Trade Tacoma for Highlander?

I have a 17 tacoma with two kids one is in a car seat. My wife drives a sienna and that thing has tons of room but with only one in a car seat now, I really would like to trade the sienna in for a 4runner.

 

I was just thinking of what would be a good (midsize) fwd or awd suv ? Thanks

 

4Runner.

 

T4R does have rear vents, but are not separately controlled.

 

yeah, that's an awesome Ridgeline with a cap!

 

Hmm, I have one 4yo pint sized dictator and quite often haul her 5yo friend (or she calls sister) around. This is two forward facing seats and we have plenty of room, even for a few hour trip.

 

Not really any worse than your Tacoma...We average 20 in our 2017.

 

This. My wife just traded her 15 higlander xle for a 17 4runner sr5 prem. So much happier.

 

OP, I now have a 2016 Tacoma and a 2015 4Runner......Im 6' tall and I have to have my seat all the way back to be comfortable driving so it's impossible to put a car seat behind me. I do keep a car seat behind the passenger seat with the seat forward and since my wife is short she's comfortable.

I had a 2015 4Runner SR5 WITHOUT 3rd row seats and I'll be honest in saying that our 2012 Camry had more room back there for the car seat.

We just traded the SR5 4Runner for a Limited 4Runner with 3rd row and we have plenty of room now since the 2nd row seats are adjustable with 3rd row.

I guess the question is....does the highlander have 3rd row? If not, I doubt you will have much more room (if any) than the Tacoma. Take the car seats up to the dealer and try it out if you haven't done so already. If we had 2 car seats the ultimate outcome would be that we just would't be taking my truck anywhere as a family.

Hope this helps and doesn't confuse you more haha. Good luck OP!

 

My wife likes her 16 highlander XLE and it gets 30 mpg on the freeway at a constant 65 you can tell it's front wheel drive though. ride is smooth and it's a great family vehicle . But if I drive it it doesn't feel manly and I dont want to be seen in it, you may feel like you had your balls removed. I think 4runner would be a better compromise because it's still cool for you to drive .
And you get the sweet rear wheel drive 4.0.

 

Agree. Highlander like driving an extended length car. Did not like at all.

 

We have both, my wife has a 2016 Hignlander XLE, way much room in the back, it's a great car, run very smooth!

If we had to choose to keep just one vehicule with our two kids, i'll take the highlander for sure, tacoma do the job with two seat in the back but the space is really tight for kids.

If you don't use your truck bed, trade it for the highlander. You will can get a truck when your kids will be older without those huge kids seats.

 

4 Runner the highlander is a car with a suv body...

 

My ‘95 SR5 4Runner had rear heater control and vents on the floor for both passengers

 

I'd vote for a minivan. So much space inside (as you know, kids and their cargo take a LOT of room). Much more convenient for moms, as the seats aren't so high. Stigma aside, vans are the way to go. No way I'd want to regularly haul my kids in the back of my DC.

Odyssey's are nice, but one big thing lacking----AWD. Sienna is the only way to go for me, since it snows here. Even with snow/studded tires, AWD is a necessity (as we go skiing and are often in rural parts of the state).

We considered this before buying a '17. I figured it would have all the kinks worked out by now.

 

Yes. If I remember correctly, the highlander had vents behind the center console AND in the ceiling near rear windows. Those were great for when the little guy was rear facing. I'd consider the highlander to be a minivan, but without the sliding door. 3 rows, lots of space, and low entry.

 

I have a Tacoma and the wife has a Highlander. Before that she had a Sienna. Traded in the Sienna for something else after 10 years with a minivan, my wife wanted something different. If you need a family vehicle, nothing will beat the Sienna. They have so much room. Our kids still complain that the highlander does not have the same room. If the Sienna is not an option for you then I would go with the Highlander, much more comfortable for the family than the 4Runner. The 4Runner is nice but nice does not feel comfortable when you have 3 wiggle worms and all their stuff to load.

So when the family is a priority here it is: Sienna > Highlander > 4Runner > Tacoma

Just my $0.02.

Oh and screw the "stigma" on vans...there's a reason why they are as expensive as any other vehicle...they work great and most families have one!

 

LMAO

 

Exactly...
Highlander = Boring
4Runner = Fun

 

Hilarious... but true