Anyone leave a 5th gen 4Runner for a 3rd gen Tacoma?

Ive always been a big fan of the 4runner, but the highlander is more equipped and less money. Seems like Toyota knows they have fish on the hook.

 

but the Highlander doesn't look bad ass like a nice T4R...

 

New one is alittle more beefy looking. 4runner still the offroader choice. Less to tech to break I get it.

 

The corolla actually has really big rear seats

 

The Highlander is the grocery getter/station wagon. The 4runner is the last of the offroad SUVs

 

Touche....

Alright..ait ait ait ait ait ait...who is hotter?

The chicks that drive 4runners, or the cougars that roll Highlanders?

 

I'll Give you my answer. My Wife initially bought our 2016 Tacoma and drove it for a year and a half and loved the truck. Then she started seeing 4runners on the road. One day she brought it up when we were driving home. I told her lets stop by and pick up our camry on our way to the dealer. Done and Done. she took it for a test drive and was like "I want it". Great excuse to get rid of the camry.

Her words.

1. Handles better than the tacoma and feels more stable/planted on the road.
2. smoother engine
3. way more room up front and no longer feels cramped.
4. plenty of room in the back seat.
5. a hatch to put stuff in.
6. all the controls are where it makes sense to her.

In a nutshell she likes the layout of the 4runner and refuses to drive the tacoma period.

It's not a chick car. But it has more shit women like about it. I like it also. Told her when she gets tired of it we will trade in my first release 2016 tacoma with 20k miles on it for whatever she wants. My guess is it will probably be a tundra.

 

Both I and my wife looked at a highlander before test driving the 4runner.

Highlander = Sienna with a 3 inch lift LOL!

 

I did exactly this. Bought my wife a 2015 4Runner, premium etc with 3rd seat (which is very cool design btw) added some meatier tires and TRD wheels. No lift. I freakin hated how damn gutless it was. I had to drop down to 3rd gear to get over the Grapevine on I5, which is my test for all vehicles. Others can comment on the 4.0, gearing, torque blah blah. Horrible mpg on hwy, as it needs a taller gear
I much prefer the 18’ Sport DCSB Auto I just picked up last month. Motors more refined, better mpg, rides bouncy but that will be fixed down the road.
Biggest complaint? No remote start(cuz Toyotas a bunch of a-holes; fixing tomorrow with the unit sold here by a vendir) and no heated seats. Come on! Subarus been doing this with cloth seats forever!
Did love those Tech/ vinyl whatever seat covering in 4 runner. Very nice and heated. Otherwise i prefer cloth.
I was stopped at a gas station by an older gentleman a few days back who stated “watch your transmission” which I felt weird about as soon as I bought it. He had warranty replacement on his 17 sport already. Tranny shifts up perfectly, but seems off/jolty on downshifts.
I havent checked forum on that issue tho.
My wife LOVED the 4runner tho. So what the hell do I know? Im picky...
Good luck
P.s. best Toyota I ever owned ( owned 3 tacos, 15 T4R, Sequoia, and one that will not be named) was the ‘03 Sequoia. Fantastic and would buy another and fix it up but wife wont let me. Still pissed I sold it!

 

That's true, I have a 16 taco, and I drive with my seat all the way back, not much room for someone to sit, I just pull it forward and deal with it. That said, I raised two boys in a 2001 and we managed and did fine, even when they were both
over 6' lol........

 

Agree with this. Went to the Toyota dealer a few months ago fully planning on getting a '19 4Runner. Love the way they look and the functionality of the back seats and the cargo area, engine/OR capability, so far so good!

Hopped into the drivers seat and was surprised to see an outdated Hugh Jass center console, relatively small info screen, window control placed up on sill (my arm goes on the armrest), etc. Tried to get over it but just couldn't and my intuition was screaming "deal killer"! Drove fine but the new Tacoma just seemed so much more intuitive from a driver control and information perspective. Kinda bummed but ending up saving $5K+ by going with a Tacoma OR. Sure Toyota will sell plenty of new 4Runners but IMO an updated driver area would sell a lot more. Have another vehicle to use when needing passenger space.

Definitely not counting out a 4R for the future but it will have to wait for now.

 

no issues. they havebeen TSB'd

 

If they weren't so damn expensive I would have went T4R instead of Tacoma, but I'm still happy in my truck.

 

As numerous posters already pointed out the pros and cons for both trucks. I personally own both and went back/forth myself. Both trucks looks equally beautiful all around. The OP has to be realistic and ask oneself; what cant I do in the 4runner and can I live with it? what can the Tacoma offer me and my usage that the 4runner can not?

 

Great color on both sir

BTW it's best when you own both! best of both worlds

 

Both beautiful trucks. I’m jealous. My only gripe is the photos would be more descriptive if it was the 4Runner suckin’ from the ol’ pump.

 

What do you get with your Runner?

 

Remember we drive flying bricks

 

Women just don't care about the informational display. Ask me how I know.