2018 or wait for 2019

Hi everyone. New to the forum. I am in the market for an suv. I have test driven a Pilot, Highlander, and 4 Runner. I enjoyed the 4 runner the most, and really liked the exterior styling and cargo room. I have 2 small kids, so storage is important. Love the big knobs and tough feel of the 4 runner. The downside is no safety features on the 4 runner. I have been driving a car without any safety equipment, so I am used to it. But should I wait until the 2019 model year when there should be safety equipment such as blind spot monitoring, or go ahead and pull the trigger now and deal without the safety equipment? Is the 4 runner considered a safe vehicle without the Toyota safety sense? Not sure what to do. Could go with a Highlander now, but not sure I would be as happy as with the 4 Runner. Any thoughts or recommendations for me would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

I'm in the same boat as you and have decided to wait for the 2019. At minimum, I think it would be a 5th gen with the safety features you mention above, which will give you peace of mind with a family. It's also possible that the 6th gen comes out in 2019 with even more options, like the possibility of a hybrid 4Runner, a diesel 4Runner, or a turbo 4Runner. All of these are just rumors and have not been substantiated in any way, but a 6th gen will most likely come out within the next couple of years with some nice upgrades.

 

Are you planning on using it as an AWD minvan for family hauling and such, or use it off road? As much as all of us on here love the 4R, I think everyone can agree there are better options if you never plan on leaving the pavement. You mentioned a few that you already test drove.

The 4R is a unique beast among current SUVs as it is body on frame and RWD with part time 4WD (Limiteds and 2WD models excluded). That translates to great benefits off road but can be a negative (compared to unibody AWD SUVs) on road.

If you do plan on using it as it was designed - for off road type stuff - then the 4R is probably the best of the bunch. It's slight "negatives" on road make it better than the competition off road.

The question then becomes, do you wait for the next model or do you buy now... personally I'd buy now. If Toyota adds the safety features next year thy will probably totally revise the model, possibly installing the much reviled 3.5 Tacoma engine and making significant other changes. If you like the current version, which is 8 years old now and kind of long in the tooth, you'd be better served to buy now - or at least be ready to buy a 2018 once the 2019s are announced (if they are revealed to be massively changed). Rumor already has it that 2019 will have a more Highlander-esque SUV which is softer and less true to the current 4R design.

I'd also add that "no safety features" is inaccurate. Yeah, you don't get lane departure or blind spot monitoring but you get the shit that matters. I've never had a car with "advanced" safety stuff and I don't randomly drive into other cars and pedestrians and trashcans and stuff. Some of that shit is an answer in search of a question, you know?

 

Thanks for the responses. I probably will not do much off roading. But while I thought the Highlander was a smooth ride, I actually thought the sr5 premium 4 Runner was smooth as well and honestly more fun. I have heard about the nose dive when you put on the brakes, so I hit the brakes fairly hard a couple of times and I believe I could get used to it. I have been driving a Maxima for the last 15 years and would probably keep it since it only has around 120,000 miles on it. It would help save miles on the new vehicle. I also love the amount of cargo space in the 4 Runner. I am a dog person, and although I only have one dog at the moment I will likely have two in the future and that cargo room would be great for the dogs. Also I don’t really like third rows because they cut into the cargo space some and make it less flat overall. So I guess the use will mainly be driving on pavement doing the following: driving with the kids and wife to different places, driving with dogs, carrying a couple of bikes to different places to ride, driving with 3 of my friends to our season ticket football games as well as other sporting events or concerts, and by myself quite a bit as well. I definitely want something that is fun to drive, and the 4 Runner seems like it would be fun. While the Highlander and the Pilot were fine, I doubt they would be fun. I feel like if I got one of them and someone asked me how I liked my new ride, I would say something like it’s alright. With the 4 Runner, I think my response would be I love it. As I am typing this, I feel like I am talking myself into buying one now. Like you said, it may be redone next year and I might not like it as much or more likely it may be much more expensive. I also get what you are saying about the safety tech,
as I have been driving without it all my life. I guess I wonder if in 5 years all these vehicles will have all the safety tech and my somewhat new vehicle will not. I guess an option then could be to trade in for a new one if it was something I felt I really wanted. Then again I thought the 6.1 inch screen would be an issue too, but after driving the Highlander with its 8 inch screen right after the 4 Runner I was fine with how the 6.1 looked and it’s location. I actually got a kick out of the simplicity of the console and the knobs, thought it all looked very cool and straightforward.

 

Do what you think is best. If you really want a 4runner get one. On the issue of now or wait. I say now because the current drivetrain is a long lasting, and has little to no issues. Also the 4runner has the highest resale value aside from the sequoia. The next gen 4runner could have the drive train of the current tacoma, which if you search this thread there is a lot of people who trade in 1-2 year old tacomas because of the power train. At least with the current gen you have an engine that is well onow to be problem free. For the saftey gizmos, it depneds how badly you want them, me personally could care less if i have them, seems like more computers to break in my opinion, although Toyotas rarely have issues like that. Also the saftey gizmos can be distracting and dont 100% prevent accidents. Now for your sake, the other vehicals you mentioned above will have better mpgs than a 4runner, it is a truck engine and transmission, other vehicles may get 20+ mpg where a stock 4runner avreages about 17. And if you decide to lift it and put tires it drops significantly. (Although from the sounds of it, you dont sound like you will be lifting it, but just for fyi)

 

I'm one of those who traded in a 2016 Tacoma for a 4Runner because of the drive train issues. I thought about waiting for the redesigned 2019, but I chose to buy a 2018 for three main reasons:

(1) My 2016 Tacoma was the first model year of the new redesign and had some recalls and other first model year issues. It's always good advice not to buy the first model year and I paid the price for ignoring that advice. The 2019 4R will also be a first model year and I didn't want to repeat that mistake. The Gen 5 4Runner has been refined and proven over about 8 years and is in the last year of production instead of the first. Theoretically, the 2018 should be the best Gen 5 year to buy.
(2) Rumors are that the Gen 6 4Runner will get a new drive train. I've also heard some speculation that they might go to a unibody design. I doubt they will go unibody, but it seems almost certain they will change out the power train for the one similar to the 2016+ Tacoma. If that's the case, trust me, you don't want it!
(3) The longer I waited to get rid of my 2016 Taco, the more negative reviews it was going to get and the more value it lost. I felt like I needed to dump it while it still had high value and before everyone caught on that the 2016's (with auto transmission) are crap.

Despite some styling or feature improvements that the 2019 model may have, it will probably end up with the same unsatisfying drive train of the Tacoma. If that happens, then I'm speculating that the final production year of the Gen 5 will hold its value even better as the negative reviews of the new Gen 6 start rolling out. But who knows...maybe the Gen 6 will be totally awesome (and I hope it is). If it is, then I'll wait a couple of years so they can tweak any first years issues and trade in my 2018. In the meantime, I'm loving my 2018 and don't regret dumping that 2016 Taco!

 

^^^^
All good points and confirms my thoughts as well. I think we've made a good decision. Unless, that is, the new powertrain includes a diesel option. I would love to have an oil burner in this rig!

 

Also the 4runner is so up in the air with redesign, it may happen in 2019, but many are saying 2020 could be the year. Then the advice of never buying a first production year model of a resdesign. So could be 2 or maybe 3 years till you would be able or want to buy the 6th gen 4runner. If you are in the market now I would go for it! Honestly I had a 2014 rav4 limited with the BSM, Push start etc. Sometimes I do miss it, but if you adjust your mirrors correctly (And the 4runner has a pretty good design that I can even peak out the passenger 2nd row window to check my blind spot never had a oops almost merged into someone moment yet)

 

We will never see a diesel in a small Toyota truck.

 

One thing I didn't try much when I test drove the Sr5 premium was the audio. How does everyone like the audio in the 4 Runner?

Also, after talking with my wife about getting a 4 Runner now or waiting a year she was fine with getting one now. However, she says I should trade in my 02 maxima because we don't need 3 vehicles( she has a 07 Camry). I would rather keep my maxima along with the new vehicle. Any others had a debate like this before, and how did you work it out?

 

An 02 Maxima, yeah, you'll get like $1500 for that. Just keep it. Doesn't cost anything to feed. Tell the wife what's what, tell her twice if you need to.

 

I love the runner, so that’s what I vote!

The audio is pretty good, but I’m also not a big audio person, stock in whatever I drive is adequate. Keep the maxima for good gas mileage and to keep wear and tear off the new one if it’s affordable. Plus, it never hurts to keep an extra around, you never know if one car gets stolen or smashed up. We kept a beater car for this exact reason, glad we have a spare that’s easy on gas.

The extra safety stuff, meh, if it’s that important, then just wait. The runner has great safety ratings as it is right now, plenty of airbags, and less electronics to go bad than having all that safety sense. The runner is due an update, but I’ll never buy another first or second year model. I am another one here that had a 2016 Tacoma and dumped it for the runner. I loved that truck, but it had a crapload of problems, and I hope they don’t put that 3.5 in the next gen runner, that would be a disaster. If you like the current runner, go for it. It’s solid, well built, and no problems so far!

 

Audio is not too bad in the stock form if you are not an audio junkie, I just ordered an OEM audio plus reference package (Ships Jan 1st) I really enjoy music so wanted a little better sound. I did drive a 2017 4runner trail as a loaner car and for some reason that audio system was not great at all, not sure what was going on as it was set up with the same bass etc as mine is, just couldn't get it dialed in.

 

To help understand where I'm coming from- I've been driving my 2016 Tacoma for 2 years and 40,000 miles and love it. I have no complaints and no desire to get rid of it. But understand that I have a Manual Transmission and that enables me to make the most of the 3.5 because I am in constant control. As for the 4-Runner. I got my 2018 SR5 Premium the end of October. It's a huge mistake to compare the two vehicles...It's an Apple and Orange Comparison. The 4R is a fine machine. Granted this generation has been around a while, but that does not make it bad. The fact that 4R sales are on the increase should tell you something. I'd never hold out for something with more bling and gizmo's as this is a never ending battle. Buy a 2018, if you don't like it and want a newer model, I'm sure that someone will take it off your hands and if you have taken care of it, you will loose little in the process.

 

IMHO, the 4-runner by definition and nature is designed for the type of person that wants to leave the road behind. That is its pedigree. The only reason we have The Limited is for the folks who want mall crawlers, and all the fancy shit that goes along with the "look" that they are trying to attain. The MAIN REASONS that I bought what I did was to escape all the crappy "adornments" that manufacturers are shoveling down our throats in the name of safety, AND it was a well defined, solid, reliable vehicle. If Toyota decides to make a large shift in its target audience, I have my last 4 runner.

 

The reasons I am seriously considering the sr5 premium 4 Runner are the following:
1. The tough exterior looks , no minivan similarities here

2. The simplicity and yet coolness of the interior, love those big knobs

3. The large cargo area that can easily accommodate dogs and other stuff

4. The ride seemed pretty smooth to me in the test drive and was fun

5. The great reliability I hear so much about

Do you think these reasons are not enough if I don’t plan to really take it off road?
Is there a vehicle or vehicles that better match the 5 reasons I have listed above?

Thanks for all the responses.

 

Yes. Of course they are. TN_TRAIL was a bit harsh IMO.

I like big guns. My Marlin 1895 .45-70 is a freakin' BIG gun. Does that mean I can only shoot bears? No, it just means I'd like to be able to if the need arises.

Just because the 4R excels off-road doesn't mean that's the only place you can drive one. It is nice, however, to have that ability when you need it though.

Just sayin'.

 

Main reason I have a 4runner is it has a large cargo area to accommodate my dogs! Mine are two large dogs (doberman and pitbull) had a Rav4 and it was way too small to fit everything I needed in there and my dogs. I also have a roof rack up top to accommodate more things if needed. If you like the ride of the stock suspension there are a bunch of other options in suspension to make it ride even better if you do need up wanting to put some modifications on it down the road. Many people buy a 4runner and don't ever take it off road, they use it to haul things, or use as a DD and no harm in doing just that, buying a 4runner does not mean you have to use it for any purpose other than what you need it for. I can't think of any other vehicle that will have as much room inside and has the same reliability of the 4runner other than the honda pilot which looks like a mom van, and the highlander you mentioned above which again looks a little more mom vanish and not as much cargo area. Suburban/Tahoes, Jeeps, Range Rovers all have the reliability issues. Just my .02 cents.

 

The vast majority of 4Runner owners buy one because:

1) It's a toyota (reliable)
2) They like the way it looks
3) The size of the vehicle fits their needs

And that's perfectly fine. So get what you want if it fits you well and you like it.

If we're honest , a minority of 4Runner owners actually take their vehicle offroad. I'm sure a good segment in this forum go offroad, but this forum attracts those types of people. Most 4Runner owners probably use their 4WD once a year when they take it to the mountains for a ski trip. And if anyone thinks the average 4Runner owner knows anything about BOF, you're mistaken. Go up to the next 4Runner owner you see driving a stock vehicle (most of them are stock) and ask them if they would prefer a BOF or a unibody design. They will look at you like this

 

If you like everything about it and it fulfills all your needs, get it! Most people don’t buy a new vehicle that costs $35-45k and then go beat it up off road! A lot of us will keep it for a long time, and then go off-roading when it’s no longer new and have upgraded to a newer ride.
Another plus, the runner is one of the few vehicles still designed and built in Japan, your vin will start with a “J”.

