Tacoma Owner's experience in a 2019 4Runner | Millimeter Recall

I owned two 4Runners before owning the Tacoma. They are not comparable. They were designed for a different demographic and let's face it... one is set up to haul people and the other is set up to haul stuff. I have a Tundra now and it is not comparable to a Tacoma. They both have a bed and that's about as far as you can go.

People compare things all the time that shouldn't be compared. The 4Runner and Tacoma are just one example.

 

Be careful what you wish for! Sure the 4 Runner could use a refresh, I just hope they don't put our Tacoma drivetrain in it.

 

Well if anyone from Corporate ever stumbled upon this forum, they would immediately know better than to do that haha!

 

Daria, your's sounds like the 4Runner I'd like to add to my collection!

 

Our Forester was built in Japan too, not impressed.

 

@hiPSI What made you switch to the Tundra? My father just upgraded his 2011 SR5 4.6 w/ tow package to a 2019 SR5 5.7 Offroad with Tow package. He was pissed you cannot get the tow with the 4.6 any longer, but still likes his new truck. The Tundra seems stuck in the 90's like the 4R and Nissan, but it is a great truck.

 

My dad tows a travel trailer with his '07 5.7 and while the mileage sucks (46g tank) the thing is reliable as a hammer.

 

I got a 2016 4-Runner loaner for a few days once, when my Jeep Wrangler was getting some warranty work. I was not impressed: the ride and handling felt outdated compared to the Jeep’s, as did much of the interior; and the engine sucked tons of gas.

My 2019 Tacoma drives and rides like a pickup truck, because that’s what is is. That 4-Runner didn’t even have that as an excuse.

 

My RC used to nose dive on stock suspension.

 

I got a 2019 4runner and 2016 Tacoma. I love both, but truth be told I like my 4runner a little bit better. The engine and tranny don’t bother me at all in my Tacoma but the 4Runner going up the hills is slower to me. If I didn’t need a bed for surfing and fishing, I would have two 4runners. I hate the power seats in the 4runner cause it takes longer to adjust it because it’s my wife’s most and it’s our family vehicle when I drive it. Power seats are over rated

 

Our new test trailer weighs 8K. I use my truck both for work and play.

 

Updated main post. Will make another update after my weekend trip in the Tacoma. Will sort of miss the 4Runner. But happy to have my truck back!

 

Updated main post regarding the brakes and the Millimeter Recall.

At first, when I brought in my truck, the mechanics got a letter from Toyota stating "Do not service any Tacoma that has a grill installed that wasn't offered originally from Stock". But then, the day before I picked up the truck, they got another letter that said you can, but.... etc. I attached that waiver form.

 

Can someone explain to me exactly what "tech" the Tacoma has that the 4runner doesn't? Except for some of the fancy lane-departure stuff, what exactly do you find lacking in the 4runner? 4runner has bluetooth, nav, JBL audio, backup camera, optional heated seats. In fact, the 4runner has power-adjustable seats and rear vents for the passengers in the back, which the Tacoma has been lacking until just recently. So I'm not understanding why Tacoma owners are complaining that the 4runner feels "outdated."

The 4runner's 4.0l v6 is old, but if you can't get better than 16 mpg out of it, you don't know how to drive it. 20-22mpg highway is achievable if you keep your foot out of the throttle. Neither the Tacoma's 3.5l v6 nor the competitors' v6's are much better, if we're being honest with ourselves.

Body roll? Yes, just about every body-on-frame 4x4 with decent ground clearance has body roll. That shouldn't be a surprise to anyone here.

Is the 4runner an old platform? Yes. But it's also very well built and very proven (based on the LC Prado chassis). The higher-level trims are still more comfortable and higher quality than the higher trim levels offered by the Tacoma. Another gear or two would be nice...outside of that I don't think the 4runner needs much of anything in the way of "improvements." For as dated as the 4.0l v6 is, I'd certainly take that engine over a 3.5l v6...the former's low-end torque is better IMHO.

 

"The 4runner's 4.0l v6 is old, but if you can't get better than 16 mpg out of it, you don't know how to drive it. 20-22mpg highway is achievable if you keep your foot out of the throttle. Neither the Tacoma's 3.5l v6 nor the competitors' v6's are much better, if we're being honest with ourselves."

Body roll? Yes, just about every body-on-frame 4x4 with decent ground clearance has body roll. That shouldn't be a surprise to anyone here.[/QUOTE]

Atley, I honestly quite liked the 4Runner during the 5 days I had it. Many good features in it. And it's built like a tank. But in my particular case, if I were to buy a new one, I would wait for the 2020 version. Just because something is already good, it doesn't mean that Toyota cannot make it better. That's why we mention the things like the relatively smaller display, the older speedometer cluster, the safety features..etc. When it gets those updates in 2020 (This October), it'll be a beast.

 

"The 4runner's 4.0l v6 is old, but if you can't get better than 16 mpg out of it, you don't know how to drive it. 20-22mpg highway is achievable if you keep your foot out of the throttle. Neither the Tacoma's 3.5l v6 nor the competitors' v6's are much better, if we're being honest with ourselves."

Body roll? Yes, just about every body-on-frame 4x4 with decent ground clearance has body roll. That shouldn't be a surprise to anyone here/"

Atley, I honestly quite liked the 4Runner during the 5 days I had it. Many good features in it. And it's built like a tank. But in my particular case, if I were to buy a new one, I would wait for the 2020 version. Just because something is already good, it doesn't mean that Toyota cannot make it better. That's why we mention the things like the relatively smaller display, the older speedometer cluster, the safety features..etc. When it gets those updates in 2020 (This October), it'll be a beast.

 

20 22 mpg on a good day is ultra low when you look at the competition.
Go sit in a honda, then go sit in the 4runner. The tech features and interior are crazy old. I love the 4runner but its not even close to modern.

just having some modern tech doesnt make it modern. Hopping in a 4runner feels like youre getting in a truck from 1996.


The new rav4s interior however shows promise, and once the 4runner get that its gonna be real slick.

 

Like I said, to me it is less about comparing one against each other. Tacoma feels and drives fine for a midsize pickup; 4Runner looks and feels behind the times for an SUV.

Toyota sold 139,000 4Runners last year. Clearly, there’s a market for a solid, proven, if outdated SUV. The question really is how many would it sell if Toyota put a modern motor and transmission, and a more attractive face on it?

PS - I believe Toyota secretly wants to minimize competition for Highlander, so it is content leaving 4Runner as is.

 

Again, I see vague references to the 4runner being "outdated" but no specifics about what can and should be improved.

The 4runner is not cross-shopped with the Honda ridgeline, which isn't a real truck anyhow. It's foolish to expect a body-on-frame SUV to ride and handle like a unibody crossover.

I've driven the 3rd gen Tacoma and 5th gen 4runner back-to-back; the 4runner has a more comfortable ride, not by a wide margin mind you, bit its noticeable enough (likely due to the 4 corner coil springs). The interior on the refreshed models is well-made, comfortable and has just about as much tech and features as does the modern Tacoma, or some cases it has better interior features. The cabin comfort is slightly worse for the Tacoma, mostly due to the high-reving and loud nature of the Tacoma's 3.5l v6. Again, nothing groundbreaking, but the difference is perceptible to someone who has driven a lot in both vehicles.

All in all, the 4runner is a somewhat better built vehicle, which you would expect of a vehicle coming from Japan using the LC Prado chassis. Doesn't mean the Tacoma is crap by comparison. If you're going to complain about the 4runner's interior and comfort but then daily drive a leaf-sprung Tacoma with pretty much all the same interior tech and features, I question your objectivity on the matter.

The only thing the 4runner is truly 'lacking' is another gear or two in its transmission. The engine works well enough; no need to change it up for the sake of another mpg or two.