dwulffusa
New member
I finally drove one today. Still none in my area, and I had to make a trip to Charlotte (1.5hrs away) so went past the dealership in Concord which is large and an earlier post had said he saw a few there.
There was a black SR5 4WD with a few options on, so I drove that.
I hate that I wasnt won over, I really wanted to be, I really had planned on getting another 4Runner after this one (so of course this is from a 4th gen owners view that doesnt apply to everyone), but:
My overall impression was underwhelming. There may be some nice new features that we are all familiar with now, but as a total package it just feels lower grade like they took cost out of everything they did not consider to be essential. I am talking about things like the door cap design and feel, the plastics around the trunk - it just looks and feels more budget than the 4th gen.
Ride/ NVH/ Engine- It was quieter than mine for sure (but how much quieter than a new 09 I cant say). The body fealt very solid and sturdy, but softly sprung. So the ride was definitely more comfortable, but sitting higher, on the heavier body with absorbant suspension made it feel top heavy and wallowy around corners and over big bumps. I didnt even want to try a fast lane change or something like that, it lets you know early that its not into that stuff. So in SR5 trim at least, the handling was not confidence inspiring.
The engine was quieter, and sounded more mechanical all the way up, it is an improvement over the hoover vac 4th gen V6, but not a massive leap. I really cant say I feal an additional 30HP, it feels no faster than the current model. It actually feels less deliberate on accelaration, it may be faster on paper but does not feel it behind the wheel. The transmission is very smooth, no issues there, but the tipshift is a waist of time, sure its nice to downshift one at a time (which you have always been able to do anyway), but it upshifts as normal as though your inputs mean nothing, so there is no point to it. Eg. mild accelaration, upshift to 4th, nothing happens until it is happy to shift to 4th. Now accelarate 3/4 throttle, it downshifts again as if in full auto mode. If you give the driver the option of controlling something, then he should be able to control it, except in full throttle situations for safety reasons,then override my inputs, ok?
Design - The increased interior volume and higher stance are noticable, in the front seat anyway. It does feel bigger and has a commanding seating position. Sitting so far back from the upright A pillar feels weird, and does not seem like good space utilization- to the detriment of the rear seat passengers. I feel hunkered down in the cabin though - with the high dash and hood. Do not like that. Getting in requires more of a jump than the 4th gen. In the rear with the impeding wheel arch its a little awkward, I reached up to grab the Bpillar handle - which is not there, and no running board to step on - fail.
Once in, sitting higher does feel more comfortable with your knees lower compared to the high floor of the 4th gen.
Thats about it. I'm not sold.
On another note
The salesman almost had me sticking my keys in my eyes, complete cheeseball that didnt know what he was talking about, didnt seem to know much about Toyota products at all really. When I said I was struggling with the decision to replace mine since it is in perfect condition, though I feel like its time for a change - he said yes that is how he is with woman, likes to change it up, different experiences.... He also said he had a Limited in the back, we rounded the corner and it was an SR5, which I could see that from 150yards away. Wish I had had a recorder for the crap he was spewing, could he not see that I was not paying attention to him and knew more about the car than he did. I also had to explain the part time/full time 4wd systems, he asked why I would want to use 4WD in the rain and inclement weather...
Couldnt wait to get out of there...
Mine returned 21mpg traveling 70-80mph there and back, and I happily paid for a 5,000mile oil change when I got back, the century is just 5,000miles away and its running as sweet as always!
There was a black SR5 4WD with a few options on, so I drove that.
I hate that I wasnt won over, I really wanted to be, I really had planned on getting another 4Runner after this one (so of course this is from a 4th gen owners view that doesnt apply to everyone), but:
My overall impression was underwhelming. There may be some nice new features that we are all familiar with now, but as a total package it just feels lower grade like they took cost out of everything they did not consider to be essential. I am talking about things like the door cap design and feel, the plastics around the trunk - it just looks and feels more budget than the 4th gen.
Ride/ NVH/ Engine- It was quieter than mine for sure (but how much quieter than a new 09 I cant say). The body fealt very solid and sturdy, but softly sprung. So the ride was definitely more comfortable, but sitting higher, on the heavier body with absorbant suspension made it feel top heavy and wallowy around corners and over big bumps. I didnt even want to try a fast lane change or something like that, it lets you know early that its not into that stuff. So in SR5 trim at least, the handling was not confidence inspiring.
The engine was quieter, and sounded more mechanical all the way up, it is an improvement over the hoover vac 4th gen V6, but not a massive leap. I really cant say I feal an additional 30HP, it feels no faster than the current model. It actually feels less deliberate on accelaration, it may be faster on paper but does not feel it behind the wheel. The transmission is very smooth, no issues there, but the tipshift is a waist of time, sure its nice to downshift one at a time (which you have always been able to do anyway), but it upshifts as normal as though your inputs mean nothing, so there is no point to it. Eg. mild accelaration, upshift to 4th, nothing happens until it is happy to shift to 4th. Now accelarate 3/4 throttle, it downshifts again as if in full auto mode. If you give the driver the option of controlling something, then he should be able to control it, except in full throttle situations for safety reasons,then override my inputs, ok?
Design - The increased interior volume and higher stance are noticable, in the front seat anyway. It does feel bigger and has a commanding seating position. Sitting so far back from the upright A pillar feels weird, and does not seem like good space utilization- to the detriment of the rear seat passengers. I feel hunkered down in the cabin though - with the high dash and hood. Do not like that. Getting in requires more of a jump than the 4th gen. In the rear with the impeding wheel arch its a little awkward, I reached up to grab the Bpillar handle - which is not there, and no running board to step on - fail.
Once in, sitting higher does feel more comfortable with your knees lower compared to the high floor of the 4th gen.
Thats about it. I'm not sold.
On another note
The salesman almost had me sticking my keys in my eyes, complete cheeseball that didnt know what he was talking about, didnt seem to know much about Toyota products at all really. When I said I was struggling with the decision to replace mine since it is in perfect condition, though I feel like its time for a change - he said yes that is how he is with woman, likes to change it up, different experiences.... He also said he had a Limited in the back, we rounded the corner and it was an SR5, which I could see that from 150yards away. Wish I had had a recorder for the crap he was spewing, could he not see that I was not paying attention to him and knew more about the car than he did. I also had to explain the part time/full time 4wd systems, he asked why I would want to use 4WD in the rain and inclement weather...
Couldnt wait to get out of there...
Mine returned 21mpg traveling 70-80mph there and back, and I happily paid for a 5,000mile oil change when I got back, the century is just 5,000miles away and its running as sweet as always!
Last edited:
