I paid $125 shipped for my knockoff grille a little over a year ago. Still looks brand new!

Watching Chloe install the letters with the outside of the grill sliding against a bare floor...raised my blood pressure to hypertension levels...

I did an aftermarket Pro grill on my 2nd gen Tacoma and it's holding up quite nicely. It fit with no problem, my main concern was how long it would last but after 5 years it still looks as good as new.

I like the flat finish on the fake one over the real one

I'd agree Chloe. I found a cool OEM grill for a good price, but went with a highly reviewed sensor cover because the Toyota price for that was ridiculous... and the Amazon knockoff works perfectly. Best of both worlds!

Thanks for the awesome video Chloe. The aftermarket isn't that bad when not compared to OEM side by side

The biggest issue with getting an OEM TRD Pro grille is having a VIN number for a TRD Pro. All the vendors of OEM parts require a correct VIN to purchase. I found my knockoff from R4T, and it’s not too bad.

I’m glad this video was made. I personally would love to have an OEM but the cost obviously is too much. Glad to see a knockoff that is somewhat decent so I will buy that one instead.

Great video. I paid a little over $200.00 Canadian for my fake grill but it sure looks a lot better quality than the one you have, and the finish is closer to my OR grill, but the letters are the same as the one you have. The sensor cover popped out and the factory OR sensor fitted perfectly. I appreciate all your videos

Got mine from taco vinyl, was like 260 including raptor lights and the garnish and is honestly a perfect replica to the original down to the letters and everything. Also it came with the letters and garnish pre installed.

Perfect timing on this vid, as I was shopping around and wanted to see a side by side. The OEM definitely looks better, but... not $400 better to me. I managed to snag the knock off for $70, so it was an easier choice. I may do some paint touch up on the letter edges to tidy it up though. Love the channel, Chloe...

I won my knock-off grille on a local bidding site. I can't complain. I won the grille for $6.59, letters were $40, and grille lights were only $28. Everything fit perfect. Just under $75 for everything.

I've had the knock off grill on an '18 for about 3.5 years now. Still looks new and was able to mount the sensor with an OEM sensor cover on the front without issue. If it rains a ton, some water will penetrate the sensor cover, and you can't use the adaptive cruse control, but this has been a super rare occurrence.

Yotaverse for the win. Theirs has the whole letter plate and not individual letters. And yes, you can remove the blank garnish and swap your sensor over.

I have had the same knock off grille for 5 years, it has stood through everything and still looks new...it the same case when someone buys a $600 over priced "offroad" jack. Believe me when that HF jack comes out I'm buying that knock off too

That crash damage pic is the best ad for the OEM grille

Definitely recommend going OEM if you can. Best fitment, and looks a better. And if you have the front camera, the OEM camera bracket and placement is MILES better than the ones I have seen on the 3rd party grills. Usually the 3rd party grill brackets set the camera too far back. I had a 3rd party one, regretted it and ended up getting an OEM one a few months later.

Great review. And great perspective from an engineer. Thank you for being so detailed...waiting on my Tacoma.

What I did I bought mine knock off and went to Walmart and bought a spray-paint semi gloss black and a clearcoat semi gloss spray can and spray painted the trd grill and it looks nice.

Hey Chloe, first off wanna thank you for making this video. I came across it today and the link provided to the OEM grill turns out is on sale form 289 to 200. Ended up ordering it as its something that I have REALLLLLLLLLLY wanted for my TRD Offroad.

Thank you for all of your videos. I was an suv guy until I just made up my mind and decided to get a Tacoma. It should get here some time next month and I can say that all of your videos will be very helpful for me when it comes to taking care of it plus getting some goodies for it, haha.

I got the knock off and painted it with a matte black finish which has dark, dark grey cast and gives it a durable look. Perhaps is not as shining as OEM but holds up better for scratches. Otherwise, satisfied with knock off. Added lights and front camera to top it off. Have Had it a couple years and a solid purchase. I have 2 Toyota grill name plates (as a result of a scratch on the 1st one and they replaced it). Was planning to paint it red and maybe switch out. I have “quick sand” color with red accents. Nice truck. Have 2017 Sport.

