TRD Pro vs Limited i-FORCE MAX

[zesh]

I'm struggling with choosing between these two trims. Please help!

I've never owned a 4Runner, but I've always loved the idea of one. And as lame as it may sound, the rear window just seems so great for my GSD. My wife and I have one child (less than 1yo), so I'm looking for a vehicle I can hang onto long-term as our family and needs grow.

Here's some background and where I see pros/cons between the two. Color isn't a factor since I'd probably go Underground. Wife will soon be receiving a Grand Highlander Hybrid, so we won't be short on space for general purpose driving and that'd probably be the more family-oriented vehicle.

For Pro / Against Limited

1. I absolutely love the exterior styling on the pro. I think this thing looks sick. I'm approaching 40 but the kid in me can't help but gush over this trim.
2. I'm looking for a vehicle that's capable in any weather condition. The west coast has a lot to offer and we typically road trip when we explore surrounding areas.
3. It has all the tech inside and out. I'll never feel like "dang, I should've opted for the higher trim".

For Limited / Against Pro

1. I am probably not going to do much/any technical off-road driving. Does it sound fun? Yes. Will we explore some trails around LA? Of course. But with a young family time is at a premium. Most of my driving will be scooting around town and commuting to and from work.
2. I hate the camo interior styling on the pro. I much prefer the simplicity and clean look of the all-black interior of the Limited. I would need seat covers to hide this.
3. Pricing is a bit lower.

Outstanding question I can't find a good perspective on: would the TRD Pro suck on the street or, given the suspension setup, be equal or superior to the Limited in some ways?

Thanks for your input! If you think there are other things I should consider, please let me know.

Edit: I'm considering the Limited instead of the Platinum because the blue leather as the only option on the Platinum was a non-starter for me.

 

[DustyLens]

Neither. Have you considered the Off-Road Premium hybrid? That's my choice.

But of those two, the Limited. I really can't imagine who the Pro is for.

 

[MarsGeo]

I have a 2014 Limited with 115k miles, with many days off-road. It’s design was optimized for pavement, and as I did more difficult off-road driving, I added a 2/3” lift and new suspension, 18” wheels, off road ties, 2 skid plates, and a winch. It is now very capable off road but doesn’t drive as well on the pavement, and my wife needed me to add a step for climbing into the lifted vehicle.

Suggest you go with the Limited. It will drive better on the pavement, you’ll have full-time 4wd,” (which the TRD PRO doesn’t), it is surprisingly capable off-road, and you can always modify for off-road driving if you’re limited by the Limited. Until then, you can compensate considerably by driving slower off-road (so you can place your track best for rocks larger than 9, and to reduce the jolts from the 20” wheels and stock tires).

 

[MarsGeo]

Correction: should read 2”-3” lift, not 2/3”.

 

[Qbania]

I have had a 2021 4R Limited since late 2022. My 2 teen boys now 15&nearly 17 have loved the leg room in my current rig. I don't off road at all, ever in this. I have a 95 Jeep YJ Wrangler for the weekends. I think a 6th Gen Limited will treat you right, and if your kids are younger you'll see they have lots of room in the back, plus if you cart friends around you'll have 3rd row. Having said that. I can't wait to get my 6th Gen 4R Platinum and trade in my Limited! LOL (I'm in BC Canada, so might be waiting a while)

 

[Salukidawg]

TRD Pro is probably overkill for what you’re going to use the vehicle for. If you don’t love every single aspect of the Pro (it doesn’t sound like you like the interior), save yourself some money and get the Limited. You will spend a lot more time on the inside looking at the interior than outside.

 

[FWTBT]

I'm struggling with choosing between these two trims. Please help!

I've never owned a 4Runner, but I've always loved the idea of one. And as lame as it may sound, the rear window just seems so great for my GSD. My wife and I have one child (less than 1yo), so I'm looking for a vehicle I can hang onto long-term as our family and needs grow.

Here's some background and where I see pros/cons between the two. Color isn't a factor since I'd probably go Underground. Wife will soon be receiving a Grand Highlander Hybrid, so we won't be short on space for general purpose driving and that'd probably be the more family-oriented vehicle.

For Pro / Against Limited

1. I absolutely love the exterior styling on the pro. I think this thing looks sick. I'm approaching 40 but the kid in me can't help but gush over this trim.
2. I'm looking for a vehicle that's capable in any weather condition. The west coast has a lot to offer and we typically road trip when we explore surrounding areas.
3. It has all the tech inside and out. I'll never feel like "dang, I should've opted for the higher trim".

