Don't mean to offend but I hate the 5th gen body style

[zimdba]

Some of the deletions from 4th to 5th gen are puzzling, to me, though. Why delete the locking gas cap door and the in-glass antenna? You can't tell me these things are "too expensive" to put on a 4runner - I doubt that would add more than $150 to the cost of a $35,000+ vehicle!

My other vehicles (BMW) don't have locking gas doors. So while I think it's odd, I'm not that bothered by it. The antenna is ridiculous. I haven't had a vehicle with an antenna since ... .well I think it was my 2001 Jetta (top) and 2001 Durango (fender). Why they'd choose to cheap out on that just boggles the mind.

 

[zimdba]

Are you sure about that? I don't know what year BMW you have, but a lot of German cars have fuel doors that lock automatically when the vehicle's doors are locked. That's how it works on my Audi. There's no release for the gas door lock, but it is locked when the doors are locked.

Well how about that? I just checked and you're right on both the 2003 and 2011! I just assumed that since there was no latch that it did not lock.

Of course my wife has driven around with the door half cocked.
"Did you put gas in the car honey?"
"Yes, why?"
"Uh .. .no reason"

 

[Lyric]

When I first seen the 5th Gen 4Runner I thought it sorta took on a retro looking FJ Cruiser-ish head light/hood sorta look. I was sorta puzzled and wasnt sure if I liked it or not. I wouldnt say I didnt like it but it was not a typical looking 4Runner style look. But now that I have seen them more I see the 4Runner coming out of it. Anymore I am starting to like the look a lot and wouldnt mind having one too but I will probably wait a couple years and get a good used one. Honestly I could not see taking one off road just for the simple fact they look to nice and higher class now. They dont look really off road worthy or built for off road "looking". I would imagine they would be a pain rapping around tight corners and tight areas due to their big body's compared to the previous generations. To me it would almost be as strange as taking a Sequoia off road. lol. I know the Land Cruiser is far bigger and a history off road worthyness but not the newer generations of Land Cruisers. The mid 90's Land Cruisers and back were the real off road Land Cruisers. So to me it's rich and pimp looking and not an off road machine - unless you mod the heck out of it and then still I could not imagine doing this to a 5th Gen.

Again do I like them? Yes but not anything I would ever take off road and even in 15 years down the road. To me it's an all around good 4x4 and get a little dirty vehicle.

***But I do feel like with Toyota bringing out the 5th Gen it looks like they skipped 2 generations of 4Runners. This 4Runner looks ahead of it's time and feels kind of like a gap is been left between the 4th and 5th Gens. Maybe Toyota was thinking ahead. Plus I do think the 4th Gen probably carried on it's looks and style a little to long. I think 2008 would have been a good year for the 5th gen but not with the current look of the 5th gen. Maybe something between the 4th and 5th gen look.

I have thought a couple times that Toyota is pushing the 4Runner out of the off road world sort of like the Land Cruiser and making it a luxery mid level suv. While focusing all it's off road characters on the FJ Cruiser.

This is just what I think, thats all. And I must say the 5th Gens interior is amazing and comfortrable and stylish. I would say if I ever get my hands on one then a Range Rover will never turn my head again. I would rather have the 5th gen 4Runner over the Range Rover I so dearly love. lol. Interior is sexy and beautiful. And the exterior has grown on me and I really like it.

 

[wolf4runner]

3rd gen folks dont like 4gen looks
4gen folks dont like 5 gen looks

does it matter?

Toyota is not stupid. You will get into a 5gen if you are looking for a newer one

 

[jdkilroy]

I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vizsla ?

 

[mslim]

Well everybody has an opinion, but something that looks good just rests easy on the eyes. Like an E-type Jag for instance. 50 years later and it still looks good.

The original Chevy Avalanche and Aztek look like they were designed by a committee of idiots. What were they thinking?

I didn't think my 4th gen looked all that great (the Prado looks much better) but I liked the complete package and the reliability of a full frame Toyo. The FJ Cruiser is a little "mannered" but I think it works for what it is. I think the FJ40 is a complete win. Like a Jeep but not a Jeep. The first gen Highlander is a clean package. My son's '11 Highlander not so much.

I really like the look of the FZ80 series Land Cruiser. That really works for me. Purposeful and well proportioned. Form follows function.

Now if I could have my 2UZ-FE V8 and auto tranny from my '04 4Runner in a 1995 FZ80 LC that'd be the best of both worlds but unfortunately the CARB people see it a different way.

