Anyone go from a Tundra to a 4runner??

Am I crazy for thinking about trading my Tundra in for a 4Runner?? My lease for my Tundra is up in February and I'm currently looking at the 2022 4Runner for my family. I have a 10 week old son and I'm wanting more of a family vehicle that can fit in my small detached apartment garage and just something that my wife feels more comfortable driving as well. I love my Tundra but I don't really tow at all and I honestly use it for daily commuting and MAYBE once a year vacations. I'm trying to decide either to buy out my lease or to get the last year 4Runner before the re-design. Any thoughts?

 

For family Id take the 4runner over the Tundra. Way more practical. We have two kids and the 4runner is perfect for day trips and camping trips.

 

I too am currently in a Tundra, and like yourself I love my Tundra, do not use it for towing, and it is my daily driver and have also been thinking about moving to a 4Runner. I honestly think for myself it is time to be more practical. Plus parking this beast in tight spots everyday is getting real old. So no, not crazy.

 

For about 1 month I had Tundra I love how it drives in dry pavement. plenty power in mountain highways. 6 speed auto was perfect. Interior space in front was awesome..!! (If I got the Crewmax i bet the rear space would be awesome too.)

When the roads were wet rear wheels were loosing traction very easily.
Having 26gal tank I was refueling often compared to the 4Runner.
Not having the bed secured as the 4Runner was a concern too (I bet there is water tight and much secure bed cover options).
My short garage didn't fit the Tundra so here in CO with hail threats Tundra won't be the right choice for me as well.

(Update)
A minor point, I notice that the bed was flexing from the frame more than my comfort zone when driving on non paved roads. (saw this from my slo-mo video)

 

I have had full-sized trucks for most of my life, and when it came time to buy a new one I naturally went for a truck, only heard good things about Toyota so I bought a new Tundra Limited and was instantly spoiled. I love it, my wife wouldn't drive it, said it was too big. I actually don't think it is any bigger than my other full-size American pickups that she had driven, but just in case for some reason she would have to drive it, I traded it in on a new 4runner Limited. There are some things from the Tundra that I would have liked to have on the 4runner, but there are also things that I didn't have on the Tundra that would have been nice. But it is what it is, I still like what I have. And those are my thoughts, I'm sure you will enjoy/love your choice as I do.

 

Tundras are cool, but for daily driving in an urban area, tight parking lots, and fitting into a smaller garage, a 4Runner will be way better. I thought I wanted a Tundra until I ended up with one as a loaner for few days. It was fun to drive, but too much of a beast when I didn't really need the towing or bed space.

 

Didn't have a Tundra but did have a Frontier Crew Cab. Nice truck but went for a 2019 SR5 Runner and never looked back!

 

Are you going to get the 2022? I'm thinking about putting a deposit down for a black trd pro

 

As soon as I can figure out a color, that is my plan. Currently have an MGM, but thinking White TRD pro or a Silver ORP. No more dark colors for me.

 

Yeah I've got an mgm as well, I just don't like the look of it on the 4runner though.

 

Traded a 21 tundra trd pro in for a 21 4runner orp. Only 2 dings against the tundra are size and mpg. I can squeeze out 20mpg with the 4runner, but was around 13-14 with the tundra. If you dont care about mpg and trying to get the behemoth through narrow streets, i would stick with the tundra and get a softopper for transport things out of the rain/weather.

if size matters, and you want 50-70% brtter gas mileage that is still kinda bad in 2021, then get the 4runner.

the tundra was like driving in a couch too. Seats were more comfy, but the 4runner seats are still good.

 

I'm probably going to be one of the few that says hell no. If you don't have another truck you will miss having the bed.

Had a 2010 Tundra and went to my 2018 4R. I can't remember how many times the past 3 years I've said I miss a truck.

Switched back to a Tundra this month and wife took the 4R.

You absolutely can have a family in a Tundra.

 

Traded a 2019 Tundra in on a 2020 4Runner and I’m much happier with the latter

 

Get the 4Runner, but don't lease it. Finance it and keep it forever. Get the 2022 TRD Offroad Premium with the KDSS. KDSS makes it amazing on the road, very comfy. Tundra is just too big and too powerful, not needed by most of us.
Regarding fuel economy, if you drive like a grandma on the highway, you can get 23 miles per gallon from the 4Runner.
Also, get this last breed of 4Runners. 2023 will have hybrid or turbo crap in it. Hybrid battery dies if you don't drive much, and turbo is not durable. Toyota sells a gazillion 4Runners every year, I don't know why the hell they are changing it. Just keep making the same thing and keep selling. Those who don't like the old school 4Runner, they should go and buy the stupid Highlander.
I got my boy two weeks ago.

