For 2017 4Runners …

Standard Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) provides additional control when accelerating from a stop on a steep incline by helping to hold the vehicle stationary while the driver transitions from the brake pedal to the accelerator.

Limited and SR5 models equipped with 4WD also feature standard Downhill Assist Control (DAC). This feature augments low-speed descending controllability by helping to maintain a constant slow speed and preventing wheel lockup, allowing the driver to concentrate primarily on steering.

TRD Off-Road, Off-Road Premium, and TRD Pro models add the capability of an electronic-locking rear differential and Toyota’s Crawl Control (CRAWL) feature. The latter helps maintain a constant speed, enhancing vehicle control when driving up and over obstacles in challenging off-road situations. With the transfer case shifted into low range, CRAWL regulates engine speed and braking force to propel the vehicle forward or in reverse at one of the five driver-selectable low-speed settings. The driver can focus on steering over obstacles without having to also modulate the throttle or brake pedal.

As conditions on the trail change, the 4Runner TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, and TRD Pro driver can adapt the vehicle with the Multi-Terrain Select system. A dial is used to select the mode that matches prevailing terrain and conditions, adjusting wheel slip accordingly. For example, on loose terrain such as mud and sand, more-than-normal wheel slip is permitted, allowing wheel-spin to work in the vehicle’s favor.

The Mogul setting is for any extremely uneven terrain, such as V-ditches, slopes, and ridges -- uphill or down. In this mode, wheel slip is minimized and the system acts more like a limited slip differential. On TRD Off-Road models, an overhead console groups the off-road control switches into one location.

Don't post very often here either, frequent reader though. I have an 05 SR5 V6. 220,000 miles on it. I was ready to pull the trigger on a new 18 SR5 Premium last year until I went to Denver for a week on business. I rented a 2017 SR5. After a week of driving the 5th Gen. there was no way I was giving up my 05. I know you can do mods on pedal feel and supposedly it works, but in my un-educated opinion the 5th Gen. is God awful underpowered. Going up the mountains outside Denver I had to practically floor the Runner to get it going. Really turned me off to a new model and especially since I really like the look of the 5th over the 4th Gens I was really disappointed. Like I said, just my un-educated opinion.

Well yeah, normally if you want to go faster up a steep hill you have to press down on the gas. Floor it and it'll top 100 up any grade on I-70 no problem.

We have a 2016 Outlander now that's underpowered! The 4Runner has plenty of power but the 4.0 isn't a 4.7 V8 so more revs are needed.

If you want power get a tahoe with a small block

I own a 4th gen SR5 and a 5th gen LE.

To me, the most important differentiating factor between all the 5th gen models is that only the LE has full-time AWD. Every other model offers only part-time 4x4 modes.

I rarely offroad. The 5th gen is my bad weather / winter daily driver. To me, having power to all 4 wheels all the time is much more useful that crawl control or a locking rear differential. Full-time AWD affords you power to all 4 wheels in rain and patchy snow/ice. You can't use part-time 4x4 modes in those conditions without either constantly switching back and forth to rear wheel drive, or leaving it in 4x4 on the high traction sections and putting strain on the drivetrain / transfer case.

So it really comes down to how you're gonna use this thing.

In my 2007 Tacoma that didnt have traction control I lost total control on ice at probably near 55mph on an interstate bridge. Sliding sideways at those speeds I looked outside the passenger window to see a semi coming right at me. Somehow the truck turned back but slightly too far tapping the bridge to turn me perfectly straight. Needless to say I checked my underwear after that one. The rear bumper was dented slightly.

When you get a huge snowfall part time 4x4 is great but I generally prefer my fwd beater in the winter. Awd and 4x4 just make you go faster and that can be bad when you think you can stop and you can't. Fwd is great traction tester.

In my 05 SR5 V6, I can run in four-wheel all year long or leave it in two-wheel all year long. What I generally do, summer, I'm in 2. Winter, I leave it in 4. Don't know why the hell Toyota moved away from this. Another reason I hate to get rid of my 4th Gen.

If it's not rusted out I would just fix it. You know if it's a solid truck or not. I paid 37k for my SR5 and that's no small chunk of change. You might keep yours on the road for many more years for not much money.

I went from a 2008 4R Sport with XREAS to a 2017 ORP without KDSS or XREAS. The 2008 XREAS failed and I replaced it for some enormously expensive amount. I wish I had found this forum before I did that. I would have replaced the suspension with 5100s instead. My 2017 with normal suspension was perfectly fine. I didn’t miss XREAS at all. I eventually did a lift and installed 5100s and I think it handles better than that overrated XREAS stuff I had before. Don’t buy into the suspension “upgrade hype” of XREAS or KDSS. Maybe I’m just not sophisticated enough to fully appreciate the benefits. Just my 2 cents...

I think being a mile above sea level contributed...I'm not defending the general laziness of the 5g, but maybe try one in Chicago and see if it feels different. I bet it will.

I've had 3 gen's of 4runners and love em all. I completely understand the issue, having had the chance to upgrade to a 5th gen recently. Honestly, I could live with one. I could adapt, but I prefer my 4th gen. But, if economically it wasn't worth keeping, I'd buy a newer (used) 5th gen and be fine.
If I were you, I'd do a spreadsheet kind of thing with repair stuff vs. money down and such, plus the fact a newer one will last another whatever amount of mileage. Or not. Cheers.
PS My daughter loves the new Voodoo Blue, so it's good she doesn't get to make these decisions. Good luck.

How does the use of the sprint booster impact your warranty? Do you set it back to factory with every visit to the stealership??

For me, full time 4WD is not always a positive. More spinning parts all of the time can mean more to go wrong when it does, especially since we have kept our current 4G since new and we are at approx. 165K miles. We get attached to the vehicle.

The CV's and front differential still spin with a selectable 2wd/4wd model, really you are only saving the front driveshaft from wear.

165k miles isn't much for these trucks, if they are taken care of.

It installs in-line between the gas pedal connector and the wiring harness, up under the dash. It could be removed in 2min if you ever needed to. The sprint booster doesn't require you to hard mount the controller, and you can actually disconnect the controller once you've got it set where you want it so you'd really need to be looking to even notice it's there.

I'm a little confused--you do or don't like your 4G AWD? Because that's the same system in the 5G LE.