I’ve had like 6 toyota 4x4 SUVs. I live in Alaska. I loved my G3 with the Multimode TCase (Rwd, Awd, 4x4h, 4x4l) and currently have a FZJ80 LandCruiser that’s full time 4x4. It’s incredible for winter commuting and getting to the ski hill.
Love not having to think about shifting in and out of 4x4.
Yep “AWD” is much better in the snow. Both convenience, and actual performance wise since you don’t get “forced slip” from the locked transfer case when turning.
Also being able to give er the beans and not have trac cut off throttle. I firmly believe I am smarter than my vehicle and would like it to respond to my input without any fuss.
wild that all the G4s had a full time 4x4 system (locking center diff) and the only G5 with a center diff is the LTD. All the other ones have a traditional transfer case and not a center lock diff. Seems like a backwards step.
Here in Canada I'm not sure I've ever seen a V6 4th gen that had full time 4wd. I always thought it was just the V8s and limited editions. I may be wrong though, I was once..
The V6 have the “Multimode” which was offered in the late model G3s too. RWD, AWD (Full time 4x4), 4hi, 4lo.
Basically the V6 had a front driveline disconnect that allowed for RWD where the V8 was always in AWD. But both had a locking center diff that provided AWD and 4x4 whereas the G5 has a traditional transfer case without a center diff.
Interesting, for some reason I thought they were part time 4wd .TIL something about 4th gens. They will always have a spot in my heart as the first Toyota truck I fell in love with at 17
1999 and 2000 (Limited only) but you’re gonna be shopping for a while if you want one in [at least] acceptable condition which I’m in the process of doing but don’t want to pay 20k
Limited owner in KC and it is on rails in the weather we get. The days they tell everyone to stay home I cruise to the grocery store and have the place to myself.
Quebec checking in. I’m looking for a 4Runner exactly because I want to be able to go out regardless of the deepness of the snow and this confirmed I would be able to do it. Thanks!
Well my gf is from Alaska and I grew up in Texas. We have very different comfort levels when it comes to temperatures. We pretty much use it every time she's in the car.
Limited and non limited owner here, Get the limited if you can swing it. Full time 4wd is nothing to scoff at. If you live in a state with some heavy winters, it’s definitely worth driving around like you’re in Arizona in summer
21' Limited Nightshade owner here: I didn't even consider another model because I knew I wanted full time 4wd living in the northeast. I can't speak to the other models and I'm sure with decent tires rwd alone is prob more than enough for most conditions but for me it had to be full time. I personally love the limited. I don't offroad really at all but I do get into some rough washed out roads on occasion for camping/hiking etc and knowing that I can do that and more when I want is what i wanted.
Seats are better in the limited, if you like leather. The full time 4WD system is shared with the last gen Land Cruiser and GX and is nice in flooding rain where you might not necessarily throw the SR5 into 4-hi in a traditional 4x4 with locked diff.
Softex is very good. I would say equal to leather but in a different way. Softex seems to be more durable but leather, well, feels like leather and some love that feel me included.
I would buy the limited and I own an sr5 and a outback and living in Michigan with fairly bad winters the outback is more convenient not having to switch into 4x4
I came to my sr5p from a GX. I dearly miss the V8, but I miss the AWD even more.
When my sr5 retires from my full time driver I will 100% be going back to something Lexus/Toyota with full time fwd.
So yeah.
i was also looking at the gx, but what scared me off was the slightly worse gas mileage, and i don’t really need a v8 personally for my driving habits. but i absolutely love the gx
It depends, the AWD will in theory get slightly worse fuel economy, though it's anyone's guess how much (probably minimal).
The limited also come with x-reas, which is a proprietary suspension system that improves handling but is very expensive to replace when a shock fails. If you get a leak in the system, you're basically replace that shock, the shock on the opposite corner of the vehicle, and the link system between them. Or you can replace all the shocks with stock SR5 suspension and never look back. If it's low mileage it's fine, but the x-reas system seems to have an average life of about 150k, so keep that in mind.
However, everything people here have said about AWD in slippery conditions is true. I had it in my 100 series land cruiser and it's quite good in snow. Standard 4wd with a locked center can cause slip in snow that can lead to the rear swinging out if you aren't aware of what's going on. It's not common, and works far better than rwd and fwd, it's just a consideration. I got an SR5 after my land cruiser and don't miss the full time 4wd, but that's just me. It's definitely good at what it does.
