If you’re looking for a Tundra Trailhunter with a setup similar to a Tacoma or 4Runner, this isn’t what you expected.
It’s been nearly four years since Toyota initially teased the idea of a Tundra “Trailhunter,” a more capable off-road model within its increasingly complex lineup of trucks. The concept featured a raised suspension setup, strengthened bumpers with actual tow/recovery hooks, skid plates, a roof rack, a tent, and even an onboard refrigerator. Even though the production model didn’t include the more unique camping-focused bits, we expected the full-size production Trailhunter to more or less mirror the smaller Tacoma. Spoiler alert: It’s not (and I have a theory as to why that is).
Toyota announced more details on the refreshed 2027 Tundra lineup Tuesday morning. In those details, the automaker mainly focused on the new Trailhunter, while hinting at more details coming later in the fall. Basically, the new Trailhunter package – and words package Here’s the key – while the SR5 is based on trim, it brings a little more capability to the table than your everyday Tundra.
To that end, the Tundra Trailhunter gets Old Man Emu suspension, front recovery hooks from the factory (finally), and extra underbody protection. so far united nationsIt is surprising. The Trailhunter also brings a locking rear differential, Multi-Terrain Select, and Crawl Control, so in this respect it’s closer to the TRD Off-Road in terms of capability. You also get a pair of harsh LED fog lights that have been upgraded for better output, and of course the same Trailhunter badging we’ve seen on both the Tacoma and 4Runner.
Then, we move on to the tires. Are those BFGoodrich KO2s or KO3s? Maybe some Goodyear Wrangler DuraTracs or Territory ATs, like the Tacoma Trailhunter? Certainly during shooting, they are not! Instead, you get a set of 265/70-R18 Michelin LTX Trails, which the manufacturer has to quote: “Take on paved roads and trails… that provide long-lasting on- and off-road protection?” Beyond the visual clues, the fact that Michelin mentions sidewall first in both sentences tells you everything you need to know about how “aggressive” these tires are for true trail hunting. Granted, TRD Off-Road usually gets a set of Falcon Wildpeak A/T3W which… aren’t great (but at least they’re billed for “adventure”).
You can certainly swap tires, but what about the rest of the package?
If the feature set I introduced for the 2027 Toyota Tundra Trailhunter sounds familiar, that’s because it should. Give or take a few tweaks like the OME suspension, this strikes me as a replacement for the recent TRD Rally package. You get skid plates, some off-road shocks, an electronic locking rear differential and a few aesthetic tweaks that make it more distinctive than your normal SR5.
said that, Because The Trailhunter is based on the SR5 – where Toyota has a little more leeway in the pricing structure – it also won’t cost as much as the range-topping TRD Pro. Currently, the price for the 2026 Tundra SR5 with the TRD Rally Package is around $67,255. However, the TRD Rally package also forces you to spend a few extra thousand dollars on a 3-inch suspension lift… and it doesn’t look like the Trailhunter does that. So, when Toyota formally prices the 2027 lineup (we don’t have those numbers yet), it could fall in the mid-$60K range. Essentially, it’s at the upper end of the non-hybrid Tundra stack, but not in the same ether as the TRD Pro.
Why? Because people strongly suspect that Toyota is planning one more Off-Road-Capable Tundra: trd hammer. Essentially, the hope here is that the automaker is planning an ‘R’ version of the TRD Pro – a more hardcore Baja-flavored truck that will rival the Ford F-150 Raptors, Chevy Silverado ZR2s and Ram 1500 RHOs of the world. Maybe not TRX or Raptor R levels of power, but you get the idea. More grunt, huge lift, stronger tires, the whole shebang. Toyota has not confirmed He So far, but it’s certainly tinkering with that notion…hence the TrailHunter, TRD Pro And A possible TRD Hammer at the top of the Tundra lineup (along with the Platinum, 1794 Edition, Capstone, etc.) It will be crowded to say the least.
Again, this is just a theory, at least for now. However, as it is, the SR5-based Trailhunter offers a 2027 Tundra capability level between the TRD Off-Road package and the established (but hybrid-only) TRD Pro.
What about the other trims in the 2027 Toyota Tundra lineup?
Apart from the news of the Trailhunter trim, Toyota only announced a few other changes to the rest of the Tundra range, with more news to come. For example, there have been some subtle changes to the interior, but a few things are worth mentioning. A 14-inch infotainment screen is now standard across the range, and packs the latest version of Toyota’s multimedia system.
Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 also comes standard, which includes several driver assistance features. The latest 4.0 system focuses on more Active Compared to reactive elements, Proactive Driving Assist can therefore anticipate driving situations to help maintain appropriate distance from other vehicles and adapt to upcoming turns, at least in theory. There are improved sensors and cameras to further improve the ability of the truck’s pre-collision system to detect both vehicles and pedestrians compared to previous versions.
On i-Force Max trims, Toyota offers a 2.4-kilowatt onboard inverter, which provides power for tools or recreational devices, similar to Ford’s ProPower onboard system. The 2027 Tundra also features a built-in dashcam system, which captures a 20-second clip using the vehicle’s exterior cameras (front and rear or 360-degree, depending on the model) when manually signaled or triggered by an event such as an accident. The latest multimedia system gets an upgrade to a 5G modem (via AT&T) to access connected services and offer a Wi-Fi hotspot, there are new “Hey Toyota” voice functions, and Toyota is offering digital key functionality with a Remote Connect subscription.
Generally speaking, powertrain options for the 2027 Toyota Tundra remain the same as before. Non-hybrid models get the same 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6, producing 389 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. Hybrid, i-Force Max options get a boost to 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, and you get a 10-speed transmission and a choice of two- or four-wheel drive, depending on the model. Again, pretty standard stuff, and apart from the Trailhunter package, the trim stack isn’t changing either. The SR, SR5, Limited, Platinum, 1794 Edition, TRD Pro and Capstone are all still here.
We’ll have more details and pricing in the autumn, so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, check out Andre’s notes and impressions on the new Trailhunter below:
