RWD 4runner

So, goofing around on a frigid afternoon, looking at Longo Toyota in CA. I noticed that of the 13 2023 4Runners they have listed on the web site ALL of them were rear wheel drive 2x4s. Which got me to wondering, what percentage of 2x4s are produced compared to 4x4s……..just wondering. Anyone know? (Got to get a life)

 

The only state I would consider a 2x4 4R is Florida. There are probably better options for a 2wd than a 4Runner.

 

They've made 13 2023's

 

What a strange vehicle. No offense to anyone that owns a 4x2 4Runner...

 

And to further blow most people's minds, they made a 4 banger 2wd SR5 for 2010 but it didn't sell because it was even slower and mileage wasn't much better.

 

It’s for somebody looking for a midsize body-on-frame station wagon…there aren't any others out there. It makes a fine wagon.

 

Not strange one bit. Here in NC, it’s good for 99.5% of the year. Quite a few around here. Of course, I also have an Off Road Tacoma, and a Lexus GX.

 

It’s funny because was checking out SR5 models within 500 miles of me a noticed a lot of those RWD. You have to look closely usually the pricing tells you 38-40k. Definitely not for me but can see for some.

 

BTW-SR5 Premium is the way to go.

 

I too don't understand why one buy a 2wd 4Runner. 2wd 4runner has less ground clearance, you can't go offroad even compared to a AWD crossover. Something like Highlander 3.5V6 have same towing and payload capacity (maybe even more if I'm not mistaken) vs a 2wd 4Runner? 4wd 4Runners anyway drive in 2wd until shifted to 4wd so People buy 2wd just to save $1800?

 

Speaking only for myself, I wanted the simplicity. I already have 2 other 4WD vehicles, and the 4Runner is what I try to put all the miles on. Simple design. Front engine RWD. No transfer case or front diff. Less fluids to change. No fancy KDSS on the SR5. I see about 2 mpg better than the GX or Tacoma, but I didn’t expect much there. I want to keep this for hundreds of thousands of miles. I normally don’t keep them that long. Just something different for me.

 

Not too long ago, pretty much everyone drove RWD cars exclusively. You just learned and drove as best you could. The more experienced you became, the less frequently you got stuck.

 

I think ground clearance is the same whether 2WD or 4WD.

 

4x2 was made with a family car in mind not for anyone thinking to go off roading.

The 4Runner is an excellent vehicle to pick the up kids with, take them to soccer and haul a bunch of band practice gear in.

 

2wd - 9.0
4wd - 9.6

 

Looks like Sienna & Highlander has more space for kids & cargo on 2 & 3 row.

 

I bought a two-wheel drive 2023 4Runner by choice. I didn't want a four wheel drive. It weighs 275 pounds less than its 4x4 SR5 counterpart, 350 pounds less than the TRD Off-Road and 400 pounds less than the pig Limited AWD. The 4x4 system on the 4Runner is not adapted to road use unless the road is completely covered in ice and/or snow due to the fact that it doesn't have a Torsen limited slip differential in the transfer case like the Limited AWD model. So it can only be engaged when the tires are on slippery ground, not just when one is commuting to work when it might be icy here and there with patches of snow -- unless one doesn't mind damaging the transfer case. So the 4x4 is best used in mud, sand and unpacked dirt roads, which most people -- including those who drive their trucks off road as a weekend hobby -- don't do most of the time.

I drove two wheel drive vehicles (rear-wheel drive) in northern Vermont and Massachusetts for many years and never had a problem with snow. A good set of Nokian Hakkapalitita snow tires on all four corners ensured good traction and steering in all driving conditions. I never got stuck. Not once. I also drove Land Rovers from the 60s and 70s, 4Runners, Toyota pickup trucks and a Land Cruiser and rarely ever noticed a difference on the roads in the winter. The plows are out and they salt and sand those roads to death.

And anyone who thinks a two-wheel drive vehicle can't go off road would do well to look at the winning vehicles of the Baja 1000: two-wheel drive VW Bugs and two-wheel drive pick up trucks have dominated the race for decades. If you want to drive through deep mud and up over rocks then yes, four-wheel drive is obviously the way to go, but two-wheel drive 4Runners are equally adept in many conditions off road, weigh less, have fewer components to maintain and probably get better fuel economy due to the reduced weight even though this is not indicated on Toyota's website. Plus, with the auto-locking rear differential it can do a lot more than the two-wheel drive vehicles of the past.

What I love about the 4Runner is that it's really a Toyota Land Cruiser J150 series, also known as a Light Duty Land Cruiser. It's built extremely well and we're lucky not to have to get four-wheel drive or a sunroof or a leather interior if we don't want it. I miss my J100 series Land Cruiser but this J150 Land Cruiser is an excellent replacement -- and it gets 50% better fuel economy in the city with the legendary 1GR-FE engine! (18.7 mpg in the city)

 

The numbers sure do make the unibody options look better. And minivans, especially from toyota, truly are unbeatable for daily utility. But I guess I could see getting a 2runner if you already have 4wheel drive covered. 4wd really does mean more maintainance, so I can understand the reason for not wanting it.

