This year, we were fortunate enough to make the trip in the completely redesigned 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, delivered to us in the rugged and head-turning Mud Bath/Black color combination. With its aggressive stance, innovative suspension upgrades, and Toyota’s reliable engineering behind it, the Tacoma seemed like the perfect companion for our holiday getaway to St. George.

And as it turned out, it absolutely was.

A new era for Tacoma

The Tacoma has been a Utah favorite for decades, especially among those who love the outdoors but still want a dependable daily driver. The 2025 model marks the first full redesign in nearly 20 years. The TRD Pro trim sits at the top of the off-road lineup.

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The Mud Bath paint color, with black accents and trim, gave the truck a wild-and-capable personality. More than once while filling up at gas stations on our adventure in southern Utah, we noticed people staring at the truck — or even approaching us to ask about it. With its wide stance, flow-formed wheels, TOYOTA heritage grille and signature LED lighting, the Tacoma TRD Pro certainly knows how to make an entrance.

Under the hood, Toyota’s new 2.4-liter i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain delivered an impressive 326 horsepower and a beefy 465 pound-feet of torque. Coupled with the new multilink rear suspension and the TRD-tuned FOX QS3 shocks, the truck was built to handle adventure while still providing a surprisingly comfortable on street ride.

The drive to St. George

We loaded up the truck early Thanksgiving week and headed toward Southern Utah for the holiday. The route is familiar to us — I-15 through the Wasatch Front and into the red rock landscapes that always signal we’re getting close to St. George. Even with baggage, coolers and holiday supplies, the Tacoma handled the load with ease.

On the freeway, the hybrid powertrain really showed. Acceleration was smooth and strong, especially during passing maneuvers. The cabin stayed quiet thanks to improved sound insulation, and the new seats — complete with IsoDynamic Performance inserts — kept us surprisingly comfortable for the long ride. Toyota says the inserts help reduce body movement during off-road conditions, but we found they worked just as well during hours on the freeway.

Craig Conover, Daily Herald

Fuel economy was far better than we expected from such a capable machine. The hybrid setup helped keep highway numbers respectable, allowing us to drive confidently without constantly worrying about finding the next gas station.

Thanksgiving with family

We spent the holiday with Craig’s mom, Pat, along with his sister Christi and her husband Ray, who had also come down to enjoy the warmer weather. The Tacoma made the perfect holiday hauler as we ran errands, picked up food and transported everything needed for a family Thanksgiving dinner away from home.

Despite its rugged appearance, the truck proved easy for everyone to get in and out of — something we appreciated when escorting family members to dinner and activities. The interior, with its blend of practicality and bold design, impressed everyone. The large 14-inch touchscreen was a particular favorite, making it easy to navigate, stream music or check on the truck’s off-road features.

There was plenty of room in the back seat for gear, jackets and hiking supplies, and the composite bed — complete with tie-down points and a built-in power outlet — held everything else we needed during the trip.

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Hiking and sunshine in the Red Rocks

One of the great blessings of spending Thanksgiving in St. George is knowing you’ll likely get sunshine, and this year didn’t disappoint. With bright, clear skies all three days, we took full advantage of the opportunity to explore the area on foot.

The Tacoma TRD Pro was built for this kind of terrain. Whether we were navigating bumpy dirt roads to trailheads or simply parking along scenic pullouts, the truck’s off-road tech made everything effortless. The available Multi-Terrain Select system, crawl control and front-stabilizer-bar disconnect add confidence when leaving pavement behind.

We tackled several short hikes throughout the weekend, including trails with views of Snow Canyon and the surrounding red cliffs. The Tacoma felt right at home in this landscape — like its Mud Bath color had been designed specifically to blend into Utah’s red desert tones.

During one of our hikes, we ventured down a less-traveled dirt spur. The TRD Pro’s FOX shocks soaked up the bumps so well that we barely felt them in the cabin. Toyota’s redesigned chassis doesn’t just improve comfort — it feels sturdy, stable and ready for more than we were willing to throw at it.

Craig Conover, Daily Herald

Enjoying a live Nativity

One of the highlights of our Thanksgiving trip was attending a live Nativity at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre, a perfect setting for holiday storytelling against the red rock canyon walls. As always, the Tuacahn production was heartfelt, beautifully staged and filled with music and warmth.

Getting there in the Tacoma TRD Pro felt fitting — driving a rugged, adventure-ready truck into one of Utah’s most iconic outdoor venues. Parking was easy thanks to the 360-degree camera system and clear visibility. As we left the amphitheater that evening under star-filled skies, the truck’s LED lighting and ambient cabin glow made the drive back feel cozy and festive.

The return trip

Sunday came far too quickly, and before we knew it, we were loading up for the drive home. With holiday traffic heavier than usual, we appreciated the Tacoma’s suite of safety and driver-assist features. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 includes lane-keeping assist, full-speed adaptive cruise control and road-edge detection — all of which helped reduce stress during the holiday drive.

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Despite the crowds heading north, the Tacoma maintained its composure, delivering a smooth and powerful ride. As we rolled back into Utah County, we realized just how well this truck balances its rugged identity with real-world comfort.

At the end of the week

The 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is, without question, one of the most impressive midsize trucks we’ve driven in recent years. Toyota took everything people loved about previous generations — the reliability, the capability, the iconic styling — and elevated it with new technology, improved comfort and the added power of the hybrid setup.

Our Thanksgiving weekend in St. George made for the perfect proving ground. From long freeway miles to gravel roads leading to hiking trails, from family errands to holiday outings, the Tacoma handled every task with confidence and character. Its bold Mud Bath color drew attention everywhere we went, and the interior kept us comfortable even on long drives.

Base price: $63,735

Destination charge: $1,495

Price as driven: $67,410