I know in gonna get flamed for this but as a current owner of both a gmc sierra and a 4th gen V8. I can say that my sierra is way better in the "snow" than my 4runner.
Example: a few years ago we got a bad storm with almost 3' of snow. The 4runner could not get out of my driveway with 4 lo engaged and the center diff locked.
Put my sierra in 4hi, went around the 4runner w/o breaking a sweat and pulled the 4runner out from its spot.
Last winter my neighbor got stuck with his van on our street. Tried to pull him out with the 4runner because it was the first car in my driveway, could not budge his van, got my GMC , first shot it pulled him out.
now i cant say how they compare off roading but in the real world and real usage my GMC outdoes the 4runner.