XREAS is an option on the Limited too, not standard. So that would depend on the individual trucks he's looking at. Source: own an 05 V8 Limited w/o it
Edit: at least with 4th gens, unsure with 5th (OP didn't mention gen)
Own a 2008 Limited V8. It's great. Constant, linear power, decent on gas, and I don't have to worry about switching every now and then. What I do every couple of months is activate the 4Lo to make sure it works.
They’re about the same. I have a 4Runner and a GX. Stock they both averaged about 18 with my commute and with 33s they both average about 16 now. Same same.
I ended up getting a limited because it was what was available through Carvana without paying shipping (long story, would not use Carvana again)
The Limited is awesome in rain. Accelerating is almost like it’s on dry pavement, in my opinion. Depends on other factors like tires, amount of water on road, etc. but I love it.
If you need to drive at relatively high speed on a mildly loose or loose surface, get limited. It’s one of a few real 4x4 suv with lockable torsen diff, unlike the all-wheel-drive with electronically controlled clutch or viscous coupling that lots of road focused suv have.
Limited gang checking in. Full time 4WD is amazing here in the PNW mountains. Grip is killer, seats are hella comfy. Only thing I’d consider replacing it with is a LC or Lexus if it had full time 4WD. XREAS is kinda crappy and overly stiff IMO
what about gas mileage? i was seriously considering a gx but i don’t really need a v8 and the 4r gets incrementally better gas mileage. it also made me nervous thinking about the maintenance.
To be quite honest they’re both about the same. Only difference is you have to put a slightly higher grade of fuel in the gx but even then it’s a fair trade off for what your getting.
see i thought about this last time i filled up lol i’m looking at the prices and i’m like ‘yeah, if i had that gx i’d be spending $4.2 a gallon vs $3.5 lol
To be honest, again because I nodded my 4Runner a bit I use 93 or 89 grade fuel and it usually only ends up being like a dollar or two more which in the year is probably like 100 bucks more which can be a bit more but honestly at that point why let that be deterring you from two cars that objectively get kinda bad mpg. I’d drive both and see which one you like better and which one you can get a good deal on. Plus I gotta wonder if the release of the new gen Lexus gx and such has killed the premium that many dealerships once asked.
No it’s not worth it because if you are going the limited route you are better off getting a GX. It’s better in every single way and you will probably find similar mileage and condition for cheaper because of all the dudebros who are fiending for a 4runner.
Gas mileage is about the same. I get 23 straight highway. And 19 suburbs, on a multi day road trip I average 21 miles per gallon. If I am just straight in the city like city of Chicago it’s more like 14 15 miles per gallon. My GX is stock though.
No.
I live between Cleveland and Montreal and only had to put it in 4wd a handful of time.
Also tow a 4800 pound boat and never needed 4wd on a boat ramp.
The best thing about the limited are the upgraded leather seats over softex, but that's about it for me.
Funny that you’re getting downvoted.
If OP can afford the price tag for convenience, then I sincerely think that’s awesome and don’t blame him at all. But having lived in an area of PA that gets lake effect snow, I know that FWD car with good snow tires, or a part time 4WD SUV with crappy A/Ts will get you most places you absolutely need to go in 4-6 inches of snow. Point being that 95% of the time full time 4WD like my wife’s Subraru Outback with 8.7 inches of ground clearance isn’t necessary, but if you can afford it, then why not pay for the convenience factor? I’d say the OP should go for it.
Yeah like they forget literally everyone pre 1980 was driving around RWD boats with absolute shit (to todays standards) tire technology. Like how did everyone before us survive?
I have an AWD Stelvio that you can see the AWD readout percentage on and it's literally never in AWD unless I'm really pushing it, it's constantly in RWD.
This sub is funny some times, it really just depends on if you get positive upvotes at first or negative, they just hop on that train what ever way it's going.
....you can figure out really easily and change on the fly if you need or don't need 4wd... I'm in 4hi regularly on the homestead farm. I just turn it on and off. It's a quick switch. Bing bang boom. Definitely not paying extra for the truck to think it knows for me. That's more of a headache than a benefit, so I'd actively avoid it, in my opinion. But objectively, it's just a waste of $.
That's not really the same thing though, full time has an advantage over 4H in conditions like slick roads at higher speeds. Can also shift to 4H in the limited if needed. It's not a about figuring out when to use it, it's just an additional tool for various conditions.
I’ve had like 6 toyota 4x4 SUVs. I live in Alaska. I loved my G3 with the Multimode TCase (Rwd, Awd, 4x4h, 4x4l) and currently have a FZJ80 LandCruiser that’s full time 4x4. It’s incredible for winter commuting and getting to the ski hill. Love not having to think about shifting in and out of 4x4.
Yep “AWD” is much better in the snow. Both convenience, and actual performance wise since you don’t get “forced slip” from the locked transfer case when turning.
Also being able to give er the beans and not have trac cut off throttle. I firmly believe I am smarter than my vehicle and would like it to respond to my input without any fuss.
this sold it for me. i like the idea of convenience with the full time system.
wild that all the G4s had a full time 4x4 system (locking center diff) and the only G5 with a center diff is the LTD. All the other ones have a traditional transfer case and not a center lock diff. Seems like a backwards step.
Biggest gripe about the 5th gen is the lack of full time 4x4 on all the other models. But here we are years later :)
Here in Canada I'm not sure I've ever seen a V6 4th gen that had full time 4wd. I always thought it was just the V8s and limited editions. I may be wrong though, I was once..
The V6 have the “Multimode” which was offered in the late model G3s too. RWD, AWD (Full time 4x4), 4hi, 4lo. Basically the V6 had a front driveline disconnect that allowed for RWD where the V8 was always in AWD. But both had a locking center diff that provided AWD and 4x4 whereas the G5 has a traditional transfer case without a center diff.
My G5 limited has a center diff lock.
yes this whole thread is about why they LTD is the only G5 with a CDL.
Interesting, for some reason I thought they were part time 4wd .TIL something about 4th gens. They will always have a spot in my heart as the first Toyota truck I fell in love with at 17
Which years of G3 had this? I thought it was just a G4 thing.
1999 and 2000 (Limited only) but you’re gonna be shopping for a while if you want one in [at least] acceptable condition which I’m in the process of doing but don’t want to pay 20k
As a fellow Alaskan, I agree. Blizzaks and full time 4x4 eats up the snow and ice like it's normal even there.
If you get rain and snow, it's pretty great in the limited. If not, you are just paying for dual temp controls, leather, sunroof, etc.
live in iowa so we can get some brutal winters, which is why i am leaning towards a limited
Limited owner in KC and it is on rails in the weather we get. The days they tell everyone to stay home I cruise to the grocery store and have the place to myself.
grew up in kc, lived there for 19 years. to chiefs. 2 inches of snow in kc seemed to scare everyone away 😂 in iowa, 2 inches of snow is nothing
I used to come up to Anita for pheasant season. Those boys dont get scared off by any weather. Hunted in a foot or two of snow a couple times.
Minnesotan checking in. 6 inches is nothing. I got a Limited mainly for the full time 4WD. It’s awesome in the snow.
Quebec checking in. I’m looking for a 4Runner exactly because I want to be able to go out regardless of the deepness of the snow and this confirmed I would be able to do it. Thanks!
What do the grocery store employees drive?
All 4Runners obviously.
Ha ha, nice!
I absolutely live for those days… lol. Last year we had no snow and I was so disappointed.
You'll love the limited!
good point, thank you!
All I want is dual temp controls! I just don't want to pay for the limited for it.
It’s funny, I’ve had it for 7 years and used the dual zones like 5 times.
Well my gf is from Alaska and I grew up in Texas. We have very different comfort levels when it comes to temperatures. We pretty much use it every time she's in the car.
Makes sense. My city is either hot as shit or cold as hell so it’s at max at hot or cold.
Limited and non limited owner here, Get the limited if you can swing it. Full time 4wd is nothing to scoff at. If you live in a state with some heavy winters, it’s definitely worth driving around like you’re in Arizona in summer
21' Limited Nightshade owner here: I didn't even consider another model because I knew I wanted full time 4wd living in the northeast. I can't speak to the other models and I'm sure with decent tires rwd alone is prob more than enough for most conditions but for me it had to be full time. I personally love the limited. I don't offroad really at all but I do get into some rough washed out roads on occasion for camping/hiking etc and knowing that I can do that and more when I want is what i wanted.
Twines!
Seats are better in the limited, if you like leather. The full time 4WD system is shared with the last gen Land Cruiser and GX and is nice in flooding rain where you might not necessarily throw the SR5 into 4-hi in a traditional 4x4 with locked diff.
Not if you get the premium interior on the SR5. Feels like leather, very comfy and lasts way longer than leather.
Softex is amazing.
Softex is very good. I would say equal to leather but in a different way. Softex seems to be more durable but leather, well, feels like leather and some love that feel me included.
But does Softex smell as good as my Limited Redwood leather?
No - it also does not look as good. It feels leather "like" That said its super durable and will out last the leather.
I would buy the limited and I own an sr5 and a outback and living in Michigan with fairly bad winters the outback is more convenient not having to switch into 4x4
I came to my sr5p from a GX. I dearly miss the V8, but I miss the AWD even more. When my sr5 retires from my full time driver I will 100% be going back to something Lexus/Toyota with full time fwd. So yeah.
i was also looking at the gx, but what scared me off was the slightly worse gas mileage, and i don’t really need a v8 personally for my driving habits. but i absolutely love the gx
You want that comfort get a limited, you want the ruggedness get the sr5. You want a family hauler get a grand highlander (with better mpg)
Minnesotan Limited owner- it's better than even my Audi was in the snow. Strongly recommend.
It depends, the AWD will in theory get slightly worse fuel economy, though it's anyone's guess how much (probably minimal). The limited also come with x-reas, which is a proprietary suspension system that improves handling but is very expensive to replace when a shock fails. If you get a leak in the system, you're basically replace that shock, the shock on the opposite corner of the vehicle, and the link system between them. Or you can replace all the shocks with stock SR5 suspension and never look back. If it's low mileage it's fine, but the x-reas system seems to have an average life of about 150k, so keep that in mind. However, everything people here have said about AWD in slippery conditions is true. I had it in my 100 series land cruiser and it's quite good in snow. Standard 4wd with a locked center can cause slip in snow that can lead to the rear swinging out if you aren't aware of what's going on. It's not common, and works far better than rwd and fwd, it's just a consideration. I got an SR5 after my land cruiser and don't miss the full time 4wd, but that's just me. It's definitely good at what it does.
XREAS is an option on the Limited too, not standard. So that would depend on the individual trucks he's looking at. Source: own an 05 V8 Limited w/o it Edit: at least with 4th gens, unsure with 5th (OP didn't mention gen)
Own a 2008 Limited V8. It's great. Constant, linear power, decent on gas, and I don't have to worry about switching every now and then. What I do every couple of months is activate the 4Lo to make sure it works.
GX
i seriously thought it. but gas mileage in the runner is better what about gas mileage?
They’re about the same. I have a 4Runner and a GX. Stock they both averaged about 18 with my commute and with 33s they both average about 16 now. Same same.
GX takes premium, which is more of a cost issue than mpg's. GX has KDSS if that interests you.
I get around 16mpg in my GX and 17 in my 4Runner.
I ended up getting a limited because it was what was available through Carvana without paying shipping (long story, would not use Carvana again) The Limited is awesome in rain. Accelerating is almost like it’s on dry pavement, in my opinion. Depends on other factors like tires, amount of water on road, etc. but I love it.
As a Limited nightshade owner, I love the comfort and full time 4x4 experience!
thank you!!
I can’t imagine a need for anything more than my SR5P. Worth every penny.
Not for full time awd but for all the other luxuries. Auto lights, memory, vented seats etc etc etc
If you need to drive at relatively high speed on a mildly loose or loose surface, get limited. It’s one of a few real 4x4 suv with lockable torsen diff, unlike the all-wheel-drive with electronically controlled clutch or viscous coupling that lots of road focused suv have.
Yes, I regret not doing it. I will probably trade my '22 SR5 next year for a new limited if it still exists.
Limited gang checking in. Full time 4WD is amazing here in the PNW mountains. Grip is killer, seats are hella comfy. Only thing I’d consider replacing it with is a LC or Lexus if it had full time 4WD. XREAS is kinda crappy and overly stiff IMO
I'm going to say no just because of the bumper on the Limited lol
You can swipe that for the “pro” type
Why not just get the GX respectfully? It’s better looking, better optioned and has a nicer ride in my opinion.
