Tundra to 4Runner TRD Pro lunar rock

I know you can’t compare 4Runner to tundra as it’s apples to oranges. How many of y’all went from tundra to 4Runner and regretted it? This is for those who do not use their truck for work obviously. I found a lunar rock 4Runner that is only asking msrp (53k) with no mark up. Thoughts?

 

I did the opposite so I can speak to this a little. The 4R I think is more fun to drive! Being smaller and more sporty is a lot of fun to drive on and off road. The truck drives much smoother and is more comfortable. I had a 20 Pro army green 4R so I know the feeling of both Pro set ups. Personally I like the truck better for my needs. It totally depends on your needs and what response your looking for in the vehicle. 4R more fun and sporty and truck smoother more comfortable ride. I will say the back of the 4R without the third row is very large so you still have tons of space.

 

We have a 2015 4Runner Pro and we love it. Like @BluegrassPro said, they are a lot of fun to drive. We are fortunate enough to have that and the Tundra Pro so if I ever need to haul anything, we have the truck. I think that would be the only downside is that if you are used to your Tundra and being able to haul wood, appliances, or whatever, you're going to really miss it when you need it. Although, if you have a buddy with a truck, you're all set.

 

I did the opposite as well. I went from a 2017 4Runner SR5 to my 2020 Tundra. The biggest thing I miss about the 4Runner is filling it up at the gas station because of it being cheaper. Occasionally I miss the smaller size but most of the time it’s just a passing thought... The Tundra is a much more comfortable and smoother vehicle hands down IMHO...just like the poster before stated. For my needs and usage the Tundra is much better but the 4Runner is a great truck.

I am a pickup truck guy so I am honestly bias. However everyone that has ridden in the back seat of both vehicles all comment on how the Tundra is more comfortable. My wife TELLS me that we are taking my truck now...that really didn’t happen when I owned my 4Runner.

 

Lucky!!! I wanted to keep both so bad. Luckily my wife still has her 2018 limited 4R. But I did love my Pro 4R for the year I owned it. One good thing about it is if you get it OP and don’t like it, you won’t lose your tail. I paid msrp for mine and a year later the dealership offered me $50,000 in trade in for my Pro Tundra also at msrp. The Pro 4R is hands down probably the highest resale/trade in value of any vehicle on the road.

 

Here’s the bittersweet day

 

I still have my 2006 4Runner. It is why I buy Toyotas now. Love it, but needed something that could tow better, so drive a Tundra and my son drives the cool, lifted 4th Gen 4runner.

 

buy new then pass it on to your kids 15 years later. Only with Toyotas ! haha

 

I think the 4Runner is the best vehicle Toyota makes. Not the nicest, most modern, or most powerful. Just the best and most proven vehicle in the lineup. With that said, traded a ‘14 for the Tundra. Later traded a BMW 135 for the TRD Pro 4R in my pic. Later traded the 4R on a 440i. Just depends what you want. If you want a truck, keep the Tundra. If you want a real SUV, I don’t think there’s a better one than the 4R. Just like everything else, you need to decide what’s better for your needs and wants.

 

I love my 4Runner. So much so, I talked my wife into trading her Mazda CX-5 so I could get the Tundra. She also loves the 4Runner. It’s easier to get around town in that versus the Tundra.

 

I went from a 2016 4Runner trail premium to my 2020 tundra sport premium. The 4Runner is built better, I miss it but I don’t miss the underpowered feeling from the v6. I put a 2.5/1.5 lift and 275/70/17 ko2’s and it’s mpg was close to my tundra on 34’s. I will own a 4Runner again soon, but won’t go without a full size tundra as well

 

I went the opposite direction also. Traded a 14 4R for my 15 Tundra. This was a deal with the wife so that I would stop(for now) looking at another motorcycle. I asked her specifically if she wanted to trade in her car instead and she could have the 4R and she said no. I needed a truck for hauling.

Fast forward about three years and she says “Hey what do you think of this 4R?”


Now we have both.

Moral of the story if you can afford or justify it....it’s better to have both.

