3rd gen vs 4th gen - in 2026?

[ddnww]

Hey guys, I havent been on here in like 7 years. Had my 07 4th gen v6 4x4 which I loved and still miss but had to sell back in 2018. Looking at possibly picking up another t4r. Wondering what the consensus is on long term reliability, offroad capability with mild mods, and light daily driving use.

Also, what would be the most miles you would pick up a well taken care of 4runner? How many miles is too many?

This would be a 4th or possibly 5th vehicle in my stable. Have a kia forte commuter/daily driver, a new f250 for towing, long trips, taking wife to nice dinners, and two custom classic cars.

Mainly the 4runner would be for trails, getting into some of the best secluded camping spots, and that sort of stuff where my f250 is too big and i also dont want to scratch it.

 

[02SE]

The choice for me would come down to the condition of any particular 4Runner you consider buying. For me the age or mileage on such old vehicles would be secondary to the actual condition of a vehicle.

 

[whyzee125]

IMO if you need a V8 then 4th gen; if you don't, 3rd gen all day every day.

If I were looking for one, I think over 250k would be the cutoff for me. I'd shoot for under 200 but if you find a nice one with a little more, it's worth considering.

 

[T4R2014]

Newer vehicle will always be the better daily. A 3rd gen is more of a want than a need as a daily these days.

 

[rwh963]

4th gen, v6, 2007-2009

 

[Tr@d3craft]

I think it depends on what you want. I own a 4th and 5th Gen. 4th Gen drives like a car and the 5th like a truck. Prefer the 5th Gen personally.

 

[John in NC]

I've seen some good deals on higher mile 5th gens, just a little more than what you'd pay for a good 3rd or 4th gen with similar miles.

Stay away from Northeast/ rust belt cars.

My 2011 has 180K on it and I'd drive it across the country today if needed.

Having said all that, when I see a nice 3rd gen it puts a smile on my face.

 

[IVD4R]

Newer vehicle will always be the better daily. A 3rd gen is more of a want than a need as a daily these days.

You're right.

 

[AlexB-Runner]

Newer vehicles will always be the better daily. Older vehicles are more of a want than a need.

 

[mslim]

Rust is always a dealbreaker for me. I'm a diehard V8 guy with gas engines. In a truck or SUV I go for torque, not revs. I'm so glad I went for the bump. It's so well matched to the tranny. I consistently get 20-21 mpg mixed city and highway with it. Coming from an I6 Jeep CJ, that's a heckuva improvement. So 4th Gen for me.

 

[Parks Junkie]

A newbie when it comes to 4runners, but I've got a lot of miles under my belt on cars in general. Hard to argue with newer/better DD, but IMO it really comes down to condition, condition, condition. Yeah, if there's 20 years difference, age does make a difference. Maybe even the first year to the last year of 2 different generations. But unless there's something that's a deal killer, you're better off with the nicer one. Look for one that brings a smile to your face, not just, yeah, this is ok.

 

[Three dogs]

I just found an 04 with 113K miles, It's from Oklahoma so it has a few hail dings and was in a pass side wreck with a less than perfect paint job. The engine and undercarriage are absolutely spotless. :banana:

 

[Drcoffee]

I own both and hands down 4th gen.

 

[Thai]

Since this is not likely gonna be a DD and more for fun trails, I would get 3rd gen. Why? Smaller footprint. Lighter weight. Better clearance angles. Perfect for trails. Like a Jeep Wrangler.

Now, if this was gonna be a DD, then newer is better. Not just comfort or reliability, newer is also safer from a crash/accident standpoint. Better crashworthiness in frame/body. Better traction control/ABS/stability control. Heck rear disc brakes are killer feature, compared to 3rd gen!

(Note that 2001 and 2002 3rd gen did come with VSC and ATRAC.)

But yeah, 3rd gen is just so damn sexy....

 

[Parks Junkie]

Since this is not likely gonna be a DD and more for fun trails, I would get 3rd gen. Why? Smaller footprint.

Truth.

Having just bought a 4th gen to replace a 2003 Infiniti QX4, AKA Nissan Pathfinder, the 4runner is big. Too big, bigger than I wanted. It's like 6" bigger in every dimension, taller, wider, longer. Not quite into the Sequoia/Tahoe size, but I see it as big, not middle sized. It's basically a vacationmobile, emphatically not a daily driver, so time will tell. A bigger trunk isn't bad, but it's taller, wider, longer. I'll give it a year and see how I like it then. At this point it's more a, I wish it was a bit smaller" than an "I can't stand this thing" but we'll see.

But it's big, not medium sized.