Chloe you can tell you are an Engineer. Excellent review of the product. Someone commented that their blood pressure spiked to see you assemble it without some form of protection on the floor. It is a cheap knock off, and I don’t think you will actually be using it. I really didn’t like the lettering, I didn’t care for the flat black on the knock off, and I’d would need to add the factory sensor, so I would go for the factory model.

i got the $150 china looks good held up these last 2 years . i think paying $400 for a grill is stupid

Mahalo Chloe, found myself in this situation and appreciate you taking the time to make and put out great vids 🤙🏽🙏🏾

People may get butthurt about calling them knockoff. I call them Pirated. And imho, pirated parts are a thrill to own. Even the cloned ones like the grille you have. I always like things that are slightly askew. It's fun!

Agree ...first impression of 2 grills side by side made me love the look of the OEM ...the letters look cheap like something you find at a Michael's and spray paint.

The knockoffs are probably made in the same factory as the OEM 😆

I have a 21 sport and I've been eyeing these grills for a while. Appreciate another awesome video

Funny thing about the so-called “knocked off. “They are everywhere and I mean everywhere. Most of the time the OEM’s are celebrated but not on all occasions.

The shine on the after market is duller, the letters are nice enough, but not as sharp as the OEM. It looks like that after market grille is bought from the same Amazon seller I got mine from. Did that after market comes with the raptor light? If it did, those lights only fit a certain way. The plastic does feel and look cheaper, but so far, the grille I got still looks good, no hazing or warping from the occasional 100 degree heat. Mine is 2016, so there is no need for the front sensor assembly. Great video.

I like the one Taco vinyl has with the center (Logo) inserts that you can get various colors. They also have an optional front camera mount available. Some of the OEM sights want a VIN to order this part also. I definitely agree there is a visible difference. But for the extra 10HP you get for adding the grill who cares. HAHA

Hi Chloe, great video! Based on your b-roll, I have some speculation for you. I bet the knockoff grill was based on a 3d scan of the original part. A matt finish really helps with laser scans, so I bet an OEM grill was sand blasted on the front prior to scanning. That matt surface finish would have been projected onto the aftermarket's mold if they were lazy machininging it. The radius's would be larger too, especially if the laser scan's resolution could not pick them up. Since the back side of the aftermarket part has a glossier surface than the front side, I think they took more time to optimize and machine the bottom side of their mold to match their equipment. I bet both the OEM and aftermarket molds were formed with EDM. I think they used a similar injection molding for the ABS, but the different equipment involved would impact some of the seam lines and material-flash you're seeing in the aftermarket.

I have a fake one and it looks great. Plus that HorsePower boost... Oh excuse me... HERSSPURRSS boost is off the charts.

There is a difference in the TSS Garnish covers as well, the OEM is higher quality than the china knock offs, another difference is the two posts on the China knock off garnish are 5/16 in diameter while the OEM garnish the two posts are 1/4 inch and use a smaller push lock washer that is easier to install. The OEM Toyota TSS garnish is made in America.

i bought the Heritage Trail Edition Grill.. which is cheaper than the Pro grill..

I would like to see how the knock-off would resist a Canadian winter...

The aftermarket grills fade much faster

I think a good comparison would have been including the best/most expensive knock off...🤔

I think if you own a real TRD Pro you should use OEM TRD Pro parts. But if you have an SR5, TRD Sport or Off-road, aftermarket parts would be just fine. You saved money by buying a lower trim but end up spending just as much as a Pro by the time you buy all the expensive OEM TRD parts. Just my thought process.

the finish is more a factor of the mould, rather than the quality of the ABS. One of the effects of the desire for TRD Pro grills, is that OEM grills from other trim levels are readily available on resale sites. I didn't care for the TRD Off Road grill on my '18 Tacoma, and found a '20 TRD Off Road grill take off for $60...I like it much better.

Wow. I usually like your videos but you come across as totally conceited putting down replica parts. You kept saying knockoffs and in reality that a term for those selling items as real, but they are not. Replica parts are and can be sold as a complete item. You kept laughing and putting down the ‘knockoff part” but don’t do that. Not everyone is in your position to only afford OEM. And I will tell you, OEM is completely overrated. Replicas can and are much better since they save you money while doing your best to build a vehicle according to their budget.

$100 for replica or $500 for OEM… they look identical and probably came from same factory in China. I’d take the replica and save $400 to put into my suspension build ;-).

heads up your knockoff link is going to a sensor cover now

I bought a Yotaverse grille for my Tacoma, but when researching, a lot of people on forums say that Toyota won't sell you a TRD grille unless you can give them your VIN to prove you have a TRD Pro. Can anyone confirm or deny this? If so, you're forced to go aftermarket if you don't have a TRD Pro.

The reason why you buy knock offs is because unless you own a Pro your not able to by Pro oem parts at a dealership. .this is why everyone buys knock offs

nice video! Was on the fence about the two grilles. I honestly think the differences aren't that bad. I'll go with the knock-off

Id suggest putting a blanket on the floor or workbench when you are working on the grilles. They will scratch.

Yes I noted that the letters right away look cheap. You should have weighed them.

Just fyi you have the wrong grill part number in the description. That one doesn't have the camera mount. PT228-35200-AA is the one with camera mount.

First, I noticed right away the letters didn't look genuine and I only have a '17 TRD sport. The fact that your grill withstood that hit says a lot about the quality. Also, the same type of plastic can have multiple coats, colors and finishes. It's just small changes to the recipe be for the injection process. I used to pick up brand new recycling bins and deliver across the US. In right with you OEM! Best wishes to you all.

anything cosmetic go after-market, anything mechanical go after-market

At the end of the day, its all about personal preference. Some fit and finishes are better with third party. If you can pony up the cash for OEM, more power to you. This oem snobby attitude towards parts is not cool as there are some third-party that actually looks better than oem.

Buy what you can afford. Who cares why other people think

The knock off is for non pro models to make it look pro just like everyone does on a 4Runner. No need for it to be perfect since it takes lots of abuse from the weather. As long as it fits well.

I remember when you put an OEM headlight assembly on that truck. It was like $800 bucks! That's definitely a dig in the wallet 😀. ♥️🌮🐶🐾

Made in China? I wanted to replace my cast iron grates for my Webber grill $165. For OEM. I paid under $50. For the exact same thing. Made in China, both. The only difference is the replacement didn’t have rough edges from casting. Better than the original.

Thanks for the Video Chloe .. its good information.. have a great week

It would be good if you mentioned if there's a weight difference.

Yes there is a difference in quality. The OEM grille is better quality materials and the OEM TSS garnish cover is higher quality than the aftermarket products. The OEM grille is made in America and and the OEM garnish is made in America, the aftermarket grilles and garnishes are made in china.

Mold quality, material, process, quality control, etc. for aftermarket is worse than oem, so the flat finish hides imperfections and makes it easier to produce.

The letter font is different and very noticeable on the fake one

Nice comparison. Now lets try the most expensive knock off for comparison.

So I bought a 2019 TRD with 15,000 miles on it. It came with the TRD Pro grill that is now fading from sun damage. After watching this video, this must’ve not been an OEM part considering it’s a TRD Off Road and not a Pro 🤔

And all honesty if all you wanted was a 50 to 100 or $200 Toyota front plate then this is fine you don't need to buy the OEM one

Nice comparison but I went with the knockoff because when I look at the grill on my truck it looks good and at the end of the day theyre both pieces of plastic. Id rather pay less for plastic for pretty much the same aesthetics.

Sometimes I find knockoff products to be better than the OEM products depending on situation and product.

When buying aftermarket body parts look for CAPA certified parts. These are certified parts that will usually fit and look much closer to stock than those that are not.

You are very right, Chloe. I put that grilll on my 18 and 19 TRD OR 4x4. Did not need a Pro Vin for ordering. Just like you, I prefer OEM parts.

I have a 2022 Tacoma TRD 4x4 sport and Iwent to a local Toyota dealer and bought a heritage grill for my truck I went home and installed it well to my surprise first the grill did not come with the sensor guard and the old one had 10 screws that went along with the clips new one did not so I went back and asked for the cover guard for the sensor they said I would have to buy it separately and it was 300.00 and said that my ven. Number call for that grill. My new grill has only 2 screws can someone please help me and let me know where I went wrong. This is my 3rd Toyota truck and never ran into this problem.

The aftermarket grill would be a better fit for the orange peel paint job on my 2022 taco.

I spent 165 on a grill from kok and I havent gotten to see it yet bc im out of town but honestly I don't think it really matters where you get it as long as it isn't like fragile and or just looks nothing like what you ordered

If they molded in the back of the letters into the grille, it would say “TOYOTA” and that would get them in trouble.

Chloe, any suggestions for any good additions to a 2023 4Runner off road premium?

I prefer the matte finish on the ‘knockoff’

With the knock off grill , the letters could easily be painted any color if gray did not go good with your truck.

Honestly i like the poor mans option. Color seems fine, better looking with the YO letters which is pretty neat, akd that sadtey sensor shit really does annoy tf outta me. Its a grille, doesnt do much other than letting air into the engine bay. Id go dollar general over name brand

When did you install the light bar behind the grille. Kinda a must have in ca since our chp have been ticketing people for not having covers on their off road lights

Probably shouldn't worry too much about not being OEM parts and using them. Most tires and rims, brakes, Aux lighting, and windshield wipers, the list goes on and on, are not the same as stock. Stock and OE parts are sometimes hard to come by and somethings in the aftermarket are superior quality. Though maybe not in this case. Pick your poison, price vs quality..

After tacking over $10K to the price of my SR5 without giving me any negotiating power to dispute this other than telling me I can buy a vehicle somewhere else, I would not give Toyota dealer in the U.S. a penny for their product or service if there is any other choice to be had. And I love Toyota and my truck. It's the American market that is stiffing the American people with marked up pricing.

I bought a knock-off brand because OEM is not worth it, I ended up raptor lining it either way, same with the fender flares, the ride mirror caps, the rear bumper caps as well. Just little things here and there to match.

It’s not the same for those who can afford it. Otherwise it’s the same thing.

Where do I shop to find the best raptor lights for a Pro grill? Thabks

Great topic. Happy Holidays. Tks. 👍🏾

Cant you just put gloss coat on the plastic for knock off?

You can buy the cheap one 4x can the OEM once. I’d say go cheap.

Wow! Interesting No one will know which one you have when you drive past them at 55mph 😅

This was more of a Toyota sales pitch pay over $400 for a plastic grill instead of $100 because OEM NAH Rip Off get the knock off save money on your next mod mine is holding up just fine who cares if it isn’t shiny it’s a truck. It’s not a critical part to have OEM.

Hi, have you thought about a horn upgrade for your Tacoma? Think I want to do one on my Tacoma. stock ones are not loud enough. What would you go with that is not crazy loud?

I paid 60 bucks for my aftermarket vs 450 for OEM, yea I'll take small imperfections over my wallet getting violated by Toyota.

its cheaper to make the grill as 1 whole part then you just insert the letters. vs the OEM is multiple parts you put together.

If fake grille how can put install TSS sensors? Hard tell in videos.

I was gonna get one for my 2014 Taco, mostly cause i hated the chrome on it; there is nothing uglier than brand new cars with chrome parts. Anywho i ended up spray painting the chrome black, because I actually like the way the grillb looks.

OEM grill from a dealer requires a PRO vin at least where I have inquired in Central CA.

No surprise, a plastic injection molding tool for a part that large is absurdly expensive. Toyota is going to spare no expense. They’re also going to retire or refinish an aging tool while knock offs are gonna run it into the ground.

I like my knock-off grille, I’ve had it for 3 years and it still looks good. I also like the matte black. I think your to critical of the knock- offs

No reason for oem to be as expensive as they are. Glad these knockoffs exist

100% go after market. The OEM price is stupid. She's a little hard on the after market stuff.

OEM is the way to go!

Are you able to put a Pro OEM grill on an off road tacoma by chance?