.5 a gallon the payback for the hybrid occurs at 175k miles, but you'll be looking at a $2k battery replacement before that. I'm no hybrid hater, we have a Prius, but this has to be one of the worst hybrid systems on the market. It's expensive, heavy, takes up huge amounts of cabin space in every vehicle it's offered in, offers only modest improvements in fuel economy, and from the early reviews, only modest power gains. Toyota should have gone back to the drawing board on this one.

[@greensandbeansgaming1358]

@@dcl97 They are making out on replacement parts ha.

[@sh_twelearnoverlanding]

@@greensandbeansgaming1358these will be the norm across all manufacturers. The tech and reliability will continue to get better. Like anything else that changes overtime.

[@pennypinchhomefinder7887]

All these poor people talkin prices

[@LivingRetirement]

I am NOT getting a Toyota after all. New pricing is off the hook, so I decided to drive my 2019 car until the wheels fall off!

[@Boobtube.]

what is your current car?

[@LivingRetirement]

@@Boobtube. I drive a VW Golf Alltrack with 6 speed manual transmission. Just love that thing, but also would love a vehicle capable of towing a trailer in the future. Those prices though. Before the VW I had a 3rd gen 4Runner which I got new in 2002. Rusted to death, but was technically flawless! Basically, I drove the 4Runner until it fell apart. I did not like the 5th gen 4Runner, and also not the last gen Tacoma. I took both for test drives; the Tacoma with also manual transmission. Really like the new generation though, and the LC250. I wanted a vehicle that has a)AWD, b) manual transmission, and c) provides fun while driving and not guzzling the gas. The VW fit the bill best; it is really holding up well; great for also winter driving!

[@cmdrls212]

I hope Toyota sticks with the trail hunter line in the future. Never understood the whole baja racing marketing behind the TRD pro as the number of people that use these trucks to race is probably next to nothing.

[@itsryanj]

Love your content Dave! Do you personally like the look of the 6’ or 5’ bed better with the trailhunter trim since they added that ARB sportsbar and adjusted the wheelbase?

[@garybeaty4032]

The limited is my favorite trim. Style wise it is what I prefer, and I don't need the extreme off-road features. I plan to pull a boat and maybe a camper down the line

[@rightlanehog3151]

David, I am surprised this Trailhunter does not employ Toyota's famous full-time 4WD system.

[@layne4376]

Why would you need AWD off road? 4WD is superior in those conditions. If you want full time AWD you can drive the Limited.

[@lovethomassowell]

No comments on the hybrid powertrain?

[@erickisel8668]

@AutomotivePress: You have to go with Trailhunter. Longer wheel base. More room in back seat. Problem is payload is too low at 1245 lbs. I thought Toyota was saying 1700 for 2024 models. What happened?

[@garyclark6747]

Not a fan of the snorkel on the trail hunter but fully understand the use case which is not my own. If I lived in a flood prone area it would be the one to get.💯 7:39

[@bryankwong2175]

It’s not a real snork

[@DyegoPC1995]

It's a higher air intake to protect engine from dust build up on overland trails. NOT a snorkel at all :(

[@Boobtube.]

does no good having higher air intake, because as soon as the alternator gets flooded, your done.

[@arth.4196]

Impressive as a Toyota man myself. Yes, prices are getting absorbatent.

[@dominiccappe2871]

"Extreme Offroading" !?!... You sure, David ? 🤔🔥😬 This "Toyota Course" looks pretty mild to me... They (Toyota) would not risk any obstacle that the LC or Tacoma could not tackle...

[@hphillips7425]

Can you do a video on the part that broke when TFL OFF-ROAD done some light off-roading

[@DyegoPC1995]

This 100%

[@OldelCpt]

It was a part meant to brake in the transfer case to protect all the rest. Toyota put 20 engineers on the case. See another TFL video. The issue is resolved.

[@marko6128]

I’d take either…but prefer the longbed on the Trailhunter…looks more like a proper pickup

[@pennypinchhomefinder7887]

If u are complaining about prices you cant afford 1

[@janetairlines1351]

You need those isodynamic seats to soothe your a ** after getting screwed up it by that price

[@jmyers6175]

😂😂

[@youarerightboss]

You buy it depending on your application

[@bradhewitt6779]

$65000 in Canada! . Couuld have got a Off road premium for 54000 in the fall. Crazy money.

[@layne4376]

Question is whether you can add all of the things for $10K CDN. If you can do it cheaper then get the OR and modify.

[@rcb361]

Is it worth more than 20k more than a Loaded Nissan Pro4X?

[@nordlandak6853]

You can buy a 2500 tremor for 62k. Or a Ram Rebel for 67k. Plus probably under msrp! These trucks are for suckers!

