Why I believe the 4Runner line will die in 2023.

It's as heart breaking to consider as it is to write it....

Working in the Toyota world (Not Corporate, dealership level) I truly hope I am wrong but I am not deaf nor blind so let me explain.

Toyota has confirmed there is a new Truck coming out in late 2023, likely 2 power plants, a hybrid and gas turbo 4cyl, clearly the Tacoma.

They have also confirmed VERY quietly in an annual event to Toyota OWNERS that the Landcruiser is coming back to Canada in a new trim, not the Full sized one we all know and admire. A mid size.

If you know Toyota, they do not want competition within their own lineups. Good bye CHR hello Corolla Cross.

The new Sequoia has just been released with very minimal production, we can sell 5 for every one we receive, demand is strong. Sequoia is not being replaced. Demand for the new 4runner has all but bottomed out the last few years.

If this new LC is released, there can only be 1 left standing...

Please share your thoughts.

 

Well, they don’t make Trans Am’s anymore, and I survived that, so I got that going for me.
There is one constant in life. Change. Got to roll with it.

 

I'm not in the car sales market, but I have a really hard time thinking they'd phase out the 4runner man. It's actually interesting that you're posting this, because just yesterday a corolla cross drove by me, and I couldn't help but think "why would they create this thing?" It's barely any different from the CHR, which is barely different from the Rav4. The highlander and Venza are super similar too. The same holds true for the garbage lineup that chevy offers - all their SUV's and crossovers look exactly the same, except for the Suburban (don't even get me started on what an abysmal failure their redesign of the Blazer was).

The 4runner is iconic. I sure hope you're wrong man.

 

If they're going to bring the Land Cruiser Prado to North America, they should just call it the 4Runner. They should do that because I'm betting that most people in North America that aren't Toyota nerds don't even know what a Land Cruiser is. Source: Me. I didn't know what a Land Cruiser was until I got my 4Runner, and even then I thought it was a Land Rover, which I thought was just a version of the Ford Explorer. The Land Cruiser name doesn't mean very much here.

Furthermore, if they call it Prado, it's going to confuse so many people. They're going to be like "Why is Toyota naming their SUV after sexy, kinky shoes? Does a dominatrix come with this? Is she going to dig her heels into my crotch?"

 

Would love to see the source for this information, because I see late model 5th Gens everywhere. The lockdown in 2020 created production shutdowns which is the only reason anything bottomed out. Dealer lots were empty. Prices skyrocketed, yet people still bought 4Runners.

 

I underlined the part of your post that removes all credibility from your prediction.

 

The Blazer is probably a perfectly competent little crossover. The only wrong move was naming it "Blazer". If it was called anything else, nobody would ever mention it.

I actually don't really care either way, the next gen will probably be prohibitively expensive, but I do agree with you that Toyota seems to have no problem selling very similar vehicles.

I can't see them doing both the rumored "budget" Land Cruiser and the 4R, but I don't believe they'd kill off the 4R since 13 years later it's still selling well.

Then again, if the LC can slot in above the 4R and be a LR Defender competitor, they may do it.

 

They already have a vehicle for that slot. The new Sequoia.

 

That sentence was a real head scratcher.

 

S

Sequoia is larger, no? I wouldn't think those two would really compete or be cross shopped.

Also, I don't see Toyota selling very many of them. All the reviews have been pretty lackluster so far. Seems like Yota content creators are the only ones actually excited about them.

 

I thought the same and was told it will not be the Prado but and all new, boxier LC.

 

The CHR sales were lackluster, it came in fwd only, the Corolla badge shot demand through the roof and we sell them much easier. The Highlander and Venza are 2 different categories, Highlander is 7/8 Passenger. The Venza is an unbadged Lexus, very refined drive and 5 passenger.

I hope I'm wrong too and would love the next gen PRO.

 

Toyota lovers man, they just want it...

 

Explain "sales have bottomed out". The 4Runner is selling well over 100,000 units per year, and has been doing so for over five years. Sales late in the production run are actually stronger than at the beginning of this current model run.

 

113 732 sales to be exact, what were 2021 sales?. Sales were low due to shortages? Absolutely, but 500 orders waiting to be filled for a Rav4 Hybrid comparted to 3 on a 4runner, we are a Category 1 dealer with large volume.

Remember, this is theoretical, and we base theory's on as much fact as possible to come up with the most likely outcome, not based on instinct or passion. Sales have plummeted, regardless of how many you drove by that day.

 

Yeah... I'm basing my theory on the fact that the 4Runner sales are stronger than ever. Not basing it on that dealership has more requests for Rav4's, Rav4's have always outsold 4Runners 4 to 1. High Rav4 sales/requests does not mean low 4Runner sales.

 

You really need to check past few years sales before saying "stronger than ever" my man....

 

You really need to check past few years sales before saying "Demand for the new 4runner has all but bottomed out the last few years."

2015 97,034
2016 111,952
2017 128,296
2018 139,694
2019 131,864
2020 129,052
2021 144,696
2022 113,732

 

I've been trying to buy a new 4runner TRD ORP for a couple months now. I've talked to at least 10 dealers in 4 states. None of them have any in stock to sell, most of what is listed on their websites is "on the way" and is reserved/pre-sold. Many of the dealers want to add thousands in ADM and worthless add-ons, some add ADM if you are out of state, etc - and you still have to put down a deposit and wait for months hoping they get one allocated that is close to a match for what you want. Demand is still quite high, and saying it has "all but bottomed out" is ridiculous on its face. Supply is constrained but demand is quite clearly still high.

 

The only reason I could see them not continuing the 4Runner is due to lack of production space with all the other vehicles they are producing.

If Tijuana and Guanajuato are tapped out producing the Tacoma and Tahara is tapped out producing Lexus and Land Cruiser, perhaps the 4Runner gets pushed out for a while. Or maybe they still find a way to fit them in.

If they do disappear, it would not be due to lack of sales or because they are too similar to another vehicle.

 

As I agree with the sales have bottomed out not make sense, but what we see versus what Toyota Corporation sees could be very different. The may see more potential sales in an alternate to the 4Runner, but I think they would wrong.

 

Looks like more click bait.

 

I agree, a replacement would be a terrible decision. BUT, if it goes away, who doesn't love a comeback after a few years off the market? What better way to fire up the name again. Marketing may be taking lead on this if it happens.

 

The 4runner is outdated by 10years. Its a dieing breed...

But the reason I love the 4runner is its simple/basic/perfectly outdated

 

I just learned that both the Tijuana and Guanajuato Plant are both expanding production.

The Guanajuato plant by a considerable percentage by 2025.

It's very possible that the 4Runner gets squeezed out of the Tahara plant by the new Land Cruiser and 4Runner production moves to Guanajuato.

With Guanajuatos expansion, this means that there will be plenty of room to accommodate a 2025 4Runner.

So the rumor that the 4Runner will disappear does not hold much water in my book.

 

I have a Lexus GX460, which is based on the Prado. Many think it’s based on the 4Runner. It does have a lot of similarities for sure. I will say this, the Lexus is a beast. A pretty beast, but still a beast. Bring on the Prado!!!

 

^^

 

I’ve wondered the same. Maybe because “everybody wants the same car” but can’t afford the same car they make the same car at 3 different price points.

 

Meh,.. id rather see the rig die off completely than turn into a rolling pile of shit.

 

Sales haven't plummeted though, and comparing sales to Rav 4 hybrids makes no sense at all. I am really getting the sense that you don't understand the car market at all.