Hi everyone,

My current DD is a 2009 Lexus LX 570 with 167k miles. It's a great SUV but I am thinking of passing it down to my daughter who recently got her driver's license.

I've been studying Consumer Reports ad nauseam on which auto to get. Preference is a SUV that is reliable, AWD/4WD, comfortable, and preferably 30+ mpg as my LX 570 is getting me 14mpg.

*My original top choice was the 2023 Rav4 Prime. Since I commute daily 70 miles, it would have been a great gas saver. Then I find out the Prime rare and often has crazy dealership markups; the deal breaker was when I sat in a Prime and found out it has a wide center console and narrow seats to boot. The center console really squashed my right knee/leg and impeded my right leg, no room to move and relax my legs. So the Rav4 Prime and Hybrid is no deal.

*Then I tried the 2024 Highlander Hybrid, even worse if you can believe it. The slightest movement of my right leg and it keeps hitting the center console. Plus there was just too much room besides my left arm, no where to naturally rest my left arm. Absolutely weird driving position.

*Next I tried the 2024 Grand Highlander Hybrid. Much better than the regular Highlander, but the center console is even wider than that of the Highlander and I do find my right knee bumping into the center console when I am not driving and am just sitting in the driver's seat. Plus for some reason I can't really rest my left arm on the driver's side door in a natural position near the window, it's as if a panel on the driver's side door is too high up. I don't recall my right knee/leg hitting the center console when driving, perhaps I need to test drive it again.

*I also sat in the 2023 Lexus RX and 2024 Lexus TX, same wide center console, though the TX is similar to that of the GHH.

*For kicks after reading some Reddit sub forums, I sat in a 2024 Honda Passport, my right knee would hit the center console at rest. Then found a 2024 Honda Pilot, my right knee would also hit the center console, plus I found where my left foot rests, there is something on the floor that's not allowing my left to rest comfortably.

So I gave up on the Honda due to the center console issue, and that the newer Honda's/Acura's are no where near as reliable as the Honda/Acura of the past.

Doing a little more research I found a 2023 4Runner Off Road Premium to sit in. The 4Runner fits me like a glove. No stupid wide center console, my left arm can rest on the driver's side door comfortably, and the seats are pretty comfy. The 4Runner's center area is at the same level as of the seat's bottom cushion, which is great and is similar to that of my LX. Only downside (to me at least) about the 4Runner is that it only gets 16/19 mpg; it's marginally better than the 13/17 mpg my LX570 is rated for, but I was hoping for 30+mpg. Similarly the new Tacoma is also comfortable fwiw, but not really looking for a truck.

So I narrowed down my current choices to the 4Runner and the GH Hybrid.
Pros of the 4Runner are:
-Most comfortable natural driving position
-Extremely reliable, proven V6 engine/transmission/body
-Great 4WD/AWD system (depending if I chose the Off Road or Limited) that can go anywhere in the snow (important for me in the winter time)
-Lots of cargo space in the rear
-Readily available, I'm seeing Off Premium/Limited $2-3k off MSRP.
Cons of the 4Runner:
-mediocre 16/19 gas mileage.
-due for design, 6th gen coming out but who knows when

Pros of the Grand Highlander Hybrid:
-Updated modern interior, lots of storage space
-Engine/CVT transmission is based on Prius, so should be reliable? Unsure...
-Great gas mileage at 36/32
-Even more cargo space than the 4Runner

Cons of the Grand Highlander Hybrid:
-Questionable seating comfort due to wide center console and uncertain left arm resting position, may have to keep adjusting the seat to find a good spot
-1st year of a new vehicle, reliability issues might arise. I'm already reading reports of people not being able to fill the gas tank completely and also possible issues with the doors and water drainage
-Reactive AWD system is not full time AWD and likely not as sophisticated as the 4Runner, so may not be as good in the snow
-Vehicle is very wide, unsure if it can fit in garage
-Limited quantities, may have to wait many months and/or pay over MSRP

So my main issue is the big wide center consoles these new cars/SUVs have. Doesn't seem to matter how big the SUV is, even wide huge SUVs can have wide center consoles that impinge on my right knee. FWIW I'm only 5'11" and 170 lbs, I'm not an overly tall or large person, but maybe my legs and/or thighs are just wide and bowled shape, who knows.

Realizing this is a 4Runner forum, I am seeking opinions on if the 4Runner is a better option, or perhaps I should think about the Grand Highlander Hybrid some more. I'm not a fan of the current Lexus GX due to it's barn rear door. I thought the new Lexus GX could be an option, but online pictures suggest a wide center console. Perhaps the new 2024 Land Cruiser might be an option and may be more gas efficient than the 4Runner, but I can't tell from the pics if the center console will be wide, and the new turbo charged engine might not be as reliable as the V6 engine in the 4Runner.

Thoughts anyone? Anyone running into issues with the center consoles on newer vehicles?