Tacoma vs 4Runner in my shoes

First time post here. Made a similar post on 4runners.com. Tacoma to 4runner converts.
The question has been asked a million times. What’s better Tacoma vs 4runner? Sounds like a handful of converts Tacoma to 4Runner did so because of gearing issues. But... I’m asking a more specific question if you were in my shoes.

Quick background on me. Just sold my 2000 XJ lifted on 37s, Dana 60 rear, the whole 9. Wife hated the ride and suggested a Toyota. Much better reliability and more comfy.

My wife has a 2016 Subaru Outback she uses as a DD not modded at all. We could easily use this car for trips to Grand Canyon, camping etc. We are actually on a Zion trip right now.

I’m looking for a fun more reliable replacement for my Jeep. Tacoma TRD Sport manual or 4Runner TRD Off Road are my considerations. For starters let me emphasize if I go Tacoma, it will have Nitro 4.88 gear swap and be a manual. No gear hunting or loss of power to worry about. I don’t need a pick up but have had an SUV 18 out of the last 20 years. I thought a pickup might be nice new territory to enter.

Either would be set up with a 2.5” coilovers lift on 285s for occasional trips to Home Depot, a day up in Big Bear or out to Joshua Tree.

2 questions, is it redundant adding a 4Runner to the family already having an Outback? What would you purchase?

 

Go 4Runner. If you don’t need the bed, and can afford it, I feel like it is a much better vehicle. Love my tacoma, but I bought it because I use the bed and couldn’t afford a 4 runner

 

How long do you plan to keep it for? If it’s a couple of years try out the truck and you’ll probably love it. If it’s for the long haul, sounds like you’re more a 4Runner guy even though there’s a lot of functional overlap between that and the Outback.

 

Had both. 4Runner is much nicer except for that whole no bed thing.

If you use a bed, stick with a truck. If you don’t, 4Runner is a great rig. It isn’t a truck though, and dirty shit goes on carpet or against interior plastics and seat backs.

 

Ideally this would be my last truck purchase. Had my GMC Yukon for 14 years when it was totaled.

I do like the things I’ve heard about the 4Runner. Nobody really seems to say anything bad about them. I’m a fan of the Access cab Taco and 4Runner body styles. Looks, Taco > 4Runner. Functionality 4Runner plus utility trailer > Taco.

Her Outback sees about 25K miles per year. So she won’t have it forever but should last a long awhile.

 

I have both, 14' 4Runner used to be my daily now is my wife's and I got a tacoma last year. Like most people said, if you don't need the bed, 4runner is def the better choice, it can do anything the tacoma can do with more room for the family if they want to ride in the 4runner instead of your outback.

 

Sounds like the 4Runner will make your wife happy.

 

It's simple the 4runner is a better vehicle but if you need a bed get the tacoma . I have a 2nd gen taco and a 4runner pro best of both worlds

 

what year outback do you have? I bought my ex wife a 2014 3.6R special appearance package. It is literally the last of the most reliable drivetrains Subaru has ever made. Dino oil all across and an easy 300k+ miles. I’ve had 4 Subaru’s now and sadly they seem to be great until they add their turbo

 

It's not a linear answer. The correct question is if it fits your daily needs or not.

I love T4R's. I have cruised thousands of miles with them as our group mainly consists of them ( 2 tacos, 1 f150, 3 t4r ) and have driven as many miles myself, unwillingly of course lol jk.

I love how it's essentially like how a hard top would be on a taco. The benefit is that the T4R is air conditioned, has much better visibility and has a functional defrosting system.

I still prefer a Tacoma as my day to day duties are inclusive of me being able to transport items. I also rarely have passengers but have always preferred a smaller passenger vehicle. My hobbies also require some towing capacity

At the end of the day either vehicle will grow on you. I never liked my Tacoma until recently. I can tell you that it will be much more reliable than a Jeep. I've worked on many of those, very interesting engineering.

 

I'm in complete opposite position of you, trading in my 2019 SRS Prem for a Tacoma Off Road. I guess I had open bed envy coming from a 2015 Colorado Z71. Still awaiting delivery but looking forward to a truck again. The 4R ride is not the best, and it's sloooow. I had takeoff TRD Pro Bilstein's up front, that took some of the nose dive away under braking. Plenty of room on the inside.
I hope you test drive all options to be sure what you go with is really what you want! Good luck!

 

It’s a 2016 2.5L. 60k on the odometer. Not a hiccup except for a premature dead battery (not a Subaru issue obviously).

 

Solid motor. CVT’s like to act up around 100k (from what I have heard, but have never experienced it), but that will be your only problem. That suv has a lot of life in it. The 2.5 with CTV was the first outback I bought. I just wanted more power. Wife didn’t care lol. Buy your off-road 4 runner and have fun!!

 

I also rarely have passengers. I have no doubt that either one will be magnitudes more reliable than a 20 year old Jeep lol. I hear about the 4.0 T4R/ 2nd gen Taco reliability but now in 2020 the 3.5l Taco engine isn’t exactly “new.”

 

Tacoma vs 4runner then 4runner

but if you own an outback, and deciding between 4runner or Tacoma... then Tacoma

I have a 4runner, Tacoma and gx460 and used to have an Outback.

 

Taco plus utility trailer > 4Runner plus utility trailer!
The high speed tires on the small wheel trailer have been holding up well on long trips.

I owned a new 99 SR5 4Runner and heavier utility trailer with full size tires back then. No worries on the load weight.

Short drive for over 1500 pounds of gravel yesterday. That’s the max with fenders close to the tires.

 

I have a Jeep now myself for over ten years. I had an Outback before that, a 2003. I traded the outback when I got a pop up and discovered it really couldn't pull it up the so called mountains in my state, Pennsylvania. I have loved my Liberty and it's very odd diesel engine, being I popped for the more rare CRD not the gas v6. It's been a good ownership except several of alternator pulley failures, one new transmission, two $150 thermostats and lots of maintenance including a timing belt service.

I decided this time I wanted something different after 11 years. I was suggested to get a 4r but they was more expensive. I didn't like the 4 front end as much has the Tacoma either, Tacoma looks more rugged. The dash layout I liked better too. I decided since I own a house and have occasional projects, I have some gear for camping to haul, mountain bikes and a kayak that I might try a truck this time. I do haul people too sometimes so Im getting a double cab. I'm getting a bed cover to keep things dry or use the bed open when needed. For all the times I wished I didn't have to cram dirty stuff in the Jeeps leather interior and scratch up stuff with lumber I think I'm going to love having the Tacoma.

What ever you pick I hope you love it. Those are my experiences and incites on why I picked a truck over an SUV.

 

Seems like the real question is auto or manual since you dont need a bed.

Do you enjoy driving stick? Or is it just to avoid the auto in the tacoma? Can your wife comfortably drive manual?

 

for the past 12 years ive always had both at the same time cause i like them both. 08 xrunner/ 08 sr5, 13 trd or/ 13 sr5 prem, 19 sport/ 19 sequoia sport (getting rid of to get 20 nightshade...maybe) if i had to pick one, it would be the taco, just for the fact that you can get it as manual trans. in your reliable replacement paragraph you kinda already sold yourself on getting a taco. i think you was basically looking for reassurance. dont get it twisted though, the 4runner is a great vehicle, i loved mines, but truth be told? the whole powertrain is old and tired. the transmission still only has 5 gears. i was running 275 55 20 in my 13 and the runner didnt like it one bit. up hills the trans would constantly hunt for a powerband. you want to try something new, go taco. you wont regret it. you want to go down the familiar road then go t4r.

 

The only thing that would really draw me to the 4Runner is the enclosed space. If I had access to a Subaru Outback like you do I don't think I would bother with a 4Runner. Currently have an access cab 3rd gen Tacoma and I really enjoy it and to top it off I'm putting in my order for a high rise canopy tomorrow so that kind of fixes my issue of an enclosed space. I'd say test drive both and see what you like more and try to figure out if you'll miss an SUV if you buy a truck.