Ashame you have to go the PM route but I see why you are doing it. Would be beneficial for both members and non-members to know actually real-world usage of both vehicles...
[MENTION=45107]Threev8s[/MENTION] this is a forum / thread asking for opinions. seems like the best place to post yours
You’re both right. I can go on for days about the differences, and I’ve responded to PMs previously about this, but I don’t want to bore everyone with an essay. At the same time, I don’t want anyone to feel like I am bashing their vehicle.
Just a few stand-out items from my perspective:
Handling/Braking:
The GX with KDSS does not compare in on-road handling to the limited with X-REAS. And no, a GX will definitely not do better in a crosswind. I’ve been in them with both. The GX is under-sprung at best. Also, the brakes in the gx feel non-existent compared to the 4r. Weight is a big part of this, but the Lexus pedal feel does not help.
Engine:
The 4.6 is not the beast so many claim it is. Highway passing times are identical to the limited with the 4.0 based on car and driver testing equipment. Again, keep in mind the weight difference. Yes, there is more low-end torque and the gx will get to 60 slightly faster, but it barely feels like a v8 and seems to have more trouble on highway inclines than the 4.0. It literally loses speed without a serious kickdown whereas the 4.0 is happy to maintain speed in 4th (selected by the vehicle, not me). Neither compares to the old 4.7 in terms of driving pleasure, but both are great motors.
Accoutrements/liveability:
A base GX comes with way less in terms of “bells and whistles” than a limited. Nav, leather, heated seats, parking sensors, fog lights, etc. are not standard on the GX. Also, and call this a quibble if you’d like, but you can’t see the outside temp and anything else (mpg, range, etc.) on the gauge display at the same time. The only place that the GX truly outperforms the 4r is the headlights. Those LEDs are excellent. Also the ride is more isolated in the GX, but that doesn’t mean that it’s better. That is truly a preference, and it suffers in the aforementioned areas because if it. The ride with the Limited’s 245/60R20s can feel jittery, but there are a few good tires in the stock size that do way better than what the factory gives you (yoko or dueler 684s). Plus, you can always mount one of the other stock 4R 17s and have a ton of tire choices.
Appearance:
Personal preference, but we all know which one looks more like something you’d want to take on a journey. One last item, the running boards on the GX are great if you or your passengers need them, but do nothing for the aesthetics.
Intangibles:
People are less likely to let you merge and more likely to think you are a DB in a GX, if that matters to you.
They are both great vehicles, but the 4runner, in my opinion, is much more suited to people who are in tune with their vehicles and like driving, using power tools, etc. Also, I do not do any of what the off-road crowd considers off-roading, so this is purely from the perspective of daily use. I hope this helps.
