I have a 18' SR5 Premium and a 19' TRD OR Premium and as far as interior aesthetics there is very little difference (minus 4wd operations). Same heated seats, sunroof, lighting on side mirrors etc. But I will agree with other members that I would rather have options that I rarely use but know they are available when I need them.

I looked for a 4Runner for around 2 years and went back and forth on this a few times - SR5 Premium vs ORP. I really wanted an ORP but I'd get impatient and start considering the SR5P, convincing myself I'd never need a rear locker. Now, I don't plan on doing a ton of off roading.

I do have a friend, however, who doesn't do a ton either and has an SR5 and told me he's gotten stuck 2-3 times where a rear locker would've gotten out. This sort of solidified my decision, also considering that the ORP has multi terrain mode, better seats IMO and a few other things. I got a CPO and the price difference was right around $2k between an SR5P and and ORP.

This is the newest truck I've ever bought and I've worked my butt off building my business for the past 12 years so I wanted exactly what I wanted within reason. Heated seats, rear locker, etc. This vehicle is also my mobile workstation and do occasionally have to go on mild dirt roads. I was actually at a house on 10 acres last year after dark in the rain and my old '05 4Runner with 2WD almost got stuck. Happened at another job in the desert where I barely got out of the sand so I consider this somewhat of a necessity for me. We'll also be moving to a state that gets a lot of rain and a little snow

I have the ORP w/KDSS and would definitely suggest to avoid the KDSS if you are an avid off-roader. It does make a nice difference driving on the road, but limits how you modify/lift in the future. That's something I'm dealing with now, trying to lift and moodify but it makes it much more complicated. I'd recommend the ORP if you need the locker w/o KDSS to make it more modifiable.

I have not found KDSS to be a limitation off road. Installation of a 2 inch lift was not a problem. KDSS loosens up at low speeds in 4Lo (and you can install a KDSS switch to manually free up the system at other times). I would agree it is a waste if you intend to rebuild the entire front end geometry - upper and lower control arms etc - for a long travel set up. But even there, Total Chaos has an option for KDSS rigs.

This having been said, if I were to do it again I would go with an SR5. You still have 4x4, you still have A-TRAK, and you can install a rear air locker when you change over the gears and install an air locker in the front.

So - if you intend to run a relatively stock set up - upper end of the build being new Upper Control Arms, upgraded suspension, body mount chop, high clearance bumper - and you don't mind being pushed to buy a sunroof package - an ORP, with or without KDSS, isn't a bad choice. If you think your future includes portal axles, or a long travel setup, or you really want an air locker in the rear to match the aftermarket locker in front - start with the SR5 and you'll have a couple grand extra to put towards the $15K - $30K investment.

OP here,

Picked up an OR Premium today. No KDSS. It was very windy and cold and the heated seats are nice. That heated steering wheel switch is a bit awkward though.

I know T4R are classified as gutless but compared to my 2000 gen 3 it's got enough extra that I'll need to watch out or I'll add a ticket to the expense list.

It's white, Toyota must have bought white paint by the ship load because there's a lot of them around. But that will work for me, stays cooler in the summer. I'm sure I'll have additional questions in the future.

Thanks to everyone for your input, it made a difference in my decision.

I like white. It’s a great color for planned neglect …

...and while I buy vehicles and drive them until they fall apart, the ORP would probably hold resale value a bit better than the SR5 because of those desirable off-road features.

+1 here with one personal caveat. The fake hood scoop never made much sense to me. My truck has it, I don't mind it per-se but why not make it a real one? My son has a 2023 Taco with kinda a double-hump thing going on with the hood which makes even less sense to me.

I have a 2022 SR5,ORP. It does not have lockers or KDSS. My last 4 runner was a trail model. It had crawl control, lockers and KDSS. I loved the KDSS because of the improved ride and handling both on and off road. I did not have a lift so I don't know how hard a KDSS is to lift.

I felt the same way this spring when I went from my 1999 third gen to my 2023. Yes, the 4.0L V6 with the 5-speed is very dated, but compared to the 3.4L V6 with the 4-speed, it's got pep. It only really struggles if you're trying to go 75mph up a 6% grade, and I think that's mainly due to the gearing limitations. When 4th gear isn't enough, 3rd gear is a dramatic downshift at speed.

Enjoy your truck!

My first 4Runner was a 95 Gen2. Now that was gutless. When driving in the mountains you had to use the downhills to pick up speed for the uphill. 3.4 was a huge upgrade compared to that. After driving the 4.0 a few days it definitely has more than the 3.4.

Word. Every memory I have of the Toyota 3.0L V6 is a bad one. They were just gutless wonders, hardly better than having the old school 2.4L 22RE (which I had in my old '87).

The 4.0L moves well, even in the 5th gen. Pretty sure 4th gens weighed less, and they had 1" smaller tires, so 4th gen V6's are probably a little quicker.

That said, technology has improved. The upcoming Tacoma's 2.4L turbo makes more torque at 1700RPM, like more that 100 lb-ft more, than the 4.0L does at the lofty max torque RPM of like 4400RPM. Anyone that is sick of slow is gonna get in the new powertrains, especially the hybrid, and never look back.