XREAS - can't feel the difference

[bluewolf]

The one-and-only regret I've had about purchasing an SR5 instead of a Sport is that it lacks the XREAS suspension. I test-drove both prior to purchasing, and decided that in general day-to-day driving it would not be missed.

Well, like I said, I've had nagging regets about it, and I wanted to give the XREAS a better test to see what I'm missing (or not missing).

So, I worked my salesperson at the Toyota dealership (who's trying to get me to trade my 93 pickup in on a new Tundra) and got him to let me take out a limited with XREAS for an hour. This time I gave it a little better workout! I took it down our Ellensburg-canyon road, which is paved with lots of nice bends and hair-pin curves. After returning the limited, I took the same route in my SR5 to compare. I can honestly say I'm hard-pressed to tell the difference, IMHO my SR5 seems to handle equally as well!

Obviously the difference is probably much more noticeable off-road, but not for cornering, "sway" and "plow" effects, and general handling on smooth roads.

I feel much better now

 

[toybox]

Obviously the difference is probably much more noticeable off-road, but not for cornering, "sway" and "plow" effects, and general handling on smooth roads.

I feel much better now

It wasn't meant to be an off-road enhancement. It was meant for an on road handling improvement.

So from your observations and your test it is worthless.

I never compared the two to be quite honest so I can make no judgement. I bought a leftover and I wasn't all that picky but I am glad with what I wound up with getting.

 

[SD4RUNNER]

I haven't noticed a difference in my buddies XREAS Sport V8 , except for abit more "heaviness" in the feel of the rig due to the AWD......My v6 4x4 just feels a bit more nimble... personal opinion of course.

 

[bluewolf]

Re: Re: XREAS - can't feel the difference

So from your observations and your test it is worthless.

Well, "worthless" is a pretty strong word, though I was expecting a more dramatic difference... as hard as I tried I just couldn't feel it. If it's THAT difficult to distinguish between XREAS and normal suspension, I'm satisfied that I don't really need it!

Anybody else do a comparison test?

 

[airbur]

I compared both an SR5 without XREAS and a Sport with it and I can definately say there was a large difference between the two. There is much less body sway with XREAS. I was able to take turns at a much higher speed than with the SR5 and still feel like all 4 wheels were staying on the ground. This was actually the deciding factor in purchasing the Sport model over the SR5 for me.

 

[toybox]

Re: Re: Re: XREAS - can't feel the difference

Well, "worthless" is a pretty strong word,

Yeah, I probably should have said "not worth it" instead and that would have softened it up a bit.

 

[Hoomiester]

I feel the difference.

I test drove each twice and could easily tell the difference with/without the XRAES. It's what sold me on the Sport Edition. I drive up a mountain going home everyday and can maintain speed very well without "dipping" when taking the turns. When I drove the two vehicles without the XRAES, the dipping was pretty bad and caused me to slow down in the middle of turns.

I don't drive fast but feel that the XRAES is a great feature. That and the 23+ mpg (calculator not vehicle computer) I'm getting on my V6. Better than the Buick Regal I sold to buy the 4Runner!

 

[jj8111]

IMHO there is a big difference between the XRES and non-XRES models.

To clarify:
Rutted dirt road. I was driving up a rutted dirt road behind a buddy with a cherokee. From what I saw there was a big difference and I didn't even have to be in his truck to notice. My pasenger and I noticed that that my buddy in his cherokee and his passenger's heads were swaying left and right.

The two of us in my 4runner had ZERO sway. That is we did not rock left to right.

I have also noticed this lack of rocking while entering and exiting local shopping center parking lots. This was the first place I noticed the benefits of XRES. I took a 90 degree turn into a shopping center quickly to make a light. The sidewalk was a foot or so higher than the street and the truck took it perfectly.

 

[BigDogMoney]

I test drove an SR5, and an SE (with XREAS) and I noticed a marketable difference between the two platforms, and like Hoomiester, that's what made me choose the SE. There is much less body roll in the SE; it's amazing how a vehicle of that size can negotiate tight turns. When I test drove the vehicles I hit some turns at a pretty fast speed, and the XREAS really kept the line better than the SR5.

 

[bluewolf]

Rutted dirt road. I was driving up a rutted dirt road behind a buddy with a cherokee. From what I saw there was a big difference and I didn't even have to be in his truck to notice. My pasenger and I noticed that that my buddy in his cherokee and his passenger's heads were swaying left and right.

