When you’ve got an opportunity to drive a 2020 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for any reason, it’s tough to say no. So when Toyota offered me a chance to take one on my bow hunting trip with a friend of mine in Ontario, Canada, I happily jumped at the chance.
Is the TRD Pro package necessary for a hunting trip? Not exactly. But it sure didn’t hurt and the new Army Green color was more befitting of a trip like this than pretty much any other color we could think of.
2020 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Fast Facts
- Engine: 5.7L V8
- Output: 381 HP/401 LB-FT Torque
- Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic, 4×4
- US Fuel Economy (MPG): 13 City/18 Highway
- CAN Fuel Economy (L/100KM): 18 City/14.2 Highway
- Estimated US Price: $52,780
- Estimated CAN Price: $69,216
Details
My test truck was built around the 2020 Toyota Tundra 4×4 Crewmax SB. All Tundra models come standard with a 5.7L V8 engine that produces 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque. Controlling the power is a six-speed automatic transmission.
Other standard features on the Crewmax SB include a shorter 5.5-foot bed, 145.7-inch wheelbase, anti-theft system, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment that works with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, 18-inch alloy wheels, and tow package with heavy duty hitch receiver and transmission cooler.
Adding the TRD Pro package spices things up quite a bit with that beautiful Army Green paint, aggressive-looking hood scoop, LED headlamps and Rigid Industries fog lights, front tow hooks, blacked out alloy wheels with red TRD logos on the center caps, spray-on bed liner, heated black leather seats with red stitching and TRD Pro logos, heated side mirrors, JBL premium audio system, blind spot monitoring, embedded navigation, power slide/tilt moonroof, push-button start, auto-dimming rear view mirror, and TRD Pro carpet floor mats. I’m sure I’m leaving a few things out, but you get the idea.
Because I live in Canada and it’s cold and snowy this time of year, Toyota Canada was kind enough to put on a set of Yokohama Ice Guard winter tires on my 2020 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro.
When I picked up the Tundra, the first thing that stuck out to me (besides the color) was the front end. The grille is massive and really makes an impression. The hood scoop is another nice touch and gives the truck more of a sporty appearance. I would prefer the scoop to be part of the hood rather than a piece added on, but that is an issue of the smallest order.
If you get down low, the two front tow hooks and TRD Pro skid plate offer a glimpse into this truck’s off-road intentions. A 10,000-pound winch would be a fantastic addition to the TRD Pro package and a tow strap would also be worth keeping in the back if you plan on some serious off-road exploration.
Some other add-ons I’d consider investing in would be a Tonneau cover, bed extender, and possibly an air intake system, depending where you drive. You can get all of those from Toyota.
I’m a big fan of the interior with those black leather seats and TRD red stitching throughout. And the center console is absolutely enormous. I used the rear seats primarily to house our bows and other hunting gear, so I can’t speak on comfort back there. But up front, the seats are very comfortable. And not only are the front seats heated, but they retain your settings even if you turn the truck off. So when you start it up again from the comfort of your home with the Toyota app (more on this in a minute), the seats will start to heat up and you’ll be greeted by a warm embrace. My only real complaint with the interior is that the steering wheel isn’t heated. It’s a small thing, but on cold mornings a warm steering wheel makes a big difference.
As for the Toyota app, I have to say I came away very impressed. Once you have it synched with your truck, just open the app and you can find out how much gas you have in the truck, how much air is in the tires, and you can start it up and lock or unlock the doors. There’s a bit of a delay in starting the truck, but the app works really well.
The Drive
Hitting the highway in the 2020 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro was a pleasure. The truck drives fairly quietly at highway speeds, though that will likely change with more aggressive off-road tires. Steering is also really light – a pleasant surprise in a big, full-size truck.
Power on the highway was impressive. The Tundra gets up to speed without complaint and can make a pass with a light push on the go pedal followed by the pleasant V8 growl letting the slower vehicle know you mean business. The six-speed automatic transmission is a little bit old school compared to some of the eight- and 10-speed options currently out there, but I never found the Tundra slow to respond to my commands. It wouldn’t be a big surprise to see Toyota come out with a new transmission when the Tundra gets its next refresh, but I’m not sure how necessary it is for the vast majority of drivers out there.
As we were hunting in some places I’ve never been before, I took advantage of the Tundra’s navigation system more than once. It worked exactly how you’d hope it would with clear directions and a map showing where you need to go on the eight-inch touchscreen.
Once we got close to our hunting spots, the roads got a bit sketchier and the snow got a lot deeper. I can’t say that we did any real rugged off-road exploration, but I did use four-wheel drive a couple of times. At one point, there was a hidden ditch on the side of a dirt road. It was hidden because it was filled with snow and level with the road. I found my front wheels in it at one point when I was turning around. Though my rear wheels were on some slick snow, putting the Tundra in reverse and using four-wheel drive to back out worked perfectly. I can tell you that my daily driver (small SUV with no four-wheel drive) would have required a call to somebody with a truck like the 2020 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro to pull me out.
Though we didn’t end up near any mud (it would have been frozen, anyway) or rocks to play around in this time, I did drive a Tundra TRD Pro in those conditions about a year ago, which you can read about here. It’s a very capable off-road truck that went everywhere I asked it to go.
All told, the hunting trip in the 2020 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro turned out great. As we used the back seats for storage, I had plenty of room our tree stands and a deer in the short bed, though if we had another person along, a full length bed would have been useful.
I’ll spare you the photos of the deer as not everybody is into that, but you can find some on the ArcheryTalk Facebook page if you really want to see them.