4Runner vs Wrangler - Help me decide

[TravelingTaco]

No one needs a pedal commander. The 4R is not sluggish.
Put your foot into it and it will move with a purpose.

The throttle mapping is actually very precise, and allows you to apply precise increments of power to the wheels at low speeds, such as when crawling over rough terrain. This provides better traction off road and also on wet/icy conditions on pavement. Think of it as using an extra long breaker bar to bust free a seized bolt. It's much easier to apply the precise amount of torque necessary to turn the bolt with a long bar compared to using a short breaker bar that you practically have to jump on with your full weight to get the bolt to finally turn.

As far as needing a regear, it's totally unnecessary unless you plan to install huge tires after a lift. Stick with oem size or 33" tires, and you'll never need a regear.

Thats funny, it seems that many owners disagree with this. I talked to a local guy last week who has 10k on his T4R, and he said he would not buy it again for precisely this reason. Loves everything else about it but its a "dog". His words.

I'm not expecting the 4Runner to be a race car but any means but compared to the wrangler (any of the 3 engines offered), it feels considerably more sluggish.

 

[thennen]

Thats funny, it seems that many owners disagree with this. I talked to a local guy last week who has 10k on his T4R, and he said he would not buy it again for precisely this reason. Loves everything else about it but its a "dog". His words.

I'm not expecting the 4Runner to be a race car but any means but compared to the wrangler (any of the 3 engines offered), it feels considerably more sluggish.

I'm with Tuco on this. Pedal electronics may help to make it feel different, but they don't make it faster. You can duplicate the maximum acceleration with your foot. As for acceleration, 0-60 in 7.5 seconds is plenty for a 4500-pound truck unless you want to race someone. If that's what you want to do, then I suggest selecting another vehicle.

 

[DallasTRDPro]

Hi 4Runner enthusiasts!

I purchased a new 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro in lunar rock last October. Turns out, its a lemon and Toyota is buying it back. Now I need to decide between a JL Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon and a 4Runner (ORP or TRDP).

Has anyone owned both/or came from the wrangler platform?

I'll be getting a hard top and installing some sound deadening in the event I go the wrangler route.

4Runner Pros: Larger storage space, sliding down rear window (for the dogs), readily available, great aftermarket, capable off road, best looking SUV of all time, and more plush for a DD.

4Runner Cons: Dated tech and sluggish compared to the Jeep. I can't believe it doesn't even have blindspot! I'm not a fan of the stock suspension and will change it.

Wrangler Pros: More off road capable. Top and doors off. Better tech/features. Larger aftermarket.

Wrangler Cons: Cost. Its louder on the highway. Potential reliability issues (but I can't say I'm thrilled with Toyota at the moment).

Background info: Will be used as a DD on a 9 mile each way commute. Also used on the weekends for overlanding/camping. Not serious wheeling. Plan to do some minor mods like rock sliders, lights, bumper/winch, full spare, and possibly suspension on the T4R.

I'm actually a Jeep guy and have had 5, but none of the JL's. I picked up a Pro after my last Rubicon had death wobble. Its easy for me now. One drives well and the other doesn't. So I will be sticking with the one I enjoy driving the most. I've recently had two friends say that I never complain about the 4R, but I used to always hate something about my Jeeps. I thought about it and its true. My biggest complaint of the 4R is the aftermarket support which is nothing like the Jeeps and the ease of changing bumpers or lights on a Jeep is way better and way cheaper. I don't want to waste the money modifying my vehicles as much anymore.

 

[Tuco S.]

Thats funny, it seems that many owners disagree with this. I talked to a local guy last week who has 10k on his T4R, and he said he would not buy it again for precisely this reason. Loves everything else about it but its a "dog". His words.

I'm not expecting the 4Runner to be a race car but any means but compared to the wrangler (any of the 3 engines offered), it feels considerably more sluggish.

I guess some folks don't like having to depress the gas pedal an extra few mm's, I don't know. The pedal commander doesn't add any hp or torque, it just makes the pedal more sensitive.

Compared to my wife's Forester, which has full-time symmetrical awd, my 4R is considerably easier to get up on rhino ramps in rear wheel drive. If you're not super careful with the Subaru, using 1 foot on the brake pedal, 1 foot on the gas pedal, and a hand on the hand brake, those rhino ramps can easily become a launch pad (ask me how I know). I think it may be because her Forester has a cvt, which has a tiny "gear ratio" (equivalent) to help with low end power. All you have to do is barely touch that gas pedal and the car will lurch forward. I hate it.

 

[TravelingTaco]

I guess some folks don't like having to depress the gas pedal an extra few mm's, I don't know. The pedal commander doesn't add any hp or torque, it just makes the pedal more sensitive.

Compared to my wife's Forester, which has full-time symmetrical awd, my 4R is considerably easier to get up on rhino ramps in rear wheel drive. If you're not super careful with the Subaru, using 1 foot on the brake pedal, 1 foot on the gas pedal, and a hand on the hand brake, those rhino ramps can easily become a launch pad (ask me how I know). I think it may be because her Forester has a cvt, which has a tiny "gear ratio" (equivalent) to help with low end power. All you have to do is barely touch that gas pedal and the car will lurch forward. I hate it.

My wife has a forester too, I love it. Great all around vehicle.

 

[Sirdano]

Go here and find which one has more issues.

CarComplaints.com | Car Problems, Car Complaints, & Repair/Recall Information

 

[Elvir555]

I just traded in my 2018 Sahara for a 2021 4Runner. If you go with the Jeep option i would strongly consider going for the extended warranty. I have had 4 check engine lights (first one at 300 miles on the odometer), and countless other electronic issues that resulted in 9 trips to the dealer. Not to mention the death wobble that keeps coming back. My sister has a 2018 Sahara also but she has never had any issues. The wranglers are a blast with the doors and the top being removable and very capable vehicles. I was just tired of being in a rental so much.

 

[arehman11]

My mother in law and a lot of my neighbors have JL’s. They absolutely love them and have had zero issues. I think I’d get one, but strictly as an offroad toy. Ideallyif they offered a base with crank windows and rubicon offroad bits, I’d grab one.

 

[Rjayy505]

same i want to get a 4runner or an XJ to build but dont know yet

 

[JLTD]

Thats funny, it seems that many owners disagree with this. I talked to a local guy last week who has 10k on his T4R, and he said he would not buy it again for precisely this reason. Loves everything else about it but its a "dog". His words.

I'm not expecting the 4Runner to be a race car but any means but compared to the wrangler (any of the 3 engines offered), it feels considerably more sluggish.

Feels sluggish? Isn't:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=teCnz1CucE0

 

[Pedro367]

Feels sluggish? Isn't:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=teCnz1CucE0

That's also a JK, so not suprised they are similar speed with similar HP and 5spd transmissions. The JL is considerably faster with the new 8 speed.

I also do not feel the 4runner is that bad, FWIW. Slow, sure. But, it's not bad. ~7.5s to 60 isn't unreasonable.

 

[hero1234]

I’m in the 4Runner club just do to comfort of the two. What happened to your Tacoma to cause all the trouble? Engine , transmission?

 

[Toffees]

Hi 4Runner enthusiasts!

I purchased a new 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro in lunar rock last October. Turns out, its a lemon and Toyota is buying it back. Now I need to decide between a JL Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon and a 4Runner (ORP or TRDP).

Has anyone owned both/or came from the wrangler platform?

I'll be getting a hard top and installing some sound deadening in the event I go the wrangler route.

4Runner Pros: Larger storage space, sliding down rear window (for the dogs), readily available, great aftermarket, capable off road, best looking SUV of all time, and more plush for a DD.

4Runner Cons: Dated tech and sluggish compared to the Jeep. I can't believe it doesn't even have blindspot! I'm not a fan of the stock suspension and will change it.

Wrangler Pros: More off road capable. Top and doors off. Better tech/features. Larger aftermarket.

Wrangler Cons: Cost. Its louder on the highway. Potential reliability issues (but I can't say I'm thrilled with Toyota at the moment).

Background info: Will be used as a DD on a 9 mile each way commute. Also used on the weekends for overlanding/camping. Not serious wheeling. Plan to do some minor mods like rock sliders, lights, bumper/winch, full spare, and possibly suspension on the T4R.

The question is whether you want another lemon or not

 

[Nalcyon]

Also owned both

an 08 JK with 6speed manual, front sway bar completely removed, 4.88 gears, detroit lockers front and rear... and 32 inch mud tires.

