SR5 vs. Trail Edition TE
- Thread starter NYSLC93
- Start date
Presa Canario
New member
This thread caught my attention. I was new to 4Runners. Didn't know a lot about them. Wasn't even sure if I was going to like it coming from 3/4 ton diesel trucks. The little 6cyl motor was a huge turn off to me. However, I sold my trusty old blazer and I needed a second/backup vehicle to have at home. The only requirement was it had to be 4x4 and able to haul my dogs. I landed on the 4Runner. I found a 2016 SR5 4x4 with 24,000 miles. It was a "Certifted" used vehicle which doesn't mean jack to me other than it added another full year of full BtB warranty regardless of the miles. I got it for just under $30K. Just driving it the 95 miles home from the dealership I already knew I was goign to really like it. Picked up a set of Lightly used Trail wheels for $350. Got a new set of larger Duratracts for $760 shipped. Ordered the lift parts you see below in my sig. My SR5 is now fully capable of just about anything off-road I'll ever get into. Not having a locker never crosses my mind. I've had a Jeep Rubi with lockers and electronic sway bar disconnects. I never wheeled it hard enough to actually get in a situation where I felt like I wouldn't have made it out if I didn't have that stuff. I've had the 4Runner for about a month now. I have a $60,000+ new lifted F250 sitting in my shop that has not been drove one time since I got the 4Runner. The SR5 with a small lift and a good set of tires is capable of doing far more than 80% of the people on here will ever attempt.
DeepSea
New member
Yup JKs can definitely articulate better but I'd rather have the build quality and reliability of the 4R :cheers:
I went from a beautiful lifted 2013 F250 Lariat I bought new to my 2017 4Runner TRD Off Road. I've dumped around $6k-$7k into the 4Runner and I'm now to the point I enjoy it about as much as I enjoyed my truck. It is far better for driving around town, parking lots, etc., but even with the premium package on my 4Runner, the interior amenities of my F250 blew the 4Runner away, and of course, the power.
I'm happy with the route I took and am really enjoying modding up this 4Runner, but if I still had my F250 I'd probably be driving it 25% of the time at least.
The reality is people have been wheeling the SR5 (open diffs) for decades with no issues. The real advantage to the trail is the e-locker and the KDSS. The ATRAC is not the same as a hard locker but still effective. For the KDSS you can get some sway bar disconnects for the SR5. I know it's the not same but as a trail but if you are on a budget it works.
With that said If you are wheeling often, the extra 4K for the Trail is well worth it.
2015 SR5 with 20K miles -> Yes that's a good deal at least were I live. Make sure it's 4wd.
Well said sir, because not all people share the same ideas off road or mall crawler.
ainkiller:I’m trying to decide whether to get a sr5 or a trd off-road. I’ve read up on all the differences and seeing as how The only off roaring I do is driving on the beach to my fishing spot I know I don’t need all the extras that the Trd off-road comes with but the salesperson said the lease payment will be the same for either. If that’s in fact true then I’ll be getting the off-road
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I was torn between the Limited and TRD Off Road. I chose the TRD Off Road Premium without KDSS and have since turned it into a TRD Pro clone and have no regrets. My reasoning for going this route is due to looking at 4runner resale values. Down the road if I ever decide to sell it, having the locker, other off road goodies and the lever for 4wd makes it special compared to an SR5 or Limited. While it lacks a lot of features and is not the luxury car I am used to driving, I've grown to loving the simplicity of it and enjoy driving it more than anything I have ever owned with the exception of my sport bikes. My only gripes are the cheapness of the interior, but it isn't horrible. It's the perfect size, great visibility and has more than adequate power and is simple to work on and modify. Almost has a "classic car" level of simplicity and reminds me of 3rd gen 4runners.
Inventory Breakdowns and Resale Comparisons
I bought my TRD Off Road a few weeks ago. When I was doing research to justify what I wanted, I paid attention to the number of cars in inventory across the US. I used Cars.com for my initial searches and here's the approximate breakdown...
There are about 11,000 new 4Runners for sale in the US at any given time.
Of this number....
From what I can tell, Toyota steers consumers to the family oriented SUVs for the majority of the market segmentation... by a lot. US consumers often opt for premium features, so more emphasis is given to higher tier models. The TRD Pro is obviously the rarity, but it's also pricey. I love it, but I cannot afford it.