Yeah, on rutted roads our 01 grand swayed like a boat in a windstorm! The 4Runner, with or without XREAS, is vastly superior than the Jeep for smooth ride on bumpy roads.


A buddy of mine here at work asked me if I was positive that this particular limited had the XREAS. I thought it was a standard feature in the limited (and was just informed that it's not) so he brings up a good point. Now I have to go check... *sigh*

 

[Weedo]

Yeah, on rutted roads our 01 grand swayed like a boat in a windstorm! The 4Runner, with or without XREAS, is vastly superior than the Jeep for smooth ride on bumpy roads.


A buddy of mine here at work asked me if I was positive that this particular limited had the XREAS. I thought it was a standard feature in the limited (and was just informed that it's not) so he brings up a good point. Now I have to go check... *sigh*

You probably don't have it or you would remember seeing it on the window sticker.

I too noticed a big difference between the two. With XREAS the 4 Runner drives more like a car. The best example I have is pulling into our driveway, at an angle, slightly at an incline: It doesn't do the dipping/bobbing that most every other SUV or truck out there does. Granted non-XREAS 4 Runners are still better than most too...

 

[sharp4runr]

I felt a difference when shopping. I test drove a v8 sr5 and a v6 sport before purchasing. I knew I was already going to get a sport, just wanted to feel the difference of the engines. I liked how the SE handled better through turns and passing. I did like the power of the V8, but wasn't that much of a difference to the V6 to warrant me getting one.

I'm happy with the V6 and the Xreas. Great combination if you ask me.

July

 

[bluewolf]

You probably don't have it or you would remember seeing it on the window sticker.

I don't have XREAS... our 4Runner is an SR5.

I called to double-check on the limited that I took out yesterday, and it does have the XREAS.

 

[4route]

I test drove both xreas'd and non-xreas'd, and the xreas felt noticeably different and had better handling.

As stated previously, it is an on-road feature, that effects on-road handling, and was not designed as an off road enhancement.

Even with the Revtek lift and NE top spacers, I can still feel a difference between my xreas'd Runner, and one without.

 

[hawaiian]

I didn't feel the difference at first but after few more test drives I definitely felt it. Normal SUVs wabble side to side after a hard turn before gaining balance again but the X-reas centered right away. This is the difference between crashing/flipping on the freeway when someone cuts you off and you quickly swerve to avoid the idiot. Lack of risidual wabble or the "boat" feeling is what made me purchase the sport model vs the sr5.

I suggest you go back to the dealer and drive both models again. Take the same turn at the same speed (you have t obe going pretty fast) and see which one centers faster, then you'll see what I mean.

 

[Guest]

I notice it in a big way in transistional manuvers--like twisty mountain roads. When the truck is going side-to-side, left right left etc. Alot of control there, no body roll like a normal suv.

Steady state like highway on/off ramps it holds better too.

 

[barneyfife911]

Thumbs Up To XREAS

Drove both pretty hard and big difference for me. Glad I got it and would recommend it to anyone who drives fairly aggressively - especially in the corners.

 

[bluewolf]

I suggest you go back to the dealer and drive both models again. Take the same turn at the same speed (you have t obe going pretty fast) and see which one centers faster, then you'll see what I mean.

Hmmm... I did take the same route in both vehicles, and I assure you I was taking the corners quite fast. It's really odd, though, that so many have responded that there is a noticeable difference. Oh well, I'm not going to take the limited off the lot again... I'll just have to wait until somebody else I know buys a Sport!

 

[sharp4runr]

I guess our Butt Dynos are more tuned :

I really notice it when doing a very sharp turn or u-turn. I've driven my coworkers Explorer and I feel like it's about to tip over. Same thing with my sisters Minivan (don't know if that counts since most minivans are car based)

July

 

[bluewolf]

I guess our Butt Dynos are more tuned :

Or... you guys with XREAS just really, really, REALLY want there to be a huge difference in drive quality! :

Just joking, I'll have to conduct a better "test" when I get the opportunity. But also... it doesn't matter how XREAS compares to Ford Explorers, Jeep Cherokees, minivans, etc. Were comparing 4Runners here, and the SR5 (even without the XREAS) is an EXCEPTIONAL ride compared to those other vehicles. I've driven a lot of new SUVs lately, and the difference is plain as day!!