Originally Posted by Blackwatch

I've had several unibody SUVs over the years. Two Pilots and recently a 2018 Q5 Technik. The Audi Q5 was amazing on the highway with the cruise set but I live in an area with a lot of potholes and rough pavement. The Audi did not handle this well, you could feel the shock wave from the bumps. 20" low profile tires don't help but the pilots were the same. I did test drive a newer Ridgeline and was pretty impressed, especially with it's ability to pull hard and fast through corners.
But in the end a body on frame what was I wanted. I drive Expeditions, Suburbans, Tahoes and pick up trucks at work and prefer the old feel of bof.

OP: you might want to look at the new Tundra or wait a few months for the new Sequoia if you are looking for more room. The 22 Tundra is a great truck.

IIn Canada the off-road comes with everything a Pro does except the suspension but is $11,000 cheaper so I figured a $3000 upgrade in suspension will make this better than a Pro for $8000 cheaper.

Originally Posted by Whippersnapper02

I daily my 19 TRDP with KDSS and feel it rides really well and corners decent for being a brick. The furthest I've driven it is about 3 hours round trip.

Edit: If space is a concern, I'd probably look into something larger so you don't outgrow the Runner.

Originally Posted by Turfboy

The 5th gen is fairly large but I would think not much bigger that the Dodge.

I REALLY like my KDSS system. It helps on road performance significantly and is worth the $ (pure opinion). I did a road test with and with out KDSS and that is what sold me. Perform an imaginary emergency lane change with both.

I did not do a Off-road comparison so I can not opinion but I have not gotten stuck yet in some fairly gnarly mountain roads. Is it due to KDSS or Atrac or 4 Low or Locking rear can't tell you. Just can say I haven't had to call Matt's Offroad recovery... yet

Originally Posted by 02SE

Just anecdotally, I had a '97 SR5 from new for 22+ years. It was fine on the road and off.

The 5th gen is quieter, more comfortable, and more powerful, yet still gets about the same MPG as the 3rd gen despite being larger and 1000 lbs heavier.

When test-driving the 5th gens, the more controlled ride on-road of the TRD models with KDSS was very noticeable. As a result I bought a TRD ORP with KDSS.

I have a nephew with a TRD OR without KDSS. His 4Runner doesn't have as controlled of a ride on-road as mine, or axle articulation off-road which is as good as mine.

If you were going to extensively modify the suspension, I'd suggest skipping KDSS. If keeping it stock or lifting 3" or less, I'd stick with KDSS.

Originally Posted by somenoise

We're also in the city and have a KDSS 4runner that gets similar usage to what you describe. Not a daily driver but when we go out of the city up north or into the Sierras.

We've done the sonora, tioga, donner, and echo passes, up into portola, as well as the 395 from reno to san bernardino, the 1 and 101 all the way up to olympic national park, as well as several passes in and out of death valley, and all of them felt more planted and stable than my old cherokee or even my 2005 subaru.

I also have to say it handles impressively well for a body on frame and more comfortable than some unibodies. To give you an example from Bodega Bay down to Muir Beach and it handled the curves with no issue (except for everyone driving super slow of course). Just a week earlier we drove my parents in their Palisades and we had to take breaks every 10-15 minutes because my wife was getting car sick. She couldn't say enough about how much better and more stable the 4runner felt around the curves than the Palisades (or my family's old highlander).

One thing to note is that it handles better on road in stock. I got 2" lift w/UCAs and AT tires for the offroading and while it has improved that by worlds, the on-road ride is a bit diminished but I'd still say great and definitely worth the trade off if it's something you'd be looking at.

Originally Posted by Somnospeed

I live in a subdivision and work in the city. My ORP is my favorite daily driver I've ever owned, hands down. Parking garages and parallel parking are a breeze. If I need to drive OVER a parking block, I can do that too.

Upgrade your suspension and it will drive basically just like a car. Like a nice car too. Stock suspension is mush with blah body roll and nosedives horribly when braking, but with $500 worth of shocks, a complete 180' turnaround. I don't know if KDSS helps with those problems or not, I don't have that option.

Yeah it sucks on gas, but literally no one buys a 4Runner if they're worried about gas mileage.

Originally Posted by Cheers!

I take my 2015 limited to the city every now and then. It is great for the crap roads, crazy expansion joints, giant pot holes.

The bad is I can’t do any parking garage that doesn’t have 6’9” clearance. I have a Yakima rack with bike trays. Also if you do find a garage and parking it is tight. It’s a test of your body flexibility to open door and crawl out.

Also whenever I take it to the city one of the 3rd row windows always gets smashed.

Ymmv. So far in the South Bay I like it. In the city I’m so so with it, but the truck frame and beefed up suspension is good on the 101 and around the city.

Originally Posted by Pedro367

Another vote here for a TRD with KDSS. I love mine as a daily and it's comfortable on long drives. It handles pretty well for a body on frame SUV. It's big inside too. Much bigger than a lot of the other SUVs in its size class like a Jeep GC.

Only real downside in MPG, but it's not that far off from the others. I'm averaging 2 MPG less with my 4R than I had with my GCs and Wrangler. Obviously the interiors are long in the tooth at this point, but that's subjective to what you like/want in a vehicle. I like the "old school" over all the new tech. The better offroad capability and features and being bigger make up for it.

Originally Posted by Somnospeed

Exactly what I did. $2k for the 6112/5160 combo and Element UCA. Bump stops too. for under $2k and 2021 TRD Pro rims for $750 and my ORP is better than a Pro, in my opinion. Why? Because the Element UCA provides a much better ride, more stable than stock. And my lift is 2.5" in the front and 1" in the rear. Nearly completely level look, which I like much better than the hot rod rake. And cause it's damn near the same vehicle for $8k less, AFTER the upgrades. I'm really enjoying blowing that extra $8k on guitars and guns though. lol

Originally Posted by Lexington

Yeah San Fran has gone insane. I’d be afraid to leave it unattended unless it’s in a secured parking lot or with an armed guard.

Originally Posted by Cheers!

I wish the 4runner fuel tank was bigger so it could do more than 300miles. I can make it from San Jose to LA non stop on I-5 going 85ish. But the fuel light comes on usually as I'm getting to a hotel.

Someone on this forum posted about buying a new '22GX460. I remember when I bought my 2015 MY limited in 2014 the price diff between the limited and a 2014 new GX with tow package was very little, like less than $2k. I wonder how much now the price difference is. I hear Of 4Runners being marked up over msrp. But the 4Runner is popular and the GX is not. Pre pandemic you could get Lexus certified preowned GX for mid 30s with less than 30,000miles.

Originally Posted by RobS10

The reason to go with the KDSS was to avoid having to do too many mods. The system sounded like it lets us have our cake and eat it too

Originally Posted by RobS10

The Pro is definitely not on our list. Just too expensive for extra suspension stuff we don't need, and WITHOUT the KDDS it sounds like we really want.
BTW, what's a "UCA"?

Originally Posted by Pedro367

If you aren't seriously 4 wheeling it a stock TRD OR with KDSS and a good set of tires will get you anywhere you need to go. I've gone back and forth on this so much over the last year and a half and I still can't justify spending the money to lift it anymore than the 1" level I put on to make it look a little better with the KO2s. I've modified a bunch of offroad vehicles over the years and they are NEVER the same, as much as people say they are. I've always had the itch to mod with my 4x4s, but not with this. I enjoy driving it so much in stock form that I don't want to touch it until I have to when I need new struts. Again, this is my opinion and I don't do any serious wheeling.