Alternatives to the 4Runner

[LandCruiser]

Is there anything that comes close to the 4Runner? I have not seen anything.

Wrangler, Gladiator, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee.

These are the closest competitors for me personally:

Lexus GX: inferior looks, full time 4WD, requires premium fuel

Dated design, Prado has been refreshed in other markets, GX hasn't. It doesn't need premium fuel, just a suggestion. Ugly AF.

Lexus LX: Same as GX, expensive

Really ugly Land Cruiser, get a proper LC instead of the LX.

Range Rover: expensive and notoriously unreliable, air suspension

Everything British is crap.

Tundra: too big if you aren't towing massive trailers regularly

Get an American truck if you need to tow something.

Tacoma: too small, wind noise

Drum brakes in a 35-45k medium size truck.

BMW X5: unibody, poor reliability

If you're looking at Germans, get the new Cayenne.

Does the 4Runner ruin you for other vehicles or is it just me?

Just you.

 

[Thai]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lBGfCiZmRAQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FvJCCoLoKRA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Dan.3]

Is there anything that comes close to the 4Runner? I have not seen anything. These are the closest competitors for me personally:

Lexus GX: inferior looks, full time 4WD, requires premium fuel

Lexus LX: Same as GX, expensive

Range Rover: expensive and notoriously unreliable, air suspension

Tundra: too big if you aren't towing massive trailers regularly

Tacoma: too small, wind noise

BMW X5: unibody, poor reliability

Does the 4Runner ruin you for other vehicles or is it just me?

IF the new Bronco lives up to the media hype, its going to grab a lot of market share. It will be from the Jeepers fed up with the fiat reliability and FJ cruisers who want the removable top. I can even seen some 4Runner owners jumping ship.

 

[LandCruiser]

IF the new Bronco lives up to the media hype, its going to grab a lot of market share. It will be from the Jeepers fed up with the fiat reliability and FJ cruisers who want the removable top. I can even seen some 4Runner owners jumping ship.

I hate the Raptor because it's too long, too wide, and too stupid.

This has promise.

 

[Bumbo]

I'm a RWD junkie. I don't think I ever drove a FWD.

I would bet you would be hard pressed to even notice the difference on a SUV like ours.

This still goes to making his point... highlander would be a valid choice for most who don't take advantage of the 4Runner 4WD capability off-road.

I won't even include snow driving or general adventure road trip use because the highlander also comes in AWD and can hold it's own just fine there too.

 

[Old Tanker]

Toyota's future plans for the Land Cruiser are to take it back to its off-road roots - more off-road, less luxury. When that happens - if that happens - it will be a worthy alternative to the 4Runner.

 

[Bumbo]

Toyota's future plans for the Land Cruiser are to take it back to its off-road roots - more off-road, less luxury. When that happens - if that happens - it will be a worthy alternative to the 4Runner.

I too would love to see that happen, but if the LC200 size persists then it would still be limited as a trail rig. I have been to some pretty tight/narrow trails which really me feel like even the 4th gen was a bit large. The technology on other other hand in the LC200 great. Trail cam and the turn assist in specific are phenomenal.

The only other product that holds off-road clout I would consider at this point in time that isn't a 4Runner is the GX470, and perhaps the 460 if aftermarket catches up.

Most all of the things working against the GX are superficial, as in aesthetics. That said, I think those that are fixed up appropriately look pretty dang good. Google images search for "long travel GX" comes up with some pretty nice examples. Bottom line, it's every bit as capable as has a lot to offer and in some cases more so than the current 5th gens.

My brother being the "Ford guy", has high hopes for the Bronco, and to a degree so do I. If they do a good job on it, I would consider buying one over the 4Runner if they do a good job on a Raptor style desert build that excels in the open desert.

The Mercedes G Wagon would be a pretty legit option but it's a bit too rich for me.

 

[mnofpeace]

The only vehicle i would consider at this point...after 6yrs/100,000 miles of ownership of my 2014 T4R that i love dearly...?

an LC-200...anything under 150K miles...


its my dream vehicle, and im currently fighting the urge to trade in my wife's car, and my old F150, gifting my wife my Runner and going out and finding an LC.

thats it, thats the list!!! :bravo:

 

[RandyBobandy]

The only similar vehicle I’m interested in is an 80 series or lx450, I’ll get one eventually but still keep my 4runner

 

[engineeer]

The 4runner would only be for you if need a very capable offroad vehicle for weekend gateways. The RRS is very capable if you modified the tires and protect the underside. The 4 runner Pro comes ready for serious offroad adventures which most buyers don't have the skills or desire to take. Taking trips to the back country 50 to 100 miles from anyone or anything I would never do in a RRS. I know my 4 runner will start every time, won't break as long as I pick the right line and offroad right and make sure it is maintained right. I never knew if my RRS would get me back to the house after leaving the dealer for one of the routine maintenance services. I do believe if your lifestyle isn't occasionally about getting deep off grid in some very rugged terrain than most SUVs can be the 1 for you instead of the 4 runner

I've got 275/55R20 KO2s on it, so it's very capable off-road and on deep snow/slush/etc.. I haven't bothered with underbody protection because I rarely go rock crawling (whether with the 4Runner or the RRS) anymore due to lack of time.

Which year was your RRS? They are far more reliable on their new platform (2014+) and the majority of current reliability issues they get dinged for are centered around the 2014-2016 touchscreens being slow/unresponsive and the same issues with the new dual screen system on 2018+ models. Mine has been solid up to 40k miles. I'll be keeping it for a long time, so I'll get to see firsthand how it does up to 100k miles though it's CPO'd so I'm covered until then if things do go wrong.

That being said, if I had to pick between a 4Runner and a RRS to take out wayyyyy into the boonies I'd give the nod to the 4Runner. I say this as someone that had a lemon 2017 4R TRD Pro that had all sorts of reliability problems.

 

[Thebeastlives]

I've got 275/55R20 KO2s on it, so it's very capable off-road and on deep snow/slush/etc.. I haven't bothered with underbody protection because I rarely go rock crawling (whether with the 4Runner or the RRS) anymore due to lack of time.

Which year was your RRS? They are far more reliable on their new platform (2014+) and the majority of current reliability issues they get dinged for are centered around the 2014-2016 touchscreens being slow/unresponsive and the same issues with the new dual screen system on 2018+ models. Mine has been solid up to 40k miles. I'll be keeping it for a long time, so I'll get to see firsthand how it does up to 100k miles though it's CPO'd so I'm covered until then if things do go wrong.

That being said, if I had to pick between a 4Runner and a RRS to take out wayyyyy into the boonies I'd give the nod to the 4Runner. I say this as someone that had a lemon 2017 4R TRD Pro that had all sorts of reliability problems.

I agree that the RRS is very capable when equipped right but mine like so many friends that had 1 was constantly having electrical issues. I got locked out once n nothing worked. The car would not start n the dealership took 1 week to find n fix the issue. When the lease was up I went back to 4 runner for the wife. When she is bored I can sell it for a few thousand off what paid for it. On a trip to moab I can't imagine what I would do if the car broke down with all my gear. I never have that concern with runner

 

[RichinRidgewood]

Is there anything that comes close to the 4Runner? I have not seen anything.

Wrangler, Gladiator, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee.

These are the closest competitors for me personally:

Lexus GX: inferior looks, full time 4WD, requires premium fuel

Dated design, Prado has been refreshed in other markets, GX hasn't. It doesn't need premium fuel, just a suggestion. Ugly AF.

Lexus LX: Same as GX, expensive

Really ugly Land Cruiser, get a proper LC instead of the LX.

Range Rover: expensive and notoriously unreliable, air suspension

Everything British is crap.

Tundra: too big if you aren't towing massive trailers regularly

Get an American truck if you need to tow something.

Tacoma: too small, wind noise

Drum brakes in a 35-45k medium size truck.

BMW X5: unibody, poor reliability

If you're looking at Germans, get the new Cayenne.

Does the 4Runner ruin you for other vehicles or is it just me?

Just you.

This is a good analysis. Really the 4Runner with a frame comparison to a MDX or a Pilot that I did resulted in me buying a 4runner SR5 Premium 4x4 with a sun roof. I would never buy a Jeep anything based on what I saw back in Detroit and my Grandfather was a "lifer" at Chrysler.
Nothing Ford either. I worked in Brazil for Ford and the crap that came out of Argentina, is, well, crap.

 

[Toffees]

Really depends on what you're doing with it.

For 90% of 4Runner owners - Highlander would be better.

For the rest it's kinda right between a Jeep GC/Subaru Outback and a Wrangler.

GX is of course very similar.
Land Cruiser 200 is just so fawking heavy, otherwise very capable. I think they'll be a great base for a family build when they get cheap enough to chop up and run 37's. On 35's they're still kind of a dog on the trails due to the weight.
Tahoe/Yukon are okay for hauling kiddos around and towing stuff. Not so much off road. But most 4Runner owners never go off road. I think that's why we see a lot of cross shopping between them.

Every midsize crossover is also sort of similar if you're not going offroad. That ranges from the Land Rovers to Jeep GC to the Honda Pilot. They're all different flavors of the same thing.

