Tacoma to 4Runner - Hopefully

Hello all, new member here.

Currently own a 2014 Tacoma Access Cab v6 4x4 and with the news of a baby on the way this truck (which has been fantastic) is just not gonna work. I am currently very active on the tacomaworld.com site so thankfully this site layout looks really similar.

Anyways, on to the 4runner. I really like the Limited version. We'll shoot for probably a year old model unless this crazy used car market doesn't calm down. We don't really 'off-road' but do use 4x4 for snow trips a lot up to Lake Tahoe or Big Bear. Most likely set on the Limited unless convinced otherwise. Our baby isn't due till November so we probably wouldn't be looking to make the switch until late winter or even next spring.

For those with kids, how do infant car seats fit in the 4runner? How about two kids car seats (for later down the road)? Any other family oriented advice you existing owners can pass down?

For reference heres a pic of my Tacoma:

 

Congrats on the new addition to the family. I am literally in my 4Runner right now with 4 kids (1, 4, 5, 7) so we have 4 car seats. It is tight with 4 at times. No storage space because I have 3rd row. I wouldn’t choose the Sequoia over the 4Runner because it is just too wide and we like to hit the trails. Granted I do like the towing capacity of the Sequoia over the 4Runner. However, I am very happy with my 2020 4Runner. Anyways that is awesome and you can’t go wrong with any 4Runner (as long as it is a 4x4).

 

Four kids! Ok so sold on the 4runner being able to handle one or two. Hows the front passenger leg room (average sized person) with a car seat behind them? I think that's my wifes only concern is, if we are doing this, selling my truck and getting something new, we better do it right and find something with enough room so we aren't complaining later on down the road.

 

We have two car seats for our 4 and almost 7 year old. I’m 6ft and have had plenty of leg room with either seat behind me.

 

Here is my wife’s legroom:


Here is my kids legroom (4 year old):


We have the boy’s shoes on the floor because of the rain. Trying to keep the 4Runner clean.

 

Welcome from Arizona!

 

I made the switch from a 2014 DCSB Tacoma to a 2019 4Runner off-road and it’s night and day difference. More room for my wife and I, more room in the back for eventual kids (niece’s carseat fits with plenty of room). Lower entry height for my dog. Better ride, etc.

I loved that Taco so much I was so sad to sell it. Just a few days in the 4Runner took that pain away as I knew I made the right call

 

Welcome from Wisconsin! We used to have a Tacoma (2017 ORD), we liked the truck, always have had a pickup, but once we got into the 4Runner (2020 ORP) we like the 4Runner better. Everything is under a climate controlled roof! Once in a while we haul the grandkids in their seats in the 4Runner, the child seats fit fine. We don't haul 4 kids around like GrantA, luckily the other grandkids are older.

 

Awesome, technical specs for rear legroom make it sound like there isn't that much room (33" - not that great) but that makes it look like more than enough for both front/rear passengers.

 

Good to know! Must be overall different interior dimensions because i'm reading the Tacoma double cab rear leg room is only like .5" less than what the 4runner is saying (32.9" vs 32.6"). Looks like the consensus is there is a bunch more rear room in the 4runner though. OR, maybe just going off "rear leg room" isn't a good indicator.

 

It is definitely more legroom than that. Highly recommend just parking the Taco next to one and sitting in both. So much more backseat space.

TRD Jon has a good video of the backseat space differences as well on YouTube

 

I made the same switch, the front seat overall room in the rrunner is much better. I always felt a little cramped in my taco at 6'2".

The dogs love the back area, and we love being able to put the back glass down for them and not get major wind noise.

We're planning on starting our family in the next few years, so the extra space in the back, even compared to the double cab taco, will be very nice.

The limited sounds like a good fit if you don't want to offroad it, if you like the look of it, it does get extra bells and whistles compared even to the TRD pro.

Welcome and enjoy!
(And tacomaworld can still be a nice resource for us, I'm looking to buy a set of tires from a guy on there)

 

Ya, leaning towards the limited. I am actually liking the front end more than the other trim level front ends. Both look great, don't get me wrong, I think the Limited looks a little more 'sleeker'.

 

I have a 2010 short cab Tacoma, I will attest that the seating position is nothing like the 4Runner.

It’s more car like and nowhere near as comfortable.

 

We have the same model Taco as you, my friend has the 4 door model with full backseat, and I have a 4Runner. Of the three, the 4Runner has much more leg room hands down in direct comparison. plus the backseats recline as well, which makes it even more comfortable for bigger kids and/or adults.

 

Another thought came to mind. Take the 4Runner for a test drive and when you get your car seat put it in and make sure it will work for you. My daughter sits behind me and she is rear facing and she touches my seat. Each car seat is different though so don’t be afraid to tell them you want to take it home and try it out for a few hours. I even took one off-roading during my test drive. Gotta test the capabilities of it too. Super happy with the 4Runner. Granted I had to put a bit of money into it to get it where I wanted it.

 

Welcome to the forum from Wisconsin!

I definitely think the Limited will suit you well. Full time 4WD rules in the snow!

 

The legroom in the T4R back seat is waaay more in the 4runner than the Tacoma. Night and day difference. Which translates to more legroom in front, too.

Kids are very comfortable in car seats and plenty of legroom left in front. I don’t recommend 3rd row seats if running two car seats because you lose so much rear cargo space.

 

After more discussions with the wife we are 95% set on a 4runner. NOW the question is... what year to get. Get a couple year old one, go new, wait it out for the 6th gen. Like I said we don't really need it right away and were thinking this winter or spring of next year. Definitely want to wait out this used carpocolypse.

 

If you are in no rush I would see what the 6th Gen has to offer.

 

A hybrid 6th gen sounds very interesting to me, especially if a plug in becomes available. If it's anything like the rav4 prime, a 4runner prime would be pretty sweet.

Of course they'll probably want 50k for a 4runner prime sr5 lol

 

Welcome to over here! We run 5th Gen T4R TRDOR, 3rd Gen Taco TRDOR, and first year Tundra. Love them all equally, T4R is truly king for hauling family!
Although things didn't go too badly with the 2000 first year Tundra, I now give major upgrades a year or two to sort out the bugs and features that turn out to be really lame. Current Gen 5s are really superb and time tested in every condition.
Aloha from Maui. has

 

All great responses giving me confidence in this choice! So the word is 2023 for the 6th gen 4runner correct?

 

Supposedly