Worth it?
- Thread starter tomtundra
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twoburgers
New member
panic brake feature - not so good
The only real complaint I have is the panic braking feature. It applies full brake power if it senses a panic stop - which I feel is set too sensitively. The net result is that the truck applies full brake when you may not want or need it. Otherwise, a great truck.
The only real complaint I have is the panic braking feature. It applies full brake power if it senses a panic stop - which I feel is set too sensitively. The net result is that the truck applies full brake when you may not want or need it. Otherwise, a great truck.
Apex Overland
New member
traded my 2012 DC Tundra for my 4runner. don't miss it at all. thought I would, but nope.
BobsTrail
Senior Member
I was going to skip responding because there was so much good input and comments about the power, comfort etc.
I just spent 3 days in the desert and got a few hours of off-road time each day. All I can do now is agree with all the "love my 4Runner" comments and don`t mind a little roughness on road.
I was in sand, gravel, hard pack and rocks, used the locker once and used Crawl for a small hill. I enjoyed most of it. I did get tired of the rocks, probably because I went so slow.
It`s all worth it.
I just spent 3 days in the desert and got a few hours of off-road time each day. All I can do now is agree with all the "love my 4Runner" comments and don`t mind a little roughness on road.
I was in sand, gravel, hard pack and rocks, used the locker once and used Crawl for a small hill. I enjoyed most of it. I did get tired of the rocks, probably because I went so slow.
It`s all worth it.
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be77solo
New member
Like the others said, I thought it was underpowered on the test drive, but loved everything else about it, and honestly like you mentioned there's simply nothing else comparable quality or feature wise. So, I bought it after driving all the competition.
I have learned as others posted, it's not so much underpowered but Toyota has it set up to feel "lazy". Aggressive throttle input does help.
Once you get past that issue, I can't say I have many other. I'm coming from a F350 Turbo Diesel with a strong custom tune, but when you consider all the other advantages, I, like others, love driving mine daily and it puts a smile on my face.
Plus, there are no shortages of fun mods..... :rockon:
I have learned as others posted, it's not so much underpowered but Toyota has it set up to feel "lazy". Aggressive throttle input does help.
Once you get past that issue, I can't say I have many other. I'm coming from a F350 Turbo Diesel with a strong custom tune, but when you consider all the other advantages, I, like others, love driving mine daily and it puts a smile on my face.
Plus, there are no shortages of fun mods..... :rockon:
Steamtrain
New member
Friggin Idiot
Senior Member
Drive them all! I drove the SR5, the Trail (both premium), and the Limited. The only configuration I couldn't drive was the one that I was most interested in and ended up with, Trail with KDSS. The Trail and SR5 drove the same, and both more comfortable in ride than the Limited. I blame the stupid 20" rims with low profile tires for the rougher ride. However those shorter sidewalls made turning and handling feel better, although the X-REAS may have something to do with that as well. Now the Trail Premium with KDSS is a world apart from the rest, having the smoothest ride of any 4Runner. Several reviewers have picked up on this fact too, although I can't find them at this point. The KDSS is invaluable to absorbing the potholes, rough road, or whatever hazards a daily drive can present. The X-REAS on the limited works in a similar manner, but is designed more for anti-roll than it is for allowing for extra wheel travel. Whether or not that system works as well as KDSS with the smaller 17" wheels and more sidewall the Trail is surely somewhere else in this forum. Where the X-REAS performance is designed to cope with road conditions, I don't think it would fair too well off road. KDSS was designed from the start for off road wheel travel. If you're serious about a 4Runner, look very hard at these two systems and figure which works for you.
Someone else mentioned we're not driving sports cars, and that's very true. But for what we are driving I honestly expected a little better get up and go. It does go very well when you put your foot into it, but it has to get above 2500rpm before it starts to go. But since the redline is around 6000rpm it's got plenty of room in the powerband, although with that 5 speed transmission you need it spending more time in each gear. But better 5 real gears than a CVT right?!
