4runner vs Tacoma

I most likely would have gotten a T4R if it optioned a manual.

 

I never understood these questions as the decision seems so simple to me. If you need a truck bed get the tacoma the 4runner won't do, if you don't need the truck bed why would you get a Tacoma in the first place??

I've owned 2 4Runners and I'd still have one if I didn't need the bed and cargo space, but I need the bed so I'm in a Taco

Don't overthink it OP

If you don't use your bed and can get by with less cargo then absolutely get a T4R you'll love them.

 

Fair points but I wouldn't say it's quite so black and white. There's a lot of stuff that can be more convenient with a truck bed but certainly doesn't demand it. Further, most stuff that truly demands a truck bed really deserves more than a Tacoma but there's undeniably a sweet spot in there, albeit narrow.

 

Wait till 2028 when the 6th gen 4Runner will be released.

 

I have a 17 taco and my wife has a 19 4Runner. To be honest, I love driving her 4Runner. It’s a way nicer ride than my taco, but I didn’t but my taco for the ride. I use my taco as a truck, which I couldn’t do with the 4Runner. If I could, I would have already traded it in!

 

That assumes most people shop only Toyotas.

When people shop for a pickup truck, chances they are also looking at Colorado/Canyon, Ranger and Frontier. When they shop for an SUV, 4-Runner is likely cross-shopped against Grand Cherokees, Wranglers, Explorers and what not.

Some on here may feel 4-Runner is better than Tacoma, but Tacoma may stand up against its competition better than 4-Runner stands up against its direct competitors.

 

They are both awesome vehicles, you have to pick which one fits your needs. Sorry you are having issues with your 3rd gen.

 

Meh I don't really think there's any competition to either

If you want a mid-size truck the Tacoma is the only real choice, I know I know I'm biased but its still true

If you want a 4runner there really is no comparison, the last competitor (body on frame SUV) was the Xterra and its been discontinued. Wrangler is really on its own as a toy, I'm sure some people cross shop them but really I don't think Wrangler buyers really cross shop at all, they just get Wranglers. Just my opinion though.

I do see a ton of people get stuck between T4r and Taco, I was one of them, but having owned both it was super easy for me to realize I need the extra space for gear. My girl's next ride will be a 4Runner though so then we can enjoy both lol

 

Ive had and done both, the truck is much better.

 

True true I guess it was easier for me because I've actually had 4Runners and way too many times said to myself "fuck! Its already full?!" Then would have to decide what gear (or people) had to be left behind lol

 

I test drove a 2019 TRD Off-Road Premium the other day, as I was SUPER interested in trading in my Tacoma. Here are my two cents from my recent experience:
The biggest thing for me was wanting a sunroof, I would not get one without it. I came to learn that with the new 4runners, you HAVE TO get the premium package to get a sunroof which includes leather seats. I had a 2011 SR5 without the premium package so I was surprised by this. I have never been a fan of leather seats, and while Toyota’s softex is better, my back got sweaty on the test drive and I would not want that on road trips and what not. Driving wise, I absolutely loved it. In my opinion the power train is so much smoother and has a smoother power band than the Tacoma. I had a 2011 SR5 so it was expected but it was niceness to feel that again. Interior is definitely nice in the off-road model, very nice I have to say. It does lack some tech though, it’s a very basic bare bones dash with nothing fancy. I did not like how basic the speedometer is compared to my Tacoma, it doesn’t give much information besides your speed and MPG. Paying close to 40k without much of anything fancy interior wise is a little “ehh”. The 4Runner was definitely more comfortable to sit in though. One of the biggest turn off’s though was how weak the blower fan is compared to the Tacoma. When I get in my rig on a hot day, I want to be blasted with cold air. On the max setting the 4runners blower fan would put out ~60%-75% of what the Tacoma does. It took quite a while to be able to cool down but it doesn’t do a very good job.

All in all, the leather seats and blower fan in the 4runners made me stick with the Tacoma. If you like leather seats then power to you, but if you don’t and want a sunroof then you won’t be happy. Go and test drive one. They’re very nice, don’t let this deter you. They just didn’t excite me enough to jump ship on my Tacoma for something I would grow tired of very fast. Plus, Toyota is doing a lot of discounts right now on Tacoma’s so you may not get what you’re hoping for on your trade in.

 

My twin has a 2018 SR5 Premium 4R. The ride is much more comfortable as it should be, and one of my favorite features is the heat strips for the wipers. But even with all that comfort, he calls me frequently in need of hauling something. Personally, I never had any intentions of buying a plush ride. There are other vehicles for that. I'm rolling up on 70k in a few weeks, and the only issue I've yet to have is the weak battery from factory (consumable.) So as far as quality is concerned, it's all in the luck of the draw.

 

A very biased opinion, indeed.

In terms of price, capability and comfort, 4Runner sits somewhere between Jeeps Grand Cherokee and Wrangler.

In 2018 Toyota sold 139,000 4Runners. Jeep sold 240,000 Wranglers and 225,000 Grand Cherokees.

That’s a lot of “toys”.

 

Biased... but because of experience

I've had all of those vehicles. JGC is super comfy but its a POS and loses its ass on resale value.

Wrangler is a POS too, but a really fun POS and at least holds value

Here's my tacoma towing my wrangler out from the middle of the desert because it left us stranded with only 6k miles on the odometer. Spent almost a month at the jeep dealer while they figured it out, almost got to lemon law it. But again they do hold value, it was a $0 down $360/month lease, had it for 20 months then sold it and took out $3k in equity. Got a tax writeoff on it so all in all it almost ended up being free. And I loved rolling around with the doors off, but I'll never trust a Chrysler product again... So I'm biased... from experience

Toyota also keeps a super low days to turn on 4runners, never offer rebates and sell every single one they make with ease... they could sell a lot more if they wanted to but CAFE standards and production capacity in Japan keep them naturally limited or so I'm told from old convos with factory guys. But if they increased production its almost guaranteed they'd sell every single one they could make.

 

own a Taco and just bought the wife a 4Runner.. best of both worlds now

 

I own both and have had none of the problems others have.

 

I wanted a manual so there was only one choice. If I was going to get back into a SUV, I would get another Wrangler. Manual transmission and a removable top seal the deal for me.

 

Problem solved.

 

Indeed. In fact Toyota manages sales very carefully in relation to market demand to protect owners resale values, something Jeep doesn’t even care about —and a key reason I finally walked away from Jeeps.

It is no coincidence that several of the top-10 models with highest resale values are Toyotas —4-Runner included. Toyota is conscious that maintaining strong resale values helps maintain the levels of customer loyalty that helps support market demand for its new vehicles. It’s all part of a virtuous cycle that sustains itself.

But none of this makes 4-Runner an outstanding SUV. I test drove one a couple of years ago, and was shocked at how outdated it was and antiquated it felt, even compared to my 4-door Wrangler which at the time had already been in production for 10 years.

 

Have you ever read “The Machine That Changed the World”??

Have a feeling you’d enjoy it, good read

Kind of turned me into a toyota fanboy when I read it back in college.