The Eternal Grudge Match…4Runner vs. Pathfinder

[LUVDA4RUNNER]

Hopefully this helps.
I have owned a 2004 and currently have a 2008 Pathfinder. I am planning on either buying a 4Runner or the new JGC.
When I bought my 2008 Pathfinder I was also looking at a new 4Runner.
Unfortunately I had a salesman at Toyota who did not seem like he wanted to help me or sell cars that day.
I looked and drove the 08 Pathfinder the same weekend. Emailed both salesman at Nissan and Toyota. I heard back from Nissan that Monday and never heard a thing from Toyota.
In terms of the Pathfinder I was able to get more bells and whistles for less price than the 4Runner. 3rd row seating was standard, it was a option on the 4Runner. It had a standared LCD screen w/o Nav. The leather seats I have now are better quality than wht I see in the 10-11 4Runner's. True, the V6 in the PF rocks. I can always lay rubber if I want.

That being said this generation of PF are having fatal transmission issues. Currently the transmissions in 2005-2006 PF's are experiencing radiator fluid leaking into the tranny and killing it. Look on the Nissan boards. It is happening alot and Nissan is doing nothing for the owners. This worries me.
I have around 35,000 miles on my PF. It is starting to rattle some. To be honest it has otherwise been a very good vehicle. No problems at all.
That being said I am planning on buying a 4runner when my lease is up in a few months. I like the 4runner design, the Toyota craftsmanship, etc...

The thing that concerns me about the T4R is the price. I have been looking at the new JGC, which is nice, it is however a Chrysler product, and this worries me.
A Limited JGC for $39K comes standared w/leather front and rear heated seats, a 28 gig hard drive stero, Nav, remote start, select-terrain 4 wheel drive, a very large Command view dual pane sunroof, and the option to purchase a V8.
To get a T4R with some of the above options it is going to cost me around $42K. Plus the T4R does not have a hard drive, remote start is like a $500 option, no rear heated seats, no V8, etc... Plus, the Jeep dealership is offering $3K off of all the JGC and their website still says make an offer off of that. So I feel like I would get more for my money w/the JGC, minus the Toyota quality.

 

[fxoffroad]

The proof is (as they say) in the pudding.

I pulled Kelly Blue Book Numbers (all w/ 61.5K miles) - here's how it plays out:

'06 Toyota 4Runner Limited V8 - Sug. Retail $28,365
'06 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overlander V8 - Sug. Retail $22,635
'06 Nissan Pathfinder SE - Sug. Retail $21,000

Speaks for itself, eh?

 

[Bearshrimp]

The proof is (as they say) in the pudding.

I pulled Kelly Blue Book Numbers (all w/ 61.5K miles) - here's how it plays out:

'06 Toyota 4Runner Limited V8 - Sug. Retail $28,365
'06 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overlander V8 - Sug. Retail $22,635
'06 Nissan Pathfinder SE - Sug. Retail $21,000

Speaks for itself, eh?

I don’t think those trim levels are exactly equal, the Pathfinder LE is more akin to the 4Runner limited and the Grand Cherokee Limited.

I did a similar analysis with NADA,
Clean Trade value on a 2006 4Runner SR5 4x4 V6 with 60,000 miles, leather, sunroof, tow package, power seats....$20,050

Clean Trade Value on a 2006 Pathfinder SE 4x4 with the same miles and options $18,275.

So the 4Runner does hold its value better. From a resale perspective, I can't see how a rational human being could buy a new Jeep Grand Cherokee or Ford Explorer.

The NADA clean trade for a Grand Cherokee Limited with the base V8 (not the hemi) and sunroof at 60,000 miles is $15,650. For a vehicle that costs considerably more new than either the 4Runner or the Pathfinder from what my research has shown.

 

[Bearshrimp]

A Limited JGC for $39K comes standared w/leather front and rear heated seats, a 28 gig hard drive stero, Nav, remote start, select-terrain 4 wheel drive, a very large Command view dual pane sunroof, and the option to purchase a V8.

To get a T4R with some of the above options it is going to cost me around $42K. Plus the T4R does not have a hard drive, remote start is like a $500 option, no rear heated seats, no V8, etc... Plus, the Jeep dealership is offering $3K off of all the JGC and their website still says make an offer off of that. So I feel like I would get more for my money w/the JGC, minus the Toyota quality.

Watch out!

You should be able to get a T4R Limited for about $39,450 (MSRP $41,915) with Nav. After 5 years and 60,000 miles that T4R will be worth $22,975 in trade so the “cost” of the vehicle over 5 years is $16,475

That JGC limited for $36,000 (MSRP $42,880) after 5 years will be worth about $15,650 so the “cost” of the Jeep over 5 years is $20,350 or almost $4,000 more than the 4Runner. I admit I didn’t run a present value analysis on the higher payments for the 4Runner, but in reality the 4Runner is the less expensive car.

Are heated leather rear seats worth $3000?

 

[LUVDA4RUNNER]

Believe me, I want the 4runner, but I can get that $39K jeep for $3K off. So $36K is a $5K difference. I wonder if Toyota would come down any further. I figure that is unlikely. But I will try...

 

[LUVDA4RUNNER]

I hear ya, but I can get $3K of the Jeep, so looking at a Jeep Limited w/a # of additional options and 5K less. It is a tough decision, I have always wanted a 4Runner, I guess it just depend on what kind of numbers Toyota will give me.

 

[fxoffroad]

If you're good at buying you should be able to get a Limited w/ Nav for around 38.5 (like me and others) or less. Assuming you really want one and are willing to play ball.

