Lens Design

I still have my '98 ltd. and still love it. Before I decided to add a 5th gen, my thoughts were that Toyota ruined the design by adding these big BULGING headlight and tail light lenses. It just doesn't make sense. IMO for an off road vehicle to have these protruding lenses out beyond the body panels is just asking to be broken or scratched up. Not to mention sun fading on the top of them. Thank goodness mine have not faded yet, but I have seen many that are. I love the overall design of the front end and rear end, but, I just wish the lenses were flush with the body.
Again....JMO.

 

I know it's a very late observation, however, it makes so much sense to me. Go look at your Runner and picture what I'm describing. I go for functionality and practicality. Guess I'm mostly alone on this one. I know we can't change it now anyway. Was just curious if anybody agreed or not...oh well.

 

Yup! It took me a long time to warm up to the updated 5th gen styling. Headlights bugged me for the same reasons. To be honest, the headlight, along with the “gangster tattoo teardrop” that runs down to the foglight just was completely WTF when it first came out. But with time, and because a 4runner is a 4runner, I got over it enough to overlook it when I finally decided to buy one. The teardrop is why I got a magnetic gray one (hides it better).

If you ask me, the original 5th gen was pretty much perfect in terms of styling for an off-road vehicle.

Our 18 highlander has the same design bulges on the lights. Totally unnecessary, purely design aesthetic. It just sucks the design stinks. The only functional aspect is that you can put your beer on it.