Help me understand sr vs others

I'm new to tacomas. I just bought a 2020 sx v6 4x4 and am having some trouble assuring myself I git the right truck for my application. This is the first non-american and first non-full size truck I've ever owned. I liked the test drive and am happy with the rig, just want to be sure it will suit my needs.

Use will be a daily driver with a good bit of hauling a 19 foot skiff (read as not super heavy) in about a 75 mile radius, but mostly just 10 miles or so. Light offloading suck as mud, sand and back trails. No rock climbing or what most would consider extreme. 75% of when it's in 4wd will be beach. 2x a year a 800-1000 mike road trip with camping.

I really don't care about the comforts in the cockpit, although some are nice. In other words, im not goingvto pay a premium for heated seats, apple play or electric seats. What I do want is the 6 ft bed. The double cab would have been nice, but between the 2, I took the bigger bed/smaller cab.

Given this, why would I want an upgraded truck? From my understanding, mine is the same as a tdr with the exception of the interior package, a rear locker and a slightly stiffer suspension. Mechanically it's almost the same truck, no?

From my standpoint I'd be better off getting the sr (it just happens to have the x package) and upgrading here and there as needed.

Again, im new and have browsed a bit and I know this has been covered, just wanted to throw in my specific situation. Thanks a ton.

 

You are correct, all the models are 'essentially' the same truck. The drivetrain, suspension, and cab configurations are interchangeable.
For me, I wanted a DCSB, V6/Auto 4X4. Any trim from an SR to a TRD could have met those specifications.
So the trim level is really a personal choice. I chose the TRD OR, and it's a great daily driver as well as recreational truck. I like the extras, and it's a bad-a$$ truck as well!

 

Most of the model differences, outside of cab size, 4x4 and bed size are cosmetic. Youre paying to have these upgrades done by the mfg before purchasing the vehicle. Leather upholstery, Wheels/Tires, Suspension can all be added after you secure the vehicle. Get the basics and essentials, 4wd, interior electronic controls if desired, exterior sensors (if desired)... then you can add what you want to modify after the fact. Comes down to the funds however, some people cannot afford new wheels, tires, suspension, armor and lighting AFTER picking up a car payment, whereas if you buy a higher trim model youre working sometimes 10-15k in modifications into the monthly payment.

 

I never saw an SX badges SR until I bought a 2021 access cab this year. I wanted the access cab and Long bed because my kids are grown,
and I needed dry tool space and haul tanks and pumps and such to remote locations alot.
I've bought a TRD lift, but I don't think I'm putting it on the truck until my warranty is gone.

The SX package is basically blacked out mirrors, door handles, fender accents and blacked out emblems
with the black rims. Other than that, its basically an SR. It sounds like you can do everything you want to
do with the SR. Good Looking Truck!

 

Because of allocation issues at the time, SX was probably the cheapest SR V6 you could buy.

The only thing cheaper are the various four-cylinder models.

 

Building it to your needs is part of the fun.

 

Only real difference is lack of a locking differential but you can add one later if yo wish. I got an SR5 and it’s been great

 

Congrats! You did great.

For the 3rd generation (2016-2023) the SR was a great deal because buyers of the 4x4 automatic get the same engine and transmission as the highest trim (Pro).

I think Toyota realized this with the 4th gen and de-tuned the engine power on the automatic to dissuade bargain shoppers (or perhaps make sure the Orkin or Pool guy aren't smoking tires.) The 4th gen upper trims also offer the 'upgraded' hybrid drivetrain for more power.

 

This is good news fellas. I'm happy with the truck, just wanted to be sure it would satisfy my needs down the road. It appears it will.

We'll see what the first mods are, but it will likely be small cosmetic stuff until I get in a situation where I'll need an upgrade for an upcoming trip. So far love the tacoma community.

 

Only thing I really felt like I needed, that wasnt offered in the SR was intermittent wipers. It took about $150 to buy a wiper stalk for the up-scale models and about 10 minutes to install.

 

Daily driver, did you look into the Honda Ridgeline ?

 

No. The reputation and availability of aftermarket parts and accessories sealed the deal for me. I looked at tundra and silverado, but full size truck prices are now much more than I bought my first house for.

 

It’s a great truck and I have the same (SR with SX package 4x4 and V6) It has everything I need and gets the job done. Don’t need sensors everywhere.
First photo is when I bought. Second photo is current with quite a bit of mods, biggest being suspension and leaf pack. (Also I liked the chrome on MGM so I got the OR wheels)

 

What size tires did you go to? I'm throwing around the idea of 2 sets for driving daily and another for off road.

 

The 2022 SR has them.

 

There are mechanical differences for off-roading.

TRD Offroad has a selective rear-locking differential. Lower models have auto-locking that you cannot control. Offroad has better suspension parts from the factory, but are still upgraded by many later. Off-road has "multi-terrain select" to adapt to conditions (mud, snow, sand). Offroad "crawl-mode" that takes control of very short incremental movements in tight situations you cannot control pedal easily. MTS and "crawl" cannot be added later but they are not necessary for most of the off-roading you will do. Crawl-mode especially cannot be added later because the "brake actuator" changes on the engine to allow precise electronic control.

Many extreme off-roaders find their own selections for suspensions and after-market lockers superior to MTS or crawl-control so live just fine with their own upgrades.

If you are worried that you will never spend the difference in $$ between SR and TRD Off-road just on your own ... you cannot be more wrong!

 

Only the TRD OR and TRD Pro have a locking rear diff.

There's no such thing as an auto locking rear diff on toyota tacomas.

For 3rd gens without the rear locker, it's a brake-controlled simulated "limited slip". Which is not a limited slip diff at all in the true sense of the term "limited slip rear differential"

 

Thanks for that clarification. I knew brakes figured in. I have the OR, and I am definitely over-equippped for my limited off-roading adventures for now.

 

Haha!! I've been in the jeep world and boat world a long time. Shelling it out is a fact of life! I was more wondering about towing ability and performance in non- extreme offroad conditions. I have no obvious need for a locker, nor the desire to have some of the interior upgrades, so for my application, there really isn't a reason for me to spend the extra on a bigger package. Just wanted to be sure that was an accurate statement.

 

Towing is another hairball subject here. Tacomas are by-report not the best for towing large objects, with a usable maximum towing load of 4500 lbs. Read here for many discussions on towing: https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/towing.34/