Trims and Features

There are six trim levels, or grades, of the 2021 Toyota Tacoma: the SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and TRD Pro. The base engine is a 159 hp (180 lb.-ft. of torque) 2.7-liter four-cylinder that comes on the two lowest trims. Those trims are eligible for the V6 that’s standard on the TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and TRD Pro. It’s a 278 hp 3.5-liter V6 making 265 lb.-ft. of torque. Aside from the TRD Pro, which has standard four-wheel drive, the Tacoma is rear-wheel drive with 4WD an available option. While buyers of the TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and TRD Pro can choose between a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic transmission.

Toyota has also made a couple of Tacoma variants for this model year. First, there’s the Nightshade Edition, which is distinguished by blacked-out elements inside and out. The Trail Special Edition is a version of the SR5 trim that comes only as a crew cab. It gets a special grille and badging along with all-terrain tires, a locking storage compartment in the truck bed, all-weather floor mats, and black upholstery that has contrasting tan stitching.

The SR is the most no-nonsense Tacoma, with a standard equipment list that includes cloth seats, heated exterior mirrors, 16-inch wheels, a sliding rear cab window with tinted glass, and some essential infotainment and connectivity features, including a Wi-Fi hotspot and USB ports. The SR5 gets chrome exterior trim, fog lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and an upgraded infotainment screen. When either of these trims is ordered with the available V6, they also get automatic climate control with two zones, and the manual sliding rear window is replaced with a power-sliding version.

The TRD Sport is a bit more extensively equipped, getting a hood scoop, 17-inch wheels, wireless device charging, body-colored fender flares and rear bumper, a 120-volt power outlet (in the truck bed). The TRD Off-Road drops the hood scoop and reverts to the 16-inch wheels while adding a chrome rear bumper, textured black fender flares, a lockable rear differential, Bilstein shocks, and an advanced off-road traction control system with selectable terrain modes, including crawl control. Either of these TRD trims can be loaded even more with optional packages that include amenities such as a sunroof, surround-view monitors, heated leather seats, navigation, and a top-shelf JBL audio system with seven speakers (although the navigation and upgraded audio system aren’t offered in conjunction with the manual transmission).

The Limited trim comes as a crew cab only (although it’s eligible for either bed length). It gets all of the desirable features contained in the aforementioned optional packages for the lower TRD trims, along with 18-inch wheels with low-profile tires. Most of the trail-specific equipment added to the TRD Off-Road are removed. The highest Tacoma trim, the TRD Pro, is made only as a crew cab with the short bed, and its list of standard equipment includes all of the features that were optional on the TRD Off-Road. It’s unique from the other ’21 Tacoma versions thanks to its LED headlights, black grille, all-terrain tires, Fox internal bypass shocks, a hefty front skid plate, and a higher ride height.

Driver-Assist Technology

The Toyota Safety Sense P driver-assist technology suite is included on every 2021 Tacoma to increase passenger safety. It includes automatic high beams, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, and dynamic radar cruise control. The TRD Sport and TRD Off-Road are eligible for rear parking sensors and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert. Those features come standard on the Limited and TRD Pro.