Stop comparing it to a crossover. It is exhausting. If I wanted a crossover, I would have watched a review for one. People shopping for a crossover are not looking at a 4 Runner.
snydergt I agree that Myopia is exhausting, but when shopping for a vehicle, it is however a niche vehicle for the most part. People looking at this vehicle are people that want off road capability and a traditional body on frame design. Not a crossover. Comparing it to a crossover is taking away from it, and not doing it justice.
I bought a new "07 FJ Cruiser and drove it do death. Love the drive train, love the road feel, love the off road capabilities. My '07 has the same drive train with 239 HP, and never disappointed me. Buying my new 4runner next week and I can't wait. Last true SUV. This is the best review I've seen. Not a fan of the station wagon SUV that has become the norm.
sean mcdonough how do you like your 4runner so far, assuming you did end up buying it. Im looking to perhaps get one as well. Just want to know real people's impressions of it, Thanks.
Reliability and resale make the 4Runner a way better deal. Owned a Jeep once, it was one issue after another and I couldn't give away. Every 4Runner (owned 3) not a single issue and always sale for more than I owe.
Alex I know you are one of the best reviewers out there and trust my judgement..i watch all the reviews on youtube.. I think toyota should keep the 4runner as body on frame ..i hope they dont change it because that will be the day i switch to pickup truck
The video incorrectly stated that the Limited edition does not have a low-range. The Limited does, in fact, have a low range, along with a lockable, limited-slip, Torsen center differential.
QuadraTrac II has a centre differential while the 4Runner only has a centre dif in Limied trim. SR5 and Trail models have a locking centre coupling only which does not allow the front and rear dif inputs to spin at different rates. The Jeep can lock the centre dif to operate very much like the part time system in the 4Runner, or it can run with it open like the 4Runner Limited. Jeep combines this with the low range gear while the 4Runner Limited slips the low range mode.
Primarily because Toyota's sales numbers indicate that the majority of 4Runner shoppers compare the 4Runner to more crossover styled vehicles like the Explorer, Pathfinder and the Grand Cherokee.
I have a 2010 4Runner Trail -- I think it's important to note that the Trail editition drives VERY differently than the SRS or Limited editions. And if you have the suspension and brake upgrades on the Trail edition, it does impact drive quality as well.
I just purchased a 2014 blk sr5 runner Acceleration is adequate and smooth..I like the front end ..it has a sinister look to it..Handling is average but hey its a truck..lol. .roomy and tough...To me in my opinion reliability is necessity not an option. ..love my 4runner
from what Ive read on the forums, the throttle response is tuned very conservitively for the 2013’s and up. I was curious as to why almost every review i’ve watched said the thing feels slow unless you mash the gas. It is heavy, and I test drove one recently and the hype is real. Unless you wake up the transmission with your foot its pretty lethargic, but not absolutely slow. Does fine in getting up to speed in modern traffic.( i drove a tuned gti) It could really use the the 6 speed and 3.5L Atkinson Cycle V6 going into the new Tacoma. I hope they carry it over. Great review
Alex do you still plan on doing a video of the production version? Would love a little off road footage, and your expert opinion on the production version.
Alex, I'm not sure which trim of the Grand Cherokee you're comparing to this and saying that the Grand Cherokee has more ground clearance. I read on Cars.com that the Grand Cherokee has between 6.6 & 8.6 inches of minimum ground clearance and this 4Runner has 9.6 inches minimum. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Tricky one. If you are planning on going seriously off-road, the 4Runner is the better vehicle. For most shoppers that expect a civilised in-town ride and want to be secure on dirt and gravel roads, etc the Grand Cherokee is more than capable and it offers more creature comforts as well. Since I don't visit the off-road park every weekend, I would buy the Jeep.
If you bought a Jeep Grand Cherokee when this came out it's worth less than half of what a 4Runner is because the 4Runner literally lasts twice as long
+russelpetersify ditto, choose the 4runner over the jeep this year because I was concerned with their reliablity. Many forums of jeep owners complaining.