Ignore the reviews from most places which rate the 4Runner poorly, those people are used to reviewing all manner of vehicles. Hence they fault the 4Runner for what it is, a body on frame truck based SUV. They don't produce the same ride and comfort of the unibody crossovers, and those don't handle what the 4Runner can do better. The 4Runner seems to make no apologies for what it is, a rough and rugged SUV. The engine and transmission are dated, but that means there's established reliability. There's also parts available and you're not stuck with a powertrain that hasn't had all of the bugs worked out of it yet. For this I'm happy with the 4Runner and it's tried and true history. For this you trade off a few mpg's. Be realistic, you don't buy a 4Runner for the mpg's, and if that's your deciding factor on a vehicle then you're in the wrong market.
Here's where I jump ship from the forum crowd and diss on the TRD Pro version which is an over-promoted Trail premium sans sunroof. Sure the armor plating is thicker, it's a little better (more aggressive) looking, but this comes at a premium price and very limited availability. If you're planning on modding it all anyway, why pay more for things that you may remove? And who really buys a TRD Pro and leaves it factory? You can do the same to a Trail Premium, and since you got it for less money, now have more money to spend on mods.
At the end of the day, if you're not sure this is the truck for you, then it's probably not. I bought it because I liked the odd looks, good reviews, established history, Toyota brand, and I just couldn't see myself in an Outback for the next 4+ years of my life. I'm a fan of simple things that work, and not so much of all the computerized "features." I actually laughed at a salesman for trying to convince me to buy the Limited with all of it's computerized options after I had specifically been asking for the Trail they didn't have in stock. When you're spending $38+k on something, it had very well be what you want!
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Ebbsnflows
New member
I love my new 5th Gen (coming from a 4th gen...and then a 3rd gen before that). The one singular thing that I do not like is the lack of power. If you live in a relatively flat area, I guess it's not a big deal...but living the mountains of NC, it's a noticeable issue while motoring up and down hilly/mountainous highways we have here. And while I realize the 4Runner is an SUV (and not my 658 rwhp Camaro that it shares garage space with)...I still believe that Toyota should've offered a more potent powerplant for it (considering the significant weight gain it experienced).
But overall, the pro's far outweigh that one con...which is why I bought it.
But overall, the pro's far outweigh that one con...which is why I bought it.
Dexter Morgan
New member
I still love mine. It does what it's supposed to do: starts up every morning, goes good in the snow, looks good, gets decent gas mileage, gets me to work and back and prevents me from being mired in the lifeless, soulless, dime a dozen cross over/suv segment.
Don't expect it to be fast and you won't be disappointed. Buy a dedicated car for fun.
I'm going to disagree with the others... if you didn't like the power on the test drive you WILL get over it.
I came from an 05' Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 5.7 V8 and 335hp. The first test drive in the 4Runner, while everything else felt incredibly more solid and well put together, it felt slow. I took a chance because reliability/build quality/gas mileage were all more important. For awhile I thought I made the wrong choice, and then I broke through the wall and realized the power while not immense is absolutely adequate and allows for the trade offs like mpg.
The more you drive the 4Runner the more you fall in love with how well it does everything!
I came from an 05' Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 5.7 V8 and 335hp. The first test drive in the 4Runner, while everything else felt incredibly more solid and well put together, it felt slow. I took a chance because reliability/build quality/gas mileage were all more important. For awhile I thought I made the wrong choice, and then I broke through the wall and realized the power while not immense is absolutely adequate and allows for the trade offs like mpg.
The more you drive the 4Runner the more you fall in love with how well it does everything!
ic0517
New member
Decide if you really want body-on-frame or not. The field gets smaller all the time.
Go try the Lexus V8 version of 4Runner, forgot what its called, if you want more power. Its Prado in the rest of the world.
Chrysler is Chrysler. Nissan is killing the Xterra.
If you can live with unibody, Highlander is one nice vehicle.