Get the JGC and that depreciation hit you take driving off the lot will hurt. Personally, I don't get the Grand Cherokee and the praise its been getting - I test drove one and within a mile I was wishing I'd never gone to a dealership to drive it. It was painful.

As for the Pathfinder - personally I think the interior design and finishes are sub-par compared to the 4Runner. I rented a Murano for a week and it was seriously sad - I thought I was in a Chevy. An FX35 which I rented a year ago was a blast... but generally speaking, I'm not a Nissan fan. Though I do miss my former mint-condition 76 280z.

Good luck w/ your decision.

Believe me, I want the 4runner, but I can get that $39K jeep for $3K off. So $36K is a $5K difference. I wonder if Toyota would come down any further. I figure that is unlikely. But I will try...

 

[scanny]

Plus the T4R does not have a hard drive

SR5 has an USB connector, so you you can connect and USB flash drive or a portable drive or MP3 player to it. You are really not limited by 28G. I guess Limited should have the same USB port onboard.

 

[Jesse1983]

I didn't even know the Pathfinder was still in production.:beer:

 

[treyb]

Here are links to the data that we used when finalizing our decision to go with the T4R over the PF. When we saw the safety and JD Powers ratings it solidified the decision for us. We are VERY happy with our decision to go with the T4R.

JDPower.com | 4Runner

JDPower.com | Pathfinder

2010 Toyota 4Runner vs. 2010 Nissan Pathfinder


I realize that some people will argue the validity of these ratings, but I honestly feel that these organizations (JD Powers and NHTSA) are the best sources for unbiased information available to the consumer today. Hope this helps.

 

[TTown]

I am surprised nobody has mentioned the sliding rear window! It has to be one of my favorite features of the 4Runner.

I have not owned, and didn't consider the PF when shopping, but everyone I know that has had a Nissan and a Toyota have appreciated the quality of the Toyota. Most said they didn't realize how much of a difference it was until they had some time in the Nissan. My perception of Nissan's quality is not sub par. In fact I would put it's build quality better than GM and Chrysler, but below Toyota and Honda. I'm on the fence with who would win between Nissan and Ford. If you notice a quality difference when the car is on the lot, it will only get worse the longer you own it.

As far as buying the ALL NEW Jeep because it has a $3000 rebate, I think that tells the story right there. Toyota didn't have to give any rebates on the 4Runner earlier this year when they were going through their problems. BTW, that whole debacle went away pretty quietly didn't it?

 

[Koz]

Sorry but I find it hard to believe that a vehicle with over 250lbs more weight and less HP is faster. The T4R should be quicker!

Koz

 

[024RunnerSE]

The 4Runner vs PathFinder handling is obvious. The PF has independent suspension all the way and is calibrated for street use and mild offroad use where the 4Runner has a long travel independent front suspension and very flexy suspension for the solid axle in back for offroad use. I'd say, the 4Runner leans more towards the offroad capability scale and less of the street-ability compared to the PF.

Not to mention, you really do have to take into consideration about how often you want to waste your expensive tires by laying patches of rubber on the tarmac.

 

[LUVDA4RUNNER]

Also, just to clear thing up you do not have to use premium fuel in the PF. It is recommended for best gas mileage. I average about 18 mpg w/87 ethanol.
I am hoping I can get a good deal on a T4R. Am am looking to get a vehicle to keep for the next 10 years, so I think it would be a good choice.

 

[philsey]

Sorry but I find it hard to believe that a vehicle with over 250lbs more weight and less HP is faster. The T4R should be quicker!

Koz

Have you driven one? I'm betting "no".

 

[Koz]

Have you driven one? I'm betting "no".

No I haven't but I test drove the V8 PF and just did not like the overall vehicle. Again Toyota needs to pull their head out of their A$$ and put the 4.6 in the 4Runner.

Koz

 

[M1911]

Again Toyota needs to pull their head out of their A$$ and put the 4.6 in the 4Runner.

That would be sweet.

 

[FourEyedWilly]

Sorry but I find it hard to believe that a vehicle with over 250lbs more weight and less HP is faster. The T4R should be quicker!

Koz

Gearing would have an effect on this. Interesting read here.

My opinion... driving a new car that looks like an old car because of it's styling is just plain no fun.

I have driven many cars, owned lots including Nissan, and have not been happy unless my butt was in a Toyota.

Wifey has the new 2011 GC V8. It's a pretty rad drive, but I can say, not for peeps on this forum. Plenty of torque and great fit and finish compared to before. It's not for me, I'm not into leather, chrome, and overall pimpy-ness. She could not get into the TE 4R. Oh well, I'll replace my 4th gen in a few years with a TE. I hope they get a V8 by then. No Nissan's on the horizon unless someone wants to donate a Skyline to me.

 

[volrus7]

I know this isn't a pathfinder per se, but I owned an Infiniti QX4 which was based on the pathfinder and to this day I say it was the absolute best vehicle I have ever owned. The interior was phenomenal, the legendary Nissan V6 was bullet proof, and the overall vehicle was a freaking tank with 150,000 trouble free miles. I wish I had never gotten rid of that vehicle. That being said, they never have been as attractive as the 4R's on the exterior. My whole issue with the 4R is that you have to get a Limited model just to get something that is just about standard on all but the base models of every other vehicle...dual digital climate control. I still can't get over that, just archaic.

 

[mikeymouse1995]

i have a 1995 nissan maxima

Nissan's build quality is poor. They have good ideas, just poor execution.

on this comment, i know it's kinda of irrelevant but I have a 1995 Nissan Maxima still running with no problems w 200k miles, i mean I Am nissan biased but like, atleast give people the credit they deserve, bc all japanese cars are good, nissan honda and toyota, and the pathfinder both stock base models, the pathy gives you more, and outperforms it.