Anyone go from a Taco to 4R? Thoughts?

I had a few Tacos in the past...the most recent being a 2020 Tacoma TRD OffRoad Premium. But never had a 4R before...Although I loved the Taco, it seemed I almost never used the truck as a truck and saw myself using a 4R as a SUV pretty much 100% of the time...and it would be the closest thing to a Taco without actually being a Taco. If that makes any sense. I just love having all that storage space back there, complete with a 400 watt A/C connection (covered from the elements) that the Taco simply could not offer. Note: I am not a fan of adding a cab or a cover on the bed of a truck for a multitude of reasons.

The Taco seemed to have a very rough suspension, and at times when hitting pavement points on a highway, the rear end would even come off the ground momentarily. In addition, I really did not care for that 3.5 liter V-6. It was sluggish to say the least. The 6 speed auto tranny...well, you've all heard the stories on that. Even had a manual 6 speed version, and because they forced a very tall 4.10 rear end ratio on you when you ordered a manual 6, your RPM at 65MPH was approaching 2500. Way too high...hence why it was rated 3 MPG less on fuel efficiency than the 6 speed auto version. IMHO, they (Toyota) messed that up. Onward...

FF to the 2023 4R TRD OffRoad Premium I recently bought...seems to be a huge improvement. MPG is a little less, but it rides sooooo much nicer on the highway (even with the OffRoad package). I really wish Toyota would have added LED Daytime Running Lights / LED tail lights with the '22/'23 updates, as I feel it would have been a very easy and affordable update, but that being said, I cannot complain. It just feels so solid on the road. I bought a '23 because I was very concerned they were gonna add start-stop, take away the roll down back window, and basically screw up a proven design of the 5th generation 4R.

Be safe out there...

 

Been down the same road as you and now have 2 4Runners. Zero regrets ditching the Tacos.
Same complaints as well on the Tacomas and then some.

 

Nice to know I'm not alone in my thoughts. Lol...only thing better than a 4R is two of 'em...nice.

 

I did exactly what you did. I had a 2021 Tacoma Off Road for 2 1/2yrs and loved it, but there were drawbacks. The exact same ones you mentioned. I never used it "as a truck" and the back seat was a fucking joke. I couldn't have any passengers in the backseat. On very windy days, the Taco would get pushed all over the road, because of the high center of gravity and not having enough weight in the bed or sitting on the back axle. It did look really cool though, all my friends loved it.

Now, my SloRunner solves all the problems I had with my Taco. The backseats will fit grown ass adults and the cargo area (because it's enclosed) is usable! I do miss the factory LED's that my Taco had. My SloRunner doesn't, but the low beams are LED's and I upgraded the turn signals to switchback LED's too, so it's good for now. The MPG's are the exact same; so that's a nice bonus.

Oh, my Taco was about 1 1/2ft longer than the 4Runner. I have even more room in my garage. A huge bonus. Switching from Taco to 4Runner was very easy because the instrument layout/style was the same as the Taco (very upright and basic/analog).

One big difference that I have noticed: Seating position.

In my Taco, I had seat jackers, to give me better hip/leg comfort. I don't need them in the 4Runner. I also noticed my Taco/4Runner have roughly the same ground clearance, but my Taco had a higher step in vs the 4Runner. The seat on the 4Runner is more upright, like an office chair. The seat in the Taco was like sitting in a Corvette. I was on the floor.


Edit: The old Taco and the new SlowRunna.

 

Man, you hit it spot on...I forgot about the extra 1.5 feet in the garage...and I LOVE putting that back window down....takes me back to Mayberry! LOL

Yeah no kidding...that back seat is a huge improvement. You can put full size adults back there without any issues...and they even added two USB-C ports back there for the gadgets!

I also did notice the improvement in seating position, as well...win win!!

PS - nice rides x 2...

 

I drive with the back window down as much as possible. It's such a basic thing to have, but I love it. Being able to roll it down without a key (or without opening the entire tailgate) is a great feature. I was shocked when I drove it home and pulled into the garage, and I had a lot more room to pull forward. Even with my claw/hook looking hitch hanging off the back of it.

On my Taco, I had to install the Sprint Booster to help with the sluggishness of the 3.5L V6. My SloRunner is slow, but not sluggish like the Taco. When I'm on the highway, it's slow...yeah. But it feels like I'm cruising in a big ass tank. It's solid. Has a presence.

 

You're spot on with your analysis. Speaking of, I actually just rolled down my back window on a 45 degree day in The O-H. Lol...

Yeah the 4.0 is def slow, but it's not AS slow as that 3.5 Taco...that thing was just ridiculous. Yeah, I love how it feels like a tank going down the road. Pretty cool stuff....PS love that Anniversary edition ya have. Very cool...keep that baby forever.

 

I lost my 2010 in an accident and I didn't want a turd gen. On the table was a Runner or F150 so I went Runner because a full size didn't fit my life at the time. I love my Runner and that's saying a lot because I don't like anything. The ride is so much better than my Tacoma was but no blower like my Tacoma had.

I do wish I had a higher towing capacity though and I do miss having a pickup at times.

 

Yeah I am sure I'll miss having a "truck" at times, too....but I am thinking a 5x10' trailer will be an even better option...not a fan of putting things like rocks, etc into a truck bed....scratches it up, etc.

 

The bed in the Taco was a joke. I think the payload capacity (for the 3rd gen's) was 1800lbs? The towing capacity is far better vs the 4Runner. 6800lbs vs 5k

Now that I think about it, it's probably equal. If you had 1800 in the bed, then your towing capacity is reduced. Right?

 

If only I had room for a trailer then it would be fine.

