2026 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro Looks Like Taffy with WaveMaker Paint
Toyota's new WaveMaker paint color is only available on its TRD Pro lineup (for now).
For 2026, the special blue hue is optional on the 4Runner Hybrid, Tacoma Hybrid, Tundra Hybrid, and Sequoia.
Last year, Toyota introduced the sandy Mudbath shade, and before that was an orangish Terra color—both no-cost options.
When you buy one of Toyota's TRD Pro models, you don't just get access to the automaker's best off-road equipment, you also get the chance to choose a paint color not found on the normal stuff. For 2026, Toyota introduces WaveMaker, a special blue hue that wouldn't be out of place in a package of salt-water taffy.
New Blue TRD Pros
Like the previous TRD Pro-only paint colors, WaveMaker was created by Toyota's CALTY design studio. These vibrant colors definitely help boost curb appeal. For those who need to be reminded what models offer a TRD Pro trim, it's the 4Runner, Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia. Except for the latter, all of those models feature the mightier hybrid powertrain.
Toyota
WaveMaker represents 11th special paint color that Toyota has developed for its TRD Pro lineup. It started back in 2015 with Inferno, which the company hinted could someday come out of retirement. Last year, Mudbath—a sand-esque hue—was on the menu. Before that, Toyota offered Terra (see: burnt orange) for 2024, which followed Solar Octane (2023)—a name that begs the question: What would happen if you poured gasoline on the sun?
While these annual paint releases are reserved for TRD Pro models, they trickle down to the mainstream models the following year. So, for example, you can expect to get a WaveMaker-painted Tacoma TRD Off-Road for the truck's 2027 model year.
Toyota
Toyota hasn't yet announced pricing or other details about the 2026 TRD Pro models, but the automaker says they will start reaching dealers sometime this fall.
Eric Stafford
Managing Editor, News
Eric Stafford's automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual '97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a '90 Honda CRX Si. Read full bio
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