Photos by Dustin W. Johnson
Over the past several years, the popularity of “getting away from it all” and overlanding has broadened the spectrum of off-road vehicles. At one end are more rugged versions of vehicles that were once purely road-focused, such as the new Nissan Armada Pro-4X and the all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT. It may be just a one-off, but Chrysler’s Pacifica Grizzly Peak Concept shows just how far the appeal of vehicular adventuring has reached. At the other end of the spectrum are more focused versions of true off-roaders, including rigs such as the Lexus LX 700h Overtrail, Nissan Frontier Pro-4X R by Roush and, the subject of this week’s vehicle review, the 2025 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter.
HOW DOES ONE HUNT A TRAIL?
As part of its complete overhaul of the Tacoma for the fourth-generation model released in 2024, Toyota added two new trim levels: the Platinum built on the upscale appearance and amenities of the Limited; the Trailhunter was built for overlanding and served as an alternative to the TRD Pro, which is more suited for high-speed adventures in the wild.
Like last year’s model, the 2025 Tacoma Trailhunter is equipped with gear designed to get it across rough terrain far away from civilization. It rides an inch higher in the front and half an inch higher in the back on a set of 18-inch wheels with 33-inch tires. A high-clearance front bumper, rock rails, ARB rear bumper with recovery hooks, and onboard air compressor are in place to help the Trailhunter avoid contact with Mother Nature, minimize the damage she does, or extract the Trailhunter from her clutches. Old Man Emu 2.5-inch forged monotube shocks with rear piggyback reservoirs absorb bumps along the way.
The Tacoma Trailhunter is exclusively powered by Toyota’s i-Force Max hybrid powertrain, which consists of a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine combined with a 48-horsepower electric motor and a 1.87-kWh NiMH battery pack. Total output is an impressive 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, which reaches the pavement or dirt through an eight-speed automatic and part-time four-wheel drive.
That hardware and firepower comes at a Lexus-like price: our Tacoma Trailhunter press loaner has an MSRP of $63,235. With the addition of the Towing Technology Package, a spray-on bed liner, and three small accessories, the as-tested price balloons to $66,405—more than the starting price of a 2025 GX.
LITTLE BIG RIG
Even with the five-foot bed (a six-footer is also available), the Trailhunter was an absolute hulk, making it hard to believe it was a midsize truck. It felt just as substantial and authoritative behind the wheel. Everything within reach—the thick steering wheel rim, gear-like dials, and chunky shifter—fits the Trailhunter’s looks and personality.
Despite its rough and tough, off-road loner image, the Trailhunter was generously equipped. The Mineral SofTex front seats were heated and ventilated. Behind the heated, leather-trimmed steering wheel was a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. The massive 14-inch infotainment touchscreen provided access to the settings for the 10-speaker JBL audio system as well as wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, although I found the connection with my iPhone to be infuriatingly sporadic.
The only thing that was uncharacteristically small about the Trailhunter was its back seat. Legroom was tight and the bolt-upright seatbacks were almost immediately uncomfortable. I sometimes wish I could ride in the back of press vehicles while someone drives just so I can experience them like a second-row passenger, but a minute or two in the back of the Trailhunter was enough for me.
Given the Trailhunter’s size and nearly 5,400-pound curb weight, I expected it to be an absolute brute on the road. To my surprise, it rode much better than I expected. Compared to cars, trucks get a little leeway when it comes to steering and brake feel, but the Trailhunter didn’t need much slack because they were both nicely weighted and felt natural. Every jab of the throttle released the hybrid engine’s mammoth torque, and dramatic whooshes and whistles from the high-mounted air intake.
A SATISFYING DISAPPOINTMENT
My colleague Luke Lamendola, the Collector Car Network’s media supervisor Dustin Johnson, and I went out to the Four Peaks trail in Arizona’s Tonto National Forest to put the Trailhunter to the test. They had been there before, so they knew which routes would give us a chance to use its various features, such as the Stabilizer Disconnect Mechanism, Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select systems, and rear locker. After we aired down, we ended up engaging many of those, but only in the academic sense, not out of necessity. No matter which line we picked or how steep or rutted the path ahead was, there was no “pucker moment.” The Trailhunter never scraped its chin, dragged its belly, or lost traction. Its machinery equaled its machismo.
You can watch Luke and me break down the 2025 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter’s exterior, interior, powertrain, and on- and off-road driving dynamics in the video below.