I did initially cross-shop between all trims except for the Limited. When I thought about long-term resale, I knew from experience that Sport/Trail/TRD models command a premium, though not overly significant after a decade. The TRD Pro will hold its value better, but what about the people that wouldn't be able to afford it, still, in 2027? This is basically why I chose a base TRD Off Road. I don't plan to sell it for a long time, but I want that extra bit of security when I do. By the production breakdown, it's surprisingly the second-most-rare of the 4Runner line, after the TRD Pro.
There are many reasons why people choose their cars, and I'm not trying to knock anyone's logic or preferences. All 4Runners have a great foundation for our wild dreams. Just hoping this might help someone make a decision.
I bought my TRD Off Road a few weeks ago. When I was doing research to justify what I wanted, I paid attention to the number of cars in inventory across the US. I used Cars.com for my initial searches and here's the approximate breakdown...
There are about 11,000 new 4Runners for sale in the US at any given time.
Of this number....
- SR5: 20% of inventory
- SR5 Premium: 30%
- TRD Off Road: 5%
- TRD Off Road Premium: 10%
- Limited: 30%
- TRD PRO: 0.5%
- Mislabeled/Margin of Error/Other: 4.5%, also not accounting for KDSS/Packages
From what I can tell, Toyota steers consumers to the family oriented SUVs for the majority of the market segmentation... by a lot. US consumers often opt for premium features, so more emphasis is given to higher tier models. The TRD Pro is obviously the rarity, but it's also pricey. I love it, but I cannot afford it.
I did initially cross-shop between all trims except for the Limited. When I thought about long-term resale, I knew from experience that Sport/Trail/TRD models command a premium, though not overly significant after a decade. The TRD Pro will hold its value better, but what about the people that wouldn't be able to afford it, still, in 2027? This is basically why I chose a base TRD Off Road. I don't plan to sell it for a long time, but I want that extra bit of security when I do. By the production breakdown, it's surprisingly the second-most-rare of the 4Runner line, after the TRD Pro.
There are many reasons why people choose their cars, and I'm not trying to knock anyone's logic or preferences. All 4Runners have a great foundation for our wild dreams. Just hoping this might help someone make a decision.
dot_tom
New member
I bought the TRD Off Road for a few reasons.
1. I do not like the Toyota leather. It’s not perforated. I sweat too much as it is.
2. Sunroof would have been nice but every car I’ve owned with a sunroof I rarely used. As soon as I opened it, I closed it right after.
3. Wanted the rear locker, a trac, and enjoyed the little details the TRD OR had.
4. SR5s are a dime a dozen.
5. TRD Pro is great but again I don’t like the leather, don’t need the sunroof, and did not want to pay the premium.
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1. I do not like the Toyota leather. It’s not perforated. I sweat too much as it is.
2. Sunroof would have been nice but every car I’ve owned with a sunroof I rarely used. As soon as I opened it, I closed it right after.
3. Wanted the rear locker, a trac, and enjoyed the little details the TRD OR had.
4. SR5s are a dime a dozen.
5. TRD Pro is great but again I don’t like the leather, don’t need the sunroof, and did not want to pay the premium.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Carolina4runner10
New member
dot_tom
New member
TacoRunn0517
New member
I don't think you (or anyone else) would go wrong with either trim. I went with my '16 TE due to costs and looks. From a looks standpoint, I like the 'ode to the FJ' wheels and ever important hood scoop haha:drum: In regards to money, I wanted to get the most of it. I got an "old" new stock of the 2016 4Runners that were left in my area. My TE was a couple grand more than the 2017 SR5s that I had saw during my shopping stage (made my purchase Memorial Day Weekend 2017). I would've gone with the SR5 and had no complaints but when I saw that one of the local (1 hour drive from home) dealerships had some 2016s left, I had to make a move. They had 3 TEs left when I made my first visit. I test drove a newer JKU and JGC just to test the market. When it came down to it, I knew I was better off with Toyota. The TE I wanted originally had sold right before I asked for it. I went with the other Metallic Gray 'Runner. Ain't looking back!:zoom:
