4Runner or Cherokee Trailhawk

Oddly I’m of a Jeep and Toyota family.
My mother just got the new GC and loves it, she traded in another Jeep for this one when the trade in value exceeded what she paid. So far only issues have been the select terrain acted wonky and her windshield got hit with a rock and it cost $1700 to replace due to all the tech in it.

She has had 1 Cherokee, 2 Grand Cherokee, and Jeep Compass but never goes off-road at all. My dad has a 2019 Wrangler and he only goes to Off road at Recreation places with me.

For the record, I had an old Cherokee for a bit and I’m kicking around getting an early 90’s YJ to go alone with my 4Runner. My brother has a 2016 Tacoma for fun, 2019 Tundra for work, and a 1993 YJ to beat the crap out of.

 

I’m a bit taken aback by some of the replies on this thread (though I admit I was also suspicious the question might be trolling); this is typically a very helpful and friendly forum.

I think part of the reason may be that the question kinda suggests that neither option is the right one for you.

The Jeep is hard to recommend because reliability is so poor, and it doesn’t really offer advantages you can’t get elsewhere in a better quality vehicle. There are many great choices if you’re looking for a crossover that’s safe, good in bad weather, and can do some off roading. Leaning toward the deep snow and off-roading side, I think of the Subaru Forester, Espec the wilderness edition. Likewise the Outback. For something bigger, maybe the Honda Passport.

On the more road oriented side, I think of the Subarus, Highlander, Rav 4, and Mazda CX-5.

The 4Runner is not a good highway vehicle. It tends to wander, requiring a lot of steering correction. The MPG is poor, and its ancient transmission means it downshifts unexpectedly on even mild hills. Not particularly quiet either, though not terrible.

The reason for getting a 4Runner is its unmatched combination of durability, reliability and utility. There’s just nothing else that compares in those regards, as a package, and certainly nothing at its price point. But the trade off is it’s kinda uncivilized.

So for your use case, as I understand it, it seems you’d be best off with one of the better crossovers like those mentioned above. The Jeep really doesn’t seem to check any box other than looks and the brand name.

 

Thank you, Singleminded. This is what I was hoping for. We love the things you mentioned about the 4R, but hadn't thought about the highway manners being less than ideal. But, coming from a lifted 2016 Rubicon, I think it would still be an improvement. Question we need to answer is how much of an improvement do we want compared to the durability, reliability and utility you mentioned. Appreciate the reply.

 

Cherokee is cramped. Not sure why you’d consider it instead of the JGC.

 

Have had many of them and just looking for something different. Size isn't that important, but your point is valid. Thanks.

 

To throw in my two-cent counterpoint, I don't experience any wandering on the highway, and I drive quite a bit there. Mine tracks very straighe and consistently.

 

If any Wrangler, let alone a lifted one, is acceptable on the highway then absolutely the 4Runner would be a major improvement. I think this is a big part of the 4R’s market niche — reasonably close to a Wrangler in off road ability while being way more livable on road, with a lot of extra cargo capacity to boot. So really, it’s about the only reasonably priced vehicle out there that approaches the off road capability of something like the Wrangler while still being a more or less normal SUV. That’s not why I got my 4R, but it’s why a lot of people do.

So maybe the 4R really is for you!

 

Besides durability, reliability, and utility….it’s just plain fun to drive and it looks awesome. And when you put all of those things together, for me, I don’t wish I was in anything else.

 

Your second statement is the point. It sounds like neither vehicle fits his need. We also live in a world where people ask a lot of stupid questions and troll. Why would anyone care to ask us our opinion of a specific jeep and model? If you're truly honest about understanding things, how about coming on here and first researching to see if there is a post that discusses the pros and cons of owning a 4Runner. Answers abound. Asking that question also I believe would have elicited a ton more honest responses about our first hand experiences.

Even then, had a question been about a Jeep wrangler that would have been more believable, because many people here on this form have owned Wranglers and still do have them as a second vehicle. A Cherokee Trailwhatever? Not impossible but unlikely.

Then he immediately lights us up on a dated dashboard. Well google photos, you either like it or you dont. Thats a personal taste matter and not a thing you normally solicit feedback.

"Hey Timmy, does my dashboard look pretty to you?" "Do the lights on my dash make you want to drop it like its hot and twerk a little for me?"

Im sorry but it just sticks out like trolling.My apologies if you were truly honest in it. My bad.

 

As with the OP coming from a lifted Rubicon, a lot of this stuff is relative. I came to the 4R mostly from sports sedans. My experience with larger or more truck-like vehicles was limited to things like minivans, crossovers and a short stint in a Tahoe (which is impressive on the highway!)

Objectively, the 4R does not track anywhere as well as your typical crossover. Or a Tahoe. We have a 2021 Passport, which is almost as big as the 4R and drives waaay better on the highway.

But if you’re comparing it to a lot of pickup trucks or Jeeps or whatever, sure, it’s better.

EDIT: I should add that one of the reasons I love the 4R is it’s old school truck like feel. It’s so mechanical and honest in character. I really dislike the sensation that I’m operating a kind of joystick that’s operating a computer that’s operating the mechanicals. I particularly hate that sensation in the steering. Which is soooo common in modern cars. The 4R does have plenty of computers, but at least it doesn’t drive like it.

I just find the highway driving to be a bit of a chore. It’s a lot better now that I’ve increased the caster, but my sports sedan roots still influence my sense of this. Love the thing around town, but on the highway I feel like we’re in a bit of a battle. Powering a 4700 pound brick shaped object designed for off road capability at 70 mph — inherently it’s out of its element.

 

I was always a Jeep guy in the past. I had a TJ, a JK (which we’re both great), then got a gladiator, which I had a ton of problems with. I sold the gladiator and bought a 4Runner for its reliability and I love it. A good friend of mine had a Cherokee trailhawk and had a bunch of issues with that as well. Had to get the transmission replaced at around 30k miles. He replaced it with a Tacoma. When you have issues with a vehicle, you truly start to appreciate reliability.

All in all, it comes down to what’s more important to you. Tech & ride quality vs. reliability & durability. The 4Runner has ancient tech and drives like a tank (which I actually like, but many don’t), but everything just works and keeps working. It’s simple and well built, and there’s truly not many vehicles on the market like this anymore. There are definitely some other crossovers that you should be looking at if you’re considering the Cherokee. The Kia Telluride, Subaru Outback, or Honda Passport come to mind for example. These will all be more reliable than the Cherokee. I know that you have had a good experience with jeeps in the past, but the build quality is just not the same.

 

No it isn't. I looked at the Grand Cherokee Trail Hawk in 2019 before I purchased my 2020 4Runner. Trail Hawk has the Hemi. Much more powerful.

 

I should clarify that we came to the RAV4 and 4Runner from a Nissan Frontier Crew Cab (sold to my gardener and he likes it!) and an Xterra (prior car was a Pathfinder) and I was building an FJ40.

We came to the 4Runner and RAV4 from a Nissan Frontier Crew Cab and an X-terra (prior car was a Pathfinder) and an FJ40 I was resto-modding.

Last fall we took a 4K mile trip through the southwest. All kinds of weather, including a blizzard coming down from Reno and BAD winds near Manzanar. Lots of high altitude and traffic (L.A. and Denver). Packed to the gills and the ride was comfortable! Better than either the Frontier or the Xterra.

Going back for a Family Reunion in Vegas via L.A. to visit friends and on to Flagstaff to see my daughter, then to Gallup.

Oh, both handled a 30" snowstorm very well this last winter!

 

I think the highway manners on the 4Runner are not "as bad" as some make them out to be. Sure, if you're coming from a modern uni-body, independent suspension vehicle that is made for the pavement, it will seem a bit unruly... but if you're used to a truck or body-on-frame, and you don't do excessive mods or super high lifts on your suspension, it's as decent as it can get, in my opinion. My non-lifted, stock '22 TRD Pro rides no worse on the highway than any other vehicle I've ever owned. And I put 4-6K miles per month on it. Mostly highway miles.

If you want reliability, a great mod platform, a great reputation and don't mind it riding like a truck and the mpg being a little on the rough side, it is the best thing going.

 

LMFAO!!!

Did you really think it necessary to come back and tell us why you misunderstood the question/motivation and how the question was wrong, post it and then think about it some more, and come back and edit it further?

Strong look.

 

Thanks. This sounds like something that would be more than acceptable to live with. Appreciate the reply.

 

Really helpful. thanks. Thinking 4R is more likely, as what you describe is more important than latest tech. We've had good luck with jeeps in the past, but seems like everyone has had great experience with 4R reliability. Appreciate the reply.

 

If you're going to get a Jeep I'd save up and get a Rubicon Wrangler or gladiator that has a rock track transfer case with two lockers and four to one ratio in four low and the highest ratio first gear in the sector other than the bronco.

 

If you're throwing other brands into the ring may as well just go with the Ford and have the best four-wheel drive system

Internet article:
We've explained what exactly the Bronco's crawler gear (and the term "granny gear" in general) is in depth, so we won't bore everyone by going down that rabbit hole again. However, we do want to answer the most common question we've been asked about the crawler gear, which is what exactly it's useful for.

The biggest thing the crawler gear is useful for is allowing owners flexibility while still giving access to an ultra-low crawl ratio. Jeep achieves its lowest crawl ratio on Wrangler by offering a transfer case with a 4.0:1 low range gear in Rubicon models. Transfer case options for the 2021 Ford Bronco include a 2.72:1 and a 3.06:1 low range gear. By fitting the Bronco with the 6.588:1 crawler gear, Ford has essentially given owners the choice of both the crawl ratio of a vehicle with a standard 2.72:1 low range and one with a 4.10:1.

For example, a 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon with a manual transmission has a crawl ratio that's 86.24:1 in first gear and low range. A Jeep Wrangler overland, by contrast, with a 2.72:1 transfer case and manual transmission has a crawl ratio of 52.05:1 (with 3.73:1 axle gears). The 2021 Ford Bronco, on the other hand, can have a crawl ratio from 54.75:1 in first gear with the 2.72:1 low range, to 94.75:1 in the crawler gear with the 3.06:1 low range (a crawl-ratio of 61.60:1 is achieved in first gear with the 3.06:1 transfer case).

SEE ALL 4 PHOTOS
Depending on the situation, the Bronco can be driven with the crawler gear and transfer case in high range or with the crawler gear and transfer case in low range. The Bronco can also be driven, naturally, in low range with the full range of six standard gear ratios. For normal trail riding, high range and the six-speed should suffice well. For sand driving, many people opt to run in low range and a high gear, which a higher ratio low range (numerically lower), like Bronco's 2.72:1 or 3.06:1, is often better suited for. Then there's rockcrawling, where the lowest of low gears can be desirable, which, when using the crawler gear, gives the Bronco a better crawl ratio than a similar Wrangler Rubicon.

Essentially, the crawler gear gives 2021 Bronco owners a ton of flexibility in the type of terrain they off-road in, making the seven-speed manual transmission equipped Bronco a true jack of all trades.

 

If you're going to go with the 4Runner order it now before the 6th gen comes out and It has a bunch of craziness that nobody wants. I'm really hoping that they don't go 10 speed turbo with the 6th gen but you know they will...

I had my way nothing would change under the hood or from the floorboards down. If they need to change something to call it a new generation just make it more squareerer than it already is and remove TSS and I'd be happy.

 

I've noticed Toyota owners tend to have a huge inferiority complex when it comes to Jeep, as well as the certainty that the 4R is the best vehicle there ever was, and ever will be, and that anyone who dares consider any other vehicle is worthy of scorn.

 

I drove mine 425 miles today in rain and heavy wind. Then got out of it and pushed it to 95mph for a while behind a Tesla. It's glued to the road no matter what, but it can get dicey over a large bump or pothole at speed.
I watched the gas gauge basically move while driving.
The transmission downshifts at simply the sight of an incline.

I wouldn't have it any other way. The reliability for the next 10 years outweighs its obvious foibles.

 

This is incorrect. The Land Cruiser is the best vehicle there ever was, and ever will be.

 

There’s zero chance the 6th generation will be better in most of the ways that matter most to most of us.

The BOF platform may be better — stronger, more rigid and yet lighter. So that should be a clear win. Maybe it will also be more rust resistant!

The transmission may be better in so far as it will have more gears and thus better fuel efficiency and acceleration performance, but it seems unlikely it will be as durable as our 5AT. So that’s a net negative.

We know for dead certain the motor will include turbos and/or direct injection, and few of us believe it will be anywhere near as durable and trouble free as our 4.0.

We also know it’s going to include more tech, and most of us think there’s already too much tech as of 2020.

I’m sure it will be a fine SUV. But it won’t be the kind of vehicle that most of us bought our 4Runners to be.

 

If Toyota deletes the rear roll down window on the 6th gen, hold my beer

 

I drove mine about 1800 miles in a matter of three days, mostly over 70 mph and one extended period well over 80, and have been over 90. I know what it drives like at highway speeds and it’s a bit of a tussle, even on touring tires. Now that I’m on ATs it’s even more of a tussle.

The thing likes to follow ruts and the crown in the road. Certain surfaces send vibrations through the body and steering wheel, especially if you have aggressive tread. Maybe drivers who are used to it don’t notice, but it definitely requires more steering correction than your typical SUV. I know, we have a 2021 Passport and I’ve driven many others.

It simply isn’t correct that there’s no issue on the highway. It’s better than some vehicles but worse than your average SUV. It just is. It’s the price of the off-road-ready suspension and the completely un-aerodynamic body shape. It’s worth it to me and to most of us, but someone who’s thinking of buying one should know about this in advance.

 

I love the way the 4 Runner drives compared to the Bronco I drove or the 5 Jeeps I have owned or the FJ or Xterra. Its the perfect compromise for me.

 

Weird, huh? Some of the posters have been very helpful, and that's what these types of forums should be about. We all like cars/trucks/offroading, whatever. A simple pros/cons question seems to trigger a lot of these guys for some reason - like I'm questioning their ego or something or "trolling" them for some reason. Lol. The insecurity is palpable.

 

I don't think anyone is insecure about their 4 Runner, but you compared a crossover vehicle to a body on frame SUV. One is one of the most reliable vehicles made today and the other is a Cherokee and not even a real Cherokee. One also has new tech and the other has been around for over a decade. There is just no comparison between the two.

 

This is incorrect. The Mercedes 280GE (gray-market G-Wagen from the ‘80’s) is the best. No carpet. No leather. No wood. All business. Hydraulically operated front and rear locking diffs from the factory.