Is the 3rd row useful? Anyone miss the V8?

Bluto

Bluto

New member
The time has come for my 2005 4Runner V8 to go.

I'm shopping for a 2015 Limited, not sure if I should look for one with a 3rd row. I have not been able to see the 3rd row in person yet. Some input from owners would be great!

Can it be accessed with 2 cars seats in the 2nd row? I don't think it can.

Can a forward facing child seat fit in the 3rd row? This would just be the infrequent times I need to transport 4 adults and 2 kids.

I'm also shopping a used 2014 GX 460. Both have their pros and cons. I like the V8 and extra features. The rear door is not my ideal setup. I like the 4Runner's liftgate and power rear window.
 
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Bluto said:
The time has come for my 2005 4Runner V8 to go.

I'm shopping for a 2015 Limited, not sure if I should look for one with a 3rd row. I have not been able to see the 3rd row in person yet. Some input from owners would be great!

Can it be accessed with 2 cars seats in the 2nd row? I don't think it can.

Can a forward facing child seat fit in the 3rd row? This would just be the infrequent times I need to transport 4 adults and 2 kids.

I'm also shopping a used 2014 GX 460. Both have their pros and cons. I like the V8 and extra features. The rear door is not my ideal setup. I like the 4Runner's liftgate and power rear window.
Click to expand...

Everyone misses the V8. Everyone.

I suggest that you actually go look at one first before asking subjective questions here. Also, test drive, test drive, test drive. Take your car seats and try them out. Drive all kinds of roads. Use every feature you can use during your test drive.

Lastly, the 4Runner's third row is not the best third row setup out there. A Sienna AWD is much preferred for people who transport lots of people. Have you looked at them? A Highlander also has a better third row setup. They ride and handle better too.
 
i had a v8 LandRover Disco...yeah, it was nice smooth power...
the Runner V6 is just fine...but if you are towing somethign substantial, you'll want to think about it.

the 3rd row for me is just what it says it is...'optional' if/when we have a need, its nice to have. i wanted it because i know with my family of 4, we always have a 5th or 6th at our house 2 to 4 times a month easy. At 5-8, and the 2nd row slid up, i can fit back there pretty well, but its not for a long haul. but my 3 foot tall 7yr old loves it back there. if you view/use it as the 'i can transport a couple in a pinch' option, then its really cool to have. it will stay folded down and unseen for weeks, and be there when you need it. but many will repeat...as a dedicated need, there are many other vehicles that are better.
 
The gx460 3rd row is very similar to that in the 4runner. In general the interior of the gx is very similar to a ltd 4runner.

Keep in mind that the 3 row 4runner has different middle seats. The 2 row seats do the traditional bottom hinge forward and back fold down. The 3 row version middle row only lean forward. So you do not get a flat deck and lose about 8-10" of space throughout the cargo area folded down. Basically it's just like the GX folded down. If you carry big stuff, that might matter. If you want to sleep back there - it's a big difference.

The other big benefit IMO to the GX is the smart key and auto headlights. It's remarkable to me that the 4runner lacks those features as standard. Especially auto headlights. I just assumed when I bought it that every 2015 vehicle had auto headlights.

This shows the difference:
2015-Toyota-4Runner-back-interior.png

feature-large-06.jpg
 
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Jetboy said:
The other big benefit IMO to the GX is the smart key and auto headlights. It's remarkable to me that the 4runner lacks those features as standard. Especially auto headlights. I just assumed when I bought it that every 2015 vehicle had auto headlights.
Click to expand...
4Runner Limited comes with Smart Key and Auto Headlights.
 
3rd row hump

Was looking at these for my mother in law and being as she is vertically challenged, the sliding tray was a great idea. The 3rd row is a great idea as she is expecting apparently multiple upon multiple grand children. The only con I see of the 3rd row, besides that you can't get the sliding tray, is that it now bumps up the rear floor a good 4 inches. And while this may be no big deal for her being already short this makes loading things into this already high truck a little more difficult. Good luck with your search!!
 
JeremyB said:
4Runner Limited comes with Smart Key and Auto Headlights.
Click to expand...

Should be standard on all models IMO. Auto headlights were pretty standard features in the 90's.

Smart key has been std on lexus models for a decade or more. It's a standard feature almost every model Toyota sells all the way down to 3 of the 4 Corolla trims. The 4runner is a mixed bag with two or three top versions, being the Trail Premium, TRD Pro, and LTD. Each a top model for something different. At least those three should have smart keys.
 
I just bought a 2015 gx for my wife. The 3rd row will fit forward facing child seats. It will be difficult (almost impossible) for someone to get into the 3rd row with the child seats (assuming you aren't referring to booster seats) in the second row.

The v8 is great, it has a lot more pickup than my 4Runner. The rear door in the gx is weird, but in the 2014+ they added the opening rear glass, which is nice especially with the third row seats up.

I got a really good deal for the gx peemium to where the extra features and v8 made it worth passing over the limited
 
Bluto said:
The time has come for my 2005 4Runner V8 to go.

I'm shopping for a 2015 Limited, not sure if I should look for one with a 3rd row. I have not been able to see the 3rd row in person yet. Some input from owners would be great!

Can it be accessed with 2 cars seats in the 2nd row? I don't think it can.

Can a forward facing child seat fit in the 3rd row? This would just be the infrequent times I need to transport 4 adults and 2 kids.

I'm also shopping a used 2014 GX 460. Both have their pros and cons. I like the V8 and extra features. The rear door is not my ideal setup. I like the 4Runner's liftgate and power rear window.
Click to expand...


