How does your 4R handle?

[Pearl<3]

Want to get your opinions on the review I read on edmunds.com...

"On the downside, the 4Runner's on-road handling limits are notably low, even for this class of vehicle. The steering feels disconnected and uncommunicative on the pavement, although this makes for less kickback on the trail, though its light-effort response at low speed also makes for easy maneuvering in parking lots."

Also, was curious to know how popular the 4R is as a family car, and who drives it.

 

[BL78]

I dont own a 4R but based on the reviews here on the forum, this is a great family vehicle. I would buy one in a heartbeat if I had more $$$.

 

[tempus6]

I own a limited and I have no problems with the handling. I think it's actually pretty good considering the size of the truck.

 

[TrailHawk]

It handles similar to the Tacoma but not so much like the highlander. It's a truck judged against cars, basically. Read the Tacoma reviews and see who dogs on it... Not many.

But that doesn't change the fact that it handles like a truck. Is that fine with you? It was for me

 

[Ryan_S]

Disconnected feeling is most likely from the crap stock tires.

 

[Mtn.Rush]

I can honestly tell you that the Limited handles great. I don't have any issues with the handling or cornering with it. Now I cant push it like my Range Rover sport that i had (best handling truck I've owned, absolutely fantastic on road manners and cornering, sports car like) but it's pretty damn good for a truck this size.

 

[Plato1969]

I own a limited and I have no problems with the handling. I think it's actually pretty good considering the size of the truck.

:iagree:

It has good road manners... for a TRUCK. But it's never going to be called "nimble", which is fine to me.

Comparing a 4R to a Highlander is an apple to an orange.

 

[scanny]

Want to get your opinions on the review I read on edmunds.com...

"On the downside, the 4Runner's on-road handling limits are notably low, even for this class of vehicle. The steering feels disconnected and uncommunicative on the pavement, although this makes for less kickback on the trail, though its light-effort response at low speed also makes for easy maneuvering in parking lots."

Also, was curious to know how popular the 4R is as a family car, and who drives it.

I'm perfectly fine with 4Runner handling. When I was looking for a new vehicle I was test driving Toyoat Higlander, Honda Pilot, Dodge Nitro and few others and I found that 4Runner is the best amongs them. But you'll have to find out yourself I guess. I'm not sure what do you mean asking about 4R as a familly car - well it's quite maneuvrable on parking lots, it still fits in underground parkings, very comfortable on long trips. It's has a big clearance though, small kids might have some toruble to climb in it.

 

[4RBob]

my non-KDSS does not handle very well, even with new tires (BFG AT's load range C at 40psi). it doesn't really bother me on backroads as much as it does on the highway changing lanes and trying to stay in the center lane, especially with wind.

if i did it over again, i'd definitely go with KDSS (or XREAS).

my 4th Gen handles and tracks great, but that had XREAS (now has Bilstein's).

 

[homeyclaus]

Disconnected feeling is most likely from the crap stock tires.

I think the stock tires on the editions other than the Limited are the problem - the driving difference is like night and day. The SR5s I drove all handled "ponderously" - the Limited felt a lot more direct in terms of handling.

I am still waiting on my ideal 4Runner, but I am putting on 20" rims and a tire size like the Limited when I get it. Stiffer sidewalls on any tire size will also help a lot. I am bummed that for all they did right, they screwed up the tire choice for the vehicle from the get-go.

The stock set-ups on the 4Runner vs the Nissan Xterra, so also a truck, are strongly in favor of the Xterra. Granted, the Xterra is smaller in all dimensions, but physics says that that should favor the 4Runner in the body lean department.

 

[NYRunner]

I've said this before~ but I was driving a Maxima SE before this and it blows my mind how similarly capable and comfortable the LTD is at any speed or road condition... it's like driving my Maxima while sitting up on its' roof, and that car was a road-hugging rocketship!

