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I would like to see some sort of a leaderboard for the slip test, like rank the vehicles and put it into a list of sorts

We've NEVER had a traction issue in the GX460. Its will take you anywhere. KDSS is a genius hydraulic sway bar disconnect that significantly increases offroad articulation. Wheel slip is DESIRABLE in many conditions, snow, mud, soft sand. GX defaults to TRAC in 4H and ATRAC in 4L. TRAC is like an LSD. ATRAC is like a locker. The system is phenomenal. These are Landcruiser Prados.

What I like about a center differential is that if youre offroading and need to make a sharp turn but still need better traction than 2wd you can just unlock the center diff and make a full lock turn with no binding and pushing. With a chain drive even off pavement there is going to be binding of the drivetrain and the turning radius is reduced becasue of the binding up of the drivetrain.

You guys do more tests than any other website that I know. That is why I watch you guys 4X/day. When I was a kid in the 1980's & 1990's, I would have to drive 15 miles to the University to read all of the car magazines. Now, I can read it all from home. No gas. No time..

Always love the slip test, but even better showing it functionally afterwards. Keep these up Tommy.

The KDSS is so good on the GX too. Look at the articulation in the Trenches.

My 2011 4Runner Trail has everything the Lexus does at that time.....the KDSS, the whole ball of wax. Thing is pretty much unstoppable off road AND incredible reliability.

Tommy, I love your slip tests on the 4wd awd systems!! Keep them up! They're so much fun to watch!!

I really like this 4x4 drive comparison content you do. Thanks you ! You explain it very well and then show the actual performance. Nice.

For folks who are interested: We did film this *right* before Lexus teased the new GX...it's only been 14 years 😆. Find out more about that here: tflcar.com/2023/05/2024-lexus-gx-teaser-may-news/

Thank you. I never get tired of watching 4Runner videos.

The KDSS on that GX460 helps wayyyy more than you think. Just having the additional articulation keeping tires on the ground keeps you out of a lot of sticky situations. My ‘15 Land Cruiser had it and the articulation was a massive advantage.

People talk about the gas mileage for the GX because of it's V8 and full time 4wd. My '18 TRD Pro 4Runner got 15 MPG and my '23 GX gets 16 mpg.

The full time torsen 4wd is the best I’ve ever had. Even when I go off-road I rarely find myself needing to lock the center diff. And not needing to think about 4wd is also nice when the weather can change quick.

You guys REALLY need to get your hands on a 4Runner Limited for these tests. The Limited uses a Torsen Center Differential (the only 4Runner Model to use one) for its full time 4-Wheel Drive System. The beauty of the torsen is that not only is it a fully mechanical gear system (and incredibly reliable) but the Torsen is designed to automatically lock itself in the case of one axle getting more power due to slippage. This is great for bad weather as you can leave the center differential unlocked 99% and let it lock itself as conditions dictate. I own a 2020 Limited and I have locked the system into 4-Wheel Locked maybe a dozen times, and this is living in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, where our winters are brutal and can dump 24" of snow on you without warning.

For winter driving, give me the full time 4wd of the GX or 4Runner Limited anytime. Much easier to live with with no binding on the road and if you get stuck at low speed, you just lock the center diff.

I'm sure I've been beaten to the punch but the center diff in the gx is not open, its a Torsen Type-C with a 40:60 nominal bias. It's got a relatively mild torque bias ratio - 1.86:1 if I remember. So its super good for on-road handling, but not so great on rollers. I find that I rarely have to lock up the center, unless I know I will be spinning wheels. Of course the other issue with the GX is that in high range TRAC and VSC is active, as well as throttle modulation. In low ATRAC is engaged, but throttle control and VSC is off which makes a huge difference to something like a roller test.

Great video! I have a 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (Lexus GX470 in N.A.) that only has ABS, but no traction control. It does, however, have full-time 4WD with low range and a locking Torsen transfer case and I have never been stuck on the trails that I frequent. Love the Toyota/Lexus products. Just as an aside, the past tense of "spin" is "spun" not "span."

Learned something today-in 4hi the traction control still sends power around similar to 4lo with atrac engages…makes me love my 2014 4runner even more

I’ve been looking for a video like this for the longest time! Thank you for the content!

