Difference between American 4runner and the Hilux Surf!

[derekdevasia]

I've had my 4runner for a while now, and iv'e always been curious as to find out what's different about the American 4runner and the Japanese Hilux Surf other than there is a diesel available! Any info would be much appreciated! Thank you!

 

[CookieRoe]

I've had my 4runner for a while now, and iv'e always been curious as to find out what's different about the American 4runner and the Japanese Hilux Surf other than there is a diesel available! Any info would be much appreciated! Thank you!

- Surf is right hand drive, 4R is left
- Surf has diesel engine/gas engine an option, 4R only had gas engines
- Surf usually had more electronic gizmos than 4R counterpart (at least 3rd gen did)
- Surf is no longer made, 4R is currently on sale as a 5th gen.
- Surf has many cool aftermarket toys available, 4R not as much. (depending on tastes)

 

[bNugs]

Yeah the more desirable mods done to 3rd gens are the hilux rear tire carrier and the nav / temp console in place of the sunglasses holder and the rear spoiler. plus I think the ssx came with same coils as the 99 highlander which are 1 inch taller then stock 3rd gens.... All which are parts I spent my entire year in Afghanistan trying to acquire

 

[ClockWork]

Surf has the ghetto mirror on the front fender.

 

[CookieRoe]

Surf has the ghetto mirror on the front fender.

How is it ghetto? It is used to see the opposite front side of the truck when parking in Japan. It is quite useful. I had them on mine, although my Surfs were modified left hand drive models, they did me allow to better calculate how close I was to the curb. Many SUVs have them over in Japan. They serve a purpose, they also come from the factory.

 

[cztheman64]

toyota diesels are the bomb diggity

 

[Asmara]

If you really want to get into it, check out this site I stumbled across while trying to find the part numbers for the Surf rear fog lights. It has the parts diagrams for Japan/EU/USA Toyota vehicles including the surf.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

The little mirror still looks like an eyesore and is only on the ones in Japan because they are required and not an option.
I personally am not all crazy about the 3rd gen Surfs in Japan since some of the options look like afterthoughts especially the whole rear spoiler with the electric mirror in it simply looks a bit goofy. I do like the information console overhead but that's really the only real useful thing that we don't get in our 4Runners that I wish we had.

Why is it when you see pics of Surfs why do they seem to be the 3rd gen variety more than anything else? I've seen the 4th gen Surfs but they seem to be pretty much the same as our 4th gens.

 

[derekdevasia]

- Surf is right hand drive, 4R is left
- Surf has diesel engine/gas engine an option, 4R only had gas engines
- Surf usually had more electronic gizmos than 4R counterpart (at least 3rd gen did)
- Surf is no longer made, 4R is currently on sale as a 5th gen.
- Surf has many cool aftermarket toys available, 4R not as much. (depending on tastes)

Thank you for the information! I take it that you lived in Japan for a while and drove a hilux surf?

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I like this

I just don't care to much for the add-ons which some just look goofy or just don't fit.
And you didn't think they could make the fatlip bumper protrude even further out.

Front valance is simply too gaudy

Running boards look awful,stuck on piece on the bumper looks cheap and the brushguard just doesn't do it for me.

Wayyyy to big for the frontend and looks silly

I also disagree about the aftermarket since I don't see what you can get for the Surf that you can't get for the 4Runner and if you go off road the aftermarket is quite big.

 

[CookieRoe]

The little mirror still looks like an eyesore and is only on the ones in Japan because they are required and not an option.
I personally am not all crazy about the 3rd gen Surfs in Japan since some of the options look like afterthoughts especially the whole rear spoiler with the electric mirror in it simply looks a bit goofy. I do like the information console overhead but that's really the only real useful thing that we don't get in our 4Runners that I wish we had.

Why is it when you see pics of Surfs why do they seem to be the 3rd gen variety more than anything else? I've seen the 4th gen Surfs but they seem to be pretty much the same as our 4th gens.

The little mirror is a question of if you like it. I do, doesn't look super ridiculous, but here in the US, some might it's too goofy looking. In Japan and especially Peru, many SUVs imported from Japan have them on. I agree with you that many aftermarket accessories are looney toney, but that is the norm over there (Japan). My Surfs had the spoiler with the retractable rear mirrow and running boards and rear mounted spare tire (look at my sig.) As well as the overhead console with altimeter/compass/barometer. The instrument clusters are completely different from US 3rd gen 4Runners. The instrument layout was different and were optitron (similar to Lexus). With the introduction of the 4gen Surf/4R, they were pretty much the same. The spoiler/rear tire carrier were dropped. As mentioned, when the 5th gen 4Runner came out, there wasn't a Surf equivalent. There is some speculation that this is the 4Runner's last year, but that's another thread...........................

Thank you for the information! I take it that you lived in Japan for a while and drove a hilux surf?

In lived in Peru for 8 years. Companies used to import them used into Peru. When they arrived, they would be modified for left hand drive (steering column moved from the right to the left), dashboard also modified as well as suspension components. Some were done right, others were a nightmare. Whatever, this was my chance to own a SURF!!!!

 

[TRDCal]

Someone on here once said the 4th gen 4runner has a different dash cluster that the jap version, and he said he would post pics but he never did. I tried google images and nothing came up.

Personally, I was wondering if they had the option for power folding mirrors? I think they it would be useful and I'm sure it must me an option for the surf because my 95 corolla had that option on jap versions

 

[CookieRoe]

Someone on here once said the 4th gen 4runner has a different dash cluster that the jap version, and he said he would post pics but he never did. I tried google images and nothing came up.

Personally, I was wondering if they had the option for power folding mirrors? I think they it would be useful and I'm sure it must me an option for the surf because my 95 corolla had that option on jap versions

Yep, that was me. No need to be nasty.............. Here's the cluster:

They DID have the power fold in mirrors. At least the SSR-X and SSR-G did (equivalent to "sport" and "Limited").

 

[TRDCal]

Yep, that was me. No need to be nasty..............

They DID have the power fold in mirrors. At least the SSR-X and SSR-G did (equivalent to "sport" and "Limited").

LOL...Sorry didn't mean to come off nasty plus it wasn't you, heres the thread I was refering to: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/101573-noticed-something-wrong-my-dash-help.html

Isn't that a cluster out of a 3rg gen surf? Thanks for the pic but I'm more curious to see the difference btw the 4th gen clusters. And do you know if the option for power folding mirrors is on 4th gen surfs as well?

 

[Tucson4runner]

Will the surf cluster work in a 3rd gen?

 

[CookieRoe]

Will the surf cluster work in a 3rd gen?

Absolutely not. My first surf had the analog gauges we all know. I tried getting the cluster (optitron) only, but then, I saw on a toyota computer (dealer) that the connectors are all completely different. The cluster itself was something like $3K and would take months for it to come in. This was in 2003.

 

[acer0611]

LOL...Sorry didn't mean to come off nasty plus it wasn't you, heres the thread I was refering to: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/101573-noticed-something-wrong-my-dash-help.html

Isn't that a cluster out of a 3rg gen surf? Thanks for the pic but I'm more curious to see the difference btw the 4th gen clusters. And do you know if the option for power folding mirrors is on 4th gen surfs as well?

If i'm not mistaken the 4th gen surf is the same as the 4th gen diesel 4runners we got in latin america. as for the cluster, its practically the same except that everything is in kph instead of mph. when i got time i'll get some pics of my cluster and upload them for you

 

[MKIV4EVER]

Its the 4th gen 4runner now called the Toyota Fortuner or is it completely different. Saw alot of those in Fiji.

BTW: This is my first post and a proud new owner of a 2007 SR5 Silver 4Runner.

Alvin

 

[TRDCal]

If i'm not mistaken the 4th gen surf is the same as the 4th gen diesel 4runners we got in latin america. as for the cluster, its practically the same except that everything is in kph instead of mph. when i got time i'll get some pics of my cluster and upload them for you

I've been able to see some fars shots of the jdm clusters on google images and they seem to have silver in the center of the speedo where the mph are indicated, but if you could get a picture that would be great, then we could tell forsure.

Its the 4th gen 4runner now called the Toyota Fortuner or is it completely different. Saw alot of those in Fiji.

BTW: This is my first post and a proud new owner of a 2007 SR5 Silver 4Runner.

Alvin

Welcome to the forum, I think the Fortuner is more of a car based crossover (EDIT: oops got the Fortuner mixed up with another Toyota which I can't find nor appears to exist anymore lol...Its definately NOT a car based crossover) than an SUV but i'm not 100%. The 4th gen is called a Hilux Surf which they no longer make over there.

 

[acer0611]

Its the 4th gen 4runner now called the Toyota Fortuner or is it completely different. Saw alot of those in Fiji.

BTW: This is my first post and a proud new owner of a 2007 SR5 Silver 4Runner.

Alvin

the fortuner is completely based on the Toyota hilux pickup, its basically a hilux suv version. same interior, dash, engine and even some body panels.