Or wait for the 6th gen 4Runner. Once it comes out, I wouldn't screw around too long deciding between 2015 and 2016, Toyotas have a way of clearing the lot of last years model regardless.
Go try the Lexus V8 version of 4Runner, forgot what its called, if you want more power. Its Prado in the rest of the world.
Chrysler is Chrysler. Nissan is killing the Xterra.
If you can live with unibody, Highlander is one nice vehicle.
Or wait for the 6th gen 4Runner. Once it comes out, I wouldn't screw around too long deciding between 2015 and 2016, Toyotas have a way of clearing the lot of last years model regardless.
fubar
New member
I am a bit of an early adopter/gadget guy who loves to have the latest toys. I narrowed my truck choice down to LR4 - JGC - T4R. Drove them in that order. Got in the T4R and felt like I had come home...in spite of the aged platform. Ya gotta go with what resonates for you. Test drive and have fun. Good luck!
Ron4RNevada
New member
I traded a 2004 Land Rover Discovery for my 2013 4Runner SR5:
Power: Seems like the 4 liter V6 T4R has more torque and HP than the 4.6 V8 in the LR (even though the specs on both are about the same). Perhaps it's because off the 4 overhead cams and VVT compared to the push-rod (circa 1960 Buick engine). The T4R performs great in mountainous northern Nevada.
Off-road performance: The SR5 and the Discovery are very near equal in all poor traction situations. The SR5 only comes out poorly due to way too much plastic below the belt line compared to the steel on the Discovery.
On-road performance: The SR5 is the big winner here. The Discovery had solid axles both front and rear with very stiff springs at both ends. After 10 years and 150,000 miles in the LR (much of it off-road), the SR5 is very easy on the body. Also, even with the LT E-rated tires, the SR5 gets about 19mpg on highway compared to the LR getting 15mpg. Off-road the SR5 beats the LR too.
Interior room better in SR5.
Head room better in LR.
Seat comfort about the same.
Figuring out what all of the controls were about -> the SR5 is way more confusing. However, after reading the manual cover-to-cover several times; diving it for the past 5 months and 5000 miles in every situation that I'll probably ever encounter - I love it!
Mods: Upgrading the tires was the only major thing I'll probably ever do. Down the road though when it ages a bit (and the wife isn't looking) I'll probably remove about six inches of that plastic along the bottom of the truck (front and rear bumpers, quarter panels, under door sills).
I'm looking forwards to the next 200,000 miles!
Then:
Now:
Power: Seems like the 4 liter V6 T4R has more torque and HP than the 4.6 V8 in the LR (even though the specs on both are about the same). Perhaps it's because off the 4 overhead cams and VVT compared to the push-rod (circa 1960 Buick engine). The T4R performs great in mountainous northern Nevada.
Off-road performance: The SR5 and the Discovery are very near equal in all poor traction situations. The SR5 only comes out poorly due to way too much plastic below the belt line compared to the steel on the Discovery.
On-road performance: The SR5 is the big winner here. The Discovery had solid axles both front and rear with very stiff springs at both ends. After 10 years and 150,000 miles in the LR (much of it off-road), the SR5 is very easy on the body. Also, even with the LT E-rated tires, the SR5 gets about 19mpg on highway compared to the LR getting 15mpg. Off-road the SR5 beats the LR too.
Interior room better in SR5.
Head room better in LR.
Seat comfort about the same.
Figuring out what all of the controls were about -> the SR5 is way more confusing. However, after reading the manual cover-to-cover several times; diving it for the past 5 months and 5000 miles in every situation that I'll probably ever encounter - I love it!
Mods: Upgrading the tires was the only major thing I'll probably ever do. Down the road though when it ages a bit (and the wife isn't looking) I'll probably remove about six inches of that plastic along the bottom of the truck (front and rear bumpers, quarter panels, under door sills).
I'm looking forwards to the next 200,000 miles!
Then:
Now:
