Toyota beat the 2010 4Runner's interior with the ugly stick

[arouth]

I went to the Vegas auto show and sat in a 2010 4Runner and that thing is hideous on the inside. I know the guy who designed it designed the FJ Cruiser, so maybe it is to a different demographic. However, I thought it was totally unattractive. For example, the dials are way oversized and the glovebox just looks wierd.

I think I like the previous gen 4runner a lot better both on the inside and out. The interior of that 4runner was a lot nicer.

However, maybe the 4Runner "returning to its roots" means that people like me won't like it!

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Some things will take time to get used to as I remember how parts of the 4th gen were hideous to 3rd gen guys. Door switch placement,300 more lbs to go with it's chunky look and all the plastic over the squared off wheel arches comes to mind for me back in '02 when Toyota dubuted the '03.

Almost all of the hating comments are from 4th gen owners so it does seem to be a biasedness going on which is the norm til we get a year or two into the newer generation which you will see some things changed and hopefully upgraded.

 

[peter78]

Some things will take time to get used to as I remember how parts of the 4th gen were hideous to 3rd gen guys.

I am still is not use to it. I find the controls, especially the climate controls, too complicated. I also, find it dark and the lights for the dash are so so.

The new dash to me, looks like an improvement.

 

[mikeync]

I was inside the SR5 about 3 weeks ago and found it ugly. The wife was ok with it, but didn't like the raised dash up front etc. Then I was inside the limited last week and I went hmm it wasn't as bad as I was thinking (still thought it looked pretty bad though). Then we took it home yesterday and I went - this isn't that bad actually. Looks pretty nice.

Things are laid out a lot better than in my Armada, but neither vehicle comes close to my 2004 Acura TL. To date it is the car that to me best integrated access to controls, new technologies like bluetooth, navigation system etc etc while creating the least amount of distraction when operating.

 

[LyteFly]

The new dash to me, looks like an improvement.

:iagree:

 

[Scoobs]

The center dash of the 5th gen looks like a JVC MX-J56. And that is not a good thing. When I saw the new dash I thought to myself " where have I seen that before?" The HVAC controls on the 4th gen are one of the things I like about the 4th gen. Buttons and dials are boring.

 

[elemint]

It is not great, but MUCH BETTER than the lame 4th Gen.

I went to the Vegas auto show and sat in a 2010 4Runner and that thing is hideous on the inside. I know the guy who designed it designed the FJ Cruiser, so maybe it is to a different demographic. However, I thought it was totally unattractive. For example, the dials are way oversized and the glovebox just looks wierd.

I think I like the previous gen 4runner a lot better both on the inside and out. The interior of that 4runner was a lot nicer.

However, maybe the 4Runner "returning to its roots" means that people like me won't like it!

 

[RonMAIDEN]

And what about the pink tinted tails on the early 4th gens? Thankfully those were changed also. I think in a few years the 5th gen have it's shortcomings worked out and with off roading in mind the 5th gen is headed in the right direction which Toyota never acknowledged with the 4th gens til they introduced a proper TE in the last year.

 

[Uneek]

It is not great, but MUCH BETTER than the lame 4th Gen.

Maybe lame in the looks dept to you, but at least it's not mechanically gimped in 4WD dept. With that said, the 4th's 4WD system is vastly SUPERIOR to that of the 5th.

 

[charlier180]

When it comes to the interior, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Personally, give me FUNCTIONALITY FIRST.
From the posted photos it looks like changes were made which are both a step forward and a step backward.
Unfortunately, it seems that almost all automakers make these mistakes and Toyota appears to be one of them.

Maybe lame in the looks dept to you, but at least it's not mechanically gimped in 4WD dept. With that said, the 4th's 4WD system is vastly SUPERIOR to that of the 5th.

With the change in 4WD, removal of the V8 option and the 2,000 lb reduction in towing capacity the 5th gen has been mechanically "castrated" not just "gimped" IMHO.

 

[BassMiesterNJ]

Got to completely disagree with the OP on this one. I see the 5th Gen interior as an improvement.

The 4th Gen interior was nothing to write home about to begin with IMO, especially the outdated steering wheel.

I like my 4th Gen but the interior was not a strong selling point for me.

 

[toto]

I've got mixed feelings about the new interior. Some of the knobs in the center do seem to be laid out better and more functional. I don't care for the FJ steering wheel, and I also don't like that the 4WD control took the place of a cupholder and is too easy for someone in the passenger seat to mess with.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I'm glad Toyota aimed this Runner (at least the trail ed.) in the off road direction and is still one of the last ladder framed SUVs out there.

I simply don't care of some of it's shortcomings based on some of the things the 4th gen had but as far as the off road crowd is concerned I think this Runner has a lot to offer and the Limited model is for the crowd that simply has to have luxury even without a V8 or fulltime 4wd or towing capacity.

With only selling less than 10,000 Runners last year be glad Toyota still offered one which means there will be hope for some of it's shortcomings to be rectified so instead of all the negativity be glad there is a 5th gen.

Toyota isn't twisting your arm to buy one so if the the new Runner doesn't fit your needs then move on to something else since I'm sure Toyota knows the Runners market has narrowed and will build according to demand.

4Runner fans have been *****ing about the lack of a manual and rear diff lock for almost 10 years and Toyota finally gave us the diff lock in '09 and still no manual so Toyota obviously doesn't see the demand for some options and the V6 4th gens were outselling the V8s and with gas prices hitting $4/gal just didn't see it fit for them to offer a V8 anymore which probably has a lot to do with it.

Remember most of us 4Runner nuts unfortunatly don't represent the average 4runner buyer,we are enthusiasts and we demand a lot from our truck and our expectatioins are higher than most so we seem to take it personally when a car company seems to ignore us so some negativity is expected.

I guess if you really dislike the new Runner than milk your 4th gen a while longer and maybe Toyota will get it right for you with some model year.
I'm milking my 3rd gen for a while cause the 4th gens were overall a disappointment for me so I haven't really been interested in owning one but the 5th gens have my attention........maybe a 2013 TE might be my next vehicle.

 

[sandcrawler]

…the Limited model is for the crowd that simply has to have luxury even without a V8 or fulltime 4wd or towing capacity.

i agree on most points. the 2010 Limited does offer fulltime 4WD, however. it's just unfortunate that it's the only 2010 model that does (come with the Torsen).

 

[lonesouth]

I really don't like where they put the window controls on the new ones...

 

[RonMAIDEN]

"Toyota beat the 2003 4Runner's interior with the ugly stick"


This could've been a thread title in '02 if this forum existed back then so it's all personal perspective but I see good in 4th and 5th gen interiors along with their faults.

 

[x67934]

The interior is one of the big reasons I got the 5th gen rather than the 4th especially the drivers in display on the 4th gen looks like the HVAC, Display and Stereo are stacked in rather than integrated like the 5th gen.

 

[Uneek]

The ugly stick ended up on the fender when they got done with it. :lmao:

 

[024RunnerSE]

4Runners interiors have always looked good even this one. Its the lower part of the exterior and the lights on this thing that was beat with an ugly stick lol.

 

[4RBob]

I think the 3rd gen dash looked way too outdated back in '02. I liked the exterior styling. When the 4th gen came out, I really liked the dash and still do to this day. I don't see the 5th gen dash as being too much of a change (yes, I test drove one).

The exterior styling of the 5th gen (Trail is ok) is way too bloated and mall-crawlerish for my liking.