For Limited / Against Pro

1. I am probably not going to do much/any technical off-road driving. Does it sound fun? Yes. Will we explore some trails around LA? Of course. But with a young family time is at a premium. Most of my driving will be scooting around town and commuting to and from work.
2. I hate the camo interior styling on the pro. I much prefer the simplicity and clean look of the all-black interior of the Limited. I would need seat covers to hide this.
3. Pricing is a bit lower.

Outstanding question I can't find a good perspective on: would the TRD Pro suck on the street or, given the suspension setup, be equal or superior to the Limited in some ways?

Thanks for your input! If you think there are other things I should consider, please let me know.

Edit: I'm considering the Limited instead of the Platinum because the blue leather as the only option on the Platinum was a non-starter for me.

The single biggest consideration could be the full time 4WD system of the Limited. That means it's always ready for changing weather conditions. The part time 4WD system in the Pro can't be used on dry roads. It locks the front and rear axles together, which binds the drivetrain when turning the front wheels unless there is front tire slip from dirt, snow or lots of water.

Roads and highways are rarely that slippery and when there is bad weather the road conditions are often inconsistent, with one stretch benefiting from 4WD and the next stretch requiring you to be back in RWD. In the Pro that means switching back and forth while driving, and sometimes not being in the mode you need to be in at that moment.

It's important for people new to this platform to know that part time 4WD systems are old school and designed for off roading. Every 4R trim but the Limited and Platinum are part-time 4WD. They aren't AWD vehicles like a Subaru. Only the Limited and Platinum behave like that in normal driving. If you get the Pro, understand that realistically you will need to be in rear-wheel-drive mode like 99% of the time. Honestly it could be even more than that.

As others have noted, the Limited is also more suited to road driving, with a suspension designed for comfort and composure in those conditions as opposed to landing jumps over sand dunes -- which is specifically what the Pro is designed for. It is literally built for Baja style high speed desert running. (The Overtrail in contrast is specifically designed for low speed trails and rock crawling).

The Limited's stock tires will also be road oriented, not knobby All Terrain tires for better grip off road. Knobby tires are louder, ride rougher and typically have less grip in the rain. Also longer stopping distances.

As for off road duty in a Limited, it's got the same full-time 4WD design as the Land Cruiser and GX550. So it's totally capable. If serious off roading is needed, you can lock the center differential to create the same level of ability as you get in the Pro when engaging it's part time system. The Limited lacks some of the extra off road features of the Pro, such as locking rear differential. But you'll benefit from the full time nature of the Limited system far more often than the rear locker of the part-time system of the Pro. As others have said, the Limited can also be modded to have even more off road ability, adding a lift, more off-road oriented shocks, skid plates etc.

Another advantage of the Limited is the option for a third row in the non-hybrid version. While that slightly reduces cargo space, it's less of a hit than the big battery in the hatch of the Pro. And it has the added benefit of creating a pretty flat load floor when all seats are folded. Ever thought of car camping, or would just like the option of sleeping back there? You can do that much more easily in a 3-row Limited. Plus, there's the next babies and/or their friends to cart around!

 

[Nodak]

I'm struggling with choosing between these two trims. Please help!

I've never owned a 4Runner, but I've always loved the idea of one. And as lame as it may sound, the rear window just seems so great for my GSD. My wife and I have one child (less than 1yo), so I'm looking for a vehicle I can hang onto long-term as our family and needs grow.

Here's some background and where I see pros/cons between the two. Color isn't a factor since I'd probably go Underground. Wife will soon be receiving a Grand Highlander Hybrid, so we won't be short on space for general purpose driving and that'd probably be the more family-oriented vehicle.

For Pro / Against Limited

1. I absolutely love the exterior styling on the pro. I think this thing looks sick. I'm approaching 40 but the kid in me can't help but gush over this trim.
2. I'm looking for a vehicle that's capable in any weather condition. The west coast has a lot to offer and we typically road trip when we explore surrounding areas.
3. It has all the tech inside and out. I'll never feel like "dang, I should've opted for the higher trim".

