Has Anyone Bought an Off-Road and regretted not getting the Premium?

[Jay Dee]

We test drove a Sport that had a bigger screen and didn't like it - it was just too big for us. And we specifically didn't want a sunroof. One thing we weren't sure about was if the non-premium had heated seats and wheel, which we definitely wanted. But eventually figured out it does - just not the ventilated ones... So, we oped for the non-premium and 6 months into it, are definitely happy with the choice.

The only thing we do miss is the power liftgate. But not enough to make it worth a $5k upgrade... Also not enough to go with an aftermarket kit. Maybe down the road if some better options pop up, but not with any of the current options.

I'd actually be happy with just figuring out a solution to add a grab handle/strap like the 5th gen had. But haven't come up with (or found) anything yet.

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[CUaaron25]

I bought an SR5 and am super happy I didn’t buy an off road!

 

[4funner]

I bought an SR5 and am super happy I didn’t buy an off road!

I thought about SR5 when I got my off road. Sr5 really is the best value. But I really like the everest color and wanted heated seats. I also am also happy with the tires and wheels on my off road and didnt like sr5 wheels/ tires, so all together for me it was (barely) worth the 5k-6k upcharge over sr5.

 

[Mr. Wolfe]

I bought an SR5 and am super happy I didn’t buy an off road!

Because of the savings or some other reason?

Mr. Wolfe

 

[Mr. Wolfe]

I thought about SR5 when I got my off road. Sr5 really is the best value. But I really like the everest color and wanted heated seats. I also am also happy with the tires and wheels on my off road and didnt like sr5 wheels/ tires, so all together for me it was (barely) worth the 5k-6k upcharge over sr5.

Everest is also a deal-breaker for me so that automatically takes me to the Off-Road spec.

Mr. Wolfe

 

[mlefevre]

I bought an ORP and have no regrets if that's helpful. I really wanted the added features including the sun roof. You may be able to build it similarly for less, but I knew I wouldn't have spent the added money afterwards.

 

[Dougp1313]

Went with Off Road over Off Road Premium and haven't looked back. The $6K difference for ventilated seats I'd put seat covers on, motorized seats and more cameras just wasn't worth it for me. I drove an ORP at the dealer and found the larger screen was in the way. I appreciate the smaller screen. I do have heated seats that work through the seat covers and a heated steering wheel. (That one was a bit of a surprise)

Keep in mind I was coming from a 2013 Jeep Wrangler JKU Sport that I built up. I was shifting gears and manually cranking windows. No "infotainment" screen. Literally the only thing automatic on her was the turn signal cancellation after a turn.

I'm VERY pleased with my Off Road and impressed with the Toyota brand overall.

 

[bird]

I was debating between SR5 and ORP. The price delta was huge of course, but I felt if I bought the SR5 (which isn’t cheap anyway) then I would wish I had spent extra for the ORP features.

The first thing that stood out to me in the SR5 is the giant plastic trim around the screen to constantly remind you that you are in the base model and could have had a bigger, better screen. Probably wouldn’t matter as you get used to it after a few days of ownership, but it stood out to me at the dealer.

Like you said it’s all creature comforts, none of it is necessary, but if you keep the car a long while, the cost over time will average out, and they all add up to the cabin being a nice place to spend time in.

I am glad I got the ORP when it’s 90+ degrees and I crank up the seat vents, or using the heated steering wheel in cold weather. Is that worth an extra 5-8k? Probably not, but I wouldn’t downgrade to a non-premium if you offered me a trade in plus the extra cash for the premium.

Feedback aside IMO, the answer to this should depend entirely on your personal financials and how much you feel comfortable spending. We all have different cost math. You won’t enjoy the ORP as much if you spend outside of your limits to buy it.

 

[page09]

I choose the TRD OP mainly because of the seat ( heated and ventilated) power seat is so much easier to adjust and with memory settings. Power lift gate that you can adjust to a certain level. I love the BIG screen infotainment. Here’s what I observed from other owners that doesn’t have the premium; some of them changed the smaller screen to a bigger one and cost like about $1k. Cover the seats to a leather, that’s another $$$. I think paying extra for the Premium is totally worth in IMO.