My wife has a 2015 GX. It’s a tank. So solid. By far the best vehicle we have ever owned.

I have a GX470 that we took the running boards off of and it has a set of TRD Pro wheels and Toyo Open Country ATs. The 4.7 V8 has plenty of power and it has great approach and departure angles. It's got great road manners and tons of off-road capabilities.

I have owned every North American vehicle that uses this platform (FJ Cruiser, 5th gen 4Runner and GX). As an overland platform, the GX and 4Runner are unrivaled! What they lack in most advanced interior tech, they make up for with 25 year service life potential and excellent off road capability! I have a supercharged 2019 4Runner TRD Off Road! I have been dying for someone to release something that will be the proper replacement for my 4Runner. I have tried the Defender, but that breaks and wheel lifts like a car. The design of the current GX makes it harder to mod for hardcore off road use and the heavier V8 will lead to issues, if you don't account for it. Also, as a "luxury" vehicle, the GX's outdated tech left me unsatisfied. However lol, they are unveiling the new GX in a week and I already want it! It will have the same 3.4 twin turbo V6 as the 300 Series and Tundra etc, but be tuned for less power.. That will make it even more reliable than the 300 Series! It will have a more off road worthy model offering, a lighter engine and modern interior technology! I'm so excited for the next GX! It will be the first vehicle worth retiring my 4Runner and curing my 5th gen 4Runner addiction 🤣

Morale of the story is Toyota/Lexus make great traction control systems and it makes light off-roading easy. The A-Trac system is an EZ button that makes even the most inexperienced driver extremely capable in most light off road situations with just the stock set up. It's why it hasn't changed and is still relevant.

I'll never understand why so many 4wd vehicles have so much front-end trim so close to the ground. If you're heading out in snow, you risk damaging it. Love my 4R TRD Pro, nothing low to the ground.

Amazing demonstration! I learned a lot here. Thank you!

Glad you finally coordinated this video.

The 4th gen 4runner is the real unicorn of drivetrains. 2wd, awd, part time 4wd, AWD Lo, and part time 4lo. I don't know of any other vehicle that can do this. (And yes, full time 4wd is the same as AWD. But a clutch based 4 auto is not a true AWD system)

I am on my second 4Runner (5th gen trd off road) I have to say an sr5 4wd is all you need. Super budget build was 5100’s all the way around. 2.5 lift in the front and 1.5” lift with spacer in the rear. It retains the stock springs while beefing up the suspension. I installed Bridgestone revo 3’s in the stock size. Went on a road trip with 4 adults with all of our stuff including heavy ice chest. Handled on and off road like a champ! I know there are better systems out there but it was so good I thought “why”? Fast forward I have a trd off road with a 3/2 lift and 285’s from the dealer. Kdss is installed. They put spacers in. I plan on swapping out the stock shocks with 5100’s again.

We got my wife this exact GX blackline package and I have a 2021 4 runner limited. Both loving them and 100% reliability so far. That GX is a bargain compared to the competition, you'll pay the difference in gas though.. 😂

I've been trying to explain to my buddy what a locking torsen center diff does for for you vs 2WD->4WD->2WD, gonna send him this video, my Limited 4Runner has the same system as the Lexus and I'm convinced it's superior in the vast majority of road and trail conditions.

Every GX460 comes equipped with KDSS which improves slow-speed off-road articulation - and - on road stability. Only specific trim levels of the 4Runnner may be optioned with KDSS: Off-Road Premium for example. You can see the articulation difference in the Video.

I learned a lot. Thank you for making this video.

Another great video Tommy! 👍👍👍

I would love to see them test the different generations of 4Runners.

Gx460 owner chiming in. You ready to get your mind blown? If the traction in the GX wasn’t awesome enough ..I added MTS to mine from a company out of Boston, Ma called Blauparts. I believe they cater more towards VW Volvo etc. but for some reason they dabble in GX aftermarket too. Your freakin GX will go anywhere with center diff lock and MTS. It’s bonkers really how capable something is from the factory-ish. Cool review and an awesome channel. Great work guys, been so much fun watching it evolve over the years!

