2024 Toyota 4Runner Configurations: Trims, Features, and What Sets Each One Apart

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner is one of the last body-on-frame SUVs still sold in volume — a truck-based design that prioritizes off-road capability and towing over car-like ride comfort. It comes in multiple configurations, each aimed at a different type of buyer. Understanding what separates them helps you make sense of the pricing tiers and decide which features actually matter to your driving needs.

How the 2024 4Runner Lineup Is Structured

Toyota organizes the 4Runner into trim levels, each building on the one below it with added features, capability upgrades, or appearance packages. For 2024, the lineup includes:

• SR5
• SR5 Premium
• TRD Sport
• TRD Off-Road
• TRD Off-Road Premium
• Limited
• TRD Pro
• 40th Anniversary Special Edition (limited availability)

All 2024 4Runners share the same powertrain: a 4.0-liter V6 engine producing 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission. There is no hybrid or turbocharged option in this generation. That's a deliberate design choice — Toyota has kept this platform largely unchanged since 2010, prioritizing proven durability over modern fuel economy figures.

Drivetrain Options Across Trims

One of the most important variables between trims is the drivetrain:

The 4x4 system Toyota uses in the 4Runner is a part-time four-wheel drive setup — not the always-on all-wheel drive found in most crossover SUVs. It uses a two-speed transfer case with a dedicated low-range setting (4Lo), which is specifically engineered for technical off-road use, not just slippery roads.

What Each Tier Delivers 🔍

SR5 and SR5 Premium are the entry-level trims. The base SR5 includes an 8-inch touchscreen, Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (pre-collision warning, lane departure alert, adaptive cruise control), and basic cloth interior. The SR5 Premium adds leather-trimmed seats, a power moonroof, and upgraded audio.

TRD Sport adds sport-tuned suspension, 20-inch wheels, and cosmetic upgrades but is designed more for appearance than serious off-road use. It's available in 4x2, which lowers the starting price.

TRD Off-Road and TRD Off-Road Premium represent the middle of the capability spectrum. These trims include a locking rear differential, Crawl Control (a low-speed off-road cruise system), Multi-terrain Select, and KDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System) on the Off-Road Premium — a hydraulic system that disconnects sway bars at low speed to improve wheel articulation on uneven terrain.

Limited goes in a different direction — more comfort and luxury features, including a premium JBL audio system, panoramic moonroof, and higher-grade interior materials. It's available in 4x4 but is less focused on trail use.

TRD Pro is the off-road flagship. It adds Fox internal bypass shocks, a front skid plate, a roof rack, and an exclusive exterior color each model year. It comes only in 4x4 and carries the highest price in the lineup. It also includes many of the same off-road electronics as the TRD Off-Road trims.

Off-Road Electronics Worth Understanding

Several 4Runner trims include features that directly affect off-road performance:

• Crawl Control: Automatically manages throttle and braking at slow speeds on loose terrain
• Multi-terrain Select: Adjusts throttle response and braking for different surfaces (mud, rock, sand, loose rock, moguls)
• KDSS: Hydraulic sway bar disconnection for improved axle articulation — only on select trims
• Locking rear differential: Forces equal power distribution to both rear wheels — critical for certain trail situations

These are not available across all trims. The SR5 and TRD Sport lack most of them.

Towing and Payload

All 4Runner configurations share the same maximum tow rating of 5,000 lbs and a payload capacity of approximately 1,500 lbs. These figures don't vary meaningfully across trim levels in the 2024 model year. If towing is a priority, the trim choice won't significantly change your capacity — the powertrain is the constant.

Fuel Economy

The EPA estimates roughly 16 mpg city / 19 mpg highway for 4x4 configurations, with 4x2 trims coming in slightly higher. These are consistent across trims because the engine and transmission don't change. By modern SUV standards, the 4Runner's fuel economy is low — that's a known trade-off for the body-on-frame platform.

The Variables That Shape the Right Choice

Which 4Runner configuration makes sense depends on factors specific to each buyer:

• How and where you drive: Street use, light gravel, or technical trails all call for different capability levels
• Whether you need 4x2 or 4x4: 4x2 trims lower cost but limit capability and resale flexibility in some markets
• Comfort vs. utility priorities: The Limited and SR5 Premium lean toward comfort; TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro lean toward capability
• Budget and local market availability: TRD Pro and 40th Anniversary editions are typically allocated in limited numbers per dealer
• Long-term ownership costs: A higher trim with more electronic systems may carry different maintenance considerations than a simpler base trim

The 2024 4Runner's configuration spread is unusually wide — the gap between an SR5 4x2 and a TRD Pro in price, features, and intended use is significant. Two buyers looking at "a 2024 4Runner" may be considering vehicles that drive and function quite differently from each other.