I won't say I'm a worrier but...my 20 yr old son said., "I'm thinking of buying a 15 year old bronco for $4500 for his very rare visits home. (he's in a military academy so is rarely here). So my h and I are willing to spend up to 20000 to keep him and any visitiors in a safe 4x4 which will perform well primarily in desert river beds and sometimes on snowny mountain highways. Here are our priorities: roll bars [Are roll bars sometimes standard (hidden) or are they always after market?], decent reliability (it won't be drive often), responsivness, and drivability, and automatic transmission. All the mid sized 4x4's are okay by me. What do you think? Here are the ones that have caught my interest: 4 runner, highlander, xterra, bmw x3, fj cruiser.
4runner, xterra, fjcruiser etc for performance and safety
- Thread starter AZmom
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I don't want to get a bronco as the technology is old and the safety standards are below mine. My roll bar question translates to which cabin is safest?
Canadian144
New member
Well cross off the Highlander and X3 if you are planning to do any offroading... they are both crossovers, unibodies, that are designed for driving on the street. Roll bars definitely aren't standard on anything these days, except for what JohnsD90 mentioned, the Jeep Wrangler.
Between the Xterra, 4Runner, and FJ cruiser.... I'd say go drive them all. All are pretty similar in terms of capability, reliability, and everything else. FJ cruiser and Xterra will be smaller than the 4Runner.
bubbleheaddiver
New member
I don't really have experience with the Xterra but own an '05 and '11 4Runner and test drove the FJ. Our '05 has passenger and driver airbags but side curtain air bags were an option our's didn't come with. The '11 has these as standard. I liked the FJ but it had pretty serious blind-spots through the rear. You can adapt to the FJ's blind spot. I would definitely test drive all of them and compare them.
Clemsonfan15
New member
Do you really need a roll bar?
I'd probably get an early 4th Gen 4runner. 03-04 or something around there. Then I would put some AT tires on it and call it done.
I'd probably get an early 4th Gen 4runner. 03-04 or something around there. Then I would put some AT tires on it and call it done.
034RUNNER
New member
I don't see how the X3 fits into the mix. If he wants a bronco I don't think he'll be too happy with the X3; it's a nice little SUV but I'm not sure about how "off road" capable it is, like the others. Plus, I don't think you'll be finding one for $20k, if I'm not mistaken. The highlander also won't be great off road, either.
I'm sure these guys can give better insight than I can (as they are) about more of the technical stuff. We have a brand new xterra and my 4runner. If you want a simple comparo on the two, I will say the X rides harder, like a jeep almost. Very bouncy and rough. My 4runner, while lifted a little with bigger, aggressive tires is not so rough. Sure they are 8 years apart in age but even judging from others, this stands true. The X is TINY and it feels it when driving. Again, if he wants a Bronco I'm not sure if he'll like that.
Hope this helps a little in addition to what everyone else is saying.
I'm sure these guys can give better insight than I can (as they are) about more of the technical stuff. We have a brand new xterra and my 4runner. If you want a simple comparo on the two, I will say the X rides harder, like a jeep almost. Very bouncy and rough. My 4runner, while lifted a little with bigger, aggressive tires is not so rough. Sure they are 8 years apart in age but even judging from others, this stands true. The X is TINY and it feels it when driving. Again, if he wants a Bronco I'm not sure if he'll like that.
Hope this helps a little in addition to what everyone else is saying.
Thai
Elite Member
Roll bars?? Jeep Wrangler has "roll bars" because it has no roof nor traditional pillars. The roll bars on the Wrangler does NOT make it any stronger than any other vehicle. Normal cars don't need roll bars because you have strengthened pillars (A, B, C) along with a roof...the pillars are usually made from high tensile steel.
Now, you can go and install aftermarket roll bars that is welded into the frame of the truck. But, this is for hardcore off-roaders...really hardcore! And welding those things into existing frame can't be easy. I doubt that this is what you meant.
So, yeah, any of the SUVs you mentioned are perfectly fine and safe. The ONLY folks who actually test the roof strength of production cars is IIHS: IIHS vehicle ratings
You can use this to guide thru which ones have the best crash test scores and which ones have the best roof strength. Here is a quick link to midsize SUV roof strength results: Roof strength evaluations: Midsize SUVs
The FJ, 4runner, and Xterras all scored about average, which is somewhat disappointing, but not too bad. And i am sure that the old Bronco would have scored poorly on these tests.
Thai
Elite Member
How about a truck?? It is similar to a SUV, but more practical for a young kid! And they are generally a bit cheaper than the SUV counterpart. My favorite is the Nissan Frontier...and you can probably deal them down to mid-$20k or lower for a new 4x4 truck, instead of a used car.
Here are the roof ratings for midsize trucks: Roof strength evaluations: Small pickups
Here are the roof ratings for midsize trucks: Roof strength evaluations: Small pickups
I had a '88 full size bronco V8, and still wish I did. That thing was brutal and a lot of fun. I would not want to drive it cross country though, it rides like a bronco! That is the only reason I traded it in for an Expedition.
A rancher in Wyoming bought it a day later and said it would never see a paved road again.
A rancher in Wyoming bought it a day later and said it would never see a paved road again.
JohnsD90
New member
The Bronco is a safe vehicle. Safety is not the reason that i wouldnt own one, the bronco has i wide stance and is a big truck, If your son wants a Bronco you should let him get it, he will be more than safe in it.
Thai
Elite Member
Do you have any data to support this, John?
CookieRoe
Senior Member
The Bronco IS a safe vehicle............... in 1978 it was. It doesn't have crumble zones nor airbags. So compared to today's "superstructured" SUVs, a 1970/1980s Bronco is a superstructured piece of sh**.
AZMom: As previously mentioned, 2003-2005 4Runner would be a good choice for the criteria you mentioned. An xterra would be fine as well, but you won't find many fans of that SUV around here
. If he doesn't need 4 doors, than an FJ cruiser would be a great choice. An FJ is practically identical to the 4Runner (except body/interior). Good Luck, hope we helped
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mtbnole
New member
look at 05 or newer xterras. They can be had for awywhere from 10-20K and will last a long time. It's a pretty simple ride, with good stock 4x4 capability, good cargo room, and is decent on the road. The 09's and later come stock with side curtain airbags if you are concerned about safety (it was an option on 05-08.)
I loved mine, and never felt unsafe driving it. It will be less expensive than a 4runner too.
I loved mine, and never felt unsafe driving it. It will be less expensive than a 4runner too.
Thai
Elite Member
Yup, although heavy, old SUVs use regular grade steel. SUVs nowadays use high tensile steel that is stronger AND lighter in weight...so, you can't base "strength" on weight alone, esp. a Ford product of that era!
