Possibly Trading for 4Runner

Adding the land cruiser: 34.4.

 

I think the 4Runner is taller in the cab if I’m not mistaken. The Tacoma is like sitting on the floor.

 

I think the figures are probably with the front seats cranked all the way back in terms of adjustability. 4runner does have almost 4" more of front legroom so it would make sense that you wouldn't have to adjust them as far back which would leave even more room for rear seat passengers. That is most likely why it feels significantly more roomy in person.

 

I don't have time to read all of the posts, so this probably has been said but I'll say it anyway. We have a 2016 4runner and 2018 tacoma, a 9 month old and a 3 year old.

The 4runner will have quite a bit more room in the back seat for rear facing car seats. I have to have the front seat scooted very far forward in my Taco for the rear facing seat. Not a huge deal as I'm 5'7" and 150 lbs.

Also, any time you go anywhere you are hauling a bunch of bags/pack and play/baby stuff. Unless you have a topper it won't be secure in the bed and there will not be room in the cab for it. I have two large plastic totes that I have to put stuff in just to keep it dry when we take my Taco on a road trip to my parents or the inlaws. They aren't secure but they at least protect from wind/rain.

Unless you absolutely need a truck bed, you will certainly be happier in a 4runner as the primary family vehicle. Remember you can roll the back window down in a 4unner if you needed to haul some long 2x4's or something.

There are definitely pro's and cons to either vehicle!

 

I've owned two T4Rs and two Tacomas. Unless you need a pick up the T4R is much more comfortable and has a better drive train (IMO, of course).

 

Similar here, but we are on our third 4Runner (2006, 2016 and now 2021) and I only had my Tacoma for about a year (took the money and ran when values were crazy a few months ago). I love the 4runner. For us, it's a perfect fit and does everything we need. If I need to haul a lot of stuff or stuff I just don't want in the car, I use a small utility trailer. The 4runner is still assembled in Japan alongside the GX460 and I've found the quality/workmanship to be far superior to my Tacoma.

 

I believe these numbers are MAXIMUM legroom. So, the backseat legroom is based on the front seats being all the way forward, and front legroom is based on the front seat all the way back. Maybe some have more adjustment than others.

@Shippe , make sure to adjust the front seat to your seating position before sitting in the back. Sorry if this seems obvious.

 

My fiance got a 2020 rav4 hybrid at the end of September and I can attest the backseat has loads of leg room. Very spacious vehicle, especially if you go no sunroof.

Definitely took over road trip duty, mainly cuz it'll go twice as far on a gallon of gas compared to my 4runner.

 

Stupid question... what’s the sunroof have to do with leg room? Does it make the roof shorter or what? Sorry I’m dumb

 

Doesn't affect leg room but definitely brings the roof closer to the top of your head.

 

Just got back from the dealership. They almost talked us into a 2019 Highlander SE with a 2” lift and AT tires (honestly it was pretty cool) and it would have been a straight across trade.

Here’s what I learned, and hopefully it can help anybody else out in the future:

2021 RAV4 XLE: This was my favorite for a couple reasons: 1.) the leg/hip room in the backseats. I was very surprised at how my seating position (I’m 6’1”, 240lbs) in the front didn’t affect the comfort of sitting in the back. 2.) Style and tech-wise pretty sweet little car.
The downside is that it was my wife’s least favorite and it was $40k (WTF).
2019 HIGHLANDER SE: This was my wife’s favorite that we tested out. She loved the option of having the third row available if needed. The dealership’s manager had owned it and traded it in for a AG Tacoma, so she had it lifted with some no name lift and put all terrains on it. Back seat was super nice, it was like riding in a private jet lol. And for it being pretty much a van had a little juice when you hit the accelerator. Down side is they wanted way too much for it.
2018 4RUNNER TRD OR: Backseat leg room was good. Driving position was comfortable and overall seemed pretty nice. It’s a good compromise between the Highlander and the Tacoma. Only downside is that it didn’t have the same tech package as our Tacoma (which admittedly I have fallen in love with). The 2021 SR5 Premium with 3rd row seating might be the perfect vehicle for us in the near future.

We went in tonight just seeing what our options were as far as trade in value and to get the car seats fitted in each of the possible vehicles, but they seemed to want to push that Highlander on us pretty hard, but I was NOT about to take $35k for my $40k truck. For now we are going to make do with the Tacoma until we simply cannot. Until then, I have about a year to save up some dough and sell our Corolla so we can get her into a Highlander and I can keep my Taco. I appreciate all the advice, experience, and criticism.

 

beast of both worlds

 

I wish we could afford that right now. Lol

 

We have a Taco OR & 2015 4R Trail. For family usage/roomier interior I def choose 4R. Get the Offroad or TRD Pro 4R.
Also might wanna keep in mind that 4R/Tundra/Sequoia are due for redesign most likely 2022. I know people have been saying that last few yrs but something to keep in mind. I would seriously get 4R Offroad I were in your position after owning both for 4-5 years and using both for family trips.

 

Unfortunately my 16 Tacoma has ZERO seat height adjustability. I wish the Tacoma seats could lower a little bit. The 15 4R has it andis more comfortable, def more comfortable for family after owning both for about 4-5 years.

 

To the OP, it’s nice that you’re not rushing into making a decision; that was a good idea trying-out Car seats to see what fits best, I sometimes wish I would have done that with one of my MC’s. I probably wouldn’t have bought a SB if I had LOL!

As far Highlander’s go, they’re nice I just don’t get why women like them so much. My GF has one and she loves it. Despite the fact she only has one kid (a teen who treats the rear seat in that car as his personal luxury cabin LOL) She’s used the third-row seat once in the past two years and shuns all the other features the car has except for the storage cubbies. We’ve taken one road trip in it and it just felt numb and a bit boring to me. Conversely we took 1,000 mile road trip in a rented Rav a year ago and I loved it!

In our case my GF is a year away from getting a new SUV. She’s said no to a 4Runner since she knows I want one and would eventually find a way to make it my own. She liked the Rav we rented but she thought it was too small (she works out of her car so I get that, although with a couple of plastic totes she could get by with less space). She’s not a fan of my Taco or pick-up trucks in general. In the end I’m pretty sure she’ll be getting another Highlander. Maybe I’ll convince her we should lift it though LOL!

 

I loved the RAV4. It had more space than our Corolla and I “tested” it out in our garage by adjusting the seats like I did at the dealership then sitting in the back. The Corolla might just be our family vehicle. It gets 35mpg and it’s honestly pretty spacious for such a small car.

I’m sure we’d get a lot of use out of the lifted Highlander though. Haha

 

There's no shame in that, Corolla's are great cars! Five or six years ago I inherited a '10 'Rolla. My plan was to drive it for less than one tank of gas then sell it. I ended-up keeping it for over a year, in fact in that time it became my vehicle of choice for long trips where I didn't need to haul anything (it went to Las Vegas...a lot!)

I even made an organizer for the trunk to keep things from rolling around, I taught a friends daughter how to drive in it and later how to do burn-out's in it (oh, and how to turn-off the Traction Control). The whole time I owned it I got so much crap about owning that car from my friends, from a girl I was dating at the time, my family, neighbors, co-workers and even some random guy at a gas station once (my life is weird). What's funny is when I decided to finally sell it, it was one of those friends who bought it for himself LOL!

 

We are looking at selling our Tacoma and getting a Tundra for this very reason.