5th gen may be last 4runner?

[03_4x4Runner]

The April 2018 Motor Trend magazine interviewed the president of Toyota north America. He discussed how small suv's are outselling cars. He said last year Toyota sold 407,000 RAV4s and 387,000 Camrys. He discussed how Toyota may build a Jeep Wrangler competitor with a full frame but it would have to be FJ Cruiser size or smaller with a short wheelbase to be more maneuverable in the rocks.
They asked him about the 4runner and Sequoia. He said the jury is still out. Most suvs have gone car based because they needed to get lighter. There is a market demand for frame based suvs but we have to crunch the numbers to see if there is room for them in our lineup.
4runner continues to do well but the softest segment is for big suvs where the Sequoia is.

 

[Rightside Up]

Nope.

 

[Uneeq]

Didn't they sell 120k+ 4Runners in 2017, and it's been increasing every year since the 5th gen came out?

They might not sell as well as crossovers, but they still sell quite well, and there's no reason to stop making them.

 

[Inv4drZm]

Makes it sound like Toyota actually cares about 'rock wheeling capabilities'. Yeah right.

The Sequoia is just an offshoot of the higher-selling Tundra. There really can't be that much more R&D $ in developing the Sequoia.

Really the FJ didn't do anything the 4Runner couldn't, except for having the rear locker from the factory. Other than the nostalgic looks the 4Runner is better in most every way. They didn't even sell many FJs compared to the 4Runners.

 

[Hitman]

I don't know.....just about everyone else has abandoned the midsize BOF SUV, so Toyota could actually gain market share. But then again, in the grand scheme of things, nobody really wants a BOF midsize SUV these days.

But hey, the 4Runner sales have been getting stronger over the last few years, despite the ancient design that it ridiculously outdated at this point. Imagine how well a new generation with modern technology could sell.

 

[QuickBen]

Seems far from a certainty to me! The 5th gen 4Runner is realistically overpriced for what it is yet Toyota still manages to sell the crap out of them.

The 4Runner also appeals to a slightly larger audience than some of the other body-on-frame SUVs we have seen discontinued in recent years for some reason. You are way more likely to see a 40 year old soccer mom rolling around in an off road premium than an FJ or Xterra.

A much more interesting piece of information to me is that Toyota wants to try to compete with the Wrangler. With Ford apparently trying to step into that space with a new a Bronco, it could get very crowded in 2021!

Ninja edit in - link to sales chart for reference. The 4runner is basically the only vehicle in its class left, which is what led me to it in the first place, and I suspect that will only continue to help its sales. These numbers are actually pretty crazy given how far behind most modern vehicles the 4runner is (and again, its price point!)
http://carsalesbase.com/us-car-sales-data/toyota/toyota-4runner/

 

[T4 Leaf]

IMO...they have kinda mailed it in on the Sequoia....after my T4R purchase, the wife and I looked at them...but passed due to styling, mpg, console type stuff, etc....oh, and the want about $50-60K for them... may be a reason for the soft mkt there bud. Do better.

We bought a Tahoe LT (lightly used).

 

[Throwback]

There's been no R&D required on the 4Runner for years other than hiring the guys that design Transformers robots to do the 5th Gen facelift.

I would bet they have awesome net-net margins on them since they're just cranking out the same 1998 technology year after year.

They're in a weird spot though, because people buy the 4Runner because they're sexy looking, the rear window rolls down, and they're known to be insanely reliable.

If they roll out some new drivetrain with zero reliability history for the sake of efficiency they will lose a gigantic buyer pool in my opinion.

It's just like how nobody really cares about the Tacoma reliability anymore since it's not a thing with the new ones. The only way I'd buy a Tacoma now would be if they got 30mpg+ since there's no way to know how long they'll last.

 

[PeoplecallmeIan]

If toyota brings back an FJ with a solid axle i'm totally trading the 4runner.

