Tuna & Torque: 2026 Toyota Tuna TRD Review

The setup

There are cars that try to be everything and cars that lean into their identity. The Tuna TRD leans — hard. Toyota took the already oddball Tuna platform, fattened the shoulders, threw in TRD hardware and a mild-mannered hybrid system, and somehow the result is cohesive. It looks like a fish that lifts weights: pronounced shoulders, a hatch that tucks like a tail, and paint that tries to look like scales without being tacky.

Specs at a glance

Yes, you want numbers. Here’s the meat-and-tuna:

Driving impressions

If you tell the Tuna to hustle it will. The 2.4 turbo and electric assist pair smoothly, with the instant torque of the motor covering for any single-turbo lag and the engine pulling cleanly through the midrange. The result is a car that feels faster than its curb weight suggests — seat-of-the-pants quick with a linear surge that ends at a crisp limiter.

Steering is pleasantly weighted and gives you a clear sense of the front end. Turn-in is quick but not nervous, with the adaptive dampers firming up mid-corner to reduce roll and the rear multi-link keeping the tail honest. On a twisty coastal road the Tuna TRD rewards commitment: it resists understeer until you ask too much, and when you do it shrugs and lets the electronics manage the slide with tasteful intervention.

Performance numbers (real-world)

We ran the Tuna through our usual drills on a dry day. 0-60 in 4.6 seconds felt repeatable; midrange passing (40-80 mph) was a solid 3.3 seconds in Sport mode. Braking from 70-0 mph stopped in 153 feet on our test surface — good for a near-luxury sport hatch. The adaptive dampers are the secret sauce: they go from pleasantly compliant in Eco to planted and communicative in Sport+.

Efficiency & range

Don't expect Prius numbers, but the Tuna is sensible. In mixed driving we averaged 33-36 mpg, which matched its EPA combined rating in our checks. The 18 kWh battery gives you about 30 miles of quiet, electric-only commute if you baby it, and the hybrid system does a fine job of recuperation in stop-and-go traffic. DC fast charging is limited to 80 kW, which gets you 0-80% in around 35 minutes — not remarkable, but acceptable for a performance-leaning hybrid.

Smell test (yes, we sniffed it)

One of the obligations of Fishy Cars Journal is the unofficial olfactory audit. Freshly applied scale-effect paint? Zero. Interior aroma? A faint hint of new-car plastics layered over a comforting scent of marine-grade upholstery (synthetic leather with a durable weave). After an hour on a misty harbor road there was a subtle sea-salt tang in the footwells, more memory than actual fish. Bottom line: no piscine red flags. If you crave a car that smells like a fishing boat, this is not that car.

Tech, ergonomics, and daily use

Interior layout is driver-focused without being alienating. The infotainment uses Toyota's latest OS with over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a thoughtful haptic row of shortcuts that I didn't hate after a week. The digital gauge cluster is customizable, and Sport mode gives you a fun bar-graph boost gauge that makes the Tuna feel analog in a mostly digital world.

Rear seats are surprisingly accommodating for adults; the hatch opens wide and the cargo floor is low enough to load a surprisingly large cooler. The TRD package includes a small underfloor tray for wet boots, which I appreciated after a ropey morning surf test. Climate control is fast and the heated seats are aggressive in a good way.

Safety and maintenance

The Tuna comes with a full suite of driver assists: adaptive cruise with lane centering, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and a new anomaly detection system that watches for marine debris warnings in coastal regions (yes, it actually flags conditions and suggests slower speeds). Maintenance is Toyota-simple: interval-based hybrid checks, brake inspections, and a battery warranty that covers 8 years/100,000 miles.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Engaging performance for the segment, excellent blend of hybrid efficiency and power, adaptable chassis, practical hatch utility, minimal fish smell.
• Cons: Price creeps into sport-luxury territory, EV charging of hybrid not as fast as dedicated EVs, ground clearance is low for genuine off-beach antics.

The verdict

The 2026 Toyota Tuna TRD is an oddball done very well. It doesn't pretend to be amphibious; instead it embraces being a fast, useful, mildly eco-conscious hatch with a personality. If you live where roads wind and mornings start with salt spray, the Tuna is a compelling daily driver that also doubles as a weekend enthusiast car. It’s a little pricey, but you pay for the tactile bits — the brakes, the dampers, the way the steering talks to you in technical tones. For drivers who want a hatch that hustles and keeps the smell of the sea optional, the Tuna is an easy sell.