 

[BL78]

I've said this before~ but I was driving a Maxima SE before this and it blows my mind how similarly capable and comfortable the LTD is at any speed or road condition... it's like driving my Maxima while sitting up on its' roof, and that car was a road-hugging rocketship!

No disrespect but Im not sure if I can agree to this. I used to own a 2004 Maxima SL and test drove recently the 2010/2011 Limited. I like them both but I cannot say "similar".

 

[Hawkdog21]

My daily driver right now is a 2008 S-line Audi A6 Quattro. That thing handles great, the AWD is great and its very very hard to break a tire in a turn, even when you try. My KDSS trail handles great in comparison. All things considered, (frame on body truck with solid rear axle, and 3"lift). Its a lifted truck... I would never expect it to handle anywhere near my audi, but it does a great job in its own right. If you want something to handle like a car, buy a car, this is a body on frame truck, and in that sense it handles great (well my KDSS does).

 

[M1911]

Want to get your opinions on the review I read on edmunds.com...

"On the downside, the 4Runner's on-road handling limits are notably low, even for this class of vehicle. The steering feels disconnected and uncommunicative on the pavement, although this makes for less kickback on the trail, though its light-effort response at low speed also makes for easy maneuvering in parking lots."

Also, was curious to know how popular the 4R is as a family car, and who drives it.

I have a 4th Gen '03 4Runner, with the XREAS shocks (similar to the 5th Gen Limited).

My 4th Gen rides pretty well, for a truck. It handles pretty well, for a truck. It brakes pretty well, for a truck. But you will never mistake it for anything other than a body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle truck. I suspect that the same is true for the 5th Gen as well.

Every time I drive a car, whether it is my wife's Mercedes C300, or a rental Ford Fusion, I'm reminded just how badly the 4Runner drives in comparison.

The 4Runner is a truck. If you don't need its offroad capability, you may well be better off with a crossover like a Highlander or the new Explorer. Crossovers will typically have more room inside, particularly in the 3rd row, and give a better ride over bumpy roads.

I take my 4Runner offroad, so I put up with its onroad behavior. But if you don't need that offroad capability, why put up with the drawbacks?

 

[NYRunner]

No disrespect but Im not sure if I can agree to this. I used to own a 2004 Maxima SL and test drove recently the 2010/2011 Limited. I like them both but I cannot say "similar".

Understandable~ and I used to feel the same way....

Come talk to me after 13,000 miles!

 

[blkmagic5]

I have a 4th Gen '03 4Runner, with the XREAS shocks (similar to the 5th Gen Limited).

My 4th Gen rides pretty well, for a truck. It handles pretty well, for a truck. It brakes pretty well, for a truck. But you will never mistake it for anything other than a body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle truck. I suspect that the same is true for the 5th Gen as well.

Every time I drive a car, whether it is my wife's Mercedes C300, or a rental Ford Fusion, I'm reminded just how badly the 4Runner drives in comparison.

The 4Runner is a truck. If you don't need its offroad capability, you may well be better off with a crossover like a Highlander or the new Explorer. Crossovers will typically have more room inside, particularly in the 3rd row, and give a better ride over bumpy roads.

I take my 4Runner offroad, so I put up with its onroad behavior. But if you don't need that offroad capability, why put up with the drawbacks?

I like the way that my 5th gen handles, but I feel like my 4th gen (both xreas) handled more like a car, especially when going into corners, I felt more comfortable/grounded accelerating heavily through the curves than I do with my 5th. This maybe because of the ride height, aerodynamics, and the driver positioning. I think that the driver positioning plays a big roll, in the 4th gen the floor doesn't feel as deep and your legs/feet go out in front of you more like a car. And the 5th gen your legs/feet hang in a more vertical orientation. If that makes any sense, oh well I've had a 3rd, 4th, & 5th gen 4runners and they all have had different feels, and all have been great vehicles.

 

[Pearl<3]

It handles similar to the Tacoma but not so much like the highlander. It's a truck judged against cars, basically. Read the Tacoma reviews and see who dogs on it... Not many.

But that doesn't change the fact that it handles like a truck. Is that fine with you? It was for me

Funny you say that... My husband has a 09 Tacoma (heavily modified of course)

Thanks for all your help...
How do your Wives/GF's feel about the 4R? Is it mostly driven by Male/Female?

I love the value of Toyota, but love the drive of the MDX.
The MDX Tech package which is similar to the limited 4R w/Nav is:
MDX - $47,115 (inv. $43,286)
4R - $43,650 (inv. $39,980)

I'm coming from a convertible 350z, and my previous cars have all been pretty small and sporty. I'm a little worried now that I see the word TRUCK in everyones post. My only reason for considering an SUV type car is because I wi'll need it in it the future (kids, car seat, stroller, etc.) and don't want to have to buy another car in 2 years.

our argument now is the MDX is an overpriced Honda :cry2:
I'm trying to picture myself driving the 4R for 3,4 years, but I don't think I can.

 

[mountaineer83]

I've only had my 2011 since Saturday, but so far I love it. I came from a Ford F-250 diesel however, so I am used to the feel of a taller vehicle. I do feel that the 4R drives great for what it is, but I've always driven trucks or body on frame SUVs. My fiance and my mom both drove the 4Runner and both liked it, although they drove it only once.

My mom prefers her Avalon over the feel of the 4R, but she likes cars better even than the Yukon Denali she traded on the avalon. As far as a family vehicle, I see no reason why the 4Runner couldn't be used as such. However, we have driven the Highlander as well and it drives very well and has a little better on-road manners. Another to check out if you like a car, but don't need the 3rd row seating would be the Venza from Toyota.

The Venza is built on the Camry platform and can be configured in AWD. This will handle/feel like the cars you are used to and still has the hatchback/SUV feel with a lot better fuel economy. Also, being AWD it will still go rather well in winter except maybe in deep snow because of the ride height. I figure that will be the vehicle my fiance gets when she trades her Santa Fe in on something.

 

[M1911]

I like the way that my 5th gen handles, but I feel like my 4th gen (both xreas) handled more like a car, especially when going into corners, I felt more comfortable/grounded accelerating heavily through the curves than I do with my 5th. This maybe because of the ride height, aerodynamics, and the driver positioning. I think that the driver positioning plays a big roll, in the 4th gen the floor doesn't feel as deep and your legs/feet go out in front of you more like a car. And the 5th gen your legs/feet hang in a more vertical orientation.

I believe that the 5th gen has a more chair-like, upright seating position, with possibly a slightly higher hip-point. In addition, it is several hundred pounds heavier. I don't know if either of those add to the body roll (or impression of body roll).

 

[M1911]

How do your Wives/GF's feel about the 4R? Is it mostly driven by Male/Female?

My wife hates driving large vehicles in general, and won't drive my 4Runner except in extremis. She loves riding out on the beach in it, however :shrug:

I love the value of Toyota, but love the drive of the MDX.
The MDX Tech package which is similar to the limited 4R w/Nav is:
MDX - $47,115 (inv. $43,286)
4R - $43,650 (inv. $39,980)

I'm coming from a convertible 350z, and my previous cars have all been pretty small and sporty. I'm a little worried now that I see the word TRUCK in everyones post. My only reason for considering an SUV type car is because I wi'll need it in it the future (kids, car seat, stroller, etc.) and don't want to have to buy another car in 2 years.

our argument now is the MDX is an overpriced Honda :cry2:

Have you considered the Pilot, Explorer, Flex, Edge, and Highlander? All of them drive more like a car than the 4Runner. Whatever you get, I suggest that you buy something with a backup sensor and/or camera. The view out the back of most SUV/CUVs, including the 4Runner, is just horrid, and it is really easy to miss a little one crawling around back there. Another car to consider would be a wagon like a Subaru Outback.

Don't buy more vehicle than you need -- you'll pay a fortune in gas as a result.