2016 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Review – Cool Dads Only

“Whether you’re a die-hard car fanatic, or not, there’s no denying that cars have shaped us from the very begging of our existence. Take for example your first car ride, which you most likely don’t remember because you were just tiny little baby going home for the first time.”

2016 Toyota Tundra TRD PRO Review – Cool Dads Only

From then on, life was spent on a car seat, then a booster seat, and then it was followed by endless years of back seat rides and many “are we there yet-s?” Until one day we were given a fast-pass to freedom called—a driver’s license.

I’m quite thankful my parents had some pretty cool rides when I was growing up, which also meant dealing with lots of unwanted attention while waiting to be picked up after school. Attention that on the other hand, my sister couldn’t get enough of. Funny enough, now that I’m a parent, I get kick out of picking up my daughters from school on a flashy vehicle. Rev the engine while they’re getting in the car, and trigger an immediate red face, accompanied by a: Daaaaaaaaad, common!!

That’s the effect the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro has on kids, adults, and everybody in between. It’s really just plain childish. Not only is it nearly half the size of a school bus, but with a 2-inch lift over the already tall “regular” Tundra, this Baja racer quickly becomes the center of attention everywhere you go. Which depending on your attitude, that can be a really good or a really bad thing.

All of us got to enjoy a charming time with this street-legal monster truck, and drove it to school, work, church, and we even took it off-roading. Mother Nature even made sure to send some nasty frigid and snowy weather our way, just so we could experience what the TRD Pro upgrades were all about.

While I find the lack of a few convenience and luxury features like heated seats, one-touch turn signals, and blind-spot monitoring disappointing, the Tundra TRD-Pro is a purpose-built machine, and believe me when I say that once you unlock its brutish charm, it will put a Texas-sized smile on your face, and the face of your kids.

Here are 4 reasons why the 2016 Tundra TRD Pro is the ultimate “Cool Dad Truck”, that won’t leave you broke.

It Looks Awesome

Although it doesn’t look as “Storm Trooper-ish” as the 4Runner TRD Pro, the Tundra has a menacing look that will make a fair share of cars move out of your way on the highway. How is this good? You’ll pretty much silence every road-rage freak on the road without saying a single word, and you may never be late to work again!

Keep Your Arms and Legs

With the price of a gallon of gasoline going sub-dollar in many states right now, owning a huge pickup truck with a 381-hp V8 engine will no longer cost you an arm and a leg. Surely by no means is it fuel-efficient, as we averaged a whopping 14.2mpg during our 7 day test, but if gas remains at a buck a gallon it’ll cost you under $40 bucks to fill up this beast. Prius, who?

It Stands for Something

For decades cars have been mass-produced with the goal of satisfying the masses, and while streamlining production and out-selling the competition is good for the consumer, it’s always nice to get behind the wheel of something that means a special deal to people. The Toyota Tundra TRD Pro is exactly that. TRD is Toyota’s Racing Development division, and its passionate engineers dumped over 30 years worth of off-road racing experience into this Tundra, meaning that this isn’t a run-of-the-mill truck. There is pride and passion on how well it performs in its natural habitat. (Which if you haven’t figured out, it’s not on paved roads)

Your Kids will Love it

As I reflect on all the times my dad grinned while pulling up at my school, I can’t help but to imagine how proud he must’ve felt to pick his kids up in a car, truck or motorcycle that meant something to him. See, my grandparents couldn’t afford a car while my Dad attended school as a kid, ant it wasn’t until I had my own kids that I understood why my dad felt that way…

2016 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro

• Starts at: $42,445
• Price as tested: $45,060