Anyone go from 4Runner to Tacoma?

Hey guys,

So I own a T4R Pro love it. Thinking about switching to a Tacoma Pro. 50/50 on the decision right now.

Love everything about the Tacoma, except the seating position.

Has anyone gone from 4R to Taco or other way around and what are your thoughts on the Tacomas vs 4Runners?

 

I went from this...


To this..



If your looking for more technology, towing capacity, A bed, tad more horsepower 8hp to be exact, less body roll, Tacoma is the choice.

If you offroad more, like a more comfortable seat, softer ride 4runner is the one.

I do miss the Tacoma often for all the technology it offers, Miss the bed. But I personally do alot of offroading and feel the butt dyno of the 4runner feels a bit more responsive

 

I feel like there is probably way more of the opposite happening, people not happy with the Taco and trading in for a 4runner...

 

I went the other way from a 2010 Tacoma to 4Runner Pro. I was not going to purchase a 3rd generation Tacoma (2016-2019) due to the fact that the new engine and transmission in the Tacoma's is crap imo. Make sure you take a THOROUGH test drive!!! Keep the Tacoma overnight and drive it a lot before you sign the papers!

Oh and I truly believe that the quality of the 4Runner is superior. Made in Japan.

 

with the current motor/tranny combo (auto) I would not want a Tacoma. I test drove a few and they just never felt right, I have heard good things about those that go with the 6 speed manual though. The 4runner just feels put together better, quieter, lack of rattles and feels better on the road particularly on the highway. I would have a difficult time going back I think.

I had a 2008 dbl cab Tacoma and I just couldn't fall in love with the new Tacomas

 

I went from a '16, dc, V6, 4x4 SR to my '16 SR5 4Runner. I love the 4Runner. The Taco was too small for me and 3 boys. As mentioned the auto trans is horrible in my opinion. The V6 is under powered as well.
As mentioned, the 4Runner feels better built.

 

Like the 4Runner's. Just bought my wife a new one. If I needed a pickup truck I'd get a trailer to pull behind my 4Runner.

 

I went from a 2nd gen Tacoma to the 4Runner unwillingly... I needed to make more room for my growing family and the Tacoma just didn’t cut it with car seats. Now that I have the 4Runner for almost two years and I really don’t want to go back at all. The Tacoma is an awesome truck and I loved all three I have owned over the years. However the ride is much rougher (especially in real city driving), and simply not as refined as the 4Runner. But if you tow over 4K or need space to carry dirty items the Tacoma is better. I do have a large aluminum trailer that I carry multiple ATVs and house junk all the time, so not having a bed is just a little less convenient. I have the SR5 (no KDSS) which allegedly has the worst suspension in the 4Runner line but it rides hands down better than my 2012 Sport Tacoma and my cousins 2016 Tacoma Sport and 2017 Tacoma Offroad. OP, try to take as many test drives as you can (different dealers/different models/different areas/etc..). Until they turn the 4Runner into a car with a lift kit (No frame/independent rear suspension/1 speed transfer case) I would pick the 4Runner all day every day, even without my children.

 

I went from a '15 Tacoma to the 4Runner. Prefer the seating position in the 4Runner significantly over my old Taco. Also prefer the additional features the 4Runner has over the 2nd gen Tacoma (one touch auto windows, dials and switches that actually are lit at night). I prefer the interior space of the 4Runner, which is why I traded in the Taco. There's a lot more room in the 2nd row than the Tacoma. I feel the visibility in the 4Runner is better. Overall, it's more comfortable in nearly every way over the Tacoma. Negatives against the 4Runner...it feels like it works harder to move than the Tacoma, and had significantly more body roll.

Overall, I don't regret my swap one bit. I also don't regret owning my Taco. Two different beasts, and the amazing resale of both of these vehicles means you can probably swap back and forth and not worry about taking much of a loss! If I feel the need for a future pickup, though, I could imagine getting a 1st gen Tundra or another 2nd gen Taco as a beater vehicle. I wouldn't want one again as my primary family hauler, though. Cramped back seat, rough ride.

 

I bought at 2018 4Runner ORP last fall off the lot at the dealers clear out sale and sold my 2015 DCLB Sport Permium. I didn’t need to haul a trailer any more, and I wanted a more civilian vehicle. The 4Runner is definitely more comfortable and sophisticated. It’s more off road worthy than my old Taco because of the rear locker. It’s also very easy to park in downtown Toronto whenever I go there. I had a mild lift on the Taco and it wouldn’t go in some of the downtown parking garages. Both vehicles are excellent, it just depends on what you need to do.

