4runner on the road
- Thread starter swiftjab
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brockeverly
New member
It is a great vehicle for either purpose. If you do want to look at others though, a Highlander would be pretty nice as well, and have a better ride.
RG79
New member
The T4R off the lot drives like a Lexus. Maybe go to a dealer and test drive one.
I drive mine 95% suburb driving and I get 16.8 mpg, pretty much the same as a sienna or highlander would get. Although on road trips I'll get about 21 whereas the sienna and highlander you're talking 26ish.
The 4r needs better tires right off the lot, and possibly caster adj and shocks. The only thing that annoys me around town is the long travel in the brake pedal. Other than that i like it a lot.
The 4r needs better tires right off the lot, and possibly caster adj and shocks. The only thing that annoys me around town is the long travel in the brake pedal. Other than that i like it a lot.
4runner
The SR5 Runner rides wonderfully on road with the right tires. As for as smoothness and quietness it rides as good as or better than a lot of cars. I run the Michelin MS2's. That makes a world of difference. I know what a good ride feels like, as I also own a Lexus Sedan.
The SR5 Runner rides wonderfully on road with the right tires. As for as smoothness and quietness it rides as good as or better than a lot of cars. I run the Michelin MS2's. That makes a world of difference. I know what a good ride feels like, as I also own a Lexus Sedan.
KCcarguy
New member
Honestly, you'll get a lot of different opinions on here. just go test drive one. Be sure to try each model (TE, limited, sr5) as they have very different handling characteristics. Also be sure to try hard breaking and avoidance maneuvers at speeds above 50mph. That's where the Sr5 can get a little spooky IMO. Good luck!
JohnnyT
New member
Doesn't sound like you drove one. If thats the case, you shouldn't even ask these questions without driving one first.
If you drive it and think you like it, good - but then go drive a crossover type truck like Highlander, Honda Pilot, Jeep GC, Infiniti FXwhatever, Mazda C9, Lexus, Nissan Murano, BMW X3, etc. These all ride nicer on road. Much nicer. Its like this because they are built differently for a different purpose than the 4Runner. Many on this forum will say some or all of these other trucks are crap, but don't listen.
If you still like the 4Runner after doing all that, then definitely buy it. Can't go wrong. Great truck and I highly recommend it - but that's me.
Do your homework, shop around, sit in them, and drive them. Something will strike you and that's what you'll go with.
JohnnyT
New member
You are obviously unable to read. I'm not "comparing" anything.
He's looking for something that does well on the highway and city and thats what I responded to.
Foques
New member
retract the claws, please :flipoff:
I only commented on the suggestion I saw:
Take object a, test it, then take object b, test it.
upon receipt of results, compare the results..
If it wasn't your intention, you could have worded it differently. To give you an example, you could say "you may be better of trying out an FX rather than 4r, due to..." etc.
thanks for checking :thanks:
JohnnyT
New member
+1. I concur. My wife drives an 07 Pilot and she loves it. I love it. Smooth as silk. Incredibly well made. I can't speak to the current ones though.
When I bought it new, the Honda Finance guy didn't want to give me the Extended Warranty info or pricing - he said "Why?? You won't need it. This truck won't break." He was right. It hasn't. 5 years. Not one single issue inside or out. Just as smooth, quick, and responsive today as it was on day 1.
But it ain't no testosterone-laden truck with levers and masculine guy stuff.
Koz
New member
That's funny because the GX was rated the best mid-sized luxury SUV/crossover for 2011 and the 4Runner is a close cousin to the GX. So his statement is not so idiotic.
Koz
KCcarguy
New member
I understood the OP's question as should he consider a 4runner or other opions like a CUV. Obviously a CUV is better-suited to his needs, so suggesting he consider one is not idiotic.
Swiftjab: You probably should tell us a bit more about what region you are in and what conditions you might expect. Based on my own tests, not all CUV's are created equal.
Subaru I would rate as #1 among crossovers in terms of their AWD system. As much as the Mazda CX-9 is a Motor Trend favorite, their AWD is suspect. Same with the GMC Acadia and its cousins (AWD only puts up to 35% to any one wheel, not the 100% per wheel that Subaru and the 4Runner can do). My previous 2004 Sienna AWD couldn't pass the slippery hill test while my Subaru Tribeca made it up my hill w/o any issues. (I have a mountain cabin that sits on a hill that can be quite slippery in the winter). My new 4Runner made it up the hill yesterday without any issues (snow and glaze of ice on the ground) as well
I found these two videos to be especially telling about various AWD systems.
AWD Test
Subaru AWD Uphill Comparison Test - YouTube
AWD Test
Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive Test - YouTube
Yes, I know the videos are produced by Subaru, but my own experiences of driving various CUV's (owned by friends) up a slippery hill at my mountain cabin support Subaru's "enclosed environment lab tests"
Be sure to test drive various SUV's and CUV's and if you live in an area with frequent snow, keep in mind that not all AWD systems are created equal. The 4Runner's off-road ability was the MAIN reason I chose it as my next vehicle. Althought I drive in DC (arguably, that's like driving off-road) about 80% of the time, its those 20% that I'm in the mountains that drove my decision to go with the 4Runner.
Subaru I would rate as #1 among crossovers in terms of their AWD system. As much as the Mazda CX-9 is a Motor Trend favorite, their AWD is suspect. Same with the GMC Acadia and its cousins (AWD only puts up to 35% to any one wheel, not the 100% per wheel that Subaru and the 4Runner can do). My previous 2004 Sienna AWD couldn't pass the slippery hill test while my Subaru Tribeca made it up my hill w/o any issues. (I have a mountain cabin that sits on a hill that can be quite slippery in the winter). My new 4Runner made it up the hill yesterday without any issues (snow and glaze of ice on the ground) as well
I found these two videos to be especially telling about various AWD systems.
AWD Test
Subaru AWD Uphill Comparison Test - YouTube
AWD Test
Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive Test - YouTube
Yes, I know the videos are produced by Subaru, but my own experiences of driving various CUV's (owned by friends) up a slippery hill at my mountain cabin support Subaru's "enclosed environment lab tests"
Be sure to test drive various SUV's and CUV's and if you live in an area with frequent snow, keep in mind that not all AWD systems are created equal. The 4Runner's off-road ability was the MAIN reason I chose it as my next vehicle. Althought I drive in DC (arguably, that's like driving off-road) about 80% of the time, its those 20% that I'm in the mountains that drove my decision to go with the 4Runner.
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