Surprised you thought the road noise was high. I drove a 2013 Trail a month ago and was surprised how quiet it was on the road. Then again I'm comparing it too my 2002 Silverado I love all the interior changes, not sure of the nose, but may buy one! I just like knowing I can go anywhere and get out of any situation...
12MPG common' TTAC. There are numerous sites on the we where peeps send in mpg of there vehicles to give you an estimate. Elevation, city vs. highway driving and not a single person reported 12mpg. Also Chrysler corp. has been notorious for not backing there vehicles and voiding warrantee's. While Toyota's are always great made in America vehicles.
Thats your opinion. There's plenty of people that think this thing looks awesome and then theres some that think this thing is ugly. I like it but that front bumper has to go. The Pontiac Aztec was so ugly, EVERYONE thought it was ugly and it reflected its sales numbers. I think you can still find a 0 mile Aztec buried in some dealers lot.
Hi Alex, you have tried the 2014 grand cherokee and now the 2014 4runner, which one did you like the most, and if to suggest one to some one who wants to make sure never want to get stuck in snow, slippery up hill and etc...which one do you suggest? Thanks.
What kind of Jeep did you have out of curiosity? Depending on the model you had it can be hit or miss...or if it was a liberty, it's more like a miss by a couple dozen miles...the Liberty (or Cherokee in Europe) is/was terrible
I like TTAC but why do you keep mentioning crossovers all the time and comparing room, ride, entry and exit of the 4Runner to crossovers? If a person was interested in a crossover they would not look at this. If a person is looking for a true SUV, they would not be looking at a crossover. If they wanted low entry and exit, they would get a crossover and not an SUV. Two different segments for two different types of buyers. JMHO.
Hi Alex, how does the 4wd system on the Limited Trim works. I know it has a center diff, but can it transfer 100% torque to any individual wheel like the quadra drive II 4wd system in jeep? how capable offroad and onthe road do you think is the limited trim anyways. thanks
The systems are quite similar. Both use a true center differential and both (as of 2011) have locking rear differentials only (optional on the 4Runner IIRC). Prior to 2011 Jeep offered a front locking differential in QuadraDrive II but they canned it in 2011 for reasons unknown. This means that if only one front wheel has traction and the other three were slipping, both systems would have to rely on traction control to get you out of the situation. However if only one rear wheel had traction both systems would be fairly equal in terms of performance. Both are very capable vehicles and the major difference in performance between the two will come down to weight and tires.
So the Toyota limited edition with center diff is pretty capable in snow and off-road then. I always thought center diff can only distribute 50/50 and if one axle loses traction the other axle with only 50% torque can't/may not be able to pull the car if situated in a steep incline. thanks
By the way Alex what happened with the jeep project you were up too? since you have a jeep do you think extra $ is worth the quadra drive II or the quadra trac II is capable enough. thanks
aria haji aghabozorgi It depends on how you look at it. Locking a center coupling or a center differential will split power 50/50, however because it is locked, if the front wheels had no traction you would in essence be sending power nearly 100% to the rear. This is different than an open differential and traction control because in order for power to be even with an open diff, the brakes would have to "consume" 50% of the power on one wheel to make them both spin at the same rate. In this case the 4Runner actually has an advantage because it uses a Torsen diff in the Limited model which is the exception to the rule and by design can shift more than 50% of the power to one axle. How much depends on design but typically ends up in the 30/70 70/30 range.
aria haji aghabozorgi Is it continuing very slowly LOL. The QuadraDrive II system is quite different than the VeriLock based QuadraDrive system my Jeep has so it is hard to say without knowing how you plan on using it. The QuadraTrac II system is quite capable since the center coupling is the same as QuadraDrive II it just lacks the rear electronic locking differential
navyman8903 said it best! If there isn't a comparison out there don't try too. As for the mpg go to fuelly.com they show reall mpg numbers and the Runner is only 1 mpg away from the new Grand Cherokee. This review is garbage.
And if you go to fuelly.com you see that the 2014 4Runner has averaged 14.8 MPG while the 2014 Grand Cherokee is 19.6. That's more than 1 MPG, however the Grand Cherokee has 360 horsepower V6 under the hood. If you compare apples to apples on fuelly you'll see the V6 Jeep averages over 20 MPG. You can thank the new 8-speed transmission Chrysler started using in 2014 for that. Because driving style has the biggest impact on fuel economy you need to look at standardized tests to compare apples to apples. On sites like Fuelly you don't know what options the car had, how it was driven, whether it was a RWD or 4WD vehicle, etc. This is why the standardized fuel economy tests exist.
Man it's a cool SUV but toyota killed it with the piece of shit weak V6 engine I drove it for one week it's under power it's too heavy too slow it Needs the V8 engine with a new 6speed then come and talk about the 4runner I hope Toyota get it !
for a body on frame it should have better clearance and approach and departure angle, my 86 jeep cherokee is a unibody and it is way better than this plastic turd at off roading, for a start i have a solid front axle. This does not. its drive by wire, i dont want to trust my life on something i cant fix. etc
i was thinking the same thing, that front bumper is too bulky and should have a better departure angle. I like the idea of making it look more aggresive, but it could look better and have a better departure angle
Your review seem rather uneducated and biased? I would go as far to say that you're not an offroader? You gave basic feature reviews in a rather unappealing monotone narrative. You may want to consider a different line of work. Sorry video clips don't seem to be your cup of tea!
What an ugly and cheap looking car :o( What I didn't like is you saying the model every other sentance, we don't need that lol, we clicked on the video, we know what vehicle it is lol. Other than taht, great review :o)
Tee Kay Idk why, but Toyota doesn't know how to make nice wheels at all anymore. My 3rd gen 4runner limited has much simpler and elegant wheels compared to the 5th gen in my opinion.
Again, the best and the most comprehensive car review on the internet.
Thanks you.
Stop comparing it to a crossover. It is exhausting. If I wanted a crossover, I would have watched a review for one. People shopping for a crossover are not looking at a 4 Runner.
There are plenty of people that would/are cross shopping. Myopia is just as exhausting.
snydergt I agree that Myopia is exhausting, but when shopping for a vehicle, it is however a niche vehicle for the most part. People looking at this vehicle are people that want off road capability and a traditional body on frame design. Not a crossover. Comparing it to a crossover is taking away from it, and not doing it justice.
The Limited 4Runner has an all-time 4WD system with a Torsen Center diff, and it does have a low range.
I bought a new "07 FJ Cruiser and drove it do death. Love the drive train, love the road feel, love the off road capabilities. My '07 has the same drive train with 239 HP, and never disappointed me. Buying my new 4runner next week and I can't wait. Last true SUV. This is the best review I've seen. Not a fan of the station wagon SUV that has become the norm.
sean mcdonough how do you like your 4runner so far, assuming you did end up buying it. Im looking to perhaps get one as well. Just want to know real people's impressions of it, Thanks.
Reliability and resale make the 4Runner a way better deal. Owned a Jeep once, it was one issue after another and I couldn't give away. Every 4Runner (owned 3) not a single issue and always sale for more than I owe.
I have a 2011 4-Runner and unless the fuel economy has drastically decreased, real world average for me is 19mpg combined.
Alex I know you are one of the best reviewers out there and trust my judgement..i watch all the reviews on youtube.. I think toyota should keep the 4runner as body on frame ..i hope they dont change it because that will be the day i switch to pickup truck
One of the best vehicle reviewers I've seen. Great job, thanks!
Yep, totally agree. I always love that this model 4Runner looks great. It kind of reminds me like the front is bulldog.
I absolutely love that front end
The video incorrectly stated that the Limited edition does not have a low-range. The Limited does, in fact, have a low range, along with a lockable, limited-slip, Torsen center differential.
QuadraTrac II has a centre differential while the 4Runner only has a centre dif in Limied trim. SR5 and Trail models have a locking centre coupling only which does not allow the front and rear dif inputs to spin at different rates. The Jeep can lock the centre dif to operate very much like the part time system in the 4Runner, or it can run with it open like the 4Runner Limited. Jeep combines this with the low range gear while the 4Runner Limited slips the low range mode.
Primarily because Toyota's sales numbers indicate that the majority of 4Runner shoppers compare the 4Runner to more crossover styled vehicles like the Explorer, Pathfinder and the Grand Cherokee.
I have a 2010 4Runner Trail -- I think it's important to note that the Trail editition drives VERY differently than the SRS or Limited editions. And if you have the suspension and brake upgrades on the Trail edition, it does impact drive quality as well.
I love TOYOTA. I love this car.
+LoveDarvish05 me too!
I just purchased a 2014 blk sr5 runner
Acceleration is adequate and smooth..I like the front end ..it has a sinister look to it..Handling is average but hey its a truck..lol. .roomy and tough...To me in my opinion reliability is necessity not an option. ..love my 4runner
from what Ive read on the forums, the throttle response is tuned very conservitively for the 2013’s and up. I was curious as to why almost every review i’ve watched said the thing feels slow unless you mash the gas. It is heavy, and I test drove one recently and the hype is real. Unless you wake up the transmission with your foot its pretty lethargic, but not absolutely slow. Does fine in getting up to speed in modern traffic.( i drove a tuned gti) It could really use the the 6 speed and 3.5L Atkinson Cycle V6 going into the new Tacoma. I hope they carry it over. Great review
Dude, I am not going to comment the review but your style, c'mon, a blazer, jeans and running shoes, what were you thinking man...?
I know, I know. That's what happens when I try to dress myself...
+Alex on Autos lol
+Artum Pazych We you have a conference meeting @3 & track practice @5
Good god. It's a car review, not a fashion show. There's nothing wrong with the way he's dressed, not that I paid any attention to it.
Please write God with capital ''G'' , thank you and God Bless...
Alex do you still plan on doing a video of the production version? Would love a little off road footage, and your expert opinion on the production version.
Alex, I'm not sure which trim of the Grand Cherokee you're comparing to this and saying that the Grand Cherokee has more ground clearance. I read on Cars.com that the Grand Cherokee has between 6.6 & 8.6 inches of minimum ground clearance and this 4Runner has 9.6 inches minimum. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Tricky one. If you are planning on going seriously off-road, the 4Runner is the better vehicle. For most shoppers that expect a civilised in-town ride and want to be secure on dirt and gravel roads, etc the Grand Cherokee is more than capable and it offers more creature comforts as well. Since I don't visit the off-road park every weekend, I would buy the Jeep.
If you bought a Jeep Grand Cherokee when this came out it's worth less than half of what a 4Runner is because the 4Runner literally lasts twice as long
Great review, man!
Very nice i own 2016 sr5 it is a nice, rugged and reliable
+russelpetersify ditto, choose the 4runner over the jeep this year because I was concerned with their reliablity. Many forums of jeep owners complaining.
Surprised you thought the road noise was high. I drove a 2013 Trail a month ago and was surprised how quiet it was on the road. Then again I'm comparing it too my 2002 Silverado I love all the interior changes, not sure of the nose, but may buy one! I just like knowing I can go anywhere and get out of any situation...
You make the best video reviews !
and it looks exactly like a 2021 4runner
12MPG common' TTAC. There are numerous sites on the we where peeps send in mpg of there vehicles to give you an estimate. Elevation, city vs. highway driving and not a single person reported 12mpg.
Also Chrysler corp. has been notorious for not backing there vehicles and voiding warrantee's. While Toyota's are always great made in America vehicles.
The competition has really pushed the bar higher, the 2014 isn't louder than the 2013, but the refreshed Jeeps are quieter now.
Very knowledgeable, and good presentation
Thanks
Nice review. And in Roslyn WA!
Excellent review, thanks for doing a great job !!!
Thats your opinion. There's plenty of people that think this thing looks awesome and then theres some that think this thing is ugly. I like it but that front bumper has to go. The Pontiac Aztec was so ugly, EVERYONE thought it was ugly and it reflected its sales numbers. I think you can still find a 0 mile Aztec buried in some dealers lot.
Hi Alex, you have tried the 2014 grand cherokee and now the 2014 4runner, which one did you like the most, and if to suggest one to some one who wants to make sure never want to get stuck in snow, slippery up hill and etc...which one do you suggest? Thanks.
What is different between 2014 and 2016
What kind of Jeep did you have out of curiosity? Depending on the model you had it can be hit or miss...or if it was a liberty, it's more like a miss by a couple dozen miles...the Liberty (or Cherokee in Europe) is/was terrible
hey alex do you think the 4 runner is gonna get a redesign anytime soon ?
the previous 4 runner looked very nice, the front of this new one looks way too much like some kinda boxy scion..
Thanks alex, have another question for you, does the quadra trac II in grand cherokee works like the locking diff?
A-track and rear lockers ?
Alex..please review the new Jeep Wrangler unlimited
I like TTAC but why do you keep mentioning crossovers all the time and comparing room, ride, entry and exit of the 4Runner to crossovers? If a person was interested in a crossover they would not look at this. If a person is looking for a true SUV, they would not be looking at a crossover. If they wanted low entry and exit, they would get a crossover and not an SUV. Two different segments for two different types of buyers. JMHO.
Excellent Review - Thanks.
good detailed review!
I own a 2013 4runner, I must say that this refresh exterior is a bit ugly but interior more updated.
what is your top 3 best suv?
awsome truck how the ride
What is the ground clearance?
Hi Alex, how does the 4wd system on the Limited Trim works. I know it has a center diff, but can it transfer 100% torque to any individual wheel like the quadra drive II 4wd system in jeep? how capable offroad and onthe road do you think is the limited trim anyways. thanks
The systems are quite similar. Both use a true center differential and both (as of 2011) have locking rear differentials only (optional on the 4Runner IIRC). Prior to 2011 Jeep offered a front locking differential in QuadraDrive II but they canned it in 2011 for reasons unknown. This means that if only one front wheel has traction and the other three were slipping, both systems would have to rely on traction control to get you out of the situation. However if only one rear wheel had traction both systems would be fairly equal in terms of performance. Both are very capable vehicles and the major difference in performance between the two will come down to weight and tires.
So the Toyota limited edition with center diff is pretty capable in snow and off-road then. I always thought center diff can only distribute 50/50 and if one axle loses traction the other axle with only 50% torque can't/may not be able to pull the car if situated in a steep incline. thanks
By the way Alex what happened with the jeep project you were up too? since you have a jeep do you think extra $ is worth the quadra drive II or the quadra trac II is capable enough. thanks
aria haji aghabozorgi
It depends on how you look at it. Locking a center coupling or a center differential will split power 50/50, however because it is locked, if the front wheels had no traction you would in essence be sending power nearly 100% to the rear. This is different than an open differential and traction control because in order for power to be even with an open diff, the brakes would have to "consume" 50% of the power on one wheel to make them both spin at the same rate. In this case the 4Runner actually has an advantage because it uses a Torsen diff in the Limited model which is the exception to the rule and by design can shift more than 50% of the power to one axle. How much depends on design but typically ends up in the 30/70 70/30 range.
aria haji aghabozorgi Is it continuing very slowly LOL. The QuadraDrive II system is quite different than the VeriLock based QuadraDrive system my Jeep has so it is hard to say without knowing how you plan on using it. The QuadraTrac II system is quite capable since the center coupling is the same as QuadraDrive II it just lacks the rear electronic locking differential
I think all models of the 4runner have more ground clearance than the jeep.
nice review. thx.
