1. Welcome to 4Runners.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all 4Runner discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other 4Runner owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

4runner vs the new Ford bronco

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by Ozzy52, Jul 10, 2020.

  1. Sep 10, 2020 at 5:28 AM
    #301
    nimby

    nimby in the drink

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2017
    Member:
    #3777
    Messages:
    4,453
    First Name:
    Jake
    California
    Vehicle:
    2018 SR5P
    They are. At least their small trucks are.

    I've had 3 that went beyond 200,000 miles with no major problems.

    Can't speak to the rest of their lineup.
     
    Singleminded and Thatbassguy like this.
  2. Sep 10, 2020 at 6:13 AM
    #302
    Red_5

    Red_5 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2020
    Member:
    #15378
    Messages:
    386
    The Frontier is super reliable and the VQ40 is (was) a terrific engine.
     
    ThePnsh3r and nimby[QUOTED] like this.
  3. Sep 10, 2020 at 6:21 AM
    #303
    Red_5

    Red_5 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2020
    Member:
    #15378
    Messages:
    386
    I happen to agree that the new Defender is cooler than the Bronco, but you inevitably get lambasted when you say so publicly. Then someone whips out a picture of an old 110, even though they've never driven one and would be driven insane by the 134 hp V8.
     
    Singleminded[QUOTED] likes this.
  4. Sep 10, 2020 at 7:46 AM
    #304
    Singleminded

    Singleminded New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2020
    Member:
    #15483
    Messages:
    1,724
    Vehicle:
    2020 4Runner Limited
    OEM LED foglights
    Given that well equipped Wranglers and Broncos crest $50K pretty easily, the 110 looks like a decent good deal. I configured a 110 for $53K on the LR website and it wasn't missing anything I'd find important. I'd never trade my 4R for one, but if I had ~50K to spend on this kind of vehicle I'd certainly consider the Defender over a Jeep or Bronco.

    Looks like it would be much more pleasant on road than the Jeep while being just as good off road. LR has made a big deal about this being the best off road beast they've ever produced and top of the class in the market, and they do know what they're doing. So it would be surprising if it wasn't at least in the same ballpark as the Wrangler and Bronco capability wise. They're also making a big deal about its durability, so who knows maybe a miracle as occurred and the thing is actually reliable (though I do find it hard to believe that LR can make rock solid computer and electrical systems...)
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  5. Sep 10, 2020 at 9:44 AM
    #305
    newtotoyota

    newtotoyota New Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2020
    Member:
    #14463
    Messages:
    163
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Geoff
    Philadelphia area
    Vehicle:
    2014 4Runner Limited
    Blacked out grill and rear emblem. More on the way!
    My wife had a 2014 Murano. It needed a new trans at 100k so we got it replaced with a rebuilt one at the dealership. In 2019, she got a brand new Murano bc she loved the first one. I ended up driving her '14 for 6 months before the SECOND trans started leaking again. Which lead to me getting my 4Runner. So if it wasn't she the crappy trans, I wouldn't have my T4R. So for that alone, I love Nissan lol
     
    mrmike7189, nimby and Singleminded like this.
  6. Sep 10, 2020 at 10:07 AM
    #306
    Singleminded

    Singleminded New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2020
    Member:
    #15483
    Messages:
    1,724
    Vehicle:
    2020 4Runner Limited
    OEM LED foglights
    My only Nissan was an early 2000s Sentra and it developed engine trouble with only like 15000 miles on the odo. We traded it in. I have heard good things about the Frontier and the Z cars, but would be wary of most of their other offerings.

    I’ve been bad about keeping cars a long time. My 4R is intended to be one I do keep, to anchor the fleet while satisfying my Jones for new and sporty things by buying less expensive stuff as DDs and for fun. The cars I kept the longest were a 2000 Accord and a 2009 BMW 328i. One was around 90k and the other 80k when I traded them, and neither had any issues whatsoever. Of course, that’s not a lot of miles. But still they both seemed rock solid. In my experience (again with not a lot of miles on any of them) Hondas and BMWs have been excellent, Subarus have been so so and VWs sketchy. My Land Rover was the worst. Was in the shop so often I Lemon Law’d it. My 4R is my first Toyota. Don’t even know how I managed to buy so many other cars and never a Toyota until now.
     
  7. Sep 10, 2020 at 11:48 AM
    #307
    Oldtoyotaguy

    Oldtoyotaguy Paid cash for it

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2018
    Member:
    #7224
    Messages:
    1,599
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2018 Toyota 4 Runner Offroad
    Yeah, I had one on order, but cancelled it and got my $5k deposit back. I had second thoughts about reliability, especially in the remote parts of Northern Canada where I have some trips planned. If an expensive vehicle like that breaks down somewhere remote, it could be a logistical nightmare getting it serviced, getting parts and getting it home. LR advertises them in remote places, but they don’t make much commitment to getting you out of there if they break down and in Canada, the dealerships are in only in major cities thousands of miles away. In contrast, a 4 Runner can be supplied parts in some pretty remote places. For example there’s a Toyota dealership in Whitehorse, Yukon.
     
  8. Sep 10, 2020 at 12:42 PM
    #308
    nimby

    nimby in the drink

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2017
    Member:
    #3777
    Messages:
    4,453
    First Name:
    Jake
    California
    Vehicle:
    2018 SR5P
    The Nissan CVT transmissions around that era were terrible. I had a Murano rental car around that time and it was a total piece of shit. They have supposedly gotten better though.

    But my only experience with owning Nissans was with Frontiers......which treated me very well. The draw was that you could get similar reliability to the Tacoma, but pay quite a bit less. They had pretty terrible resale though when compared to the Tacoma.
     
  9. Sep 10, 2020 at 12:45 PM
    #309
    Red_5

    Red_5 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2020
    Member:
    #15378
    Messages:
    386
    That's if you fit comfortably in a Tacoma. They have a bizarre seating position that was a total deal killer for me.
     
  10. Sep 10, 2020 at 12:48 PM
    #310
    nimby

    nimby in the drink

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2017
    Member:
    #3777
    Messages:
    4,453
    First Name:
    Jake
    California
    Vehicle:
    2018 SR5P
    All Tacoma's or a certain gen?

    I was always pretty comfortable in a Tacoma.
     
  11. Sep 10, 2020 at 1:05 PM
    #311
    Singleminded

    Singleminded New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2020
    Member:
    #15483
    Messages:
    1,724
    Vehicle:
    2020 4Runner Limited
    OEM LED foglights
    Sounds like you did the smart thing. The Defender looks like it could be a great toy or second or third car, but I couldn't imagine relying on one as my main vehicle. Maybe after we've seen them in action for awhile -- I'd like to believe that LR has gotten its act together and made a new classic. But the track record sure is poor. Plus, as you note, even if it's a great car the service and repairs it does need would be both expensive and inconvenient.

    I love that the 4R is sold throughout South, Central and North America, and that it has been mostly unchanged for more than a decade. Really gives you confidence that you could find parts and knowledgable mechanics in all the regions in which you might drive the thing. I found the Chevy Tahoe appealing for similar reasons (plus presumably any given repair would be less expensive), but as described elsewhere in this forum I determined that the 4R was a better choice for me overall.
     
    Last edited: Sep 10, 2020
  12. Sep 10, 2020 at 3:19 PM
    #312
    Oldtoyotaguy

    Oldtoyotaguy Paid cash for it

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2018
    Member:
    #7224
    Messages:
    1,599
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2018 Toyota 4 Runner Offroad
    4 Runners are constantly criticized by automotive journalists for being “long in the tooth” haha, which is fine by me. They’re pretty easy to work on, and even a non Toyota mechanic in a remote place could get one running if it broke down. And as you point out, Singleminded, there are enough 5 gens out there now, that there’s a good supply of used parts for the foreseeable future.
     
  13. Sep 10, 2020 at 3:23 PM
    #313
    Oldtoyotaguy

    Oldtoyotaguy Paid cash for it

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2018
    Member:
    #7224
    Messages:
    1,599
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2018 Toyota 4 Runner Offroad
    I’ve had a few Hi Luxe’s and Tacoma’s and the seating position is one of the unique things I really like. The seat kind of sits on the floor, like an old MGB. I’m 6’2”. My last vehicle before this 4 Runner was a 2015 TRD Sport.
     
  14. Sep 10, 2020 at 3:35 PM
    #314
    JMC61

    JMC61 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2020
    Member:
    #16632
    Messages:
    2
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Vehicle:
    2020 SR5 PREMIUM 4WD
    bought a 2007 Tacoma for my son a few years back. I'm an avg size guy with broad shoulders, the drivers seat was too narrow, the bolsters(?) on the sides were too confining. Aside from that, 100% satisfied.
     
  15. Sep 10, 2020 at 9:25 PM
    #315
    MountainMan

    MountainMan New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2019
    Member:
    #10898
    Messages:
    793
    Gender:
    Male
    Pacific Northwest
    Vehicle:
    2019 4Runner MountainMan Edition
    Those that want a Lard Rover or Range Rover have never actually owned one for more than a few months. Horrible, horrible reliability. Expensive to repair and ridiculous to work on. Every time I see one, I assume the owner is either ignorant or rich enough to not care.

