Toyota’s Tundra pickup is striving to be like the smaller Tacoma when it comes to offering more for its buyers. The Tundra has an impressive roster of trims at its disposal and like the Tacoma, the Tundra is attempting to appeal to many niches of the pickup market as it attempts to stay relevant against established rivals from Ram, Ford, and Chevrolet.
For 2025, Toyota is bringing a number of new updates to the rig including an all-new TRD Rally package for buyers who want a pinch of something special in their Toyota purchase and want more performance in their pickup too. But is the TRD Rally enough to make the Tundra a true budget performance truck?
Look hard to spot the TRD Rally differences
At first glance, it might be hard to spot some of the differences that make the model unique with the TRD Rally maintaining some of the core DNA that has made other Tundras noticeable on the open road with no major changes made for Rally trim. However, while the bulk of the look is intact, all Rallys like our tester get tri-colored stripes on the front grille bar, wheel center caps, the sides, and the rear liftgate which are a nod to the stripes that adorned Toyota’s rally trucks in the 1990s.
Our tester contrasted the stripes in white paint with all Rally models also getting skid plates, 18-inch TRD Off-road wheels, and mudguards. The added gear is a welcome upgrade since the Rally treatment is only available on the SR5 model which is usually a budget-focused model before it gets beefed up for Rally duty. While the look is not as bold as what you see on the Ford F-150 Rally or the Ram 1500 Rebel, the TRD Rally still has its own distinct flavor, and fans of the 1990s N64 sleeper hit Off Road Challenge (this author one of them) will know what’s coming to town when the stripes are spotted.
TRD Rally brings more comfort to SR5 Tundra
Slip inside the TRD Rally and you’ll find Toyota added more niceties to the cabin with the steering wheel getting a TRD-sourced unit that features TRD lettering and a prominent red centerline with the shifter and the start button also getting red accents. The SofTex-covered heated front seats replace the manually adjustable cloth ones with the material also getting tri-colored accents to mimic the stripes on the outside and the stripes on the passenger side of the dashboard.
Dual-zone climate control is also added and the larger 14.0-inch touchscreen replaces the SR5’s standard 8.0-inch touchscreen. The cabin is spacious and cozy with the truck providing plenty of storage spaces and rear legroom for second-row passengers. All the upgrades that the Rally gets over its SR5 source material can make it easy to forget that the Tundra still has some core flaws when compared to the competition. Some of the materials are still cheap and the front seats have less support than thrones seen in Ford and GMC trucks though the bolstering is a step up over what you get in the Ram 1500 Rebel.
Turbo power
Toyota axed V8 engines from the Tundra lineup when it revamped the truck and as a result, all of them are powered by a turbocharged 3.4-liter V6. The Rally gets a non-hybrid equipped version of the engine that makes 380 hp with the hybrid version of the powerplant being reserved for higher trims like the Limited. A 10-speed automatic is the lone transmission and while the engine is not as punchy as its hybrid counterpart, the setup was still enough to provide commendable amounts of performance.
The upgraded suspension provides great ride quality but while it gets to show off its full charms when you leave the pavement, there are occasions where the steering’s large dead spot on center was noticeable which made the truck feel like it needed an extra moment to react when making a turn. The engine delivers a strong growl and when you put your foot to the floor, the V6 does a good job of throwing you into the back of the seat. All of this fun does come at a slight cost in fuel economy with our tester getting an EPA-rated 19/17/22 mpg in city/freeway/combined driving.
Value Quotient
Pricing for the 2025 Toyota Tundra TRD Rally occupies a unique spot in Toyota’s pricing ladder with the package being an add-on to the SR5 versus being its own separate sub-model. Our tester arrived at our office with an as-tested total of $62,442. That’s not cheap by any means but it is a discount over a formal TRD Pro model which starts at over $70,000 and there are subtle things that make this particular truck stand out from the rest of the Tundra family even if you have to look very carefully to spot some of the hidden ones.
However, when cross-shopping against rivals, the TRD Rally’s value becomes harder to spot. The Raptor offers more performance gear and is a spicier truck overall while the Rebel does a better job channeling some of its backwoods DNA when it comes to some of the choices Ram designers made when crafting the exterior. While other packages in the Tundra’s arsenal allow buyers to get more personalized with their truck, few can match what the Rally brings to the table and the sound of the TRD-sourced exhaust system is enough to win over a wide variety of pickup buyers.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.