[@layne4376]

Yes but then you are driving one of two pieces of crap.

[@nordlandak6853]

@@layne4376 lol Toyota the truck that turned to crap…

[@bmac9936]

Trailhunter is beautiful. Don’t need it but sure would like to have it.

[@youarerightboss]

TRD PRO for bajaing. Trailhunter for overlanding

[@fseb233]

the prices make this a bad value truck at the high end now. The hybrid powertrain only fills in gaps at low-end and gives no meaningful fuel savings over regular yet this new top package costs like 20K more than a off road and is in Lexus GX price range now.

[@pennypinchhomefinder7887]

Buy something else

[@nicholassinovich4257]

I prefer the styling of the PRO however with a family of 4, the STANDARD iso-dynamic seats eat up wayyyyyy too much room. It was foolish to make that a standard across the PRO line. Tacoma owners already complained about space and seating position on the last generation so they fixed one half of that but created a whole new one with these seats. The Cheif Engineer stated the iso-dynamic seats can be fitted across all trims so why not give the option for regular seats in the PRO? Bc of this, I'm leaning toward the 5ft Trail hunter. I'll also save 1500 bucks that way I suppose. Still over priced but compared to any other manufacturer, I'd pay more for the toyota name plate and reliability that comes with it. Plus the fact it'll hold its value far better than any competitors out there

[@mountainlife1165]

Ridiculous pricing and that groomed off road track is joke for testing purposes, namely the rock garden. Big rocks all leveled out for the most part…🙄

[@aarsenalfan]

To afford it I need 15 years LOAN with 0% APR. 🥶

[@appleztooranges]

Price “are you shitting me”

[@seanlichter435]

Payload should be 300lbs higher, and it should have a 23 gallon gas tank, so it can actually go further.

[@johnmeeboer8971]

larger tank lower payload, besides no one follows the payload sticker

[@ctclardy]

Well... Toyota certainly outdid itself. Nice vehicles but, I can no longer afford any of them, the TrailHunter, the TRD Pro, or the Limited. Not only have the engines accelerated in horsepower and torque, but the prices have come right along if not far exceeded them.

[@braalo07]

Get a TRD Off-road Premium I-Force Max, best package IMO

[@bd103dall]

@@braalo07that will come to ~$57k, right?

[@braalo07]

@@bd103dall yeah but it has everything the Pro has other than the seats

[@bd103dall]

@@braalo07 nice. Wasn’t sure if it had the same dimensions. I heard the Pro and Trailhunter were slightly wider

[@OldelCpt]

@@braalo07not quite. Not the same suspension at all. For Trailhunter The ARB is $4500 or so installed on its own. The hybrid is another $3700 on top. Add to that compressor, sway bar disconnect, rails, extra under protection, etc. In the end, one ends up having to add it, just not under warranty, but can add as money comes over the years.

[@jesusnavarrete6317]

My 2017 is going to die in this family 😂. 65k

[@donays8241]

Prices, this is absurd

[@isaacwalker6646]

Not sure, 86 grand for a taco trailhunter. Planned to get a 4Runner trailhunter which I suspect it will be priced close to 90, but not anymore after seeing the taco price

[@mattb9664]

I'm guessing the front differential didn't have a hard time dealing with this demo..😂.

[@VenomizedSupra]

Price is trash

[@GregsBlueTacoma]

lol save your money and buy a 4.0 or a 3.5 and toss in 10k suspension and you'll have something that outdoes this same stuff for lots less - and they'll actually achieve more than 200k miles.

[@layne4376]

You will have to regear the 3.5 though. That 6 speed is horrid.

[@GregsBlueTacoma]

@@layne4376 Agreed!

[@cargueone1971]

No doubt, it's a great truck, but $10k U.S. more dollars than a Ranger Raptor?

[@MrHand-ih4sz]

I'm sorry...did you say SIXTY GRAND for a TACOMA?? 😅😂😅😂😅😂😅

[@HerbertAtkinson]

No truck is worth 55k I could care less even if it can climb mount Everest wouldn't even pay 25k$ for it & to have only a 4-cylinder in it is laughable😅

[@krullux2042]

but can i get it in a manual? otherwise no joy. crawl control, full time 4wd blah blah blah ...all for noobs

[@eighty6films]

Crawl control sounds like an expensive gimmick (especially when u had to intervene manually anyways) Truck looks Awesome!!!! Prices make me 🤢

[@cmdrls212]

It's great to get the out of stuck situations

[@layne4376]

Ever use it? You can be 1/4 way up the doors in sand and it will pull you out. Its amazing.

[@donhoe100]

It's funny how you always see demos of a truck going through a puddle? A Toyota Corolla can do that?