    Nissans used to be great, and I was a fan boy in the 90's. Then they got bad in the early 2000's and have remained unreliable since. My girlfriend drives a 2018 Rogue with 30k miles and it is constantly having something go wrong with it. But, her previous vehicle was a Juke that only had one or two minor issues, so...
     
  16. Sep 11, 2020 at 11:03 AM
    #316
    Oldtoyotaguy

    Oldtoyotaguy Paid cash for it

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2018
    Member:
    #7224
    Messages:
    1,599
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2018 Toyota 4 Runner Offroad
    Ok, I don’t know much about Range Rovers, and LRs 3&4 do have reliability problems if you are a clueless owner, using a dealership in a reactive way every time there’s a problem. The reason LRs have their adherents, is that if you have some mechanical acumen, LR problems are known, and can be anticipated and repaired before breaking down and if you do that, they’re surprisingly reliable. There’s a huge after market for parts, and lots of people fixing them around the world, and they’re not really that hard to work on. It’s partly a British thing, for sure. But anyone who has worked on British vehicles will have no difficulty fixing them. Personally, I think LR3s & 4s, are the most under rated and inexpensive vehicles out there for a solid overland or off road daily driver. They really depreciate, and now you can buy a lot of vehicle for just a few bucks. They also don’t seem to rust much. Great vehicles off road, and fun to drive. Lots of good jokes about LRs though, that all the LR guys know - like “how do you know when your LR is out of oil? Answer - it stops leaking!”
     
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2020
    SlvrSlug likes this.
  17. Sep 14, 2020 at 2:33 PM
    #317
    SlvrSlug

    SlvrSlug Slightly bent.

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2018
    Member:
    #6172
    Messages:
    7,542
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    John
    Ramona Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2017 4-Runner SR-5 P. Kings, Built Right uca’s, Durabumps, RSG sliders
  18. Sep 14, 2020 at 2:41 PM
    #318
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2019
    Member:
    #9314
    Messages:
    12,413
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    James
    S/E Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2019 TRDORP, KDSS, MGM
    RSG sliders, Yakima offgrid basket, Pro-Comp wheels, SOS Streamline bumper and skids, Warn VR EVO10S winch + Ultimate Sidewinder, Bilstein 6112 + 5100 + rear lift coils, Rigid Dually SS ditch lights w/Caliraised brackets and OEM style dash switch
    Typo or intentional? :laugh:
     
    Ironguy and MountainMan[QUOTED] like this.
  19. Sep 14, 2020 at 3:08 PM
    #319
    Singleminded

    Singleminded New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2020
    Member:
    #15483
    Messages:
    1,724
    Vehicle:
    2020 4Runner Limited
    OEM LED foglights
    Impressive indeed. But modified as much as that Jeep's been, why couldn't they? The LR has better approach angles than the Jeep even before lifting lit, adding massive tires, removing the bumper... So you could get the same amount of ground clearance etc. Or would they be incapable of that because of the IFS?
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  20. Sep 14, 2020 at 3:28 PM
    #320
    Oldtoyotaguy

    Oldtoyotaguy Paid cash for it

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2018
    Member:
    #7224
    Messages:
    1,599
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2018 Toyota 4 Runner Offroad
    That Jeep can sure climb rocks, but for everything else you might want to do I think a new LR Defender would be better. Probably more dependable too, but the juries still out on that one.
     
  21. Sep 15, 2020 at 7:11 PM
    #321
    Trail Runnah

    Trail Runnah New Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2020
    Member:
    #14189
    Messages:
    2,620
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2013 T4R Trail Edition
    Stock
    Sorry for the late reply on this. Believe it or not, the skids didn't affect my gas mileage. I do mostly highway driving, and drive with a light foot, and I'm still consistently getting right around 21 MPG with it.

    I did a 300 mile road trip last month, and believe it or not, that tank I averaged 23.1.
     
    Oldtoyotaguy and Thatbassguy like this.
  22. Sep 15, 2020 at 7:20 PM
    #322
    Trail Runnah

    Trail Runnah New Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2020
    Member:
    #14189
    Messages:
    2,620
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2013 T4R Trail Edition
    Stock
    You're talking about the new Defender, right? If so, no. There's no way you're going to be able to lift that thing enough to fit a really big tire on it without completely re-engineering the suspension, and also it has too much body work in front of the front tires to ever have an approach angle as good as a Jeep's.