If you have ever sat in a 4Runner, you would know they are not cheaply built
OK..I'll say what many are thinking. This is Toyota's version of the Pontiac Aztec.
its very nice but this man talking very fast and no breaks among words hes like machine
it's called aerodynamics
Maybe if you tell Toyota to have V8 engine six speed gearbox and have air suspense lift 3" will be in beatable off and on road machine
Nice suv!
navyman8903 said it best! If there isn't a comparison out there don't try too. As for the mpg go to fuelly.com they show reall mpg numbers and the Runner is only 1 mpg away from the new Grand Cherokee. This review is garbage.
And if you go to fuelly.com you see that the 2014 4Runner has averaged 14.8 MPG while the 2014 Grand Cherokee is 19.6. That's more than 1 MPG, however the Grand Cherokee has 360 horsepower V6 under the hood. If you compare apples to apples on fuelly you'll see the V6 Jeep averages over 20 MPG. You can thank the new 8-speed transmission Chrysler started using in 2014 for that. Because driving style has the biggest impact on fuel economy you need to look at standardized tests to compare apples to apples. On sites like Fuelly you don't know what options the car had, how it was driven, whether it was a RWD or 4WD vehicle, etc. This is why the standardized fuel economy tests exist.
its called a 4 runner and it doesnt come w 4 wheel drive standard 😡
Front end sucks, but still a good offroad ride
Jeep grand Cherokee quad3 vs 4unner
i love the front end. i just think the 4runner should be a little lifted and have a v8
Хочу такую машинку! Господа американцы, помогите приобрести!
My 2013 way better exterior, interior little bet better which the touchscreen radio is standard.
I think they inserted the wrong infotainment unit...lol
Man it's a cool SUV but toyota killed it with the piece of shit weak V6 engine I drove it for one week it's under power it's too heavy too slow it Needs the V8 engine with a new 6speed then come and talk about the 4runner I hope Toyota get it !
Nice Jeep commercial....
lol deadass
for a body on frame it should have better clearance and approach and departure angle, my 86 jeep cherokee is a unibody and it is way better than this plastic turd at off roading, for a start i have a solid front axle. This does not. its drive by wire, i dont want to trust my life on something i cant fix. etc
i was thinking the same thing, that front bumper is too bulky and should have a better departure angle. I like the idea of making it look more aggresive, but it could look better and have a better departure angle
Have you driven 4 runner? 4 runner has good clearance, quality wise you can not compare 4 runner to cherokee, 4 runner leaves cherokee in the dust...
yes i own both so i can compare my question is that have you driven a real jeep? having a solid front end sure is nice when offroading
Ugly doesn't begin to describe it.
It looks cheap but it is not priced cheap and wow it is ugly.
Your review seem rather uneducated and biased? I would go as far to say that you're not an offroader?
You gave basic feature reviews in a rather unappealing monotone narrative.
You may want to consider a different line of work.
Sorry video clips don't seem to be your cup of tea!
Yeah lol he’s obviously a keep fan. Not a Toyota one
Your videos need to be LOUDER and you talk too FAST
What an ugly and cheap looking car :o( What I didn't like is you saying the model every other sentance, we don't need that lol, we clicked on the video, we know what vehicle it is lol. Other than taht, great review :o)
This is UGLY....i would like to donate a pair of glasses to person who designed it
Tee Kay mostly just the front
Tee Kay Idk why, but Toyota doesn't know how to make nice wheels at all anymore. My 3rd gen 4runner limited has much simpler and elegant wheels compared to the 5th gen in my opinion.
Toyota 4 runner is a small suv,nothing to compare to a Chevy or Ford SUV.
Pô ,até que enfim um "design" sem frisos ou estampados atravessados nas laterais !