Tacoma vs 4Runner???

Me personally I don't know if I could justify buying a specific vehicle over another because of the engine alone especially if it came down getting rid of my Tacoma. I could see getting a Tacoma instead of 4Runner for the bed or a 4Runner to potentially have extra room on the inside. But to go solely off the engine seems a bit extreme to me.

If you really have a specific need to get the 4Runner instead then by all means but to go from one to the other because of the engine seems a little extreme but maybe that is just me.

 

It all depends what you need to get from these vehicles. One is better at carrying people, one has manual trans.

I have/had both, purchased new 2019 4Runner TRDOR base trim, traded in for 2019 Tacoma TRDOR Premium because of the 6MT.

 

That is the point of the D4S, but will it really work long term??? It also adds a lot of complexity. Two sets of injectors, fuel rails, fuel pumps, and the fact that it runs at 3000 psi. I'm not working on that.

 

It has to come down to wether you want a Truck or an SUV. I'll assume my 3.5 will run forever...

 

1,500 mi

 

big fan of 4runners but like the taco more.

 

Cannot go wrong with either. Which do you prefer? Truck or SUV? Both are as reliable as it gets and both very similar driving wise. I’m currently looking to buy my daughter a 2015-2017 4Runner for graduation of hs and going off to college next year.. or a newer 2020ish Rav4.. I love my Tacoma but I love 4Runners too

 

I have a 2021 trd pro Tacoma and my wife has a 2022 4runner trd off road. 4runner is definitely slower and less peppy then the Tacoma. But man the interior space on the 4runner is a huge plus. I use my truck bed probably once or twice a month but I’ve been going back and forth on switching to a 4runner. I have a toddler and a black lab and when we are all in the Tacoma it is a tight squeeze. 4runner is definitely a better choice for road trips but we usually take the Tacoma since I work at home and don’t drive it much. Both vehicles are solid choices for reliability as long as you take care of them. Either way life is short, if you think the 4runner is a better choice because of the motor, don’t let a bunch of people on the internet tell you otherwise and just do what makes you happy.

 

I really like my tacoma, but I would have no problem owning a 4runner.

I'm actually trying to get my wife to purchase one.

 

Top of my list when I replace my 06 Tacoma is the 4Runner. Maybe sometime in 2024 with the old school 4.0 V6

 

Sorry I just saw this.

The GX is about as reliable a vehicle as money can buy. Mechanically it hasn't changed much since debuting in 2010. And since its inception there really hasn't been a "bad year" or "years to avoid". The 4.6 V8 is referred to as being built like a "bank vault". And that pretty much applies to the rest of the vehicle as well. Which shouldn't come as a surprise since underneath all the fancy leather it's a Land Cruiser.

The criticism of the GX mainly stems from it being an "old and outdated" design. That's a valid argument depending on one's perspective. From my perspective it's tried and true.

One aspect that leaves little room for debate is that the V8 is a thirsty old bitch that requires premium gas. Rated at a combined estimated 16 mpg it's definitely not an economy car lol. Depending on your situation that could be a deal breaker. In our case we don't rack up many miles per year and it is a non-factor.

Speaking of the V8, for us that's a major aspect of the desirability of the GX. We are both motorheads at heart, and even though it's not "fast", the smooth power delivery of that V8 is a beautiful thing. And in our case a primary reason to go with the GX.

 

I'll second all of this. I just recently traded in my mostly year old 22 TRD Sport for a 20 GX460 w/less than 35K on it. I thought I needed a truck bed but in reality used it maybe 2-3 times the entire year and likely could have gotten by with the same loads in a GX w/seats folded down. Beyond the GX being a super reliable platform, it obviously exceeds the Tacoma in every way from that sweet V8 torque around town to the fit and finish of the interior. If you don't really "need" a truck, has to be considered.

 

4runner is better than Tacoma, that's why it costs more. Its an SUV, SUV is always better quality than pick up trucks because they aren't meant for work.

Both Taco and 4runner are reliable. 4runner V6 engine just seems less problematic because it has been out for so long. I had 2003 4runner with that 4.0 V6 inside and it was very reliable. I bought the car used 160K miles, it had some bs filter and oil was as black as night. Yet engine never consumed any oil, it was still hitting 18MPG. Simple and old.

4runner is a great SUV, it lacks luxury but very capable and reliable truck, has more space inside too. Tacoma on the other hand is long crowned king of midsize trucks, because it is that reliable and capable.

I got taco because we needed pick up truck, if it wasn't for that, I would go 4runner.

 

My runner lived most of its life with all seats folded down & hauled all kinds of crap/ a lightbulb finally went off & I thought I might as well have a truck, a topper was a must though/ runner had 278000 miles when I sold it & absolutely zero problems, this pic when both my boys whacked a deer & for some reason I’d decided not to bring trailer with us!! I always kept a tarp under back cargo mat for such occasions

 

I was thinking the same exact thing. Looking for the justification for purchase. UGH...it will make me sleep better knowing my older toyota may run longer than the newer one.

How old is the OP? I mean in his 60's then sure its possible.

 

52 so I'm figuring this is the last one for me. Ten years and I'll be taking a dirt nap.

 

AYE. I dont think my tacoma will be buried with me, but who knows.

 

I considered the 4R when looking... they are pretty cool. But the Taco offers a manual gearbox, while the 4R comes only in an Auto.

No further deliberation was needed. The case was closed.

 

Either you need a truck bed or you don’t. If you don’t then get the 4Runner and why did you even buy a truck in the first place? It sounds like 2024 will be the last year of this generation of 4Runners. Buy one before they change to a small turbo engine. Why have a 2017 off-road premium that just hit 100K miles. The only issues are the fuel mileage sucks, we average 17mpg and the frame rusts quickly. I think we will buy another one at the end of 24 and have reliable vehicles for a long time.

 

I have both, and I love my 4Runner. It's the Limited with the full-time 4x4, which is nice for mixed road conditions (I'm currently on the way home from a Christmas road trip with lots of winter roads). I love the visibility, interior space, and I prefer the 4.0 and 5-speed transmission. The advantage of course for the Tacoma its bed for big stuff and dirty stuff. If you don't really use the bed, the 4Runner is top quality, built in Japan. This is above Colorado Springs on Christmas morning.