    If you look at a Jeep with a stubby front bumper and larger tires, the thing basically has a vertical approach angle if the driver approaches from even a slight angle. You can't really get that on any other modern vehicle that I can think of unless you completely hack the front end off.
     
    Oldtoyotaguy likes this.
  23. Sep 15, 2020 at 9:01 PM
    #323
    LA260

    LA260 New Member

    Joined:
    May 28, 2020
    Member:
    #14602
    Messages:
    388
    Gender:
    Male
    I averaged 23.1mpg once. Going downhill
     
    MountainMan likes this.
  24. Sep 15, 2020 at 9:13 PM
    #324
    MountainMan

    MountainMan New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2019
    Member:
    #10898
    Messages:
    793
    Gender:
    Male
    Pacific Northwest
    Vehicle:
    2019 4Runner MountainMan Edition
    Yep. A friend of mine was shopping for a new SUV and asked what my real-world average MPG was and when I told him 18, his mouth dropped. He bought a Honda Pilot.
     
  25. Sep 15, 2020 at 10:42 PM
    #325
    4Runner fun

    4Runner fun Just the beginning...

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2019
    Member:
    #9220
    Messages:
    2,575
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Nebraska
    Vehicle:
    2019 Black T4R TRD Off Road Premium
    Wrangler Duratracs, center console organizer & trav all 1576 dog divider for the rear. Xpel wrap with ceramic coating. 20% tint on front windows. TRD intake. TRD oil cap Plus parts on shelf & a wish list.
    * Note * a Honda Pilot is a nice vehicle but not an SUV! Lol
     
  26. Sep 15, 2020 at 10:48 PM
    #326
    MountainMan

    MountainMan New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2019
    Member:
    #10898
    Messages:
    793
    Gender:
    Male
    Pacific Northwest
    Vehicle:
    2019 4Runner MountainMan Edition
    Yeah, his is very nice with leather and all the bells and whistles for the same price as my 4Runner, but it couldn't do what I would need it to do.
     
    4Runner fun[QUOTED] likes this.
  27. Sep 15, 2020 at 11:48 PM
    #327
    4runningMan

    4runningMan New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2018
    Member:
    #7255
    Messages:
    2,552
    New Mexico
    I drove a brand new pilot awhile back as a rental. OMG it was awful. The throttle response is absolutely insane. Push the gas and it just doesn’t move. Very slow to start moving. Like, absurdly slow. And if you press harder to make it go, and you have to press it a long ways, it takes a couple seconds, then the RPM’s skyrocket. Super weird. I think it’s like a 9 speed trans or something like that. Awful. Absolutely awful.
     
    4Runner fun likes this.
  28. Sep 16, 2020 at 10:26 AM
    #328
    jack bauer1

    jack bauer1 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2018
    Member:
    #7014
    Messages:
    321
    Gender:
    Male
    Noticed the busted CV axle on the ground.

    That's a crazy wall of rock for sure.
     
  29. Sep 27, 2020 at 5:07 PM
    #329
    4RunnerFlyer

    4RunnerFlyer New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2020
    Member:
    #16332
    Messages:
    43
    Gender:
    Male
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2018 BWP Limited 4WD
    Yes. Yes.

    I had a 2011 Frontier that was rock solid. Never had a problem. I’d still buy a Frontier over a Tacoma all day long (that 3.5L in the Taco is just terrible). My wife currently drives a 2018 Rogue AWD and we’ve never had a single problem with it. I personally lump Nissan and Toyota in the same category - both have put out some great vehicles and some not-so great vehicles. I’m anxious to see if a new battle brews between the Supra and the upcoming 400Z akin to the days of the Supra Turbo vs. 300ZX TT back in the day. I guess that would be a battle between BMW and Nissan though. :stirthepot:

    This’ll piss off the 4Runner neophytes - probably the second worst vehicle I’ve ever owned was my ‘95 4Runner. New transmission at 100k miles, second transmission at 150k miles (both done by the Toyota dealership in Augusta, GA) and a cracked head at 165k that led to its ultimate demise. Bought that rig in 2005 with 90k on the clock and thought I’d have it with me to this day. 3.slow engine and all. Oh well.

    The worst was a ‘97 Jeep Wrangler.
     
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2020
    nimby likes this.
  30. Sep 27, 2020 at 5:34 PM
    #330
    4RunnerFlyer

    4RunnerFlyer New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2020
    Member:
    #16332
    Messages:
    43
    Gender:
    Male
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2018 BWP Limited 4WD
    Just don’t buy the Jeep with the diesel engine. Apparently that is a nasty little grenade that FIAT snuck in there when the Cummins fans weren’t looking.
     
    Oldtoyotaguy[QUOTED] likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top