The Toyota 4Runner is a beastly, rugged full-size SUV built with the old-school body-on-frame style to allow it to be even more powerful and capable for trips off the beaten path. It is an ideal fit for grandiose adventures into the great outdoors, and while the entire 4Runner lineup is loaded with capable features for such outdoor treks, a couple of trims are even more tailor-made for such excursions: The Trail Special Edition and the TRD Off-Road.

How do these two versions of the 4Runner differ? Take a look at this 2021 Toyota 4Runner Trail Special Edition vs TRD Off-Road comparison for more details.

2021 Toyota 4Runner Trail Special Edition	VS	2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road
$38,315	Starting MSRP	$40,305
4x2 or 4x4	Drivetrain	4x4
4.0-Liter DOHC 24-Valve V6 with Dual Independent Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence (VVT-i); 270 Horsepower; 278 lb.-ft. Torque	Engine	4.0-Liter DOHC 24-Valve V6 with Dual Independent Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence (VVT-i); 270 Horsepower; 278 lb.-ft. Torque
5,000 Pounds	Maximum Towing Capacity	5,000 Pounds
Not Available	Crawl Control & Multi-Terrain Select	Standard
17-inch dark gray alloy wheels with P265/70R17 tires	Wheels	17-inch 7-spoke alloy wheels with black accents and P265/70R17 tires
Audio - 8-inch touchscreen, eight speakers, AM/FM radio, Android Auto™ & Apple CarPlay® & Amazon Alexa compatible, USB media port, four USB charge ports, advanced voice recognition, Bluetooth® wireless technology, SiriusXM® with 3-month All Access trial.	Standard Infotainment System	Audio Plus - 8-inch touchscreen, eight speakers, AM/FM radio, HD Radio™, Android Auto™ & Apple CarPlay® & Amazon Alexa compatible, four USB charge ports, advanced voice recognition, Bluetooth® wireless technology, SiriusXM® with 3-month All Access trial.

Differences between the 4Runner Trail Special Edition and TRD Off-Road

As you can see, these two versions of the 4Runner do share numerous features. The core engine and towing power are there in both iterations. They start to differ, however, mainly in how they approach off-road driving. The TRD Off-Road version includes Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select. Crawl Control automatically adjusts the brakes and the throttling on five low-speed settings so you can keep your focus on traversing the tough path ahead. Multi-Terrain Select gives you four different terrain modes to choose from to better optimize the drive for the specific terrain you’re on, making for an even smoother and more dynamic ride.

Other differences are of the cosmetic and design nature. The Trail Special Edition has unique black badging and dark gray wheels. It also has a removable 40-quart cooler with tie-down straps for your trail refreshments. You can also get a sliding cargo deck and a Yakima® LoadWarrior cargo basket for the roof. The TRD Off-Road also has unique badging, and it still offers roof rails as a foundation for an available roof rack.

Which of these 2021 Toyota 4Runner models sounds like the right fit for you? If you’re in the Palo Alto area and want to learn more, please contact us today.