For Limited / Against Pro

1. I am probably not going to do much/any technical off-road driving. Does it sound fun? Yes. Will we explore some trails around LA? Of course. But with a young family time is at a premium. Most of my driving will be scooting around town and commuting to and from work.
2. I hate the camo interior styling on the pro. I much prefer the simplicity and clean look of the all-black interior of the Limited. I would need seat covers to hide this.
3. Pricing is a bit lower.

Outstanding question I can't find a good perspective on: would the TRD Pro suck on the street or, given the suspension setup, be equal or superior to the Limited in some ways?

Thanks for your input! If you think there are other things I should consider, please let me know.

Edit: I'm considering the Limited instead of the Platinum because the blue leather as the only option on the Platinum was a non-starter for me.

since most of your post is geared toward daily use and family use, the answer really is easy and go for the limited.

the use case for the pro seems limited to maybe 10-20% of your use case which in the long run is better suited for the limited.

 

[zesh]

But of those two, the Limited. I really can't imagine who the Pro is for

Haha. I do imagine that 95% of Pro buyers aren't fully utilizing what it was built for. But that said, do we really need any of the fancy things we buy on elevated trim levels? I'm not so sure.

I have a 2014 Limited with 115k miles, with many days off-road. It’s design was optimized for pavement, and as I did more difficult off-road driving, I added a 2/3” lift and new suspension, 18” wheels, off road ties, 2 skid plates, and a winch. It is now very capable off road but doesn’t drive as well on the pavement, and my wife needed me to add a step for climbing into the lifted vehicle.

My hesitation here is being required to invest more $$ in the vehicle should I want to actually hit some medium-level trails. Why not just get it all out of the gate if it'll perform comparably on street?

you'll have 3rd row. Having said that. I can't wait to get my 6th Gen 4R Platinum and trade in my Limited! LOL (I'm in BC Canada, so might be waiting a while)

I should've clarified it's the Hybrid Limited, so no 3rd row available! Very exciting on the Platinum order, though. Hope it doesn't take too long!

TRD Pro is probably overkill for what you’re going to use the vehicle for. If you don’t love every single aspect of the Pro (it doesn’t sound like you like the interior), save yourself some money and get the Limited. You will spend a lot more time on the inside looking at the interior than outside.

Honestly if I could have the Limited interior on the TRD Pro, I would just get the Pro without hesitation. Argh! That's what's making this so difficult.

The single biggest consideration could be the full time 4WD system of the Limited. That means it's always ready for changing weather conditions. The part time 4WD system in the Pro can't be used on dry surfaces. It locks the front and rear axles together, which binds the drivetrain when turning the front wheels unless there is front tire slip from dirt, snow or lots of water. Roads and highways are rarely that slippery and when there is bad weather the road conditions are often inconsistent, with one stretch benefiting from 4WD and the next stretch not needing it at all. Which in the Pro means switching back and forth while driving, and sometimes not being in the mode you need to be in at that moment.

Thanks for the long thoughtful reply. I do live in Southern California, so unpredictable inclement weather is not very common. I do wonder if I could achieve minor efficiency gains running in 2WD the majority of the time on the Pro, or if any gains would be negated by the tire and suspension setup vs the Limited.

Regardless, your points are well founded. It's clear the Limited is what's more aligned to my typical driving and lifestyle, but the TRD Pro could still be more "fun". I'm hopeless

 

[Qbania]

Flip a coin bro! Or ask Chat GPT! lol

 

[DustyLens]

I do live in Southern California

We bought our first 4Runner SR5 in 1997 when we lived in San Diego and frequently went out to Anza Borrego. The part-time 4WD and intermediate tires (balance of on-road efficiency and noise vs off-road grip) always worked.
Now we're in Arizona and our 2010 SR5 with the same level of tires (Michelin) still just work for wherever we want to go. Including heading up to Flagstaff when it's snowy.

I choose the (hybrid) Off-Road Premium so I can get the moonroof.


P.S. I have also taken a Corolla off-road so maybe I'm not the best role model.

 

[beungood]

I think Id choose Trailhunter over the Pro and Limited.

 

[zesh]

I think Id choose Trailhunter over the Pro and Limited.

The “snorkel” kills it for me sadly. Without that I’d seriously consider it.

 

[Nodak]

that snorkel is annoyingly loud if you have the passenger window down.

 

[beungood]

The “snorkel” kills it for me sadly. Without that I’d seriously consider it.

Can it be removed or modified?