2012 4Runner vs 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee

One thing to consider if you 4Runner, you only get all wheel drive with the LTD. This was a must for me.

I promise it's not too hard to shift into 4x4 in the Trail should you need. In 2 wheel drive it's impressive even. This cat must live in jungles to require 4x4 all the time? Or are you like involved in car chases where you need a leg up in the gnarliest of terrain? Haha.
 
Its a nice to have, especially coming from an AWD car.
That and he SR5 interior seemed really cheap.

the only interior difference is the leather on the seats, which can be had as an option or aftermarket upgrade...It looks less cheap than fabric, but otherwise the interior is the same.
 
I promise it's not too hard to shift into 4x4 in the Trail should you need. In 2 wheel drive it's impressive even. This cat must live in jungles to require 4x4 all the time? Or are you like involved in car chases where you need a leg up in the gnarliest of terrain? Haha.

It's all about black ice. All wheel drive is key in helping if you hit some unexpectedly or you did not think the weather was the right conditions. Do not care to drive in 4x4 when I do not need to.
 
It's all about black ice. All wheel drive is key in helping if you hit some unexpectedly or you did not think the weather was the right conditions. Do not care to drive in 4x4 when I do not need to.

You can just role in 4x4 except don't do tight doughnuts in a parking lot.
 
the only interior difference is the leather on the seats, which can be had as an option or aftermarket upgrade...It looks less cheap than fabric, but otherwise the interior is the same.

Well there is different:
Gauges/dash
7.1" Nav/stero
Push button start
Factory leather
No floppy 4x4 handle
Auto/dual HVAC

To name a few differences ;)

Yes, no one will confuse my Limited interior for my Infiniti but the Limited pkg makes it better.
 
Well there is different:
Gauges/dash
7.1" Nav/stero
Push button start
Factory leather
No floppy 4x4 handle
Auto/dual HVAC

To name a few differences ;)

Yes, no one will confuse my Limited interior for my Infiniti but the Limited pkg makes it better.

OK, I have a TE, so i do have the much better looking gauges. I'll give you that one.

I think many TE owners would take offense to the "floppy 4x4 handle" comment!

My point was, the interior trim pieces (90% of the interior) except the leather, is the same....dash panels, door panels, headliner, cheapo carpets, shifter, etc.

to each his own. I do like the look of a stock nav system better than the non-nav.
 
You can just role in 4x4 except don't do tight doughnuts in a parking lot.

For those who have experienced black ice understand. It's called black ice because you usually can not see it and likely would not be in 4x4 because there would be no snow on the road, hence advantage of AWD. Bottom line IMO if you drive a lot 30k+ per year where it snows it is a must, again IMHO.
 
For those who have experienced black ice understand. It's called black ice because you usually can not see it and likely would not be in 4x4 because there would be no snow on the road, hence advantage of AWD. Bottom line IMO if you drive a lot 30k+ per year where it snows it is a must, again IMHO.

Your opinion. On black ice, I don't care if you have full time 8 wheel drive, your full time 4X4 won't help. Also remember that 4X4 only helps the vehicle during acceleration, not during braking or coasting. I won't debate full vs. part time 4X4 as both have their advantages. I don't know about you, but during bad weather I coast and brake as much as I accelerate. Most important to get through snow and ice: Tires. And a skilled driver.
 
Your opinion. On black ice, I don't care if you have full time 8 wheel drive, your full time 4X4 won't help. Also remember that 4X4 only helps the vehicle during acceleration, not during braking or coasting. I won't debate full vs. part time 4X4 as both have their advantages. I don't know about you, but during bad weather I coast and brake as much as I accelerate. Most important to get through snow and ice: Tires. And a skilled driver.

Let's leave it on something we both might fully agree about, tires as you mention are your best insurance. My dad always told me that, cheers.
 
On the subject of KDSS, I think the biggest advantage it offers is its on-road handling. KDSS allows the TE to have big beefy sway bars that eliminate body lean when cornering, yet still offer the full range of wheel travel that you would get with no (or very small) sway bars.

It doesn't 'increase wheel travel' per se, just allows it to maintain full wheel travel while still having thick sway bars for cornering.

And I can testify to its greatness. I was really surprised by how flat the first TE i test drove cornered because of it.
 
On the subject of KDSS, I think the biggest advantage it offers is its on-road handling. KDSS allows the TE to have big beefy sway bars that eliminate body lean when cornering, yet still offer the full range of wheel travel that you would get with no (or very small) sway bars.

It doesn't 'increase wheel travel' per se, just allows it to maintain full wheel travel while still having thick sway bars for cornering.

And I can testify to its greatness. I was really surprised by how flat the first TE i test drove cornered because of it.

It is more accurate to say that it doesn't 'restrict' wheel travel at trail speeds. The locking diff, along with KDSS, give a really good offroad truck that is quite civilized on the HW.

The JGC is more of a car than a truck. A better compraison would be the Wrangler Unlimited vs 4Runner.
 
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I have owned 3 Jeeps (still have one).

They have all been fun and I have taken them all over the place, so I have a lot of good memories. With the good memories came all kinds of headaches!!

One good thing I can say about them for sure is that parts are cheap and easy to find. Thank goodness for that!!
 
On the subject of KDSS, I think the biggest advantage it offers is its on-road handling. KDSS allows the TE to have big beefy sway bars that eliminate body lean when cornering, yet still offer the full range of wheel travel that you would get with no (or very small) sway bars.


And I can testify to its greatness. I was really surprised by how flat the first TE i test drove cornered because of it.


This. KDSS shines on road. The cornering ability of a big KDSS equipped 4Runner is very surprising. It's the reason I'm aiming at getting a TE with KDSS.

It will help resale if I ever sell this vehicle as well. There isn't going to be a lot of KDSS equipped trucks out there in ten years and I think this system will be proven very reliable and desirable in the years to come.
 
There is not going to be a lot of any type of trucks out there in 10 years. At least "Trucks" as we have come to know and love!
 
There is not going to be a lot of any type of trucks out there in 10 years. At least "Trucks" as we have come to know and love!

Unfortunately true.

That's why the last of their generation will continue to be in demand by a certain demographic and why the resale will still be impressive.
 
There is not going to be a lot of any type of trucks out there in 10 years. At least "Trucks" as we have come to know and love!

This is true. A recent issue of either Motor Trend or Car and Driver stated that the current generation 4runner is rummored to be the last of the body on frame 4runners. Iran has been threating to block all ships carrying oil in a major passage over there. If they are ever successful oil will be $5-$6 a gallon easily and 4runner sales would plummet.
 
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This is true. A recent issue of either Motor Trend or Car and Driver stated that the current generation 4runner is rummored to be the last of the body on frame 4runners. Iran has been threating to block all ships carrying oil in a major passage over there. If they are ever successful oil will be $5-$6 a gallon easily and 4runner sales would plummet.

BOF 4Runners get the same fuel econony as the unibody Jeep GC''s so I guess their sales would plummet too.
Gas Mileage of 2012 Toyota 4Runner
Gas Mileage of 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee
 

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