The new bronco will probably be the closest market competitor. My guess is that it will do everything better except reliability when it comes out. It should. The 4Runner is really fawking old. It should be much better in the drivetrain department in terms of power, power delivery, modern transmission, turbo, etc. The only issue I see is that it's a Ford, so it'll be questionable in reliability and durability. Even so - probably better than a Wrangler in both categories. I foresee a lot of defectors. I haven't owned a Ford since the early 90's, and the new Bronco looks compelling to me. If Toyota doesn't bring something great with the new Land Cruiser - I might buy my first non-toyota vehicle in a very long time.

Another option - LC100 or LC80. Both are comparable to the 4Runner in their own way.

This is the best answer, know your mission = know your alternatives

 

[Thai]

Land Cruiser 200 is just so fawking heavy, otherwise very capable. I think they'll be a great base for a family build when they get cheap enough to chop up and run 37's. On 35's they're still kind of a dog on the trails due to the weight.

Another option - LC100 or LC80. Both are comparable to the 4Runner in their own way.

While LC200 is indeed heavy (5900 lbs), it does have a strong V8 and off-road friendly gear ratios. With 8-speed auto in LC200 (2016 and up), its CRAWL RATIO is pretty darn good...probably among the best for automatic tranny 4wd vehicles not named Jeep Rubicon.

LC200 CRAWL = 41.5.

LC100 CRAWL = 35.9.

4Runner CRAWL = 33.7.

And then add LC200's 401 lbs-ft of torque at low 3600 RPMs, it can carry its weight significantly better than 4runner, LC100, and LC80. Compare TORQUE / curb weight of each vehicle. (Car & Driver tested LC200...0-60 in 6.7 seconds.)

And because of the stout 8-speed ratio and final drive ratio, LC200 can carry a bigger tire without needing to re-gear.

The BIGGEST issue with LC200 off-road is its sheer size, not its weight.

 

[750ml]

The 4runner still seems to be the best one size fits all vehicle available.

 

[Harlock]

Finding a direct 4Runner alternative today is like Max trying to find another V8 Intercepter:

Mid-size, truck-frame-based Sport Utility vehicles used to be everywhere. Now everything is much more specialized. There are unibody Suburban Utility Vehicles (ex. Explorer, Highlander, Pilot), pure offroaders (Jeep, Bronco), luxury overlanders (Range Rover, Land Cruiser, Mercedes G550), land yachts (Tahoe, Escalade, Navigator), etc. While elements of the original SUVs are in all of them, I think only the 4Runner remains true to the original do-a-bit-of-everything concept.

 

[SeanWN86]

Whenever I move home.. sounds like we'd get along lol.

I'll second the highlander comment.. borrow my brother's sometimes when we visit. Has more occupant room. You sit in it like a truck vs the 4runner sits you like a Camry. Easily swallows more cargo. Gets better mpg. AND.. it has the "mist" feature on the wiper stalk, so you don't always have to bump them on/off.

If my plans weren't to be able to retire it to offroad/hunting duty, or hopes of getting a small family travel trailer "some time", I'd have traded..
But the 4th Gen V8 just seems like a goldilocks combo(for a lot of us) that won't be replicated(the GX's barn door setup is a nonstarter, especially when it swings the wrong way).

Really depends on what you're doing with it.

For 90% of 4Runner owners - Highlander would be better.

For the rest it's kinda right between a Jeep GC/Subaru Outback and a Wrangler.

GX is of course very similar.
Land Cruiser 200 is just so fawking heavy, otherwise very capable. I think they'll be a great base for a family build when they get cheap enough to chop up and run 37's. On 35's they're still kind of a dog on the trails due to the weight.
Tahoe/Yukon are okay for hauling kiddos around and towing stuff. Not so much off road. But most 4Runner owners never go off road. I think that's why we see a lot of cross shopping between them.

Every midsize crossover is also sort of similar if you're not going offroad. That ranges from the Land Rovers to Jeep GC to the Honda Pilot. They're all different flavors of the same thing.

The new bronco will probably be the closest market competitor. My guess is that it will do everything better except reliability when it comes out. It should. The 4Runner is really fawking old. It should be much better in the drivetrain department in terms of power, power delivery, modern transmission, turbo, etc. The only issue I see is that it's a Ford, so it'll be questionable in reliability and durability. Even so - probably better than a Wrangler in both categories. I foresee a lot of defectors. I haven't owned a Ford since the early 90's, and the new Bronco looks compelling to me. If Toyota doesn't bring something great with the new Land Cruiser - I might buy my first non-toyota vehicle in a very long time.

Another option - LC100 or LC80. Both are comparable to the 4Runner in their own way.

 

[KLH4R3]

I think it has ruined me, for sure!! There is just nothing else out there that offers as much flexibility in it's capabilities and uses as the 4R, combined with it's reliability, longevity and the peace of mind I have every time I get in, start it up and head out. Sure, there are some other makes that I like the looks of or that offer some options that the 4R does not, but when push comes to shove, it seems I'm not able to stray?!