So long Toyota

I’m just not impressed with the whole hybrid truck situation. If feels to me like Toyota doesn’t have a mid market option for customers who want a 6 cylinder truck.

To get a 6, you’re steered towards even more expensive options like the GX.

At that price point there are other interesting options. Even if you found a low mileage 5th generation, if you want more than the very capable stock setup, you’ll be re-gearing, buying extended shocks, at least front lockers, etc.

By the time you add all of that up you’re in GX territory. I don’t mean to cast shade on the 6th gen, but it’s not my cup of tea.

It’s hard for a dyed in the wool 4Runner fanboy to say this but I’m leaving the Toyota fold. For greener pastures? I don’t know, but I think I’m ready to take a chance and buy the Grenadier.

I hate being a pioneer buying into an unproven company, but there’s so much being offered at a price point that pencils out when compared to other options, I’m finally going to jump ship after 25 years of 4Runner ownership.

The Grenadier will be the closest thing to a G-Wagon as I’ll ever own, so it’s what I’m going do.

Anyway, soldier on all you 4Runner aficionados. Depending on how it goes, I might be back!

Cheers
Mike

 

^I'm surprised you didn't mention the Bronco or Jeep Wrangler as both are available with V6s and don't require imported German air to inflate the tires.

 

I have no idea bout anything

But isn’t the grenadier more expensive than a gx?

by a lot?

side note:
Like a whole lot?

 

The guys from Overland Journal seem to love their Grenadiers and have traveled all over the world with them. The major complaint seem to be the funky steering.

 

My neighbor has a Grenadier. Really cool vehicle but unfortunately out of my retirement budget. ☹️
Good luck with whatever you go with .

 

You have a valid point but let’s just say I have a history with American cars, I’ll let the dead stay buried.

 

Thanks for bringing it up. Look for the GX 550 Overtrail. I think you’ll see what I mean.

 

Take care, happy trails.

 

I like the Grenadier but it's really heavy and I can't be bothered buying a new wardrobe.

 

It's ok to just say that you want a Grenadier.

Have fun, and let us know how you like it.

 

Best wishes OP

I am curious since I don’t know much about this. Is there a dealer near you or where do you turn should you have any issues?

My only concern would be if this is low volume and not a network of people near you would the company go belly up some day and no spare parts available or who could work on it?

Not trying to be a debbie downer just my own questions.

 

I was curious so I just looked it up. Wow! Those things are pigs!

 

I didn't even know about this "Grenadier". Is that like the lower cheaper version of a G-wagon? Wonder how reliability would compare to the 6th gen 4R.

 

I think it uses the B58 engine from the 3 series and new Supra so engine reliability has been proven by now. These guys make fantastic content and are true stewards of overlanding, I highly recommend checking it out.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-overland-journal-podcast/id1492135529?i=1000687114035

 

They do look adventurous even when parked outside Home Depot but you also pay a lot for that exclusivity. Parts for the BMW sourced B58 will be readily available when needed.

Sad day for Ford & Jeep I guess when someone claims they’d trust an Ineos more out on the trails, but they make their own beds. Good luck.

 

Totally get it, Toyota is asking a lot of money for 6th Gen and offering it with downmarket and unproven 4-cyl turbo engine. No thanks for me.

 

Yep it’s sad for the Domestic name plates. Heck I’m from Detroit, my Dad worked for Ford for 40 years and no longer drives a Ford. Even today in 2025 you see recall after recall after recall.

It’s a sad statement to make especially on the 4th of July. But these domestic name plates are just that name plates.

 

How about putting all the mods you have on the 4R on the new rig? That would be a hell of a project!

 

I haven’t been keeping up. What’s happening with the 2025 Bronco ?

 

As we say in Texas, "Don't let the door hit you in the ass"...

 

Its all manufacturers, its future of cars sadly. The wokeness is deep in the government and the world to be honest. No need to make cars anymore that are made for average male that used to be gear head, now most don't even know how to change a tire, so everything is becoming more and more dealer/shop reliant. While its all about saving trees , sea turtles and make sure some dog mom or dog dad doesn't get offended by your large V8 or V6 smells. Sad fact is that its not even US that has most pollution, it is China and India.

Just get used to it, one who adapts wins, not one who holds on

 

The price for the ineos is ridiculous for what it is.

Buy a 2024 4runner for 45k. Spend 20k in parts and walk past ineos on the trail. Probably even the gas pump to. Don't get me wrong I like the ineos, but you start looking at its specs and features and it kinda turns me off.

If I had to pick a trail equipped suv other then the 4runner. I'd look into the defender.

 

It has nothing to do with the G-wagon. For one thing, the G-wagon is IFS while the Grenadier is solid front axle.

Basically the head of Ineos the chemicals company wanted to make a spiritual successor to the classic Land Rover Defender and founded a car company to do so. The powertrain is BMW (which means a joystick shifter and checking oil level through a touch screen). Rest of the vehicle is unique.

Australian Ronnie Dahl did a recent comparison video between the Grenadier and 70-series Land Cruiser. The Grenadier is more capable off-road except in situations where its weight causes it to sink.

 

Saw a group of Grenadiers at the off-road park a month ago. That’s all I got, Alex on Autos/Auto Buyer’s Guide owned one (might still) and has pretty solid reviews on it.

Anyways, if I put together all my ideal requirements I’d end up at a vehicle that doesn’t quite exist in North America. The Kia Borrego, or a last-gen Sequoia shrunken in the wash is probably closest so whatever you do, have fun.

 

Nothing wrong with wanting to try something different, especially if you've owned a 4R for 25 years. I don't know much about them but I bet the Grenadier outperforms the 4R off-road, but I'm also betting in the long run you'll encounter expensive mechanical issues that you wouldn't have with Toyota.

Come back and post some photos of your new ride!

 

My dad bought a 4th gen Taco. Doesn’t really feel much different than my 4R. It picks up and goes a little quicker but that’s about it. Both are trucks and drive like them.

 

Gen 6, makes no sense to me. Finally got me off the sidelines to buy a nice Gen 5 while there are still nice ones out there. Super premium prices in some markets, but if a guy can find one with KDSS (like I did) for a reasonable price, then the situation is not impossible.

Think about this: The Gen 4 is a sort of lateral move, then Toyota got back on track for a long time (IMO). Let's keep letting Toyota know we need a big stock motor. They're not dumb - they'll figure this out.

 

Holey Schnikey!!! When did the G-wagon go with IFS??? Seems like a sad day, even though it’s not a vehicle I would ever be buying.

The grenadier on the other hand, I’d definitely get one of those if I had the disposable income for it. Seems like a very interesting vehicle.

Yeah, the parts/service issue is a bit of an unknown. It would suck to buy something expressly built to be capable, reliable, and easily serviceable, but then end up with a paperweight. If they don’t reach a certain volume, the owner that runs Grenadier may grow tired of it and move on. Grenadier could end up in the hands of company that dissolves companies for profit, or worse, Renault.

But to be fair, we’ve been spoiled with the 4runner. Few vehicles can be said to have the length of production run of the 5th gen, in combination with the fact it does so many things well (or well enough). In reality, many new vehicles nowadays carry the same risk of being junk, or of having short production that limit parts availability, and that never get a widespread knowledge base to keep them working when you need them.

So if you can stomach the unknowns and have the cash, I’d say the Grenadier is about as good as it gets for a 4x4 SUV. I’m not opposed to IFS in something like a G-wagon…IFS also has it’s own advantages in an SUV. Not sure how dependable the new ones are, or if they build attainable poverty spec G-wagons.

I draw the line at unibody vehicles though. They’re too rigid, and even if they were reliable, I think they’d end up shaking apart after a lot of hard use. Not to mention unibodies like the Defender are really software driven vehicles. The demonstrations of them going up trails with little stones and little dips that put wheels in the air doing their version of a-trac are not that impressive. Unibodies are fine I guess if 4x4 duties are not your primary goals, but I wouldn’t take them on long off road trips frequently.

 

With less power? And worse fuel economy?

Sure.

Good luck letting Toyota know that that's what the majority of the market wants, lol.

 

I worked for General Motors as a skilled tradesman for 18 years and I use my pension to make payments on my '21 4Runner.

I won't even consider s GM vehicle.

Supposedly I get a $3000 GM employee discount but the dealers screw me out of about $4500 on my trade.