Should You Buy A Tacoma Or 4Runner? - Owners Opinion After 1 Year

In this video, I go over some of the things you should consider when shopping for a Toyota 4Runner or a Toyota Tacoma. A lot of individuals find themselves cross-shopping these two very popular Toyota off-road vehicles. Well, I was fortunate enough to own them both for a year, drive them daily, and really develop a proper opinion of both of them.

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00:00 Introduction
00:48 Off-Road Mods
01:37 Driving Differences
02:54 Interior Comfort
04:31 Build Quality
05:32 Truck or SUV?
07:33 Better For Off Road
08:30 Maintenance & Recalls
09:31 Vehicle Options From Toyota
10:03 Final Thoughts

[ParzivalHB]

Have them both. The 4runner has way more versatility. You can sleep in the 4runner and if you have kids, access to a food cooler in the rear cargo area saves you from stopping to access the back. If I were single, I would take the Taco just cause I like trucks better.

[itsmillrtime]

had 2 tacomas, finally got a 4runner. i vote 4runner all the way, feels like being a tank

[mercurials]

Would take Japan quality over any other in a heart beat!

[tylermurrel]

I’ve got a 2019 cavalry blue TRD OR DCLB, ~80, 000 miles and no issues, it’s been a great truck, super solid, no shifting issues either and lived at altitude/mountains. just drove it ~3, 500mi from CO to AK and it had no problems.

[ltribley]

Great comparison. Of all the brands and models on the market the choice between a Tacoma or a 4Runner seems the most prevalent and sometimes difficult for folk to decide.

We had a 2020 SR5 which was wonderful. We needed a pickup to haul stuff around, fill the back with mulch for the garden, haul lumber, etc. Recreationally as sea kayakers, campers, hikers, outdoor activities it’s perfect with a wealth of options to configure the bed for your needs. Just so much more practical. Rear passenger leg room is subjective and we would never make a decision for occasional passengers to feel more comfortable. If you have kids the room is fine. Utility, flexibility is the key.

We didn’t want to deal with another large SUV for long trips or even around town. The Tacoma stayed planted, is more nimble, and was a comfortable long-distance driver. Otherwise we would have gone with a Subaru Outback instead.

A natural selection and was perfect for our needs.

Three (3) years later we traded it in recently for a 2022 Tacoma TRD Off Road with Predator package, right at the peak of used car prices. Even with the TRD upgrade from the SR5 we almost broke even, less than a $500 difference.

Here's a tip on reducing the cost of a “higher model”. Don’t buy off the lot and pay for stuff you will never use or compromise on the color. Instead, sit down with your sales rep and order your Tacoma or 4Runner off of Toyota’s National Inventory. It arrived in 3 weeks.

Why? Because the sales rep can sit down with you and DELETE packages or items you do not want and add others you want. The result is that you get a vehicle configured to your specific needs without unnecessary overhead. It brought the cost down to an equally equipped SR5 even including the Predator package which was discounted by Toyota at the time. We also got an additional $x thousand's discount from the dealership (largest sales volume in the SE region) and a couple freebies like hats and free break-in oil change, checkup at 750 miles independent of the regular free schedule.

Timing and patience is everything, besides having a great dealership that is responsible, welcoming and knows you as a customer by name when you drop by is important to us.

There is never any reason to pay retail or above for a 4Runner or Tacoma.

Aside. For the 2022 we added a Pedal Commander. We had reservations, but my wife who always complained about the “sluggishness” loves it and drives faster than ever! With a pickup we added a gun rack for our hiking poles.

BTW, if you have a 3D Printer there are hundreds of Tacoma designed parts and accessories for all generations to print for free and you can design your own using a free “maker” license from AutoDesk Fusion 360 CAD program. I recently designed a console insert for my handgun as an example.

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[logansewell]

I've had my 2023 Off Road TRD Tacoma for about 3 months now and I love everything about it.

[rodjones]

I had both vehicles as well. For me, it came down to the rear suspension and the superiority of coil springs over leaves. The other major difference was the weight distribution in the forerunner making it a much better performer in the snow.

[capoeirask]

I’ve had 3 tacomas in the past and my wife has a 4Runner. We recently had twins and found it difficult to put them in the back seats because of the lack of space. So I purchased a ford raptor….at first I loved it, but now I find myself wanting to go back too a Tacoma. To me, there is just no comparison too Toyota vehicles!

[PureBlood]

This is the very first time that I’ve ever seen cavalry blue and voodoo blue side-by-side they complement each other

[skoolynugenator]

I test drove both and I can’t get over the small size of the the cab in the Tacoma. I honestly still want one with a stick someday but I was trading in my F-150 and needed a main vehicle and to me at 6’3, the 4runner is way more comfortable to drive. Now that I’ve had my 4runner a few months, I definitely made the right decision.

[samrosario]

I shopped the TRD PRO Tacoma vs 4Runner. I went with the Voodoo 4Runner. I love the space and comfort of the interior. Rear window for the dog, definitely a game changer. Peace of mind I have with bullet proof reliability is also a bonus. Overall I’m very happy with the 4Runner, it has exceeded my expectations.

[runnerever]

There are so many advantages with the 4runner. I had a road trip 2 years ago to yellowstone, 4 people. I have an enclosed carrier on my hitch for other stuff. Used a 12v fridge and another battery and kept all our food fresh even during a night rest. All our stuff are safe inside even on rainy days and accesible. If i had the tacoma, it will be a hassle for sure and the kids uncomfortable and will forever hate road trips that long. :)

[dustinbono]

I have a 19 TRD PRO 4runner and a 21 TRD off-road Tacoma and I definitely like the 4runner better. Looks better drives better. Haven't gotten a chance to test the Tacoma off-road as much as I have the 4runner. Overall both are great vehicles. I just prefer the 4runner if I had to choose one.

[terrynichol]

I've had both as well..4runner all day. Just feels more solid/better built

[richardwarfield]

I have the best of both Worlds. A Tacoma for work and anything else I want to do. A 4Runner for anything else I want to do. 👍 I remember watching that 1st video you did - that's how I found your channel

[PandorasCrate]

I have a 2012 Trail 4Runner and I love that thing so much. I've test driven Tacoma's in the past, thinking if I had a truck I could do more hauling, but impo the 4Runner is the smoother ride and more spacious. I like the idea of a Tacoma, but I prefer the application of the 4Runner. Thank you for your video!

[vinrab]

I like both.I’m also a truck guy so i choose the taco…. Im adding a sequoia next year im excited. Nice setup bud.

[espd]

I’ve owned both and ultimately have kept and owned my 2012 TE 4runner with KDSS for 10 solid years now. For room, comfort, and solid build quality you can not go wrong with 4runner. If you need a truck buy a Tundra!

[Peccs]

I'd have a horrible time choosing between cavalry blue and voodoo blue. Love both colors!

[douglasdangelo]

I've owned a 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD sport with a 6spd manual for the last 11 years. I have 240, 000 miles on it. It burns more gas than a f150 (15 city 18 highway) but it is extremely reliable. In it's life I have had to replace the wheel bearings, the clutch, rebuild the universal joint, and do the ball joints. It definitely doesn't have the amenities of a modern truck but if you need something to get you to wherever you need to go and back again it's perfect So far it's been a great investment.