My gf has a 2007 Grand Cherokee Laredo (V6, leather, snrf). I picked up a 08 4runner ltd v6 in Nov. Figured I have driven both enough to do a comparison.
I will just write as things come to mind...some may be random
Powertrain - TR4 by a mile. Tight and quick. The Cherokee is loud, slow to get up to speed, and just feels loose around the edges. Hit potholes comming around a turn in the jeep, and it bounces all over the place.
Braking - it takes a lot more effort to stop the 4runner. I know the stats say differently, but the Jeep feels like its stopping power is much better.
4wd - I haven't done much offroading with the Jeep, while I take the TR4 out on the beach and some light trails...but I have driven both in the snow. This is where having the full time awd is a huge benefit. Trying to pull out of parking spots on a burried boston street is much easier in the jeep, just press the gas and it goes. With the TR4, you have to get it in 4WD, then figure out if you want to spin the tires or not...i have had much more trouble pulling out of spots with the 4runner. But again, i am pretty limited in this area.
Paint - TR4 sucks. Both trucks are black. The Jeep is a year older and its hard to find a scratch. You touch the 4runner and the thing scratches...drives me nuts. Not to mention the paint flakes off in random places. I keep finding pencil point sized spots where the paint just fell off...nothing to do with rocks or anything as they are on the sides of the vehicle. Japanese paint is crap. I used to have a TSX, same thing. Compare it to a BMW of the same year...huge diff.
Headlights - TR4 much better.
Quality - TR4 is much better obvs. Stupid little issues with the Jeep seem to pop up, such as the window will stop rolling down for no apparent reason. I have had to bring the TR4 in for the dreaded sunroof rattle, and need to have the stereo fixed (feedback when using portable sirius through AUX). Jeep just feels cheap. The dashboard and controls are very dated.
Interior - tr4 feels so much bigger than the jeep. The only bad spot on the TR4 is the high floor which can be uncomfortable for long rides...but we packed in 8 people and beach gear for a trip out to nauset, and everybody was somewhat comfortable.
Where TR4 is better (other than mentioned):
Interior noise
Better visability driving - jeeps has lots of blind spots, dashboard is huge, mirrors are smaller.
Quality of materials
Stereo (granted i do have the jbl, she has the stock laredo)
Niceties - rear armrest cup holders, trunk compartments, roll down back window, outlet in console, AUX in console
Tow hooks - jeep has nothing to hook up to
MPG - jeep gets maybe 18 highway. driving conservatively, i can get over 20.
Where Jeep is better:
Took care of the little things that annoy all of us like auto roll down passenger window, illuminated window controls, multiple power outlets
Windsheild wiper fluid actually sprays over the entire windsheild and rear glass. TR4 shoots it in jets, end up using twice as much...not to mention the back one just dribbles down the glass
Drivers seat position more comfortable for bigger people
All things considered, the 4runner is so much better to drive, and will hold up far longer then the Jeep. Its too bad that Toyota seemed to skimp on stuff that is standard in every other vehicle out there.
Don't buy Black!
I will just write as things come to mind...some may be random
Powertrain - TR4 by a mile. Tight and quick. The Cherokee is loud, slow to get up to speed, and just feels loose around the edges. Hit potholes comming around a turn in the jeep, and it bounces all over the place.
Braking - it takes a lot more effort to stop the 4runner. I know the stats say differently, but the Jeep feels like its stopping power is much better.
4wd - I haven't done much offroading with the Jeep, while I take the TR4 out on the beach and some light trails...but I have driven both in the snow. This is where having the full time awd is a huge benefit. Trying to pull out of parking spots on a burried boston street is much easier in the jeep, just press the gas and it goes. With the TR4, you have to get it in 4WD, then figure out if you want to spin the tires or not...i have had much more trouble pulling out of spots with the 4runner. But again, i am pretty limited in this area.
Paint - TR4 sucks. Both trucks are black. The Jeep is a year older and its hard to find a scratch. You touch the 4runner and the thing scratches...drives me nuts. Not to mention the paint flakes off in random places. I keep finding pencil point sized spots where the paint just fell off...nothing to do with rocks or anything as they are on the sides of the vehicle. Japanese paint is crap. I used to have a TSX, same thing. Compare it to a BMW of the same year...huge diff.
Headlights - TR4 much better.
Quality - TR4 is much better obvs. Stupid little issues with the Jeep seem to pop up, such as the window will stop rolling down for no apparent reason. I have had to bring the TR4 in for the dreaded sunroof rattle, and need to have the stereo fixed (feedback when using portable sirius through AUX). Jeep just feels cheap. The dashboard and controls are very dated.
Interior - tr4 feels so much bigger than the jeep. The only bad spot on the TR4 is the high floor which can be uncomfortable for long rides...but we packed in 8 people and beach gear for a trip out to nauset, and everybody was somewhat comfortable.
Where TR4 is better (other than mentioned):
Interior noise
Better visability driving - jeeps has lots of blind spots, dashboard is huge, mirrors are smaller.
Quality of materials
Stereo (granted i do have the jbl, she has the stock laredo)
Niceties - rear armrest cup holders, trunk compartments, roll down back window, outlet in console, AUX in console
Tow hooks - jeep has nothing to hook up to
MPG - jeep gets maybe 18 highway. driving conservatively, i can get over 20.
Where Jeep is better:
Took care of the little things that annoy all of us like auto roll down passenger window, illuminated window controls, multiple power outlets
Windsheild wiper fluid actually sprays over the entire windsheild and rear glass. TR4 shoots it in jets, end up using twice as much...not to mention the back one just dribbles down the glass
Drivers seat position more comfortable for bigger people
All things considered, the 4runner is so much better to drive, and will hold up far longer then the Jeep. Its too bad that Toyota seemed to skimp on stuff that is standard in every other vehicle out there.
Don't buy Black!