If not go with what you need. They are both awesome vehicles.

 

Excellent responses, thanks everyone! It’s a tough decision because I can fit all the kids and wife in the tundra easily and comfortably while I couldn’t with the 4Runner. However we also have a minivan for when we need to travel as a family. I would likely lose 6-7k (mainly mods) by trading in (yes I know I could sell some of them on the side to help recoup some cash). I don’t tow or haul much of anything and don’t have an immediate need for a full size truck. I’m just shocked I found a lunar rock 4Runner that wasn’t being marked up which is making the decision harder haha.

 

If you have the van for travel, I’d go get that 4Runner now.

 

I went from 4Runner to Tundra. I hated the engine sound that came from the 4R. It had a high pitched vacuum cleaner like noise and reading hundreds of 4R forums it’s normal and expected from all of them. Seems not to bother others at all, for me I loved the 4R, but due to that noise alone I switched to the Tundra and love it.

 

I’m doing the opposite. Waiting on my 21 LunaRock tundra Pro to come in. Trading in my 2020AG 4runner pro. I love my 4runner but my wife already has a SUV and I knew she was staying with a SUV and purchased a new Acura RDX. So I could not talk her into keeping my 4runner and trading her Acura. It don’t make sense to have same vehicles. I don’t want another Tacoma. I think with the tundra being last year with the V8 engine you are not going to lose your ass if you decide to trade. That’s how I’m looking at it.

 

In all honesty it sounds like your decision is coming down to a vehicle that has a great color that will work with your family or one that you don’t use to full potential but works very good with your family...

Based on the above keeping the Tundra makes a more sense. The best part of owning the Tundra is always having the ability to tow and load up the bed. Even if used occasionally...COVID has temporarily changed people’s lives. But this will eventually change. I really missed having a bed when I bought my 4Runner even though it was a stumpy 5 foot Tacoma bed.

 

I went the other way, too. Traded in my 4Runner for the Tundra. The 4Runner is fantastic—it is basically a reasonably priced Land Cruiser. We unfortunately outgrew ours. With 3 growing kids and a dog, it is too small to be my family’s adventure vehicle.

Upsides to the 4Runner vs a Tundra:
1. It’s smaller, so it’ll fit on tighter Jeep trails and in downtown parking spots better than your full size truck.
2. Payload. My 4wd 4Runner had a payload of 1675 lbs. That’s 400lb more than my Tundra.
3. Built in Japan. One of the last for the American market.
4. Auto up/down on all five windows.
5. ATRAC is button-engaged. No wheel spin needed.
6. The ones with the fake hood scoop actually come with a rear locker.

The downsides to the 4Runner are few but notable:
1. It’s smaller. This works against it, too, depending on how many people or how much gear you’re carting around.
2. It is a slug. It can’t get out of its own way, and it feels sleepy no matter how much foot you put into the skinny pedal.
3. Five speed transmission. The way it is programmed is frustrating and adds to the sluggish response. In D, mine always wanted to get to 5th gear as quickly as possible, usually by 30-35mph. In 5th gear at 35 mph, it feels hilariously bogged down. I ended up just keeping it in S4 until I needed to get on the highway.
4. You will get maybe 2mpg better. Adding armor, bigger tires, a roof rack has a bigger effect on the 4Runner’s economy than the Tundra.
5. It can only tow 5k lbs.

I loved mine, but I don’t regret the move to the Tundra.

 

Stopped at a local dealer today to see a new 4runner TRD Off-road model they just received yesterday. They were drooling at my Lunar rock Tundra. Anyway they tried the dealer mark-up thing for another $5k, had the extra care package at $1800 I got mine on the Tundra for $325 so I held out and will try another dealer tomorrow.

 

I did the opposite only because I needed the extra space for a growing family and the truck bed for home improvement projects. I miss my 4runner and will be back in one some day.