 

I have had a couple Tundras before making the switch, 16 off road and an 18 Limited. Loved my Tundras but like a lot of people I no longer needed it for towing. I ended up getting a 2020 Venture and have no complaints.

 

I've gone from a '97 T100 4x4 in 1997 to a 2003 Sequoia 4x4 in 2003, overlapped the two and overlapped the Sequoia in 2019 with a 2016 4R XP and a 2022 4R TDR OR this week. No more overlap. After 18.5 years this past Thursday, I sold the Sequoia, totaled the XP, and plan on riding the TDR OR into the sunset. Gil

 

I previously had a 2011 Toyota Tundra Crewmax. That thing was never short on power. Here are my thoughts/questions

1. Do you plan on having anymore kids? If so how many?
   1. Since you have a crewmax you know there is no problem fitting 2 car seats and an adult in the backseat. You might be able to go up to 3 kids (don’t know how many car seat latches they have). If you plan on having more than 3 kids the Tundra is out of the question already.
2. Do you go a lot through the mountains? The Tundra never had a problem in the mountains even when towing stuff. It would just walk up everything like it was nothing. 4Runner is quite the opposite. It gear hunts just trying to get itself up a hill.
3. Can you get a 4Runner? I heard they are kinda impossible to get and the prices are insane for used cars.
4. Have you looked into used car values? I ask because you might be sitting on some good money if you buy out the Tundra and private sell it. Might make $10-20k more than you leased it for. Or buy it and use it as a trade-in on the 4Runner. Don’t lose the equity you have in the Tundra if you can.

Those are a few things. I had a tonneau cover on my Tundra and it was great. So much Storage no matter what size. But those strollers rolled around and climbing back there got old. I felt more safe in the Tundra because it was so big. However I also felt I was vastly contributing to global warming because of how big that beast was and it was my commute car for a while (started taking the bus to make up for days that I drove the truck). In the end they are both very capable vehicles but they are for different purposes. If you buy a house and you have to go to the hardware store you would want the Tundra or else you would have to buy a trailer (unless it is just a couple items).

The best person to decide is you. I loved my Tundra but I traded it in because it wasn’t a 4x4, my wife and I planned on having 4 kids, and we needed a van at the time. I am grateful for the 4Runner but I do at times miss the Tundra power.

 

If your Tundra has the 5.7 L engine, the power difference is night and day from the 4Runner. My Tundra and 4Runner are within 10 - 15 % of each other mileage wise. I'd honestly rather have the V8 for those numbers. I keep seeing people on here who are getting North of 20 mpg with their 4Runner...I have never been close to those numbers, even when stock.

With that being said, If I had to pick one, and I never had to tow anything, it'd be the 4Runner. I like the compactness for off roading and general maneuvering.

Something to consider - right now, at least where I live, there are $5000 premiums on new 4Runners and Tundras at many dealerships. If you trade in your Tundra, they give you that $5000 premium on your trade, not to mention the sales tax savings, which would be another $3000 or so.

 

I currently have both Tundra and 4Runner.... I drive the 4Runner way more than the Tundra but when I really have a serious load to pull on a trailer it is Always the Tundra's job if going Camping? that depends on where and what the location is the 4Runner is awesome for that off the beating path camping and does tow the Boat well.

 

You'll miss the V8 power, but other than that the 4R is a solid vehicle that'll be good for family duty.

Also, if you didn't need any offroad capability, I'd check out the Highlander as well.

 

I traded my 2020 AG 4runner Pro in on my 21 tundra Pro LunaRock. I did it because my wife has a Acura RDX suv where I did not think we needed 2. Never had a full size truck. Always Tacomas and 4Runner. Now doing this I new I would not lose money on the move. Got almost what I paid for the 4runner Pro. If I decide I don’t want the tundra I can sell it for more than I paid. We took it this year only my wife and I on 2 long trips. One OBX and the other Portland Maine. It was awesome driving it. Very comfortable and gas mileage was not that bad comparing it to what I was getting with the 4runner Pro with 285’s. Yes finding a parking spot can be a pain in the ass. Yes it’s big my crewmax. Have had friends and family in the back. They loved it. They could not believe how big it is inside. I don’t feel the seats in the front fit me as well as my 4runner but they are fine. The biggest issue I would have if I went back to a 4runner is giving up this V8. It’s smooth and sounds awesome. Luckily I have another loud car which is my Z06 to satisfy me. Also I did not want the new Tundra coming out. The 21 is going to hold its value really well. I also don’t tow anything. I use it mostly for winter time to get to work if the weather is bad. Most of the time it sits in my garage. But either way you cannot go wrong with either one.