FrontRange4Runner
New member
You know Toyota is really cutting corners when they don't even include oars anymore....WTF!
Does the 4Runner make a good family car???
- Thread starter Stangallmotor
- Start date
You know Toyota is really cutting corners when they don't even include oars anymore....WTF!
I've had an '08 LTZ Tahoe, '09 Z71 Tahoe and a '12 LTZ Tahoe. It is not any better of a family vehicle than the 4Runner besides the fact tahoes come standard with running boards. Still the step in is too high, power is still lacking, hell the guy with his long rant about loving his Tahoe-if it's an '08 or earlier, how are you like your 4 speed tranny. The only thing a Tahoe does better is tow. And I was a GM fanboy..
Sirboxer03
New member
Shameless bump since this thread is 3 years old and I'm not sure how people feel on here about making another thread about 4runners being family vehicles.
Long story short, we are looking to start a family in a year or so, I am totally against the idea of a minivan, my daily driver Expedition has nearly 250k miles and I'd rather start a family with a vehicle with that high of mileage.
So we wont be doing any off roading or camping anytime soon, that is definitely a possibility moving forward in a few years. The goal within the next 5-6 years is a grand total of 3 kids ... so a family of 5.
For now though, with a newborn is a 4runner a decent family vehicle? Talking about a fully loaded 4x4 edition.
Long story short, we are looking to start a family in a year or so, I am totally against the idea of a minivan, my daily driver Expedition has nearly 250k miles and I'd rather start a family with a vehicle with that high of mileage.
So we wont be doing any off roading or camping anytime soon, that is definitely a possibility moving forward in a few years. The goal within the next 5-6 years is a grand total of 3 kids ... so a family of 5.
For now though, with a newborn is a 4runner a decent family vehicle? Talking about a fully loaded 4x4 edition.
kpinthebay
Member
Decent? Its a damn excellent family car. Im 2 kids in, and besides the great Toyota quality, you get a big safe truck to cushion your little one in the event of a crash.
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
samster747
New member
Yes completely agree! My boys are 5 and 3. They love daddy’s car. They always choose my 4Runner when we ask which car to take. And they love having out of town visitors so they can sit in the third row.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have wife, 2 boys and a dog and we love our 4Runner. I would recommend you test drive 4Runner and Highlander back to back before deciding. Highlander is more functional inside cab for family and rides smoother. My wife has commented on long drives that the 4Runner is a little rough.
Good luckl
Good luckl
With regards to the Highlander, I know folks here are all about Toyota, but I'd also recommend taking a look at some of the competition like the Honda Pilot and the VW Atlas in this situation.
OP may like the 4Runner though considering he is coming out of an Expedition. I'm still of the camp that if you aren't going to use the 4x4 or towing advantages of a 4Runner that a unibody cross over is probably a better vehicle for 90% of Americans...
phillyd2
Senior Member
Better question is what kind of family and lifestyle do you want for yourself and them? What kind of people do you want them to grow up being?
Good friends of ours has a mini van with all the bells and whistles. The thing is awesome, room for all. Cup holders everywhere. They can even push a button to close the sliding door. Amazing. Tons of stuff that we don't have in our 4R.
But, do you really want to be THAT kind of family? I didn't think so. Enjoy your new 4R and know that the time spent with your kids doing stuff like exploring some off road trail will never / can never be replaced.
Currently own '15 Trail and '07 Honda Odyssey. The mini van is a great family vehice with room for 7 and cargo. Trail can fit 2 adults in front and 4 kids in the back with cargo. Trail is not really as comfortable as the Honda. My opinion, get the mini van. Honda or Toyota are great choices.
blanchard7684
New member
We just got out of a 2014 explorer in February for a 4Runner.
The explorer had more storage capacity and more head room but that is about it.
We wanted a mid size SUV that was as close to a guaranteed reliable vehicle. We simply wanted a no bs vehicle without hoaky features. We wanted to be driving the thing at 80,000miles and not spend the first half of our commute planning the next vehicle purchases.
We live in a rural w.texas area so breaking down on the side of the road isn't an option.
We have a large dog and a toddler and the room is sufficient. The folding options on the seats can really increase cargo room in a pinch. You can pack a surprising amount of stuff in this.
The only time we miss extra room or a full size truck is when we are moving large items. on a day to day, month to month basis this thing is perfect.
My wife really doesn't like the lack of headroom but that is about it.
The seats are more comfortable that the explorer.
It has better visibility and easier parking that explorer.
Gas mileage is worse than the explorer.
If you are growing in family size, I'd also recommend looking at Sequoia.
The 4runner does check a lot of boxes for a family and does it $15k cheaper than a Sequoia.
The explorer had more storage capacity and more head room but that is about it.
We wanted a mid size SUV that was as close to a guaranteed reliable vehicle. We simply wanted a no bs vehicle without hoaky features. We wanted to be driving the thing at 80,000miles and not spend the first half of our commute planning the next vehicle purchases.
We live in a rural w.texas area so breaking down on the side of the road isn't an option.
We have a large dog and a toddler and the room is sufficient. The folding options on the seats can really increase cargo room in a pinch. You can pack a surprising amount of stuff in this.
The only time we miss extra room or a full size truck is when we are moving large items. on a day to day, month to month basis this thing is perfect.
My wife really doesn't like the lack of headroom but that is about it.
The seats are more comfortable that the explorer.
It has better visibility and easier parking that explorer.
Gas mileage is worse than the explorer.
If you are growing in family size, I'd also recommend looking at Sequoia.
The 4runner does check a lot of boxes for a family and does it $15k cheaper than a Sequoia.
Sirboxer03
New member
Thank you, and for now it'll just be a small family of 3(newborn included).
That being said, I considered the 4runner over a conventional Crossover-SUV because of the fact that here in San Antonio, it tends to flood in some areas. Nothing to the point of being 4-6 inches as a normal thing, but the water tends to get a little..."iffy" in some areas where the average person wouldn't even consider taking their Sedan through.
So being that the 4Runner has a proven track record with a higher clearance, I figured ... hey... should be safer right? Newborn wont NEED the luxury of a Cadillac SRX with sound dampening ... although it might be nice, safety with reliability and a little bit of flexibility for a small family is my #1 concern.
Interesting, because my next choice would have been the Explorer Sport. I liked the idea of a decent sized SUV with a lot of UMPH to it with that Twin Turbo. Although I hate the idea of that Carbon Monoxide issue they're proving to be known for.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ford-explorer-models-2011-to-2017-center-for-auto-safety-recall-urged/
ridefast
New member
Yup, excellent family vehicles. We have 3 car seats in ours. Vans are great for stuffing people into but they are basically flying pieces of sheet metal going down the road.
After going through an accident on a unibody Honda odyssey I'll never put my family in a vehicle that doesn't have a body on frame and side high strength impact bars. (Odyssey didn't have either)
The 4Runner is inconvenient at times with 3 kids but safe as hell after what we went throgh in a side impact unibody "family vehicle". The other car hit us going less than 20mph and our Honda odyssey was damn near unrecognizable and $17,000 in damages. The unibody was twisted to hell.
After we got it out of the body shop sold it and collected our diminished value claims the body shop instructed us to never buy a unibody again.
They highest recommendations were large suv's with v8 engines.
After going through an accident on a unibody Honda odyssey I'll never put my family in a vehicle that doesn't have a body on frame and side high strength impact bars. (Odyssey didn't have either)
The 4Runner is inconvenient at times with 3 kids but safe as hell after what we went throgh in a side impact unibody "family vehicle". The other car hit us going less than 20mph and our Honda odyssey was damn near unrecognizable and $17,000 in damages. The unibody was twisted to hell.
After we got it out of the body shop sold it and collected our diminished value claims the body shop instructed us to never buy a unibody again.
They highest recommendations were large suv's with v8 engines.
ridefast
New member
YES if you don't have 5 kids
Agreed to a point. There are plenty of body on frame options out there.
Angonemoto
New member
Yes, it does.
Our family of 4 plus dog can do anything in this vehicle. For long road trips and camping we use a roof top box. The rock sliders make installing and accessing the box much easier than with out.
Our family of 4 plus dog can do anything in this vehicle. For long road trips and camping we use a roof top box. The rock sliders make installing and accessing the box much easier than with out.
AINOMOATACO
New member
Being able to fit the babys Recaro sold me on a 4runner. Dont know about the SR5s but the trails rears seats also recline for more adjustability. Came from a tacoma and with the Recaro in there i had to move front seat up making it uncomfortable. Buy the car seat you want first and then go car/truck shopping.
