2012 4Runner vs 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee

[verdegallardo]

I'm interested in getting one of these two trucks. I've test drived almost every suv in this category and narrowed it down to:

2012 Toyota 4Runner 4x4 Limited
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland

I love the exterior of both of them, for different reasons. Interior on them both is nice as well. The Jeep drives better though on pavement and I love the adaptive cruise control feature/remote start etc. But I love the roll down rear window of the 4runner. I'll never need a 3rd row in this car, so that's not important.

Thoughts between the two?

Thanks!

 

[chetJ]

Let me sum it up for you (this is going to be an aggregate of all the comments that you will get)- Reliability Reliability Reliability!!!! Don't buy the Jeep!

 

[limamike]

Buy the Toyota.

 

[thebwlife]

Search "Grand Cherokee"

 

[tjnaples]

Trail Edition!

 

[SigSense]

As others have advised, the build quality and utter reliability of the Toyota trumps the JGC and its bling-trinkets.

 

[phillyd2]

I would get the Jeep because it rhymes with Beep. :hatsoff:

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Barbie drives a Jeep.

 

[JohnnyT]

The Jeep definitely appeals to the larger market and they seem to be on the right track now as far as quality, but there is no way to know that at this point. Long term reliability is yet to be determined. You'll need to have faith if you're seriously considering the Jeep.

If you don't (and many, especially here, don't) then the Toyota is the proven reliable choice.

But comparing both cars side by side at a point in time (meaning the day you buy it), the Jeep is a better family car, better features, is handsome, and has great capability........ But the HUGE question is how each will be running 5 years from now. You are almost guaranteed the Toyota will be running well with TCO being very low. The Jeep is a gamble but you get a lot for the money.

 

[TRDSmokedU]

Resale value is God awful on the Jeep. The 4Runner on the other hand is excellent! Jeep has nice features with a hemi but with Chrysler's track record and Fiat's horrible reliability in the EU market I wouldn't trust them.

 

[tlflow]

JGC vs T4R?

The JGC is a unibody with IS front and rear, the T4R is body on frame with solid rear axle.

This is a big difference.

 

[shishibo]

if you lease, go for the jeep... if your purchasing....import. it's the after 50k where you'll really see the difference! (personal experience)

 

[NOBR8KS]

I've been a loyal Toyota customer for over 15 years. I have a 2011 4Runner Limited 4WD. The only thing that narrowed it down to the 4Runner was the 3rd row seat. I love the Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland's interior much better than the 4Runner. Highway ride quality goes to Jeep. Offroading "feels" better in the 4Runner. I guess it all depends on your priorities.

 

[NHinAK]

Toyota for all the things everyone's already mentioned. Got a link to where you posted this on a Jeep forum? I'd be interested in what they have to say.

 

[pawzitiv]

There's a reason that the UN and just about every third world para-military group choose Toyotas (Land Cruiser/Hilux) rather than Jeeps. They get you there.

Unibody Jeeps can be every bit as capable offroad as body on frame vehicles (I have a '98 Cherokee Sport) but there's no getting around the fact that Jeeps are money pits. Not as bad as H1 Hummers but you'll develop a close relationship with your dealer if you get a Jeep.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

The Jeep will give you many more features than the 4runner for the same money. If you like memory seats, power liftgate, and on and on get the Jeep. If you trade every 4 or 5 years you will be fine. If you plan on keeping it 10 years go with the Toyota. The unibody Jeeps work fine for what 99% of the people are going to do with it. There is a lot of talk about how the 4runner is better off road because of the full frame but here in the desert dominated by Jeeps no one wants to take a new 4runner off road because it will get dusty and pin stripped by the brush. They might go to one harder spot to take a picture of how tough their 4runner and hi tail it out of there. Then get home and complain about the dust and lack of led lights. Most people with trail editions never use the locker, thet just like its looks better. There is a reason 2 to 3 times more Grand Cherokees are sold than 4runners. I am personally waiting on the 2013s to see if any upgrades are made available to make the 4runner appeal to me again. I want to replace my 03 4runner in the next several years. 4runners are overpriced for what you get in my opinion.

 

[tlflow]

Unibody Jeeps can be every bit as capable offroad as body on frame vehicles

I thought that only people that screwed up and bought one believed that ...

(I have a '98 Cherokee Sport)

... never mind.

 

[rocklighting]

Like everyone else before me, it depends what you want. Me personally, I do 0 offroading. I would like to, but like someone said not a fan getting it scratch and dirty (at least not until its paid for!). It came down to reliability for me. My family has had a Toyota in the driveway or street for 20 years. You just cant kill these things.

I ski and like to know that I will be able to get through anything in the un-plowed roads and trials in VT. My dad and I have a small sailboat about 2000lbs that we tow in the summer. I could have gotten any truck or SUV, and was looking at getting a Jeep years ago. But it was this forum that changed my mind. I dare you to find anyone on here who says the 4R is a bad truck. Its a truck that will last. Its not a car or a CUV and God willing, it will never be. Its rug id, beautiful, and reliable. I also have a huge pet peave for seats. Honda has been putting out ****ty seats in their cars for the last 8 years. Hard as a rock and uncomfortable. I found Jeeps to be a little better, but not by much. Toyota seats are more comfortable. I could drive in my Corolla for 10+ hours before my rump hurt. Honda's and Jeeps less than 2 hrs. Just my 0.02. Have fun on the hunt though.

 

[captmarklp]

I see this is about Jeep v. 4R .. BUT see at least 2 contribs have Trail 4Rs and this is a 4R site. Does the KDSS "make" the Trail ed. ? In other words, should one buy the Trail w/o KDSS ?

 

[Dilong26]

I'm gonna go ahead and piss everyone off. Go buy the jeep :jk: