2026 Toyota Tacoma TRD PreRunner & TRD Sport: Gree
Quick Answer: The 2026 Tacoma TRD PreRunner and TRD Sport
TRD PreRunner starts at $39,035 MSRP and is built RWD-only — no 4WD is offered on it at any price, unlike every other trim in the lineup. It's an off-road-styled truck built for looks and stance rather than actual 4x4 capability, a nod to Baja prerunner racing rather than a trail-ready configuration. TRD Sport starts at $40,315 non-hybrid, with RWD standard and 4WD optional, plus an i-FORCE MAX hybrid option from $47,235 and one of the only 6-speed manual gearboxes left in the mid-size truck class. Both are Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 standard. Empire Toyota of Green Brook carries both at 220 Route 22 West.
Two trims that look tough, with very different drivetrains underneath
TRD PreRunner is the trim that trips up shoppers who assume "TRD" always means real off-road hardware. It gets the electronic locking rear differential and off-road-styled bumpers and stance, plus — new for 2026 — the black front Toyota badge shared with TRD Off-Road and TRD Sport. What it doesn't get, and can't get at any price, is 4WD. That's not a shortcoming so much as the entire point: PreRunner traces back to the Baja-racing prerunner concept, a 2WD truck built to handle rough terrain at speed rather than crawl over it in 4-low. Shoppers who want the look with real 4x4 capability underneath want TRD Off-Road instead.
TRD Sport takes the opposite approach — sport-tuned suspension and TRD badging aimed at on-road driving character, not trail use. RWD is standard with 4WD available as an option, and it's the trim most consistently associated with the 6-speed intelligent manual (iMT) with rev-matching, one of the few sticks left in a mid-size truck lineup anywhere. TRD Sport is also the entry point into the i-FORCE MAX hybrid, an option here rather than standard: 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft for $47,235, versus 278 hp and 317 lb-ft on the standard engine — the widest hybrid premium anywhere in the Tacoma lineup, so it's worth cross-shopping against TRD Off-Road's smaller hybrid upcharge before committing.
What buyers who went with 4WD and manual options say
Leny described choosing a 4WD 2026 Tacoma with the sales team's help on financing fit: "Great experience buying my NEW TOYOTA TACOMA 4WD 2026 at Empire Toyota in Green Brook. Special shout out to Justin Santana for being so patient and understanding of my needs when it came to purchasing a new car that met my budget. Definitely made the process easier without a question." Chooly, who picked up a Tacoma the same model year, called out the pace of the process: "Got my Tacoma here like a month ago. Had a pretty nice time, Brandon was extremely patient and handled everything with care. Glad to have purchased from you guys."
Frequently asked questions
Does the TRD PreRunner have 4WD?
No — TRD PreRunner is the only trim in the 2026 Tacoma lineup built RWD-only, with no 4WD option offered at any price. It's styled like an off-roader but built for on-road/prerunner-style driving.
Can I get a manual transmission on a 2026 Tacoma?
A 6-speed intelligent manual (iMT) with rev-matching is available on select 4x4 trims and is most consistently associated with TRD Sport; confirm exact manual availability with Empire Toyota of Green Brook's sales team, since sourcing varies across trims.
Is the TRD Sport hybrid worth the upcharge?
At $47,235 versus $40,315 non-hybrid, it's the widest hybrid premium in the lineup — roughly $6,920 — for 326 hp and 465 lb-ft instead of 278 hp and 317 lb-ft, plus a standard 2,400-watt onboard power outlet. Buyers focused on towing or job-site power get more value from it than buyers mainly chasing daily-driving character.
What's the point of a RWD-only off-road-styled truck like the PreRunner?
PreRunner traces to Baja prerunner racing — a lightweight, high-speed-capable 2WD configuration rather than a low-speed crawler. It suits buyers who like the stance and styling without needing true 4x4 hardware.
Can I get an XtraCab on a TRD Sport?
No — TRD Sport is Double Cab only. The two-door XtraCab is limited to SR, SR5, and TRD PreRunner.
Drive both back to back
The difference between a RWD-only PreRunner and a manual-optional TRD Sport is easier to feel than describe. Browse current TRD PreRunner and TRD Sport inventory at Empire Toyota of Green Brook, 220 Route 22 West.
MSRP figures exclude the destination charge, taxes, title, registration, and dealer-installed options; the dealer sets the actual selling price. Fuel-economy numbers are EPA estimates and real-world results will differ. Manual-transmission and 4WD availability by trim are subject to production sourcing; confirm current build availability with Empire Toyota of Green Brook. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Empire Toyota of Green Brook.