SR5 vs TRD Off Road summary. Is this right?

I've been planning on front and rear lockers since I got this truck.... still haven't added them and haven't needed them. I can see where they'd be helpful now that I live in Colorado.

 

I had to have an Inferno... and I was shopping in October of 2021....
So my choices were somewhat limited... no pun intended.

An OR was on a Jeep lot, with very low mileage (21k), at a very reasonable price...
I wasn't going to be picky. If it was a SR5, I'd probably have taken it. But an OR it was.... And I was a sucker for the black fender flares...

 

i'm wondering if the Trailer Hitch is standard for all trims? I didn't see it for any trim on Toyota Canada configurator.

 

Definitely supply and demand for OR tacomas right now

 

Must have been a Sport!

 

I'm just the opposite on those black fender flares. I feel they make the truck look unfinished. The color matching ones look so much better on the truck.

 

You very likely will appreciate the Qi charging. While induction, if you’re not so ADHD that you have to check the phone every stop light (illegal here anyway) it works great and exceedingly convenient.

 

Huh? Many people have criticized the Qi for being finicky (especially with some cases) and charging the phone very slowly. I never use mine. I plug my phone in if I want to charge it or use apple car play. It does make for a decent shelf though.

 

Yes many are disappointed. I have the thin leather case designed to limit inductive separation, I properly center my phone and I accept the trade off of inductive current vs conductive for the convenience. Additionally, my family knows I keep my stuff organized so they constantly take my chargers and cords. I love watching them dance the fire drill around my taco frantically searching for the cable that’s not there!

 

Well, I swapped out the chrome bumper caps with matte black to match the flares... and plan to black out the chrome badges, too.. Not unfinished in my eye... but more awesome...

 

When i went truck shopping, I wanted a trd sport but couldnt find one anywhere up and down i-5 in Oregon. So I settled on an SR5. It came with the tech package (blind spot monitoring) and a bed inverter and that slick red accent interior.

Realistically I knew I didn't want leather seats or a sun roof for personal reasons. Two big German shepherds, and a leaky sun roof is a disaster to potentially have in Oregon like my last truck had. I also knew I wanted LED headlights and thanks to this forum, found a way to install them myself on my SR5. I also knew I would want to upgrade suspension with a lift, so the TRD lift kit was an immediate add on I committed to upon buying the truck.

Overall, I'm very happy with my SR5 because I knew I'd be modding it the way I wanted in the end and I have no regrets. The only real difference to me with a sport or OR was leather seats, sun roof, locking rear diff and remote start. All of which were features I didn't really want or want to pay more for

 

I hate Leather seats in a vehicle. Too fucking hot in the summer, and too fucking cold in the winter.

 

1-is the diff whine related to the larger diff?
2-is the stiffer suspension on the SR5 better for towing and are you going to tow?
3-Do you like color coordinated fender flares or the black?
4-Do you want the push button start? I don’t and I’m glad I don’t have it.

I have an SR5 and like it. Replaced the tires. I do believe the lockable diff alone is worth the price difference. Every once in a while I think about if I’d like the OR more but not often.

at least your not asking 2WD or 4WD.

 

Excuse me sir, your opinion is wrong.

But in all seriousness, I dig the black fender flares as well. Good news is it's a part that's easy to switch out with color matched versions.

 

Imo, it more of a matter of one choosing the trd tacoma more for off roading, then say the sr5 which is built more for daily highway use. All i did was replace the stock tires with a/t ones on my sr5 and has been more than happy with the truck.

 

They are both made for daily highway use, one will just get you a little further off the beaten path, the OR has a softer more comfortable street ride too.

 

4Runner all day long OP. It’s all YOU need by your descriptions here.

 

I got the off road, this truck I wanted to do the right way and have it come factory instead of wasting my time. that approach is not for everyone though.

needed the rear locker once so far on a icy steep incline driveway so 99% don't need it but damn that 1% time is nice

 

I agree, would rather have color matched...

 

I went through the same back and forth when buying my 2021 SR5 longbed. I guess my first question would be do you plan to modify the truck to be more capable offroad? If so go with the sr5 and build it up how you want. If you plan to keep it stock and work with those limitations get the trd. Yes the trd comes with a locker and MTS but better tires and suspension will outperform both of those.

I have a full bilstein 5100 lift and goodyear ultra terrain tires and will go more places than a trd on stock tires. I have these upgrades along with skid plates and rock sliders for less than the cost of a stock TRD. The only thing I do wish I had on my sr5 was blind spot monitor and parking sensor(because longbed)