Just out of curiosityh which vehicle would you suppose performes better overall, comfort, offroad, and smoothness? 4wd Highlander or 2wd 4Runner?

Apples and Oranges!!!!

I agree. Those are two totally different vehicles. The Highlander is more of a mom's car for the grocery store, while the 4Runner is more of a "let's drive to the hills" truck.

The Highlander is a much smoother riding vehicle, and it should, given that it is built on an extended Camry (car) chassis. However, the 4Runner has a rougher ride because it is built on a truck chassis.

The Highlander get's better gas mileage, but just isn't capable of doing what the 4Runner can.

Zachary

i drive an 04 limited 4 runner with xreas and air suspension. My wife just got an 05 highlander limited. Like mentioned before they are apples and oranges BUT they are both fantastic vehicles. The highlander has a more comfortable seating postion and nicer leather, the 4runner has has more power (v8) and is a take it anywhere vehicle.. I love them both. The runner has been our main vehicle for 2 years, now she is getting a little rest

Intersesting question. Having bought a 2WD 4Runner, I try to use it's strengths. I tow a trailer, much better with a frame, of course you get to tow 1,500 more with the 4Runner, if they are both V6. I can also carry a lot more stuff due to a higher payload and a bigger trunk. When I camp I go on off the beaten path dirt, gravel roads. I crossed streams, gone over logs and gone on very rough roads. Having a stiffer supension and high ground clearance it is better suited to do what I just mentioned. I also use a put a canoe on the roof and carry a hitch hiker on the back trailer hicth. Something the Highlander would not be good at.

I would think the 4WD Highlander would be better in the snow over a rear wheel driven 2WD 4Runner. So if you live up North drive mainly on the road and like a car like ride and don't care about carrying stuff, the Highlander is for you.

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I basically own both of these... V6 Limited 2WD Highlander and 4WD V8 Limited 4 Runner... they ride very differently. After being in the 4 Runner for a week the Highlander feels loose and limo like.... it also feels tiny

I still prefer the 4 Runner overall though.

Here are some previous discussions:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showth...ght=highlander

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showth...ght=highlander

My wife has a 2002 Highlander V6 4wd.....it rides nice has smooth acceleration and does ok in the snow but it is no 4Runner, like someone said it's apples and oranges.

it's like comparing the Celica to the Supra

As a side note my wife looked hotter driving the 4Runner then the soccer Mom Highlander


Mike

LMAO, TOO FUNNY !!!!

I've never test drove the T4R, but since we do have a Highlander in the stable, I can say that it is a very smooth ride. Unfortunately it's too cushy for my tastes (I even got carsick the first few weeks I was driving it). Suspension is just too soft IMO. We loaded the back up with about 7 pieces of luggage (300 lbs?) and two people in the back seat (ladies.. so another 250?) and myself and my dad in front (350 ?). The rear end of the Highlander sunk and the front had extreme floaty feel (steering went way way light).

The engine pulled wonderfully, but I'm not convinced the rest of the car (note, I don't say truck...) is up to task in doing even moderately heavy stuff.

I definitely feel qualified to chime in on this issue, as I drive a 2005 V6 4Runner (4x4) and my girlfriend has a 2002 V6 Highlander (front-wheel-drive). Both of us enjoy driving either of them, but realize that there are differences between them.

The Highlander is built on a 'car' chassis (Camry), while the 4Runner is truly a 'truck' (similar to the Tacoma). Look at the underside of each vehicle, and it will be easy to understand what I am saying. The Highlander has a transverse-mounted engine - 4 cylinders come standard, with a V6 optional. The 4Runner has a V6 as standard - with a 4.7-liter V8 available at extra cost; both engines are mounted longitudinally (front-to-rear).

Two-wheel drive Highlanders put power to the road through the front wheels, while 4Runners drive from the rear wheels. Of course, both of them can be equipped as a 4x4 if so desired. I honestly don't know if the Highlander has a selectable 4x4 set-up like my 4Runner or if it is one of those all-wheel-drive systems that works automatically. I also am not sure if the 4x4 Highlander has a "low" range switch like the 4Runner does.

For the '05 models, the V6 in the Highlander is 3.5 liters and the 4Runner's V6 is 4.0 liters. My girlfriend has an '02 Highlander that has a 3.0-liter V6 (yes, from the Camry). Even so, it scoots along pretty well and has more than enough power to stay ahead of traffic. The 4Runner is a bit more powerful, but is heavier and probably is less aerodynamic. The Highlander gets better fuel mileage, too. I am lucky to get 21 or 22 mpg on the highway, while her Highlander easily gets 25 mpg if she can keep her foot out of it.

The Highlander does indeed ride smoother and is a bit quieter inside. Also, I like the Highlander's front seats a lot better - especially on a long trip. Don't know why.....I just do. The console area on the Highlander also leaves more room for 'goodies' and knick-nacks and there's a nice area underneath where most women could put their pocketbook if they wanted. The 4Runner lacks this open space - probably because of its rear-drive setup. The transmission gear selector in the Highlander is a lot simpler than the (Ahem!) shifty one in my 4Runner.

The 4Runner has more of a "firm" ride and you'll feel bumps a bit more than in the Highlander......but not enough to be annoying. Even though they're similar in size, the 4Runner seems much bigger and has that "trucky" feel to it that the Highlander doesn't. Ironically, my girlfriend bought her Highlander because she thought the 4Runner was indeed too "trucky" for her.

The 4Runner has a rear hatch that opens wide - just like the Highlander.......but the 4Runner has the ability to lower the rear glass when the hatch is closed; nice for some ventilation going down the road. The Highlander's glass is fixed in the door and doesn't have the ability to be opened separately.

In the snow, her 2WD Highlander is very good and probably would do better than my 4Runner without using the 4x4 switch; probably because the 4Runner is driven by the rear wheels. Even the 2WD Highlander has a 'snow' button that helps to control skidding. For getting around on snowy roads, the Highlander is excellent, but the 4x4 4Runner clearly would have an advantage when going off-road. The 4Runner also has better ground clearance.

The Highlander is the ultimate soccer mom SUV (my girlfriend has three kids in high school) for tooling around town, while the 4Runner gets the nod if you want to tow, go off the beaten path or just like the "trucky" feel of it. If you're caught in the middle, go and test-drive both of them. Toyota did a good job with both of them, so there is not a "wrong" choice here.

The Highlander is simply a Camry with higher ground clearance.

The 4Runner started as a 4x4 pickup with a covered bed.

One thing I noticed when I first changed my oil on the 4Runner is even in 2WD it has massive skid plates. It also has two BIG hooks in the front to help in towing or getting it unstuck. It also has vinyl cloth like covers by the side of the engine, I guess to keep out the mud. I also noticed how everthing is up high or tucked out of the way to have better ground clearance. So even in 2WD, Toyota is serious about it being a SUV. Also the air intake is set up high in the engine bay.

I have not seen the under side of a Highlander, but my guess is, it would look quite different.

The 4Runner is body on frame.

The Highlander is a monocoque body (car-like).

Open the hood and you'll notice how low the engine is.

The Highlander, like the Lexus RX 330, is designed for those who want the SUV advantages, but never leave the city.