I have not looked at the 2015 Limited but I have the 2011 Limited with 3rd row. I never had a V8 4runner so can not speak to this. As for the third row I use it every now and then. I think my biggest complaint about it is that it makes the cargo area have a down angle. So when you pack it full of groceries or other things you have to be careful opening the hatch. I usually roll down the rear window first. Oh this is even with the rear cargo net. So watch that flying milk!

I did get a chance to have an SR5 for awhile a few years ago and I did like the extra cargo space you get with out the third row but I am sure those few times a year I use the third row I would miss it if I did not have it.

I do have one little crumb cruncher so I can not say about being able to get in the third row when having a full child seat there, but I know when he had the booster seat it was never an issue getting in to the back. Just remember when the seats are up there is almost nothing for storage space behind them and really only people who can fit back there are going to have to really short.

Hope this helps you out. Overall we do not regret getting the Limited package with 3rd row.
 
I just picked up a 3rd row SR5P last week. 3rd row was a must have for us and finding it in the SR5 platform proved difficult, but we found one in white on beige.

The one nice thing that no one's mentioned so far here is that on my 2nd row the fold downs are 40/20/40 which means that with 2 kiddo's in the second row you can still fold down that 20% of the middle row so the oldest (5 yo) can get in his booster in the back without being a professional high jumper.

At least in the SR5 the 3rd row doesn't have the child seat harness system, but a booster seat kid's using the seat belt any how.

As others have said there are better 3rd row systems out there, but for us this is our 'big' car and we needed something that was 'camp' ready, tow ready, daily driver, lowes/hd ready and would still last a long time with descent mpg. Since there isn't much in the body on frame category that isn't a full size SUV the 4 runner won out.

To your question about a rear facing kid container in the 3rd row, you can do it depending on your car seat, but again it doesn't have the child seat harness system, so you'd have to use the seat belt thru the base of the car seat (old school style). I wouldn't put a <1 yo back there just for reachability and sun exposure thru the rear window, but rather maybe a kiddo in a front facing conversion seat and leave the little one in the mid row. Alternatively you could put a single adult in the 3rd row and they can sit sideways....just my $0.02.

Hope that helps in your search and as [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] suggested take your car seats with you and test them. I spent 3 years in a Pathfinder that wouldn't fit a rear facing car seat behind either the driver/pass side....till I got wise and moved to the best car platform ever created:)

Let me know if i can answer any other questions on why we chose to pull the trigger or how we plan to use it and what features we liked....
 
That's why I have a Tahoe also:)

V8 and a better 3rd row. It's 2wd and runs on CNG, much cheaper op cost. About .09 per mile vs .17 in my 4R
 
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Thank you for the replies. I've done test drives, trying to search inventory for a 3rd row to look at. Owning a vehicle can reveal many more nuances and considerations.

The 4Runner is more of a 2nd vehicle, not a daily driver. Daily driver is a Passat TDI. I go hunting and camping. I tow a 6500 boat 12 miles per year (2-4 mile trips). Although it's not rated, the 4Runner will get the job done. 4Lo is a must on the boat ramp and trails. A Sienna or Highlander will not work. The Sienna is the best family hauler by far.

Family visits a few times a year. We'd never drive more than an hour with 6 passengers. I have a Diono Radian Convertible/Booster. It is very narrow, will fit 3 across in some vehicles. I'll have to try it out in the 3rd row and see if I fit next to it. I would move it to the 3rd row when needed, behind the infant seat in the 2nd row. Driving 2 vehicles is also an option.

The rear facing infant seat comes our of storage in December.


I never noticed the 3rd row cargo slope in the 4Runner. The GX is a fold-flat 3rd row. GX also has 2nd and 3rd row rear vents along the roofline.

Cargo Area behind the seats (Front/2nd/3rd):

4Runner: 89.7/47.2/NA
4Runner 3rd row: 88.8/46.3/9.0
GX 460: 64.7/46.7/11.6

A used Land Cruiser is also in the search. A nice one at a good price is hard to find. I have trouble paying +$50k for someone's disposed status symbol. It is a better vehicle, just not that much better to me.
 
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Bluto said:
The time has come for my 2005 4Runner V8 to go.

I'm shopping for a 2015 Limited, not sure if I should look for one with a 3rd row. I have not been able to see the 3rd row in person yet. Some input from owners would be great!

Can it be accessed with 2 cars seats in the 2nd row? I don't think it can.

Can a forward facing child seat fit in the 3rd row? This would just be the infrequent times I need to transport 4 adults and 2 kids.

I'm also shopping a used 2014 GX 460. Both have their pros and cons. I like the V8 and extra features. The rear door is not my ideal setup. I like the 4Runner's liftgate and power rear window.
Click to expand...
4_zpsb5ab8730.jpg~original


My next Toyota.
 
I don't think I would get the v8 if they offered it....

much like the v8 went away in place of a v6 in the m3....but then again.....


:banana:
 
FWIW, I cross shopped both. If the GX were in the same ballpark of weight, I'd have bought one. The 4runner's a heavy beast. Another 5-700lbs just seemed like too much. It literally weighs more than 2 first gen 4runners. What's kinda funny is the 1st gen 4runner v6 had a better power to weight ratio than the 5th gen v6.
 
if your considering 3rd row get a highlander or sequoia. it is much more usable in either vehicle. Only worse design Toyota crammed the 3rd row into was the Rav4, absolutely terrible. Used sequoias can be found and you will get 10000 lb towing and a very capable offroad system and a comfortable ride. I would look at 2008 and up ion the sequoias for the most space and comfort items
 
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