In case my esthetic judgement is in question, here's some vehicles I've owned that I think were well styled.

1961 VW sunroof
1959 Alfa Giulietta Sprint
1980 Chevy G-20 Van
1957 Corvette
1986 Jeep CJ8 Scrambler
1975 BMW R90S

 

[470SNC]

I didn't like them at first but they grew on me. As more aftermarket bumper solutions come out, I think they'll look great. The headlights look mean with an aftermarket high clearance bumper IMO.

 

[Dylan]

I like where they're going with the new TE front ends. They are definitely growing on me now.

But yes, when I first caught a glimpse of a 2010 SR5, I was hoping that was some shepherd's pie in my knickers...

 

[Misterquad]

I just wanted the FJ Cruiser with 4 full-sized doors.

It took me 3 years to like the FJ and 3 years to like the 5th Gen front end.

 

[paddlenbike]

What's great about 4Runners is there is something to love about every generation. Guys that have solid axle 85s think Toyota has gone downhill ever since. You might throw me into that category because I could probably find a way to get past the 5th gen's looks, but the sheer size, weight, lack of a manual transmission and the huge performance deficit compared to my 3rd gen will keep me out of a 5th...but hey, that's me. Love what you have, because they are all good!

 

[salong53]

Vizsla ?

Or Ridgeback? Either way, beautiful dog!

 

[salong53]

Honestly I could not see taking one off road just for the simple fact they look to nice and higher class now. They dont look really off road worthy or built for off road "looking". I would imagine they would be a pain rapping around tight corners and tight areas due to their big body's compared to the previous generations. To me it would almost be as strange as taking a Sequoia off road. lol. I know the Land Cruiser is far bigger and a history off road worthyness but not the newer generations of Land Cruisers. The mid 90's Land Cruisers and back were the real off road Land Cruisers. So to me it's rich and pimp looking and not an off road machine - unless you mod the heck out of it and then still I could not imagine doing this to a 5th Gen.

Again do I like them? Yes but not anything I would ever take off road and even in 15 years down the road. To me it's an all around good 4x4 and get a little dirty vehicle.

I have thought a couple times that Toyota is pushing the 4Runner out of the off road world sort of like the Land Cruiser and making it a luxery mid level suv. While focusing all it's off road characters on the FJ Cruiser.

For the sake of debate, and in no way trying to be combative, I feel like the 5th gen is actually MORE off road capable than the last generation. That is, as long as you get the trail package. In the 4th gen, you couldn't get a trail package with the off road goodies until what, 2009? IMHO the 4th gen was designed as the 4x4 mom car back in 2003 before Toyota offered a full-size crossover. It sat lower than ever before, it rode smoother, it was bigger, it had smaller tires, etc...

Now that they offer the Highlander -- a unibody, FWD, hybrid crossover that is similar size as the 4Runner -- it seems to me they are using the 4Runner to fill the "off roader" niche that the FJ will leave behind next year. Why else would they have stuck with the 2-ratio transfer case and "outdated" body-on-frame technology with a solid rear axle? Why else would they have offered a trail edition from the get-go? Sure, the 5th gen is a little bigger than the 4th and definitely bigger than the FJ, making it a little less nimble off road, but name a car that hasn't gotten bigger in the last decade.

As far as styling, I hated the 2010-2013s except for the Trail, but since the update I like the 5th gens. The new front end makes them look more like a truck to me, and the new wheels are much better than the pre-update SR5 16" wheels. If I run across a used Trail edition for around $20k in the next year, I'll probably buy it.

 

[oljedi11950]

4th or 5th ?

Well let's see ? opcorn: IDK both have + &- apples or oranges or watermelon v cantalope ? Like both & 3rd now the only thing wrong with 2nd was that sorry dogass 3.0 but that was my fav !

 

[Jabberjaw]

 

[t-man]

I like the aggressive look of the new bumpers, I think they actually pull the body lines together quite well. A little lift, tires, lights, badabing! Badass!! Now, if they would crank the power up in that heavy pig I would want to trade up, as it is my V8 is all the reason I ever need to keep mine!

 

[96 ToyRunner]

I like the new 4runner looks I think they look pretty sick if only they were the same size and weight as the 3rd gen then they would be perfect

 

[JET4]

I like the 3rd, 4th, and 5th generation so much I have 1 of each.

 

[WI_4Runner]

I too wasn't a fan outta the gates on the 5th Gen look, but they've grown on me and I'd own one.

That being said, I've seen some very tastefully modded 5th Gen's that look real nice..