Full-time 4WD vs. 4WD on-demand for 2025 4Runner 6th gen?

[northernlights]

It seems that Toyota decided to offer full time AWD with a center diff only in the luxury oriented trims, the limited and the platinum. A lot of customers either want a cheaper trim (like the SR5) or more off road oriented trims like the TRD off road or TRD pro. These trims do not offer the center diff and with that also no full time AWD, a big drawback when you are in winter conditions on mountain roads a lot. The Landcruiser is also a more luxury oriented SUV and has the center diff (a Torsen diff) standard and people have used the Landcruiser off road in very rough terrain and the Torsen diff held up very well. So I can't see any good reason why Toyota wouldn't offer the Torsen diff in the off road and lower Trims.
There is of course the problem that you can't order a 4Runner to your spec in the USA (also something I will never understand). If Toyota would offer the center diff in some 4Runners you would have to be lucky to find a Trim and color that also has the center diff in your area.

I'm laughing when you say luxury oriented trims. I'm looking at the price of a decked out Trailhunter and its bell and whistles and I think THAT"S luxury.

 

[northernlights]

It’s always been like that on previous generation.

So LOTS and LOTS of 4runners "running" around in the wild in CO for years in challenging conditions(it is the state vehicle after all). Don't remember reading much trouble. So maybe the theoretical is just that.

 

[andim]

I'm laughing when you say luxury oriented trims. I'm looking at the price of a decked out Trailhunter and its bell and whistles and I think THAT"S luxury.

LOL yes, you're right. Didn't even occur to me at that point that the off road models exceed the prices of the "luxury" models by far. We need new words for luxury trims that are off road focussed and luxury trims that are focussed on comfortable, convenience, high end design elements.