Land Cruiser vs. 4Runner - Best Daily Driver and for overall value?

[mdoan300]

Then why do you still have it? What wheels are you running?

Reliability and cargo capacity. Jeep Wrangler Unlimited checked neither boxes.

Stock TRD PRO wheels, stock tire size, Nitto Ridge Grapplers inflated to 38psi (up from factory 32psi).

No disrespect intended. I have just had a far different experience, and I say it as a former amateur racing so I have some familiarity with good performance from a car.

None taken. I have familiarity with driving fast cars as well. My daily driver is a GR Supra 3.0. Was also a frequent participant in HPDEs (BMWCCA, PCA). Even had a membership at Motorsport Ranch for a few years.

If the 5th gen was updated with an 8-speed transmission with shorter gear ratios, then the 1GR may be fine.

 

[mdoan300]

IIRC from a prior post about your 5th gen, you also have a lift, and more aggressive tires. Lifts really hurt the aerodynamics (such as they are) and roof baskets do too. More aggressive tires, even in the stock size, can knock off 2-3 MPG by themselves. Larger tires will drop the MPG more. All of that can really effect MPG, especially at speeds above 80 MPH.

Icon stage 2 suspension and Nitto Ridge Grapplers on stock tire size. My main criticism is that the 5th has neither fuel economy or passing power. If I had passing power, then I could live with the poor fuel economy; or if I had good fuel economy, then I could live with the poor passing power. However, there is neither.

Highway speeds in my area of the US (TX, CO, UT, AZ) is 80mph. Passing 18-wheelers doing that speed limit ain’t fun and embarrassing.

I’m looking forward to the turbo-4 (and hybrid boost turbo-4 in the LC) and 8-speed transmission. Trying to convince the wife on the GX550 Overtrail (turbo-6) so I can have it after she’s bored with it for my new camping rig. Then I’d just retire my 4R for Costco runs and the local offroad park.

Lastly, Naughty Blue tax…

 

[02SE]

Icon stage 2 suspension and Nitto Ridge Grapplers on stock tire size. My main criticism is that the 5th has neither fuel economy or passing power. If I had passing power, then I could live with the poor fuel economy; or if I had good fuel economy, then I could live with the poor passing power. However, there is neither.

Highway speeds in my area of the US (TX, CO, UT, AZ) is 80mph. Passing 18-wheelers doing that speed limit ain’t fun and embarrassing.

I’m looking forward to the turbo-4 (and hybrid boost turbo-4 in the LC) and 8-speed transmission. Trying to convince the wife on the GX550 Overtrail (turbo-6) so I can have it after she’s bored with it for my new camping rig. Then I’d just retire my 4R for Costco runs and the local offroad park.

Lastly, Naughty Blue tax…

View attachment 237666

Yep, your lift, tires, and roof basket will all negatively effect your perceived power and MPG.

I live in the land of 80 MPH speed limits too. I'm just stating what the 4Runner is, and what effects mods have on MPG, and 'power' at higher speeds where aerodynamics and aggressive tires are a big factor.

I have a neighbor with a Landcruiser 250. I was excited to see and drive it. Several months later, they say that at our higher Interstate speeds, it's fuel economy takes a dive too. With the Hybrid system the power is good at low speeds, but seems to become winded climbing 6-7% grades at highway speed. More than you would think it would, with being rated at 326 hp, and 465 lb-ft.

The 6th gen 4Runner will be much the same. Plus with the issues the Tacoma has had, which shares the drivetrain with both the LC250 and 4Runner in Hybrid form, is more than disconcerting.

Toyota has delayed the launch of the 4Runner several times now. I can only hope they are fixing some of the issues they've found with Tacoma, before they launch it.

I know a couple people with a GX550 Overtrail. Hopefully the TTV6 recalls don't become necessary in the GX models too. I've been told by the owners that towing near it's rated capacity, it struggles too. They think the claimed towing capacity is optimistic.

Fuel economy for the GX is much worse than the LC250. If that matters.

Another factor is the 4Runner being naturally aspirated. You lose approx. 3% for every 1k ft gain in elevation. I live at over 5k elevation, so I've already lost approx. 15% of power, as I leave the driveway.

I see you have high-power-to-weight vehicles in your sig, some with forced induction. Yeah, the 4Runner will feel underpowered compared to those. We have sportbikes, and other vehicles which make our 4Runner feel weak too. But they can't drive a 4wd trail like our 4Runner can.

Hopefully the 6th gen 4Runner exceeds expectations.

 

[burbguy82]

The Landcruiser is much more beefy than any like size SUV. It is way over done, much more substantial. I have owned Suburbans my whole life, and the LC is may more over built, and in looking sometimes a bit too much soo. They do have some things that are very expensive to repair. Three things, Cam tower leak, valley leak, and starter. All three of these things are big jobs, and very expensive, if you don't do them yourself.

The 4 Runner, by comparison is less substantial and cheaper to repair, with less amenities and "feel of quality" than the LC.

Obviously the LC has more capability, but low MPG, real low, with a small tank.

The LC is really in a class of its own, IMO.

I will add, that my above statement applies to older 200 series and below for the LC.

If you have to go new, 4runner all the way.

 

[JHZR2]

The 6 cylinder in the 4Runner is barely adequate. The seats in the 4Runner are horrendous if you spend any time in it at all. They are like sitting on concrete.
Don't know much about the Landcrusier-but it wouldn't take much for it to be a better vehicle than the 4Runner.
The 4Runner was a great vehicle...20 years ago.....

I was pleasantly surprised at the comfort and power of a 4Runner rental I recently had and drove over 100 miles in. MPGs were poor. Ergonomics fair to poor. But the power and comfort weren’t bad.

That said. I’d go FJZ80.

 

[CKN]

I was pleasantly surprised at the comfort and power of a 4Runner rental I recently had and drove over 100 miles in. MPGs were poor. Ergonomics fair to poor. But the power and comfort weren’t bad.

That said. I’d go FJZ80.

I was pleasantly surprised at the comfort and power of a 4Runner rental I recently had and drove over 100 miles in. MPGs were poor. Ergonomics fair to poor. But the power and comfort weren’t bad.

That said. I’d go FJZ80.

Well......Im not the only one who thought the seats were poor-
(Cons - Pretty much everything else. The seats are uncomfortable after 20 mins or so,)
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/rental-review-2024-4runner.383822/

 

[02SE]

Well......Im not the only one who thought the seats were poor-
(Cons - Pretty much everything else. The seats are uncomfortable after 20 mins or so,)
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/rental-review-2024-4runner.383822/

Then there are those who like the seats. Like us, and others...

From your linked thread:

Seems a lot of folks are complaining about the seats.

As many here know, the wife and I had a 2021 4Runner for 3 years and 69,000 miles (we just traded it for an Odyssey out of necessity - our family outgrew it).

We never had a problem with the seats. We found them to be quite comfortable. In fact, the 4Runner has much more leg room than the Odyssey (that's my only complaint with the Odyssey - I'm over 6' and the pedals are too close, even with the seat fully aft).

So I guess, like a lot of things, the seats are very much subject to individual opinion/preference.

We liked the 4Runner a lot. It just felt very solid, and you knew it just wasn't going to break. Like, nothing was ever going to break, LOL!

Needless to say it required zero trips to the dealership in our 3 years of ownership (I took care of all routine maint).

I had only very minor complaints about it, and that's if I was being picky.

The first was fuel economy (obviously, and it's the same complaint I still have with my Tacoma). It's the definition of dismal when you're getting the same economy as vehicles that are FAR larger, heavier, and more powerful (we usually got between 15-18, depending on if my wife or I was driving it).

The powertrain doesn't pack much punch, and isn't very refined, by 2024 standards (or 2014 standards, haha). It's loud. It's buzzy. The engine is rated at 270 HP and 278 FT-LBs, but it feels pretty anemic because the truck is heavy and the engine is tuned more for torque, so it's not the happiest camper when you rev it up.

Other than that, we really liked it.

 

[RAVL]

Well......Im not the only one who thought the seats were poor-
(Cons - Pretty much everything else. The seats are uncomfortable after 20 mins or so,)
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/rental-review-2024-4runner.383822/

Respectfully you seem to be beating this horse and not sure why.

Seat comfort is subjective. I have a bad back and may have to have disk surgery at some point, as a frame of reference. I find the seats comfortable in town and on trips. I am very sure that there are others like you who find them uncomfortable and I am sure you are not being dishonest because there is no reason for you to do so. But yet Toyota sells over 100k 4Runners a year so, unless all those customers are too foolish to know what they find comfortable, or want to lie about it for some strange reason, the only rationale explanation is that there is a large cohort of car buyers who disagree with you and find the seats comfortable and are willing to spend anywhere from roughly $40k to $55k on average for the truck. Strong resale values , perhaps the strongest in the market except perhaps for the GX and LC, further attest that the people who buy these trucks actually do like them. No matter the reliability, no one is going to buy a truck that gives them a backache after 30
Minutes.


So coming here with the constant refrain that the seats are uncomfortable strikes me at least as odd and I am not sure what is behind it. It is what it is as they say and why much of the internet has to be taken with a shaker full of salt.

 

[RAVL]

Reliability and cargo capacity. Jeep Wrangler Unlimited checked neither boxes.

Stock TRD PRO wheels, stock tire size, Nitto Ridge Grapplers inflated to 38psi (up from factory 32psi).



None taken. I have familiarity with driving fast cars as well. My daily driver is a GR Supra 3.0. Was also a frequent participant in HPDEs (BMWCCA, PCA). Even had a membership at Motorsport Ranch for a few years.

If the 5th gen was updated with an 8-speed transmission with shorter gear ratios, then the 1GR may be fine.

Nice rig! We don’t off-road our 4runner in the technical sense. We camp with it off the beaten path and it recent years I use it as a utility truck at the farm for the horses. It never gets stuck in the mud and crosses streams with ease. So nothing but a stock suspension and wheels etc.

As far as the 8 speed, Changing the transmission would have required EPA recertification of the drivetrain. No reason to do this when they sell all they can make and a new model has been in the works.

As far as your other cars - nice! But with those cars as comparisons, anything normal will feel slow. I have driven everything from our track cars to my daily drivers and some heavy trucks in between (Mack DM600) and if you have ever handled a big rig or dump truck labor up a long grade, everything else seems fine. You know what other car I have driven that I love but is REALLY slow - an MB 240D. Love the 123 but you basically have to floor it all the time. And you need ear phones for the highway. It does however make the 300D turbo feel fast by comparison . . . .

No more fun talk about cars. Back to work for me. Take care.

 

[mdoan300]

Yep, your lift, tires, and roof basket will all negatively effect your perceived power and MPG.

Roof basket stays in the garage, unless there is a need for it. So some trips, it goes on, and some trips, it stays in the garage. With it off, I see a 0.5-1mpg gain. (I had a Front Runner 3/4 rack before, but after a year of it, I sold it and bought the Yakima so I could store it in the garage until needed)

Also, tires are inflated to 38psi for less rolling resistance.

Another factor is the 4Runner being naturally aspirated. You lose approx. 3% for every 1k ft gain in elevation. I live at over 5k elevation, so I've already lost approx. 15% of power, as I leave the driveway.

Yep, and I’m excited for the forced-induction engines and 8-speed/10-speed transmissions.

 

[mdoan300]

Nice rig! We don’t off-road our 4runner in the technical sense. We camp with it off the beaten path and it recent years I use it as a utility truck at the farm for the horses. It never gets stuck in the mud and crosses streams with ease. So nothing but a stock suspension and wheels etc.

Thanks! I recently had beer and wings with an acquaintance that works for Toyota GR; I asked why TRD stopped selling the supercharger for the FJ and 4R. Well, TRD stopped selling them because they didn’t sell; it had nothing to do with reliability or problems with it. So… perhaps that is a viable option.

You know what other car I have driven that I love but is REALLY slow - an MB 240D. Love the 123 but you basically have to floor it all the time. And you need ear phones for the highway. It does however make the 300D turbo feel fast by comparison . . . ..

I drove my father’s M-B 300D turbo diesel for a while back in the early 90’s. 5-cylinders and 90hp of fury right there… unless you turned on the AC, then it dropped to what felt like 50hp.

Anyway, another pick tax… the GRC has a prototype GR exhaust on it…

 

[02SE]

Thanks! I recently had beer and wings with an acquaintance that works for Toyota GR; I asked why TRD stopped selling the supercharger for the FJ and 4R. Well, TRD stopped selling them because they didn’t sell; it had nothing to do with reliability or problems with it. So… perhaps that is a viable option.

Magnuson still makes a Supercharger kit for the 5th gen 4Runner. They made the TRD branded kit too.

For your 2018: https://magnusonsuperchargers.com/collections/4runner/products/01-13-40-021-bl

I've driven a Magnuson Supercharger equipped 5th gen. It definitely has more power.

 

[CKN]

Then there are those who like the seats. Like us, and others...

From your linked thread:

If the poster you linked would have listened to me three years ago-he would have saved some money. I told him at that time the 4Runner was a poor family vehicle. Narrow width, doors that don't open fully to put a car seat in, can't sit three across-comfortably. So instead he needed to get rid of it.

 

[RAVL]

If the poster you linked would have listened to me three years ago-he would have saved some money. I told him at that time the 4Runner was a poor family vehicle. Narrow width, doors that don't open fully to put a car seat in, can't sit three across-comfortably. So instead he needed to get rid of it.

We had two car seats in ours the first several years we owned it, followed by boosters. No issues.

 

[02SE]

If the poster you linked would have listened to me three years ago-he would have saved some money. I told him at that time the 4Runner was a poor family vehicle. Narrow width, doors that don't open fully to put a car seat in, can't sit three across-comfortably. So instead he needed to get rid of it.

I'm guessing @john_pifer is more than capable of making adult decisions for himself and his family. IIRC at the time it was just fine for his family, but then plans changed and they had more kids, and his family outgrew the midsize SUV.

Our 4Runner is too small to handle the wife and I, our kids, their spouses, and grandkids. IF ONLY you had advised us not to have those dang kids which have clearly cramped our lifestyle...

 

[CKN]

We had two car seats in ours the first several years we owned it, followed by boosters. No issues.

The kids were cramped. Were they not? The boosters were a couple of inches from each other.

 

[RAVL]

The kids were cramped. Were they not? The boosters were a couple of inches from each other.

No, not at all. Two kids, not three to be clear.

Don’t want to argue so going to sign off of this.

 

[CKN]

No, not at all. Two kids, not three to be clear.

Don’t want to argue so going to sign off of this.

Two kids are doable.

 

[2015Corolla]

Have you looked at Mazda?

CX-9
CX-5
CX-70

All made in Japan. CX-50 made in Huntsville.