Legendary 4Runner can do it all. 💪👍🔥

Makes me curious about my pre-A-Trac 4x4 system in my '02 Sequoia. I've put it in 4Hi for snow/ice and gravel roads, but never really needed anything more than that. I know it does have 4Lo and a center locker, but I've never been in any situations that called for me to use it. It just laughs at me when I try to challenge it.

Great video as always!!! I would like to see the slip test done on a 4th gen 4runner limited the one with the center diff lock and select-able 4wd. I had a 2007 and was able to treat it just like it was awd and not 4wd in the winter then in the summer would just leave it on 2wd. Was a great feature wish the 4runner would have kept that in the new generations.

So I watched this whole video and I still do not know what the secret Toyota doesn't want me to know is!

This video highlights why I bought a 2013 in 2020. Better approach angle and better price. Then, I spend $650 and took 2.5 hours installing MTS and Crawl Control. It is a game changer and Ive taken this thing anywhere you can imagine including sand dunes.

The GX still has the typical luxury vehicle depreciation, so you can find less than 5 year old GX460s with fairly low miles for under 40k. IMHO buy a clean, used GX460, then install aftermarket off road bumpers and rock rails, and yes the GX460 actually has a decent aftermarket for off road stuff. A-TRAC just looks like a simplified version of MTS. MTS is also off road traction control, just with 5 settings instead of one.

Nice! Awesome slip test, that confirms my experience, I know full time 4WD term is often used, but this is how I would describe the difference between AWD, step up to 4WD, and the final step up to ATRAC, which is the Toyota e-lockers. On my GX, you go between the AWD and ATRAC with the center diff lock. The time you are 4WD without ATRAC is when you have emissions codes on your dash. Best to keep an OBDII handy in case you need to clear codes.

Enjoyed that but can you add a video showing the underbodies axle/differential layout and how the two systems physically/mechanically are differentiated?

Great vehicles. I have a new Land Cruiser prado and it is full time 4WD with low range and centre locker. You can drive in 4L with or without the locker making it easier to do sharp turns while still staying in 4L. Not having to change between 2H and 4H Is great, but it does drink more diesel being fulltime 4WD. Its nice to have a real mechanical locker not some pretend locker like a lot of cars have nowadays. Easy to know if you have a real mechanical locker or a false one. The car will judder and be difficult to turn sharp when on dry roads when the locker is engaged.

Love these vehicles. I have a 2011 4Runner limited. Same/similar system as the Lexus GX. It’s an incredible vehicle. Hauls the family comfortably everywhere. Great on road in winter. Great off-road when adventure calls. Tows my small 23ft camper just fine. Has plenty of power and decent mileage. It’s just so dang reliable. I’d be fine to drive this thing forever. And I just might. Go get you one if you haven’t already.

Great video but you’re wrong about 1 thing. The GX didn’t get its traction control and other aids from the lessons learned of the 4Runner and etc. Instead, they got it from the GX. The GX is after all, the Land Cruiser Prado. It doesn’t have an “A-Trac” button because it’s automatic on all GXs and works in 4-high as well. Not to mention the (standard on a GXs) KDSS was working wonders on the trail. The biggest difference between the GX and the 4Runner is that the GX can be had with absolutely all of the tools Toyota has (KDSS, center differential locks, full time 4WD, A-Trac, multi-terrain select, crawl control, and etc.) but no 4Runner can have all of it. Having all of it is what makes a Land Cruiser Prado (and GX) what they are. The 4Runner is truly amazing but it ain’t no Land Cruiser. The 4Runner will always be the little brother to the Land Cruiser (GX).

Awesome video! Thank you!

For the GX are you switching between gears before hitting the Center Differential lock, or keeping it in Drive?

You would have done the world a service if you showed inside how to change into these modes. Great video.

I was gonna buy a used 4Runner, but went with the cheaper option and got a GX. 😂 6spd auto and a V8, and a 3rd row if you need it

FWIW, the 4th gen 4runner V8 has the same Torsen center diff AWD system. So far I've never found a situation that ATRAC couldn't handle, up to the limits of traction. One mistake people often make with it though, is not maintaining steady throttle. It just needs a few moments to understand what's going on before it is fully active. If you let off the throttle, it has to start over.

You're the best Tommy.