 

Those reasons sound good to me. Same reasons I chose the 4Runner. Use it how you choose. There is something great about looking forward to getting in your car.

 

Thanks for the great replies. All of you have been a tremendous help to me in making this decision.

I plan on going back for a second test drive next weekend and possibly pulling the trigger on an sr5 premium. What I am having to think about the most right now is whether to keep my 02 Maxima or trade it in.

I talked to my insurance guy, and it sounds like it would be about $55 extra a month to keep my maxima on my insurance vs. just having the 4 runner and my wife’s Camry. Property taxes and regular maintenance would be the other main expenses assuming I don’t have any issues pop up with it. I have been going back and forth on whether to trade or keep it the last couple of days, and still haven’t been able to feel completely comfortable with either direction.

 

Brown Dog, methinks you're overthinking this (I'll bet you've been accused of that more than once, right?) This is so obvious that you can't even see it! Most guys worry about talking the wife into letting them buy a new 4Runner. But lucky you--your wife has already told you how to get it! You totally missed it, but here's what she said:

"Honey, I'm totally on board with you getting that awesome 4Runner. You work really hard and you deserve it. Just sell or trade that old beater Maxima that we won't really need anymore and you can buy the 4Runner.

Let me say that again---Your wife WANTS you to buy it and has told you everything you need to know about how to get it. Now how hard was that?

So, how can I say this nicely?....None of us here on this 4Runner forum give a hoot about your old Maxima! ALL of us (except Meefzah, but including your wife) think it's time you got rid of the Maxima. We want to celebrate your new 4Runner with you!

 

^^^^^ This pretty much!

 

$55 a month for liability on a 15 year old car? Who's your agent, Douchey McMoneygrubber? With 2 other cars on that policy that are newer and fully insured, and with the Maxima as a third car, you should be paying like $55 extra a year.

Just keep the thing. You'll get nothing in trade and spare cars can be super handy. If you keep it and it 6 months from now decide you don't want it, sell it. Some kid will be happy to have a decent cheap car.

 

I went for it. After 20yrs in a Turd Taco, an ‘18 4Runner-Pre was on the list. I didn’t want to miss out on proven reliability and “Made in Japan” was still in play. No idea what ‘19 has in store, but I don’t mind being the old guy in the gas guzzlin Runner 10 year’s from now, I luv it.

 

All of this talk about the Tacoma powertrain and what not makes me wonder if Toyota actually reads these forums. You'd think that they'd want to keep their ears to the ground about what people are saying about their products when they think Toyota isn't watching... or maybe when they hope Toyota IS watching. It seems that the 4.0 V6 with 5-speed automatic transmission has been the powertrain of choice in the 4Runner since 2005, and definitely since they stopped offering the 4.7 V8 as an option. The 4Runner has been a strong seller for Toyota year after year. Makes me think, at least when it comes to the powertrain, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!".

 

CAFE requirements will be what forces their hand on the motor options going forward, otherwise you would probably still see the 4.0 in the tacomas too. Same way muscle cars used all be V8 and now are moving to smaller displacement V6's with turbos and voodoo. As long as it delivers the power I want I don't care what's under the hood but man I do love the 4.0 and this transmission, butter smooth. I wouldn't argue if they gave me a 2nd overdrive though.

 

Meefzah, you brought up a good point on just liability insurance on the maxima. My insurance guy was basing it off full coverage. Called him again and requested just liability on the maxima and it dropped but only to about $30 extra a month to keep the maxima. That was better, but I might check a couple other insurance places to see if it can be any lower. It would be nice if I could afford to keep it as an extra vehicle. Still planning on going this weekend to check out the 4 runner and possibly get it if the price is good.

Sorry Satch for bringing up the debate on whether to keep the maxima again. Your post was great, and you and Meefzah have had me laughing for days from reading the posts from you guys. All of the responses have been very helpful to me, and I really appreciate all of you for the knowledge and insights into the 4 Runner as well as the great advice.

 

There are a lot more issues in play than a power-train that we appreciate. Look at all the changes they made to the Gen 3 Tacoma's. Most of them in the name of better mileage and in doing so, they were willing to give up on some low-end torque. Many trade-off's in a very competitive business.