 

Was just looking for a thread like this. My dream vehicle was a 5th Gen 4Runner and was saving for one, but I happened to come across a ‘12 Tundra for super cheap. It’s nothing special, Grade trim 4x4 DC with 4.6L. I noticed it’s really spacious for me (I’m 6’1” and 255 lbs). I don’t tow or haul anything, but noticed it’s so nice having the bed when I go camping with friends or when I’m sleep out the back.

I had a 3rd Gen 4Runner before. Always had to organize gear carefully to fit everything right. I know the 5th Gen is bigger, but still it’s nice having a whole truck bed to toss things in, even things I may not think I’ll need on trips.

That being said, I’m still thinking about the 4Runner. Nice seeing all these responses. Curious to see what you decide OP.

 

Well, after discussing with the wife, we decided it was best to hold onto the tundra since it’s already paid off and is more practical in terms of use. I also figured I wouldn’t be able to get the most use out of the 4Runner since my work commute is short and most of my driving is with my family anyway. Thanks for the feedback.

 

I apologize if it seems I am singling you out because everyone says the same thing. And in all honesty I just don’t get that statement in general. I really see no difference in the built quality of the 5th gen 4Runner, 3rd gen Tundra, 2nd gen Tacoma, and what little experience I have with the 3rd gen Tacoma. They all have/had little funny noises here and there. Additionally they all sound like diesel trucks because of the ticking motors. In my particular case I thought the 4Runner was the lesser of the quality due to practically needing 20% of the truck sanded and repainted (rust) on a 2 1/2 year old truck. And I was getting holes in the drivers seat after 45k miles ( I only weight 180 pounds).

I got a lemon 5th gen 4Runner which got me into the Tundra. It’s a great truck but Toyota’s trucks are built equally well...

 

Can’t go wrong either way, just depends on your needs. I consider myself lucky as my wife loves her ‘16 4R Limited and I have my ‘18 Tundra 1794. Definitely a win win scenario. We do have two little ones and space wise so far have no issues.

 

I generally agree with the statement that the 4runner is built better. I don’t think it’s a huge difference, but it seems to me that there is something to be said for being built at the Toyota/Lexus plant in Japan. Noisy engines aside, I’m thinking of the more common issues people see with Tacomas and Tundras...fuel pumps, cam towers, whistling intake screens, rear diff weeping and/or howl, front diff needle bearing failure, late 2.5 gen Tundra trans temps .

I spent a lot of time at the T4R forum when I owned mine, and yeah, there were people who had problems (obviously yours wasn’t perfect), but the above kinds of issues just weren’t as prevalent. If I could convince my wife to dump her paid off Yukon XL for another 4runner, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

The only recall my 5th gen ever had in 9 years was the passenger side air bag accelerant canister made by Takata. This affected many makes and models of vehicles.

This would be ideal for me. Tundra/4Runner combo!

 

Yeah I would have this scenario if my wife would have taken my 4runner Pro. But she wanted another new Acura RDX. But I need to compromise. Lol.

 

Yes, I completely agree with you that there seems to be less problems and less recalls on the 5th gen 4Runners in general. I could be wrong but some of the recalls are from not so good part suppliers... In all honesty I attribute the 4Runners reliability to an above average design, excellent in fact, than I do to being built in Japan.

 

I totally agree that the 4runner is a well designed vehicle. But I think there is a level of attention to detail and excellence in execution that is deeply embedded in Japanese culture. Seems to me that carries over into their manufacturing.

These are all Toyota vehicles, and they share many of the same Toyota parts (ex: 2nd gen Tacos had the same 4.0/5sp drivetrain that 5th gen 4Runners still have, LCs/LX570s have the same 5.7L as the Tundra). Other factors being relatively equal, I think we’re seeing the effects of slightly less quality control on the American-built vs the Japanese-built Toyotas.

 

i agree with this. My 4 runner didn’t creak or squeak at -30c, no issues in 4 years, door handles felt better built/more solid every time I opened them, the soft tech (spelling) seats wore like iron, no recalls, no issues. Tundras and Tacoma’s are built well also, but in my experience not to the level of the Japanese built 4runner.

 

I have both and love both. With that being said, I prefer the Tundra.