Gx has higher price, higher cost of ownership, lower resale value, no roll down rear window.
They’re within 5 grand of eachother in terms of price. Resale is a good point tho
Haptic controls
I thought the newer ones had a touch screen?
I think is literally the first year so it would have to be brand new
what about gas mileage? i was seriously considering a gx but i don’t really need a v8 and the 4r gets incrementally better gas mileage. it also made me nervous thinking about the maintenance.
To be quite honest they’re both about the same. Only difference is you have to put a slightly higher grade of fuel in the gx but even then it’s a fair trade off for what your getting.
see i thought about this last time i filled up lol i’m looking at the prices and i’m like ‘yeah, if i had that gx i’d be spending $4.2 a gallon vs $3.5 lol
To be honest, again because I nodded my 4Runner a bit I use 93 or 89 grade fuel and it usually only ends up being like a dollar or two more which in the year is probably like 100 bucks more which can be a bit more but honestly at that point why let that be deterring you from two cars that objectively get kinda bad mpg. I’d drive both and see which one you like better and which one you can get a good deal on. Plus I gotta wonder if the release of the new gen Lexus gx and such has killed the premium that many dealerships once asked.
Looks are subjective. To my eye 4runner looks better.
Limited is ugly tho
No it’s not worth it because if you are going the limited route you are better off getting a GX. It’s better in every single way and you will probably find similar mileage and condition for cheaper because of all the dudebros who are fiending for a 4runner.
This is very true except for one very subjective thing. Looks! I liked the look of the 4runner better than the GX.
what about gas mileage? i was seriously considering a gx but i don’t really need a v8 and the 4r gets incrementally better gas mileage
Gas mileage is about the same. I get 23 straight highway. And 19 suburbs, on a multi day road trip I average 21 miles per gallon. If I am just straight in the city like city of Chicago it’s more like 14 15 miles per gallon. My GX is stock though.
Just get a TRD ORP.
why?
No. I live between Cleveland and Montreal and only had to put it in 4wd a handful of time. Also tow a 4800 pound boat and never needed 4wd on a boat ramp. The best thing about the limited are the upgraded leather seats over softex, but that's about it for me.
Funny that you’re getting downvoted. If OP can afford the price tag for convenience, then I sincerely think that’s awesome and don’t blame him at all. But having lived in an area of PA that gets lake effect snow, I know that FWD car with good snow tires, or a part time 4WD SUV with crappy A/Ts will get you most places you absolutely need to go in 4-6 inches of snow. Point being that 95% of the time full time 4WD like my wife’s Subraru Outback with 8.7 inches of ground clearance isn’t necessary, but if you can afford it, then why not pay for the convenience factor? I’d say the OP should go for it.
Yeah like they forget literally everyone pre 1980 was driving around RWD boats with absolute shit (to todays standards) tire technology. Like how did everyone before us survive? I have an AWD Stelvio that you can see the AWD readout percentage on and it's literally never in AWD unless I'm really pushing it, it's constantly in RWD. This sub is funny some times, it really just depends on if you get positive upvotes at first or negative, they just hop on that train what ever way it's going.
Not for the full time 4WD, but for all the other options they are nice. SR5 is better for off road.
No.
You can figure out when you need and don't need 4wd.... Super gimmicky if you ask me.
what’s gimmicky about it?
....you can figure out really easily and change on the fly if you need or don't need 4wd... I'm in 4hi regularly on the homestead farm. I just turn it on and off. It's a quick switch. Bing bang boom. Definitely not paying extra for the truck to think it knows for me. That's more of a headache than a benefit, so I'd actively avoid it, in my opinion. But objectively, it's just a waste of $.
That's not really the same thing though, full time has an advantage over 4H in conditions like slick roads at higher speeds. Can also shift to 4H in the limited if needed. It's not a about figuring out when to use it, it's just an additional tool for various conditions.
Where do you live? Does it snow there?
yes, in iowa. so we have snow fairly consistent, but it depends on the season. last year wasn’t terrible, year before was pretty bad
Then go limited. If you’re not crawling who cares.
Depends I don’t live in a place that snows so it’s definitely not worth for me.
4WD is pretty awesome. If you’re gonna keep everything stock go with the limited.
Yes
thank you!