Let's be real for a second. If you look at the spec sheet of a 2024 4Runner TRD Pro, it looks like something plucked straight out of 2010. You’ve got a five-speed automatic transmission. Five gears. In an era where most trucks are rocking ten. You have a naturally aspirated V6 that drinks gas like it's at an open bar. And yet, people are still trampling each other to pay way over MSRP for this thing. Why?
Because it’s the end of an era.
The 2024 model year represents the absolute final stand for the fifth-generation N280 platform. Toyota kept this thing alive for fifteen years, which is unheard of in the modern car world. While every other SUV turned into a unibody "soft-roader" with a CVT and a tiny turbo engine, the TRD Pro stayed a body-on-frame, old-school beast. It’s charmingly archaic. Honestly, driving one feels like wearing a pair of broken-in Red Wing boots—it’s stiff, it’s heavy, but you know it’s never going to fail you when things get messy.
The Hardware That Actually Matters
Most people buy the 2024 4Runner TRD Pro for the "Terra" paint job or the heritage grille, but the real magic is underneath. You get Fox Internal Bypass shocks. These aren't just for show. They’re tuned specifically by TRD engineers to handle high-speed desert washouts while still being surprisingly plush on the pavement. If you’ve ever driven a base SR5 and then jumped into a Pro, the difference in "nose dive" during braking is night and day. The Fox setup levels everything out.
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Then there’s the armor. You’ve got a 1/4-inch thick aluminum skid plate up front with "TRD" stamped in red. It’s beefy. It’s functional.
But here is the thing: the engine is the 1GR-FE. It’s a 4.0-liter V6 producing 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. Those aren't impressive numbers anymore. A modern RAV4 Hybrid can almost keep up with it in a sprint. But the 1GR-FE is a legend for a reason. There are documented cases of this specific engine hitting 300,000 or even 400,000 miles with nothing but basic oil changes. It’s over-engineered. In a world of complex hybrid systems and sensitive turbos, there is something deeply comforting about an engine that is basically a tractor. It just works.
Off-Road Tech vs. Old School Manuals
Toyota threw a lot of its specific off-road "nanny" tech at the 2024 4Runner TRD Pro, and it's a bit of a mixed bag. CRAWL Control is the big one. If you haven't used it, it basically sounds like the car is falling apart. It uses the ABS actuators to modulate individual wheel braking and throttle to "walk" the car out of deep sand or mud. It’s incredibly loud—lots of clicking and grinding noises—but it’s effective.
You also get Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) and a locking rear differential.
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The locker is the gold standard.
When you’re cross-axled on a trail in Moab or stuck in a deep snowbank in the Rockies, a push-button locker is worth its weight in gold. Most modern crossovers use "brake-actuated" limited-slip systems that overheat after five minutes of hard use. The 4Runner uses a physical metal pin to lock those rear wheels together. It’s binary. It’s reliable.
What It's Like to Actually Live With
Let’s talk about the interior, because this is where the "old school" vibe either wins you over or makes you run for the hills. The buttons are huge. You can operate the climate control while wearing thick winter gloves. There’s a physical gear shifter and a manual transfer case lever for the 4WD system. No rotary dials here.
The infotainment is... fine. It has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which was a late-cycle addition that basically saved the 4Runner’s usability. But the screen is small by 2024 standards. The backup camera resolution looks like it was filmed on a Nokia flip phone from 2004.
And the gas mileage? It's bad.
Expect 16 or 17 mpg if you're lucky. If you put on bigger 33-inch tires or a roof rack, you'll see 14 mpg. You aren't buying this to save the planet. You’re buying it because you want to get to the middle of nowhere and, more importantly, you want to make sure you can get back home.
The "Terra" Factor and Resale Value
For 2024, the exclusive TRD Pro color is Terra. It’s an earthy, orangey-brown that looks incredible in the sunlight and sort of like clay in the shade. Toyota has this tradition of doing a one-year-only color for the Pro trims. In the past, we’ve had Voodoo Blue, Army Green, and Lunar Rock.
This creates a weird secondary market.
Because the 2024 4Runner TRD Pro is the final year of the 4.0L V6, the resale value is currently insane. In some cases, used 2022 and 2023 models are selling for more than their original sticker price. It defies the laws of economics. The 2025 model is moving to a turbocharged four-cylinder (the i-FORCE system), and while that will have more power and better MPG, the "purists" are terrified of it. They want the simplicity of the 2024.
Critical Flaws Nobody Admits
Look, I love this truck, but it’s not perfect. The seating position is weird. The floor is high because of the frame, so your legs are out in front of you like you’re sitting in a bathtub. If you’re over 6’2”, you might find your head brushing the headliner, especially with the sunroof that comes standard on the Pro.
The transmission is also a bit of a dog. It hunts for gears on long highway grades. You’ll find yourself manually downshifting to 4th just to maintain 70 mph against a headwind. It’s the price you pay for a gearbox that is famously bulletproof.
Why You Should (or Shouldn't) Buy One Now
If you want the latest tech, a quiet cabin, and great fuel economy, do not buy this car. Go buy a Lexus GX550 or a Land Rover Defender. You’ll be much happier.
However, if you are the type of person who keeps a vehicle for 15 years, the 2024 4Runner TRD Pro is the best investment you can make in the current market. It is a "forever" truck. It’s the last of the Mohicans.
- Reliability: 10/10. It is arguably the most reliable vehicle sold in North America in 2024.
- Capability: 9/10. Only held back by its size and slightly dated approach angles compared to a Jeep Wrangler.
- Comfort: 6/10. Great shocks, but the ergonomics are from a different decade.
Actionable Steps for Potential Buyers
- Check the Frame: If you are buying a 2024 (or any 5th Gen) in the Rust Belt, look at the frame welds immediately. Toyota has improved their coating, but it’s still a steel frame. Fluid Film or Woolwax it the day you bring it home.
- Skip the "Market Adjustments": Don’t pay a $10,000 dealer markup. With the 2025s arriving, some dealers are getting aggressive, but if you search nationwide, you can still find them at MSRP.
- Test the Rear Window: It’s the 4Runner’s party trick. The entire rear glass slides down. It’s amazing for airflow, but it also sucks in exhaust fumes if you don't have the front windows cracked.
- Upgrade the Tires: The stock Nitto Terra Grapplers that come on the TRD Pro are "P-rated" (passenger rated). They’re quiet on the street but have thin sidewalls. If you’re serious about sharp rocks, swap them for an "E-rated" all-terrain tire.
The 4Runner is a dinosaur. But it's a dinosaur that can climb a mountain and then drive you to work the next morning without breaking a sweat. In an age of disposable electronics, that's worth something.