Thanks to the advice from folks on this forum, I decided on a TE with KDSS. (It also has Entune.). I had wanted a good balance of ride comfort coupled with off-road capability. The 4Runner offers a very cool combination of on and off-road capabilities. On test drive, I took the 4R to about 95mph. Compared to my Wrangler 4 door hard-top, this rig was like a Lexus in its quietness and smoothness. The KDSS equipped 4R seemed (to me) to offer a slightly smoother ride than the X-REAS equipped LE. That might be due to of tire pressure differences. What a comfortable highway ride. I've owned a Gen-3 4Runner, a 2002 Tundra and a recent 4 door Tacoma so, I shouldn't have been surprised by a Toyota truck's highway demeanor. They are fantastic. This Gen-5 4R just fits the family tradition beautifully. The current 4R seems to be a triumph of engineering excellence and of form-following-function.
The ergonomics, comfort, reliability/dependability and supreme on/off road capabilities seem to place this vehicle in a very small class. Taking price into consideration factors out such competitors as the LR4 (of course so does questionable reliability) and its Lexus stablemate. One of the only viable competitors is the current Grand Cherokee. This was my main cross-shop. The 2014 GC has a far more responsive and up to date 8 speed transmission. The performance of its 6 and 8 cylinder motors are excellent. The interiors are beautiful. While reliability may not be in the same league, what did the Grand Cherokee in for me was the boredom of its drive. Of course this is highly subjective. But, I was unable to get the slightest emotional rise out of the Jeep. It seems refined to the point of rendering it uninteresting.
The Toyota on the other hand, strikes all the right chords of classic old school excellence (much like a LR Defender or an overseas (non-Escalade, Land Cruiser) with up to date tech, safety and comforts. I can't wait to put on many many more miles! Thank you all for your help.
The ergonomics, comfort, reliability/dependability and supreme on/off road capabilities seem to place this vehicle in a very small class. Taking price into consideration factors out such competitors as the LR4 (of course so does questionable reliability) and its Lexus stablemate. One of the only viable competitors is the current Grand Cherokee. This was my main cross-shop. The 2014 GC has a far more responsive and up to date 8 speed transmission. The performance of its 6 and 8 cylinder motors are excellent. The interiors are beautiful. While reliability may not be in the same league, what did the Grand Cherokee in for me was the boredom of its drive. Of course this is highly subjective. But, I was unable to get the slightest emotional rise out of the Jeep. It seems refined to the point of rendering it uninteresting.
The Toyota on the other hand, strikes all the right chords of classic old school excellence (much like a LR Defender or an overseas (non-Escalade, Land Cruiser) with up to date tech, safety and comforts. I can't wait to put on many many more miles! Thank you all for your help.
Last edited:
arty:
