25 Pro vs AWD LC or GX

Okay. I’m looking for advice. I currently drive an 18’ Pro with 190,000km. Loads of that is winter highway driving. My plan was to rebuy the new 25 pro. But research points to AWD…. And I just don’t love the styling of those vehicles as much.

My use is daily driver + highways to the mountains then mountain roads, often in snow for 6+ months a year.

Any thoughts/advice would be helpful.

 

welcome

 

If you don't need much offroad the 2024 4Runner Limited (would give better onroad snow performance with good tires with 3PMSF rating) would be by far reliable choice
than 2025 4Runner TRD Pro / LC250 and already questionable reliability 3.4TT engine on GX550.

 

2024 Limited or the new GX. Pass the 6th gen 4Runner

 

GX550 is not suffering from the 3.4TT issues.

 

I mean if money isn’t an issue I would go GX, then LC and lastly Gen 6 4Runner (purely based on looks unless it’s a Trail Hunter) I think you would be happy with all 3 vehicles as the tech in all of them will be mostly the same.

if you want another old reliable strike now while prices are ok and get a 24 Pro

 

I wouldn’t buy the first couple of years of a new vehicle and would definitely look at full time 4wd or at least auto 4wd for your situation.

 

Up to you how much the full-time 4WD is worth. I'm thinking if you can live with part-time 4WD you can save some money or alternatively consider a Limited trim model that's older. Each vehicle is going to hit a different price point.

 

Thanks everyone for weighing in.

I’ve loved my current Gen 5. But my new feeling is that I own the wrong system.

I have never owned an awd system and have had zero issues with mine.

But after extensive reading feel like maybe I am using the 4hi setting to fast and in the wrong conditions (winter hiway conditions under highway speeds, think 80-100km/h on snow covered roads).

I like the styling of the pro hence the choice to go back to it. And the 4wd drive has gotten me out of some deep snow situations in the past. But maybe an awd system would have done the same.

Does anyone know the actual technical spec on 4hi? How fast should you drive in it? What damage can be done by using it wrong? Binding the system?

thanks again

 

I had a SR5P before I bought my Limited. I’m on snowy roads, dirt roads and hunting trails pretty regularly but the majority of my miles come from commuting on the highway. The Limited rides a lot better and the FT4WD system is great. No regrets here.

 

4hi only have a max speed to change from 2hi to 4hi. Owners manual will show exactly what's the the max for TRDs with manual shifter (50mph or something) vs SR5 with electronic selector (55mph or something like that). When you are on 4hi you can drive at any speed.

4hi can get damaged if you do tight turns like turning to parking lots or u turns on a dry pavement.

 

Fulltime 4WD or AWD is better for snowy roads. It's much more user friendly, , set and forget.
.
Assuming we are talking about part time 4wd, 4Hi can be used at freeway speeds, in fact you can make the shift to 4th at up to 55mph, IIRC. However, if you need to be in 4th bin the first place, you need to think about what speed is prudent for those conditions.

Damage is most likely to occur if operating in 4hi on dry pavement. It's not designed for that, binding can occur which can lead to breakage.

 

okay this was always my understanding. Okay I’m not a total idiot after all.

 

LC all day long…hands down

 

Dude, the part-time 4wd drive has been fine for you for 190,000 km. Do you really think there's something wrong after 6 years?

Not trying to dissuade you from what you want, but you clearly don't need AWD or full-time 4wd.

 

If you've been keeping your 2018 well maintained all this time, by not downgrading reliability to 25 Pro / 2024 AWD LC / GX550 you would be even smarter.

 

I drive an 05 V8 which came with a similar full time 4wd system. I definitely appreciate the extra drive, but I don't think it's any better in the snow than my part time 4WD Tacoma was. If traction is so bad you're going into 4wd due to snow, you should not consider driving fast enough to be thinking about whether you're up against the vehicle's shift limiter. Honestly the best use for it I've found is for hitting driveways that are day in and day out a pain for traction, just because I don't need to remember to switch into 4hi.

TL: DR; You're probably fine with what you've got, the AWD won't let you drive any faster safely in the snow

 

GX550 is nice but overpriced, if you have money to burn and willing to take a chance on a new platform I would go that way. 2025 4Runner is a dark horse - early reports put reliability into question, I would avoid first year (2025) and let someone else deal with recalls. Plus, production is delayed so you might not be able to get one anytime soon and may be asked to pay markup over MSRP.

If you can still find one, get 2024 Limited as it would be a) reliable b) full-time 4WD makes a lot of sense for on-pavement driving. However, tech on that 2024 would be old, if that is important to you.

Personally I don't like LC for all the same reasons I am skeptical of 2025 4Runner.

 

I didn’t read other posts, so if it’s been said already, I apologize. Limited

 

Test drive a Tacoma and you’re test driving the next 4Runner’s drivetrain & interior. Just keep in mind that Tacomas are assembled in Mexico w scotch tape & Elmer’s Glue-all, while the 4R’s will still come from Tahara, so 4R quality should still be at a high standard.

I personally prefer the smooth, lean athletic styling of your Pro (and all Gen5) versus the “you-better-stare-at-me-now-dude!” looks that American designers gave the new 4R’s. But I might be in the minority w that opinion.

My vote w/o knowing 4R prices yet would be the LC. Love the GX, but it’s not a great value, if that’s a concern.

 

I didn’t see it mentioned but locking the center differential in full-time 4WD will be the same as 4H for you now so you’ll still be able to get out of things - albeit limited by the potentially different approach/departure/breakover angles.

In the case of the 5th gen Limited it’s the same electronic dial control, but in the 4th gen, they have a separate center locker button.

I would sure appreciate AWD/FT-4WD in u-turns and the rain but alas it was not to be.

 

Just to be safe, switch to 4Hi when in neutral. I love the shift on the fly feature in this truck though

 

Neutral > 4Hi > Drive, all while in motion. But yes if you find that too much, shift on the fly.

 

I love my AWD. I can go everywhere the same but it's actually more useful everyday. I saw 25 LC in black today and it looked good. I don't know price difference, but LC is probably more as it always has been. Everything is going to have Atrac before long and we'll probably start seeing TRD RAV4s and TRD Corolla Pros on the trail hitting the high spots. I like LC looks better than 25 4runner. I won't buy either until they get 150k on them and probably not at all. Less technology is better and more dependable. I don't understand why people need a Pro for Walmart anyway. All I see here never have dirt on them, but that's not everywhere I know. Thats the one I wanted to buy because I wanted a Pro to, but used. Now I realize I don't need one. They all do the same thing with different stuff. I'm pretty happy now coming from 4hi and 4lo only the last 40 years. The LC did look good.

I apologize for butting in.

 

Prices on everything in Canada are insane on any of these. I’m not in a rush to get one. My truck is in perfect shape. But starting the process so to speak.

All three of these trucks are around 100k in Canada.