I could see a good reason to choose one over the options is that one is that 2runners are probably the most proven vehicle around in that category.

 

@kmeeg

If you want a Soccer Mom car w/o having Soccer mom car looks.

Many people in West LA use Range Rovers as their Soccer Mom vans.

 

All Siennas are AWD now according to my dealer. Haven't verified in the build page.

 

Maybe he meant next model year? I see FWD Siennas on the website

 

2runner for life! Lol.

No need for 4wd since I'm not not going to off road parks (or in icy/snowy north texas). 2wd very capable of getting to fishing and camping spots along with daily driving. You should've seen where i got my lowered sports cars to fish.

No need to spend mpgs (not much but technically a difference) due to weight, money on maintenance on transaxles not being used. I definitely don't need that expensive fix when they lock up for not being used.

Aggressive looks and big shocks and tires for either platform.

 

Someone forgot to tell Ken Block his 2WD truck can't go off road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6govxZgp9sw

How can this 2WD Bug go off road?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsy_jUaaeQ8

 

What sorcery is this? Not possible! Lol

 

HM, I agree with most of what you said and fully support anybody’s decision to own a 2WD 4Runner. Regarding the second part of the quote though, I would say that the 4x4 system on the 4Runner is adapted to road use - by way of the transfer case shift lever. I know what you meant when you continued and talked about the 3rd diff in the Limited’s transfer case. But it’s all really a matter of perspective isn’t it? Toyota’s full-time and part-time systems are both adapted for on and off road applications.

My second issue is the use of the term AWD to refer to full-time-4WD systems like the Limited uses. I don’t cast any blame on you for this. Toyota does it on their website. In fact they use AWD to describe any vehicle with 4 wheels that can be driven in any way. The reason I raise the issue is because of how ridiculous it is to compare the capabilities of a vehicle with abs-based traction control to vehicles with true 4WD, either part or full time. When I hear the term AWD I think of viscous couplings and clutch packs and a limited percentage of torque sent to each wheel and of the loss of precious momentum while the computer tries to decide which wheel to lock up. I think that by applying the AWD label so broadly, Toyota is trying to borrow some off-road cred from the 4Runner and lend it to some of their lesser Offroad vehicles. Anyway … /rant

 

Full-Time 4WD. I stand corrected.

No, it's not a matter of perspective. The Toyota 4Runner four-wheel-drive system does not have a limited slip differential in the transfer case like the full-time 4WD Limited 4Runner or the Toyota Land Cruiser 80, 100, 200 and 300 series. If you drive your 4Runner in 4WD on a surface that does not allow the tires to slip, and you turn your steering wheel to take a corner or make a U-turn, you will experience binding and this will lead to all sorts of problems for the transfer case, spider joints, axles etc. This is not a matter of perspective. The 4WD system on your vehicle is not adapted to be used on a surface that does not allow the tires to slide because it doesn't have a limited slip differential in the transfer case as there is on the full-time 4WD models. Damage will occur. So unless the road is covered in snow and/or ice and the tires can slide, remain in 2WD to avoid binding and damaging the vehicle. Look at it this way: your rear differential allows the left and right wheels to spin at different speeds so there is no problem when you take a corner. But on your 4WD 4Runner there is no such differential in the transfer case between the front and rear wheels. This is why Toyota says to engage 4WD only "on tracks that permit the tires [to] slide."

 

Yes. I am familiar with the nuances of 4WD, and the caveats of both part-time and full-time 4WD systems. And you have communicated those caveats clearly. The disagreement we are having is a purely semantic one. Perhaps I communicated poorly before. I would say that the part-time 4X4 system on the 4Runner is adapted to road use because it can be shifted into 2WD.

Cheers.

 

So for me, it was all about the wife. We bought a white 4x4 but she always wanted a red runner. We found a red one that was 2x4 a couple years later and decided to keep the 4x4 for me as a second vehicle project.
Wife loves the 4Runner look and we simply don’t need 3-4x4 vehicles(including my truck) at the house. And she ain’t driving a mini or car.

 

I drove a old chevelle with 70 series tires through many northern winters with no problem. I also ran heavy equipment for over 15 years. My opinion is many 4WD owners have no clue, don't know how to use it and don't need it.
I have a 2WD 4runner as I wanted a body on frame RWD with a good engine and older style trans, not a 8 or 10 speed. I had a 2019 Tacoma V6 2WD worst vehicle I've owned beside my first car a hand me down AMC hornet I think it was.

 

Lol what’s the point of RWD 2Runner. It’s better to just get a FWD Highlander or RAV4 if you don’t need 4x4. The only things the 4Runner has is the superior 4x4 system and ground clearance. The Highlander is better with everything else.