 

[1jzgte]

its all relative to gas prices man... once gas hits $5 a gallon again, cars will outsell SUVs

 

[calcrc]

I have seen quite a lot of ladies in 4runners around my city. I hope they don't make the 6th gen a Sucker/mall runner next :/ oops I meant soccer mom or dad, sorry

 

[PeoplecallmeIan]

I have seen quite a lot of ladies in 4runners around my city. I hope they don't make the 6th gen a Sucker/mall runner next :/ oops I meant soccer mom or dad, sorry

It's kind of funny the looks my wife gets when she is driving my truck. She says that she gets a lot of thumbs up or weird stares when they pull up next to a lifted runner and an Asian lady driving it. But yes it is kind of a soccer mom vehicle when they aren't lifted up.

 

[2112 R]

I have seen quite a lot of ladies in 4runners around my city. I hope they don't make the 6th gen a Sucker/mall runner next :/ oops I meant soccer mom or dad, sorry

Yes, it seems the 4runner still has that family market for folks who have a family where the Rav4 is too small and the Sequoia is too big and the 4runner is perfect for them.
Lots of moms and dads at my kids school have 4runners and have owned more than 1 in their lifetime.

 

[markie671]

4Runners have been out for awhile, I do not think theyll kill the 4runners because it started it all. They will probably replace the 4runner or revamp it..

Offroading and all that does not matter to Toyota's financial side of things, they are in it for the money and whatever makes their pay checks.. If the masses are all about frame cars then thats where the market will be.. Its only us who cares about off-roading and what it can do.

 

[philsey]

There are times when I regret buying my '18, because I really had no need to. Maybe I'll be glad I did.

:couch2:

 

[Throwback]

What other vehicles share the 4Runner running gear? Prado, Lexus, etc.?

I expect the Sequoia would be nixed before the 4Runner. For that matter the US market Land Cruiser.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

Yes, it seems the 4runner still has that family market for folks who have a family where the Rav4 is too small and the Sequoia is too big and the 4runner is perfect for them.
Lots of moms and dads at my kids school have 4runners and have owned more than 1 in their lifetime.

The Highlander is within an inch or so of 4runner dimensions.

 

[final]

It's kind of funny the looks my wife gets when she is driving my truck. She says that she gets a lot of thumbs up or weird stares when they pull up next to a lifted runner and an Asian lady driving it. But yes it is kind of a soccer mom vehicle when they aren't lifted up.

Maybe it is a new trend? Chloe Kim has a cement in her IG feed (unless it is product placement or a loaner):

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbcrtSTFL9A/?hl=en&taken-by=chloekimsnow

https://www.instagram.com/p/BeQ2bMml39Y/?hl=en&taken-by=chloekimsnow

 

[2016 4Runner SR5]

There's been no R&D required on the 4Runner for years other than hiring the guys that design Transformers robots to do the 5th Gen facelift.

I would bet they have awesome net-net margins on them since they're just cranking out the same 1998 technology year after year.

They're in a weird spot though, because people buy the 4Runner because they're sexy looking, the rear window rolls down, and they're known to be insanely reliable.

If they roll out some new drivetrain with zero reliability history for the sake of efficiency they will lose a gigantic buyer pool in my opinion.

It's just like how nobody really cares about the Tacoma reliability anymore since it's not a thing with the new ones. The only way I'd buy a Tacoma now would be if they got 30mpg+ since there's no way to know how long they'll last.

I owned a 2016 Tacoma for 3500 miles, it's a POS Got rid of it and bought my 2016 4Runner. Both trucks were purchased brand new, loved the look of the Tacoma, just that 3.5 and 6 speed auto is total junk. With all the shifting issues, lag issues, having to jump on the gas so much just to get up a hill, no way they're going to hold up like the previous years did.

 

[2016 4Runner SR5]

The Highlander is within an inch or so of 4runner dimensions.

Yeah but it's ugly as hell.