Tacoma Baja Edition vs. 4runner Trail Edition

I know this is a Tacoma board, but I would like everyone's honest feedback.... I am original owner of a 1999 black Tacoma TRD extended cab 4x4, v6, and will Be keeping for as long as possible. So my heart is all Taco! And always will be.

Here is my dilemma. I now have a family of four (wife and 2 kids) and we cannot all fit in the Taco. I am looking for a Toyota to carry all four up into mountains etc for wilderness adventures. Not extreme rock crawling, just to get up into the mountains or out in the desert to camp/explore comfortably. Will also be my DD, so comfort around town is important too. Something that the wife is just as comfortable driving that I will be.

Narrowed down to two options:
--Toyota Tacoma Baja double cab black
--Toyota 4runner Trail Edition (color TBD)

They are approximately the same price with options, etc, so cost is not a factor. I want an out of the box vehicle and don't want to wrench (please, no hi jacking this thread into a 'you can buy a taco and build yourself cheaper and more capable' conversation. I agree.)

Please provide pros and cons of the two choices above, and vote for which would be best for a family of four to travel comfortably as a daily driver, on the highway, or off road.

As mentioned earlier, please set aside any Tacoma bias and provide your insights.... Thank you.

 

T4R TE

 

More room in the 4 runner for rear passenger room over the double cab(having one myself). I'd love I have a trail teams 4 runner just don't have the money and enjoy having the bed. That being said I think the trail teams and a small utility trailer would suit you and your family best.

 

I was in your shoes when deciding on a purchase of either a 4Runner, FJ or Tacoma. I have 2 kids as well and I ended going with the Tacoma, mostly because my wife already has a SUV (Honda Pilot) that we primarily use as the family car. So I guess it would depend on what other type of car you have in the family, what does your wife drive? In my opinion, if your looking for a primary family rig then I'd say go with the 4Runner, otherwise if you just need something for the occasional weekend outing with the family and a dd then I'd go with the Tacoma. Hope this helps!

Good Luck!!!

 

I'd go with a truck, especially if there's a second vehicle. More space to pack things, more fun for camping, and you can stick the kids in the back on trails.

 

4runner is the clear winner here, looks great drives great handles on and off road driving no problem and haw plenty of room.. Besides you still have your old Tacoma if you need to use a truck

 

Wife has a 2006 Honda Pilot 4x4 that is paid off. Vehicle would be my daily driver. Good question and feedback.

 

Nice, my wife has a 07 Pilot that we paid off last summer and it's been nice without that payment! My Tacoma is my dd and I don't regret my decision, it just didn't make sense to me to have 2 SUV's in the family so in this case I'd say go with the Baja

 

I have a TRD OR DCSB and love it, and would buy another one in an instant, was looking at a TRD BAJA this weekend. But for my wife, she has a CR-V AWD and if I was going to get her another SUV I would suggest the T4R TE or an older T4R Sport V8, and I would steal it from her all the time. It is a hard choice, really comes down to how you plan to use it.

 

The 4 runner is a great vehicle. The front seats are the same ones in the FJ Cruiser, and both front an rear seats are of the water resistant variety, so with kids, you don't have to worry much about spills, unless you use seat covers. The uphill and downhill assist buttons also allow for adjustment of the speed. I would have gotten one, but the wife likes the Taco's seats alot more. Also, at about 5 grand more, the 4 Runner payments would have been too much for our budget to handle.

 

The 4Runner is a better value. Some equipment like crawl control and KDSS automatic swaybar disconnect would be difficult to add aftermarket.

 

The 4 runner will be a better family vehicle, and will be just as trail friendly as a stock Tacoma, also it will get better fuel economy.

 

4Runner TE hands down. If you get the KDSS it rides awesome on road, not as bouncy.

 

4Runner has better factory options for your entire family. Things like moon roof, leather, etc. are all things the Mrs. will love and you can enjoy too. Plus, the access to the back and the slide down rear window are great. If you plan on hauling stuff in your bed, that's another story...

 

I missed the part about keeping your taco. Get the runner.

 

4Runner= More Room, More Power, Better MPG.

 

You cannot compare the two, one is a SUV other a pickup. Depends on your needs, if you haul stuff in your bed - double cab pickup is more practical definitely.

 

trail teams 4runner is a badass rig. IIRC toyota took two of them through a pretty rugged off road trail stock to prove their capability off the showroom floor. ill try to find the article.

 

I would buy the Tacoma and add a soft topper to keep your gear clean and dry. I had a 2010 4-Runner 4x4 that was loaded with leather etc. The 4-Runner dives very hard during normal braking and wanders quite a bit on the highway. I added BFG ATs and it helped the ride but overall I wasnt too impressed with the truck. The acceleration does not come on very smooth with the 4-Runner either. I agree with the 4-Runner getting better fuel mileage but.... my 2012 Tacoma gets 20mpg on the highway and averages 18 in the city with 265/75R16 BFG All Terrains.

I do miss the space since I bought another 4 door taco to replace the 4-Runner. I have a family as well and I had to I buy a tonneau cover to keep the stroller, etc dry for normal DD duty. Overall, I am much happier being in a Tacoma again.

 

here it is, this is awesome, but it needs some armor! haha, still did an awesome job for a stock rig, and prob better than the broha could do although we dont have an article of the broha doing anything like this...


http://www.fourwheeler.com/roadtests/129_0912_2010_toyota_4runner_review_rubicon_trail/index.html