I absolutely love both of these trucks. I shopped both (last year) on the used market, and found GX’s to be the better value (actually cheaper after some years/miles). I ended up with a ‘13, partly due to the better angles (bumpers aren’t as low). With no mods, it’s done an amazing job off-road. I will add the multi-terrain module at some point, but don’t really need it. I feel like you can’t go wrong with either vehicle (assuming 4wd capability is on your priority list).

I have one of the rare full time 4WD Tahoes with 4 Lo option on my 2005 Tahoe. It is amazing in the snow. It’s the Borg Warner 4482. It has full time 4WD (60:40 split) and the 4 Lo button that allows the center diff to lock it to 50:50 torque split. But it has no 2WD option. Sometimes I wish I had the standard transfer case. But, it’s a very unique setup for sure. It’s a similar transfer case to the Borg Warner in the Hummers (BW4484) but mine lacks the 4 Hi (locked center diff) option.

The GX will be the next group of vehicles that get mods. I’ve put a lift on mine and bigger tires and it’s sufficient on everything off road I would care to do. Sure in stock form it’s not for the clearance of a 4 runner, but new aftermarket springs and adjustable shocks and more aggressive tires make a huge difference and easy on the budget.

I rented a 2010 prado turbodiesel for a couple weeks around 2010. I own a 2022 4runner. I used to drive a 2000 diesel hilux with IFS . The 4 runner reminds me of the hilux more than the prado. Prado from memory was more aloof 4 runner is way better for cargo. I had rav4s at the time i drove the prado and the rav4 could carry as much cargo.

Gx in that green color is so beautiful!

two of my favorite classic

Toyota and Lexus never disappoint when it comes to off-road adventures. 🤩

Curious on how the 4th gen 4runner v8 will hold up on your test...

Both very capable vehicles. Have you done a review on a Lexux Rx 350 F sport?

16:00 I learned what the GX platform can do off road with our 2008 GX 470. That’s why we also bought a 2019 GX 460;with 23,000 miles a year ago. Both wonderful vehicles in all sorts of mud, rain, snow or any combination of all 3. Also real world MPG of 18-19

Crazy thing is if you look at like a 2018, both the 4Runner and GX are practically the same price now used. Hard to pass on the little extra luxury when it is almost priced like a base SR5.

Well done !

Wouldn't a limited slip rear diff help either one of those two?? I imagine that with limited slip and A-TRAC it would mimic a rear locker much closer than just a-trac.

Excellent video! Last year drove a rental 4Runner at Vail on an icy round about in 4WD. Got her sideways but no real issues. Drove my 2020 Subey WRX with 6M on winters at Jay Peak VT this year during a snow storm up a 12% grade, and got her a bit sideways on the downhill. On the road you want be in a WRX, and sadly I can't own both

Hi @tflcar, just a correction. The center diff is not an open one, but a limited slip one. So it multiplies the torque available on the axle with the least traction by a factor, something like 3x for example. So if the traction on the axle is 0, multiply by 3, it’s still zero. In reality that’s never the case in the real world, so you always have some traction going to both axles.

My GX eats heavy snow conditions. I have some A/T tires on it. You don't need to lock anything.

Hi😀 great comparison, very interesting. Greetings from Poland👍👍😀😀

My thoughts after owning a 2008 GX470, 2017 4runner TRD OR, and 2014 GX460. Of the three, my son and I prefer the GX470 overall. The 2017 4runner is a TRD OR model that is non-KDSS. I mostly run moderate trails in it, but I've done 2-3 difficult trails out in Colorado. The lack of KDSS never slowed me down and I had no issues. What I do notice is that the lack of KDSS makes the vehicle a little more loose in the turns, but nothing scary in my opinion. The GX460 has KDSS, and a 5in lift with 33" tires, diff drop etc. I like the comfort of the interior. but hate that the AC controls are touch screen. The GX460 feels VERY wide compared to the 4runner. On Alabama tight woods trails it does not give a feeling of confidence as the vehicle just feels much bigger. The 4.6 V8 is also a little dissapointing compared to the GX470. The throttle response is disconnected and there just doesnt seem to be much torque for a V8 (maybe it's the weight of the vehicle that also hampers it). Now the GX470 seems to have the best engine as far as HP and torque. It also feels much smaller on the trails while still being just as comfortable as the 5th gen 4runner. The GX470 that we had was non-KDSS and seemd to float a little in turns until we upgraded it to an Eibach Pro lift kit. The ride after that was night and day, and again we did not have issues on trails and there was no missing the KDSS. The KDSS in my opinion is great for a vehicle that will mostly be on the road 90%, and where a high lift is not desired. Once you swap out the factory struts and shocks you really do not need KDSS and the extra expense that it brings to lifting the vehicle. There is a myth that the KDSS systems are bullit proof and never never have issues, that is not true. My son is a Toyota technician, and they have to fix KDSS systems that fail, not that they fail often, but it does happen sometimes. Therefore I prefer to just not have one more system to have to worry about or even think about when modifying the vehicle. One more thing, the 5th gen 4runner has the best aftermarket support, to some that is a big plus. Both the 470 and 460 are limited in aftermarket front and rear bumper selections. We are having a custom one made for the 460 because we really did not like the ones on the market and the selection was slim. Hope this helps someone decide on a route or vehicle to purchase.

The center diff on the gx is a limited slip. It’s not open. My 2010 gx with 140000 will get 22 on the highway.

Will be interesting to see the new GX unveiled soon. Had a 2013 GX for a few years and that thing was unstoppable here in Colorado.

I'd be interested in seeing a slip test on the 4A mode on the F150 and GM 1500 trucks.

A lot of people dont know that even the 2WD 4Runners have this advanced traction control system (called AUTO LSD) acting essentially as a rear locker

Can you compare a Trd off road to a base sr5 off road. Basically atrac compared to rear locker and crawl control.

Would these setting be true for the 2018 Sequoia Platinum?

Surprised TFL has not given any love to the king of 4runners the 4th gen V8! 7500lb tow rating is worth talking about .

Keep the GX460 videos coming!

Agree with everything said here except the price. A Sr5 with cloth seats new is more like 46K, and if you get some of the small upgrades like led interior lights, and phone charger package your at 47,500. This atleast is the price before dealer mark ups in North Carolina. I wish it was high 30s, even the 2 wheel drive base is 42900.

I would have added a summery of the differences at the end

Great video! I haven't seen your videos in awhile and I thought :" Geeze Roman's lost a lot of weight!"

You can also add MTS and Crawl Control to the GX, it's really cheap compared to lockers, and works pretty good!

I wonder what the Australians think about the off-road capability of the Toyota vehicles offered in the USDM.

I'd like to see a sample/control vehicle from the 80's or 90's on the off road tests. Something in stock form. 1985 Toyota 4x4 pickup, 1990 something S10 with manual engaged 4 Low. It looks like modern 4x4's are just a maintenance liability and takes forever for the system to work, is this true? I had seen your guys video with the Tourag. How do these modern 4x4's test to it?

I’d love to see a comparison between Jeep Commander v8 vs Lexus GX 470 … for overlanding 🙏🏻

Love me some gx460. Do you guys think it's going to be to much for my wife's daily and occasional SxS tow? Or would you rather opt for cute ute and a pickup for towing?

Great video. Please take the 4Runner sr5 with ATRAC on through the tougher trails!

6:51 it kinda looks like the tired drifted to the edge of the rollers and got traction on the frame of those rollers, great break down though

It does not engage the front axel, it engages/locks the centre differential

That's why I bought the 2023 4Runner Limited AWD, the best of both world, GX 4WD technology at a price of a 4Runner! I average 19MPG after 10,000 miles.

Be careful locking that center differential on the GX if you are driving at any significant speed on ice or slippery snow. Generally speaking, you are ok if you break traction with two wheels. But when you only have one wheel with traction, that can be bad.

On the GX A-TRAC automatically activated when 4 lo is engaged

Then what's the point of awd on gx? if everytime you need to get out of trouble you need that center locker?

The GX also comes with 2nd start standard.

Made me love the GX even more

You need the locker when spinning up loose stuff. If the terrain is grippy, TC is enough to keep your rolling with a wheel or 2 off the ground. Toyota does it well.

Good thing you got this out before the new GX appears next month 😉

The manual FJ cruisers have a pretty good set up too.