Surprise rental car while T4R is in the shop

Wife's Silver T4R SR5 Premium got bumped in stop and go traffic so it's in the shop getting football sized dent taken out of the rear lift door and a new bumper cover installed. Repairs are expected to take 5 to 7 workdays so they are going to provide a rental.

The rental from Enterprise was a bit of a surprise.....

2021 Silver T4R SR5 three row.....

Although it doesn't have leather, seat heaters and other bells and whistles of our Premium I have to say I like the third row option.

This might be a consideration for my next 4runner if it carries over to the next generation.

 

When we got my wife’s, we looked at the third row but when the salesman showed how to fold it, he didn’t put the seat bottoms away first so it folded at an awkward angle and took up like half the cargo room. Didn’t know better at the time but thought that’s why most people didn’t want a third row. Have since learned more and picked up a second one (mine) with the third row. Works better than taking two vehicles when the in laws are in town

 

We had a 3rd row in the wife's Chevy Traverse that the T4R replaced and it was handy as hell. It was the rest of the car that I hated and was happy to see it go. It did swallow up a lot of gear and people though and was very comfortable on long trips.

Now that the family has downsized I never considered getting another one and had forgotten a T4R came in that config, the dealerships never had one available during COVID when we were shopping. Now that I've seen it in action I have to say I am pretty impressed with it.

 

I have never seen one, so I wonder - do you have to be a contortionist as an adult to get into the rear seat?

 

We have the 3rd row in our 2019 SR5P. Haven't used it but it is nice knowing it's there if we need it!

 

Both my SR5 and Limited are 3rd row. I'm a big fan of 3rd row and used few times. If TRD had 3rd row option when I bought it 100% I'm going to have 3rd row.

 

There's a lever on the 2nd row seats that tilts and slides the seat forward to climb in. Not bad if you're a kid or young adult but anyone over 150lbs and 5'6" might find it uncomfortable.

Here's a video to give you an idea what you get.

https://youtu.be/h8REXeOJBUg

 

Good video. We had the 3rd row on our 4th gen and although it was great for the kids the warning labels specifically stated a limit on height and weight that would exclude most average+ sized adults (can't recall exactly but I think the height limit was 5' 2" or less...?). We don't need the extra seats anymore but the 5th gen version seems a lot more accommodating than the 4th was.

 

I am 6’1”/185lbs and can get back there fairly easy. Wife is 5’11” and lighter than me and she volunteers to go back there when we need it. She also doesn’t struggle. SIL is 5’4” and heavier than me. She kinda rolls into the third row but also not super difficult

 

helps if you're a midget. we like to travel with our two sons who are both right around 6'2" tall along with usually one or two of their friends and they are miserable crammed in the third row. might have been useful when they were little, but the other trade off is that there is about 4" of 'cargo space" left in the back with the third row deployed. Love this vehicle overall but it's not a people hauler...even my wife's 2020 Pilot was better in that regard (and MPG too...)

 

Damn, that’s like a couple both having 4Runners.

 

It must be more common than I thought, neighbor down the street from me has two 5th gens.

We're a Tacoma / 4runner couple but if I didn't need the bed space I'd probably have two 5th gens in the driveway.

 

My current situation


Not a strange sight in my neighborhood here in CO.

 

Yeah when we were in Denver last October for a wedding it seems like every other vehicle was a 4R (my vehicle) or a Subaru Crosstrek (my wife's vehicle).

 

Got love those CO Trucks!