Help another newbie pick a 4Runner

I know there are a ton of these threads, but I didn't find a clear answer to my specific questions through the search box, so I'm starting another.

I'm in middle Tennessee and am trying to swap out a Mazda CX5 for something that will get me to trailheads and kayak launches better. Our activities are all in the southeastern U.S., so I'm not looking to tackle Yellowstone. I have owned several Toyotas in the past but this would be the first 4Runner. Because I sometimes haul more than three kids, I need something with a third row, which limits me to the SR5 Premium and the Limited. Right now I have a list of 2023s that are still available around here that includes both.

It looks like the SR5 Premium has most of the "creature comforts" I care about (heck, it has heated mirrors and steering wheel, which I don't even have on my Mazda), and based on other threads it looks like I would have to spend money right out of the gate on a Limited to get it to the durability and ground clearance of the SR5, and then maybe deal with extra hassle mounting a crash bumper. If I don't care about leather seats, why would I pay more for the Limited? I have to confess I don't understand the differences in the suspensions at all even after looking at a few threads: if that's a reason to go with the Limited, could someone explain it to me as if I were very stupid, or at least very ignorant?

 

Limited has a lot more creature comforts plus full time 4wd. Only you can decide if those are worth the significant price difference vs the SR5 Premium.

 

Toyota website allows you to build from available options vehicle you want. Build it, print it and go to dealership. Pay deposit and wait.

 

If you do moderate offroading, plus daily driving in a solid built and comfortable truck that can last forever, then SR5 Premium is for you. A-Trac is all you need and good tires. I made that climb with A-Trac only. Doesn't look very steep on camera but it is. Save your money. Later if you decide, you can mod the crap out of it.

 

Nope, Toyota doesn't build according to your specs. They builds whatever they like you.

 

Stay away from Limited, it has a problematic suspension called X-REAS.

 

You can get the Sr5 Premium with the surround cameras now (not sure if its the full suite that the TRD's get with the "multi terrain monitor" cameras), Leather, etc... It's what brought me to the Dealer originally, but I ended up with a TRD ORP because the dealer was willing to haggle the price on that, but not the Sr5 Premium. Like someone else said, A-Trac is really all you need, unless you plan on hardcore offroading.

 

I said "available options", not "my specifications". and they add a lot useless stuff at the port, we have to pay for. everything in life is a compromise

 

Welcome to the forum Titus. Mine is an SR5P and I absolutely love it. Whichever trim you decide on you won’t be disappointed.

 

yeah i would def stay away from a limited, sr5p or off road in my opinion. see for me anything without a sunroof, dealt with enough water leaks in my day

 

SR5 Premium has heated steering wheel? I have a 2016 SR5P - I thought we only got heated seats, but not heated steering wheel - has that changed?

 

Welcome to the forum.

I think you already know that the SR5 fits your bill

 

I was in the same situation 3 years ago. I ended up buying an SR5 Premium. The upgrades and higher cost of the Limited were not worth it to me. And I would have torn the front and rear valances off of a Limited by now.

 

The specs on the lowest quotes I have all claim to include a heated steering wheel, so it must be standard on the 2023.

I appreciate all the feedback. I do think the SR5 is what I need. One last question, though: I'll be able to put that in 4Hi (or 4Lo?) to deal with our two or three days of snow each winter, right? (I know I'll need to put in the time to learn how to use the four-wheel drive, I'm just trying to confirm that, assuming I do, I'll be able to.) I admitted I was ignorant.

 

Yes, the SR5 has the same 4H/4L capability as the Off-Road. The difference is the SR5 controls the transfer case via an electric actuator. The Off-Road versions use a manual lever to control the transfer case.

 

If you don't want real leather seats - and a few more of the convenience options the Limited has - the SR5P should do you just fine. You say that your activities will be all in the southeastern US - so you won't have to deal with very much, if any, snow. The full time 4WD system on the Limited is convenient if you drive a lot in snow - especially if you have to go from snow covered pavement to cleared pavement frequently. For occasional use when going off road to get to a trailhead or kayak launch, as you describe, the SR5P's part time 4WD system with ATRAC will get you anywhere you want to go. The Limited FT 4WD has the same approach/departure angles and ground clearance as the SR5P - but the SR5P has more off road oriented wheels/tires. Used as you describe - the Limited FT 4WD would get you anywhere you would want to go. But since you won't be driving in snow very much - and you don't care about leather seats - I wouldn't pay extra for the Limited when the SR5P has all the seating, conveniences, and capability you want.

 

I am seeing larger discounts on ORP than SR5P in my market (Denver)

There are many ORP units w/ kdss, MTM, that are less than $2k more than SR5P.

Seems like a no brainer to get an ORP.

 

My SR5 Premium (3rd row, no moon/sun roof) had weathered blizzards along the Sierras and Cascades (Two days of 4WD in snow last year) and summer heat, roads on the "Rez" in AZ and NM, and forest trails in the Cascades and the lava flows of NM and So. OR. Nice to have the option of 4WD=just switch the switch (although as an old timer, I get nostalgic for the lever and, heck, even locking hubs!). Does well in the 3-5 months of winter in the eastern Cascades.

At the CSU Desert Studies Center, Zzyzx Rd, CA= 115 F



At Chaco Canyon, NM:

 

The Limited is great if you care about a more "modern" truck, but if you don't care for the extra amenities like memory seats and remote start, then the SR5 Premium would fit the bill for sure. I like our ORP, but really wish we got the SR5 instead. Only reason we didn't was because my wife really wanted Lunar Rock. She won't do any kind of off-roading and the truck stock is enough for us to do all the activities we want. Hope this helps.

 

Mine's all set for another winter!

 

Curious, why do you wish you had gotten sr5 instead of ORP?

I can’t think of any drawbacks other than price

 

Quite frankly we don't need all the extra off-road tech that the ORP came with.
It's a pavement queen meant for monthly camping trips that's not far off the beaten path

 

As far as I have seen, you can't get the ORP with a third row. And while the third row in these is tiny, I have tiny people. At least in Tennessee's more urban counties, they frown on strapping kids to the roof rack.

 

Watching this and ask yourself, do I need any higher trim than an SR5? A-Trac is next level technology.

https://youtu.be/PEciKYQC0fo?si=1NKrAzS9SUxOM6fK

 

No kdss on sr5 though. I have driven them both and the sr5 leans like crazy for around town driving

 

Personally, if I needed an off-road capable 3rd row I'd be looking at a Sequoia. Tiny people get less tiny and eventually you'd outgrow the 4runner anyway and would need something bigger. Either that or a minivan.

Edit: I'm not joking about the minivan. I'd lift a Sienna in a heartbeat if we had kids and needed something bigger with a 3rd row

 

If I had I had 3 kids, I would consider looking at a previous gen V8 Sequoia or a 200 Series LC.

I recently saw one of those last model Sequoia Pros in lunar rock and it looked sweet. Just feel your family will outgrow the 4Runner fast, even with the 3rd row.

 

Believe it or not, we did a cross country road trip in a 2022 Sienna and we were getting between 34 and 42 mpg.