 

[powder]

I felt like I got a deal on a new OR at $47k. The screens in both are obnoxious, I keep my little one turned off. Heated seats and wheel, once the dog ruins the cloth I’ll get a real leather interior from katzkin not Toyota vegan friendly leather. I like sunroofs but definitely didn’t want to pay the premium for it this time. No regrets.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Yep! I have bought a car in the past that was the Bare Bones SR5 3rd generation. And nothing has changed with the 6th gen! Shocks are crap! Infotainment system is so small you can't even see it if you're doing any off-road mapping or navigating.
The seats are in ventilated and are cloth, which get dirty very easily.
Little things like rear Locker are not present.

And really there is quite a few other things that the premium has..

I see people upgrading parts to the premium level! And we're talking thousands of dollars.

In the old old days getting an air conditioner was an option, and you would hear these people constantly saying oh that's going to wreck my gas mileage. Only to have vinyl seats and be soaking wet when they got out of their cars.

My two cents on this is cars are luxuries, just step up to what you can afford sometimes if you bend a little bit and spend the extra you will be happier down the road.

But again this is just my two cents for my own life's experiences. Party on!

 

[Denver448]

I was 100% positive I wanted the ORP (and probably still do), but I am starting to weigh the $6k difference. I do like the idea of the larger screen so I would have to buy aftermarket there. I don't love the seats so I would buy seat covers (probably would on either trim). I will be upgrading the suspension and wheels on either model (already have the 18" TRD Pro wheels). I would have to buy an aftermarket automatic liftgate - not a huge priority. All the little things kind of bother me though such as the lack of heated/ventilated seats, larger screen as mentioned, just less creature comforts. Anyone have this struggle?

Mr. Wolfe

Or you can just go get everything and get a trailhunter

 

[oregonalex]

I do like leather ...

Bc of that screen and leather seating.

I thought ORP did not have real leather seats. Just plastic imitation. Limited has real leather seats. Or am I mistaken?

 

[4funner]

I was debating between SR5 and ORP. The price delta was huge of course, but I felt if I bought the SR5 (which isn’t cheap anyway) then I would wish I had spent extra for the ORP features.

The first thing that stood out to me in the SR5 is the giant plastic trim around the screen to constantly remind you that you are in the base model and could have had a bigger, better screen. Probably wouldn’t matter as you get used to it after a few days of ownership, but it stood out to me at the dealer.

Like you said it’s all creature comforts, none of it is necessary, but if you keep the car a long while, the cost over time will average out, and they all add up to the cabin being a nice place to spend time in.

I am glad I got the ORP when it’s 90+ degrees and I crank up the seat vents, or using the heated steering wheel in cold weather. Is that worth an extra 5-8k? Probably not, but I wouldn’t downgrade to a non-premium if you offered me a trade in plus the extra cash for the premium.

Feedback aside IMO, the answer to this should depend entirely on your personal financials and how much you feel comfortable spending. We all have different cost math. You won’t enjoy the ORP as much if you spend outside of your limits to buy it.

All good points. But one thing, it is not 5-8k from sr5 to orp. When shopping I found sr5 for 43k and the cheapest orp i found was 56k. Thats $13,000. But I agree everyone should get what they like and can comfortably afford! I bought an Off-Road road because for me it was worth 6k over the sr5.

 

[bakutheleo]

Originally I did not plan to get the ORP (just the OR) but after I thought about it, I decided the features were worthwhile. Expensive, but then I do not buy many cars so this will last a long time. I did get a moon roof, which I probably would have opted out of (to save the $) but did not mind it...and since I have it I do use it on occasion and it can be really nice. I *really* like the cooled seats when it is hot...have not needed heated (I am in Southern CA and have not traveled with it to somewhere cold) but will probably like it when I do use it. A friend told me that once he has heated seats he would never get a vehicle without.

Personally I really like the larger screen, especially for navigation. Probably easier to stab options with my finger too (it is over my wife's tiny screen on her RAV4). I do like not having cloth seats in many ways.

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