Loved the jeep, love the 4runner. I had no problems with my 2door JK and had plenty of storage for me and a girlfriend at the time (of course the back seat and all carpet were pulled out after the first week).

I loved having no back seat, no carpet and just the front pieces of the hard top installed, looked like a mini scrambler. (Side note, in 08 you could still get vinyl seats on a JK, which mine were so there was no worry about driving in the rain with no back hard top installed as the vinyl kept the rain from soaking through the seats).

The jeep was by far superior offroad, not even close. I would say an average built 4runner on 33mts can wheel maybe 65% of what a mostly stocked mud tired wrangler can do.

That being said needs change and at my age I am no longer searching for the hardest obstacles like I once did and a dirty secret is once that JK had lockers mud tires and 4.88 gears there was hardly anything I could find to challenge it without going to a dedicated offroad park which actually kind of took away from the fun. Doors and top off were awesome though...

Don't worry about wrangler reliability as long as you stay away from a lot of the electronic add ons. (The Toyota will still last longer). Also save yourself close to 3500 and get a manual wrangler.

Killer features of a wrangler to me vs a 4runner are solid front axle and manual transmission.

In the end they both have some of the highest resale value so its hard to go wrong. Bought the 08 brand new for 19k, sold it three years later after a LOT of offroad with 85k, completely scratched fenders, wheels, and skids, and still got 15 on trade. Miss those prices now days...

 

[Finslayer83]

1.) What is the lemon issue?

2.) I've owned both and currently have both.

Personally I'd take the 4R all day for my needs (family adventure wagon). IF I lived in Colorado or similar where I had a TON of trails next to the house I'd still take the 4R and get a TJ/LJ for trail runs.

That said the JL series on 35's/37's is easier and cheaper to accomplish.

What do you want to accomplish with it? The Rubicon is a better off road option but that comes with daily trade offs.

Are you going to wheel it?

My answer is both!

LJ waiting on Savvy/Currie suspension to ship (trail queen!)

 

[dflowerz]

I was on the fence too and ended up going with a 4Runner TRD Pro. So far I am loving it. Engine is OK. Not exciting but perfectly up to the task. New electronics with CarPlay are a must and nice. I just did a highway 780 mile trip yesterday and the Pro was fine. Zero issues with it so far. I went over some mountain passes and it did fine. My one gripe was using cruise control with the 5 speed transmission had it hunting and shifting a lot on climbs. Not hurting anything but old school issue. The Pro suspension is surprisingly comfy on the highway. I don't think all 4Runners are built in Japan but the Pro is. So I am a happy owner and glad I went with the Pro. I also installed a Pedal Commander which helps a ton for throttle response of the engine. No more power but remaps the throttle opening compared to how much you push the gas pedal. Must do IMO. Only mod I have planned it a winch and front bumper. I went with a Southern Style Offroad that does not interfere with the radar.

 

[ahtoxa11]

I don't think all 4Runners are built in Japan but the Pro is.

All trims of the 4runner are built in Japan and the PRO trim items are mostly added at port.

 

[MoparTH]

I just came from a 2018 JL Rubicon to a 2021 4Runner ORP. The JL had been pretty bad, from the 2nd day of ownership to when I sold it there were problems and recalls, when the last recall came out which was to "detune" the engine because of possible clutch problems, I decided I was done. Really liking the 4Runner so far and hoping for the same reliability as my Tundra which has been terrific.

 

[Drobs]

I looked at Rubicons before I bought my 4Runner in 2019.
Test drove 2 of them.

Researching them on the various forums and finding out about the Sand Casting Engine Failures, I eliminated them from my search.

That and the whole starting on fire thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afpnkCOsMFU

I was coming from a Nissan Frontier which had a warranty that was worthless. I had to pay out of pocket for Nissan design failures (radiator, transmission, timing chain tensioners).

I'd still love to have Wrangler to park outside far away from my house and cruise around / wheel on weekends. It's the ultimate convertible.

 

[BigGy]

Short and sweet. Buddy was in the market for a new rig about 6 months before we were. He bought a new Wrangler. Wife and I drove it, not impressed. We went '21 TRD Pro. Now have driven both in the nasty winter roads....4runner big winner, hands down. Bud agrees and has buyers remorse.

Going to Bad Lands offroad park in a couple weeks with the bud w/ the Wrangler. I think I'm looking forward to it more than he is. :eyebrows: