Is a 4Runner the right vehicle for me?

4RBob said:
I would expect it to be better than that for being smaller, more aerodynamic, and being a crossover SUV.
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The outside dimensions of the Highlander are almost exactly the same as a 4Runner.

Highlander length/width/height with roof rails: 188.4/75.2/69.3
4Runner SR5 length/width/height: 189.9/75.8/71.5
 
Based on your thought process (which seems more than most people these days before they buy a new vehicle), I would say you would be best off with the Highlander. It will have the power you need and the room you need and personally they look a lot nicer than they ever have in the past. If you want the 4R, does your wife know how to operate a part-time 4wd system? If not you would would want to go for the 4R LE and not worry about it. I think you would be happy in the 4R and it would do everything you need with no problems, but I think you would be overall more satisfied with the Highlander.
 
CJSheridan said:
It also sounds like KDSS makes quite a difference. Is it an option on the SR5 or is it just available on Trail and Limited models?
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The KDSS (fancy swaybar system) is an OPTION only on the Trail Edition.

XREAS (fancy shock system) is STANDARD only on the Limited, not available on other models.

Both KDSS and XREAS are significant improvements over stock (SR5 or Trail without KDSS). I have driven all three (stock, KDSS, XREAS). Personally, I like KDSS over XREAS, but XREAS is still very good.

We ended up with the Trail without KDSS, because the only one KDSS vehicle anywhere near me, the dealer didn't want to give us a good deal. We got a good deal on the Trail without KDSS. In hindsight......

FYI - Trails do not have the 3rd row option.

I would say if you can swing the payments for a Limited, that would be a good choice. Highlander wouldn't be a bad choice, but your wife is right. They are boring. :)
 
M1911 said:
The Highlander has more room and drives more like a car, more like the RAV4 that you are used to.
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I don't know about that, I'm pretty confident that the 4R has more room/cargo space than the highlander.

gamerc said:
Limited pros:
Lots of creature features. While not a luxury SUV, it is nice to see a little refinement.
XREAS suspension. This will eliminate the splashy feeling with the SR5 and Trail. KDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System) will help with lateral force, it doesn't do anything for nose dive, which is an issue with the trails and SR5. Because most of my driving is highway/city, I find the XREAS to suit my needs the best.
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I have to totally agree with the XREAS suspension, I have been in SUV's without an XREAS or KDSS equivalent and it just rocks like a boat. It's basically as good as it can get for stock suspension anyway.

CJSheridan said:
but the reviews for the highlander are so much better than the 4Runner as far as on road performance goes. Are 4 runners that bad on the highway? A very close family member was recently hurt badly in an accident so we are extremely concerned with feeling secure and safe in our vehicle. Also, my wife thinks the highlander is one of the most boring cars she's ever seen, but it seems like a good value for the $.
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OP - What car was your cousin driving?
I have read a lot of accident related articles involving 4runners, because I am paranoid about safety as much as you are.

You do run a higher chance of flipping over a 4R than you do a highlander. But you do have 8 + airbags and a somewhat of a heavy body/frame.

If you go with a limited, you will like the suspension, i think. Test drive a Limited and compare it to a highlander.

I have to say that I love the cargo space in my 4R. It has swallowed up a whole lot of everything. If you pack heavy, I think you will enjoy the space in the 4R.

Best of luck to you :)
 
M1911 said:
The outside dimensions of the Highlander are almost exactly the same as a 4Runner.

Highlander length/width/height with roof rails: 188.4/75.2/69.3
4Runner SR5 length/width/height: 189.9/75.8/71.5
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ya, I knew they were close. I test drove a Highlander. I don't know, 4Runner just looks and feels much bigger.
 
I guess at the end it depends what do you like most. . To me Highlander feels too much like a car and it doesn't have locked 4x4. With all open differentials it relies on ATRAC too much. Highlander probably is better on highway, but I feel comfortable in 4Runner, I think it's fine for long highway trips. Longest trip I made in one day was about 600 miles (well, probably 150 of them were on forest roads) - I didn't feel any discomfort. Yes, SR5 leans and nose dives more than Highlander, but it's quite manageable and fixable as you can learn from this forum. Anither not obvious thing that SR5 and TE have part time 4x4 and it means that you will have to remember to turn it on/off, don't drive in 4x4 on dry pavement and you'll have to drive at least 10 miles a month in 4hi to keep transfer case lubricated. Limited has full time 4x4 so this not applies to it. KDSS is available only on TE. Limted has X-REAS, SR5 doesn't have KSDD or X-REAS, but on the positive side its suspension is easier to upgrade.
I was considering Higlander or Pilot in the past but after I test drove 4Runner all practicality went out of the window and I knew I had to have 4Runner.


Oh and another thing. If you'll get 4Runner you'll likely start to go to places you never thought of because roads didn't look passable before : )
 
DannyLlama said:
I don't know about that, I'm pretty confident that the 4R has more room/cargo space than the highlander.
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From Toyota's web site, Cargo volume (cu. ft.) behind front/second-row/third-row seats"

Highlander:

95.4/42.3/10.3

4Runner:
88.8/46.3/9.0

With all seats folded, the Highlander has more cargo volume. The 4Runner has more room behind the second row. The differences aren't huge.
 
You hit on the best part. THE REAR WINDOW. I have a 4th gen, and I will be getting a 5th.

Once you have the rear window down, you will never want anything else. It is like having a convertible without all the hassels.
 
CJSheridan said:
Hi everyone,

My wife and I are in the market for a new vehicle. We've been driving Rav4's for the last four years and when we travel with our two small dogs, all our stuff, and with children hopefully in the near future, we both agree that we need something bigger. We have had great experiences with Toyota, so the two logical choices are the 4Runner or the Highlander...

I know this topic has been discussed before, but I have researched like crazy and I am still on the fence, so any and all advice or opinions would be great.

We live on Long Island and it will be are daily driver, so we do a lot of local driving, but we spend a great deal of time at my family's cabin upstate. We spend quite a bit of time on the highways and it snows like crazy up there. We also need to have the ability to tow an ATV or a Jet ski from time to time. I doubt it will see a ton of off road time aside from the occasional fire road or camping trip. but the roads up there are not in good shape and pot holes etc have done some pretty good damage to other cars in the past.

Obviously the 4Runner is more interesting and I think it is the vehicle that I think I want, but the reviews for the highlander are so much better than the 4Runner as far as on road performance goes. Are 4 runners that bad on the highway? A very close family member was recently hurt badly in an accident so we are extremely concerned with feeling secure and safe in our vehicle. Also, my wife thinks the highlander is one of the most boring cars she's ever seen, but it seems like a good value for the $.

I know this is a 4Runner forum so opinions my be biased, but do I need a body on frame truck like the 4Runner or is the Highlander the right choice? There are also better deals and promotions on the Highlander...

I will be test driving both very soon. Sorry for the long post. Thanks!
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Hi CJ,

I was concerned about safety as well, having been rear-ended by an 18 wheeler a dozen or so years ago. One look at the NHTSA crash test videos for the 4Runner and I KNEW I'd be safe... and I now have 40K very happy miles on her!

I also drove the Highlander but the yawn factor was too much for me, and my LTD handles amazingly well, and I say that having driven a Maxima SE before it.

I'm on Long Island as well so PM me if you'd like to do some real test driving, and I was amazed how well it handled towing my boat down from upstate.

-Dave
 
NYRunner said:
I'm on Long Island as well so PM me if you'd like to do some real test driving, and I was amazed how well it handled towing my boat down from upstate.

-Dave
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Hey that's actually not a bad idea.

We should have a thread for who is available to provide a non-dealer test drive for future buyers.

Driving with a salesman next to you talking your ear off is never enough :infidel:
 
DannyLlama said:
Hey that's actually not a bad idea.

We should have a thread for who is available to provide a non-dealer test drive for future buyers.

Driving with a salesman next to you talking your ear off is never enough :infidel:
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I'd gladly do a ride along with anyone in my area interested in buying a runner
 
There were a bunch of vehicles more practical than my 4Runner.

I got a 4Runner. It's what I wanted. Sounds like it's what you want too. :)

Which color 4Runner do you like best?
 
...... in fact .... thinking back .... I was down to the 4R and a Pilot.

Then I took my wife on my last test drives, Pilot first, 4R second. She took one look at the 4R and said; "oh THIS is the one you want".
 
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