 

I have a 2017 Tacoma TRD OFFROAD. The tranny and engine combo absolutly sucks canal water. Looking to replaced very soon with a 4Runner.

 

I had a second gen tacoma 4 door long bed i was forced out of it by being totaled, but i can tell you aside from no bed the 4runner is the nicer option.

 

Loved my truck. Bought a 4runner offroad in September and I’ve been telling everyone the new Tacoma’s are a downgrade. That said my buddy had a fully kitted 16 runner trail and traded for an 18 Tacoma and loves it. If you’re like me, just do it, you can always buy another 4runner when you decide you don’t like the truck

 

The new Tacomas aren't the same, they suck

 

That's what I did. I have a 5'x10' pickup bed (utility trailer). This combo is the best of both worlds. I have had two 1st gen and two 2nd gen Tacomas. When I found out the third gen was basically the same thing (frame, etc.) as the 2nd gen, except for the Camry motor, I passed on a Tacoma and got the 4runner. Absolutely no regrets. The Camry/Tacoma motors peak torque is at 4600 rpm??? Really??? NOT a truck motor..

 

I went from a Taco Pro to 4R TRDP... I am another who wasn’t impressed with the Gen3 Taco.

 

I had a 2015 Taco, the last of the 2nd Gens in Canada. These trucks and the 2018 4 Runner I now have really thrive on the 4 litre engine. Not high performance by any means but just enough power. Sure mileage is a bit archaic, but hey for heavy duty vehicles it’s ok. No one buying one of these expects 40mpg.

 

Yeah, I wouldn’t buy a new Tacoma. That gear seeking Atkinson cycle engine would absolute drive me crazy.

 

I had a 2010 Tacooma SR5 Prerunner 4.0 that I loved. Traded it on a 2018 Tacoma TRD Sport. Why, I have no idea. That 3.5l and trans SUCKS! I had it for a whopping 3 months and couldn't take it, every time I drove it, it had a different personality. And MPG overall was worse than my old truck. I traded it on a base SR5 4R and have no regrets at all. First drive with the ol' 4.0 5 speed was like, "ahhh... home again!!"

 

You know it's interesting...so many of these stories are the same. I test drove the Tacoma and really like it but I guess the truck doesn't show it's true colors until some time later.

 

It doesn't. I test drove mine and it felt fine. But then it seemed to go downhill. I don't want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but I would not doubt at all that it has some sort of "test drive" mode that evaporates after 100 miles or whatever. Then the EPA mapping kicks in. And yes I know it "learns" your driving style, treating it like a redheaded stepchild on occasion did nothing to improve the constant sluggish behavior.

 

That makes a lot of sense.

 

I had a 2016 Taco TRD Sport. I got rid of it less than 6 months after. I couldn't live with the shortcomings...

 

I got rid of my 2018 Tacoma after two months and bought a T4R. After driving Tacoma's for 20 years, the 3rd gen was really a disappointment. The engine, the transmission, and the rear diff howl- those three things got me outta that vehicle in a hurry.

Were it not for the diff howl, I'd have sucked it up and probably driven it for a few years. But the diff howl sent me over the edge.

 

How bad was the howl and what did they say about it?

 

I don't know how to describe "how bad" it was. I'd drive around town and it would howl or chirp. The tsb (official Toyota "fix") maybe made the howl/chirp slightly less loud but it made it show up at more speeds.

Before the tsb the sound was limited to about 55-65mph. After the tsb it showed up all over the place.

 

Yeah, that's unacceptable for a 2018. I'm on the fence about buying a 2018 TRD Pro Tacoma, damn the truck looks good but holy shit so many problems listed.

 

IMO, there are, or will be soon, better choices in the midsize truck market than what Toyota is currently offering.

 

Wow, you beat me. Now I don't feel so crazy.

 

Make sure you really put it through its paces in a test drive. Get it out at interstate speed with a headwind and see what you think. For me, short trips were tolerable. But a 3 hour road trip was just unpleasant. It felt like driving a 4cyl Civic unless you ran it in 4th gear. And in 4th at 80mph you get about 12mpg and it runs at a high rpm.