A Taco is not a full size do I don't expect full size capacity from it which is why I considered a full size. I had about 500lbs in the bed of my Tacoma and it would hit the bump stops even after the pack update from Toyota. I have a GTO I would like to tow around but even using a car dolly puts me over the 5K limit of the Runner. It would have been under the 6500 limit of my 2nd gen and it would have been easier to haul because of the blower.

 

I loved my taco except for the cramped drivers seat. Got tired of the steering wheel on my legs.

 

Yeah, agreed. I doubt I ever go down that road again after owning a 4R…the new Tacos look like the back seat even got more useless than before…? So it has a useless back seat and a useless bed? It’s like, okay what’s the point?

Oh, and the price went up about $10,000 for 2024 models. Insane…

 

I did. From a 2017 Taco to a 2018 T4R. I really liked the Taco except for the awful transmission shift schedule. The bed was what I expected and it rode and handled just fine. The T4R is step up in every way from the drivers seat but I occasionally miss the bed.

 

Yeah that transmission was just….meh. And like I said earlier they messed up the manual transmission too because the 4.10 gears in the rear axle were ridiculously too high when even doing 65 on the highway.

 

I still have my 2nd Gen Tacoma. I still love the truck. I have towed with it and hauled plenty in the bed. My Tacoma is a 2015 2WD Access cab TRD Sport. And I'm keeping it.
I think the reason that I like it so much is because they both have the same powertrain. Built in legendary reliability.

 

I made the same journey, 2 Tacos in the fast. Same conclusion. Except I now have 17 F-150 4x4 Lariat beside it that I use for truck stuff and long road trips. I am more than good!!!

 

I had a 2013 Taco 4.0 / 5 speed and you're right I should have kept that one and used it as a truck. Had a 6.5 foot bed, and plenty of power, especially with a manual. The 6th gen Taco just missed the mark when it comes to a lot of different things...

 

I traded a 3rd gen Taco for a 4Runner. It’s a much more comfortable ride and more room for the back seats. The transmission hunting of the Taco was beyond annoying. If it had the same engine and transmission as the 4Runner I may have kept the Taco and lived with the backseat and ride.

if I had to do everything all over again I would have kept my Tundra that I had before my taco but I no longer have the option as the new Tundra’s are a real disappointment.

 

I’ve heard many people say the new Tundras aren’t all that great. Sure am glad I got a 2023 4R before they screwed those up too. Lol

 

I test drove the Tacoma and the 4Runner back in October, was really disappointed in the Tacoma, both the ride, seating position, shifting of the transmission, Just didn't like the Tacoma at all. I'd like to ride of the 4Runner, but I wanted the TRD Pro which most dealers wouldn't give me at MSRP. I finally found a dealer that gave me the pro at MSRP plus more than the Kelley Blue book down my trade so that is what I got, a TRD Pro. The ride is very good on the TRD Pro. For major pickup duties I use the 3500, puts the Taco to shame even though it's 17 years old.

 

I miss having my Truck to the point if I find one cheap enough I will buy another one.

I can only say it is better then walking. Learning to drive a automatic is difficult for me being the first one ever.

 

That's a nice 1-2 punch right there!

Love the white Pro!! I usually get white vehicles, but opted for the MGM this time...it's just a classic color / look on the 4R...but you cannot beat a nice clean white 4R!

 

I was initially set on a manual ‘23 solar octane TRD Pro Taco for my new daily. After driving a ‘22 Taco back to back with a ‘22 4Runner, I immediately changed my deposit to the 4Runner.

It felt way better built, was more comfortable in every way, and realized the cargo area/slide down rear window are way more useful with my dog versus the bed.

Only thing I still love about the Taco over the 4Runner is the option for the 6spd manual.

 

Yeah I am thinking that's the difference between a vehicle built in Japan and one built in Mexico. They (Toyota) claim the quality / fit & finish is the same...but I just cannot see that being an accurate claim. And yes, I feel the same about the cargo area / roll down rear window. I figure the three to four times a year I actually need to haul something large, I'll rent a 5x10 trailer for $25 / day from U-Haul or Home Depot.

Also, in regards to the manual in the Taco....I had one. They're geared super high with a 4.30:1 rear end, and at 65 mph the RPMs are about 2200-2300. They messed it up...hence why they get 20 MPG on the highway and the auto version gets 23 MPG. I'll be interested to see if they mess that up in the manual 6 2024 Taco...

 

This ^^^^ in spades. Drove a 2010 Taco TRD Sport 4WD Double Cab for 13 years before buying my 4Runner. I loved that truck. Didn't know how much I hated the drivers seat until I got my 4Runner. Just got used to it I guess. In addition to the great description above - I think the lower part of the 4Runner seat is longer than what was in my Taco. In the Taco the seat would end just past my mid thigh - in my 4Runner it goes almost to the back of my knee - so much better. I'll sometimes see threads where people are complaining about their uncomfortable 4Runner seats. I always think "you have no idea". I figure these people are all coming from Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, etc...

 

I’m in same boat my friend… family hated the Taco…. Rough ride, tiny back seat. Love my 4R

 

I was worried about missing the bed on my Taco when I bought the 4Runner. Haven't missed it a bit. In all honesty, I didn't haul much stuff in the bed. It had an Undercover hard top on it which really made it impossible to load anything large like furniture, appliances - stuff like that in it. But that gave me a good excuse not to help haul people's shit. The most I ever hauled in it was lots of bags of mulch in the spring and lots of leaves/branches in the fall. The 4Runner does this just as well. In the fall I rake the leaves onto a large, heavy duty tarp - then I fold the tarp up - kind of make a huge leaf burrito. Pack that mofo in the back of the 4Runner - pull it out at the dump site - virtually no leaves, dirt, leaf dust left in the 4Runner. In the year I have had the 4Runner - I have found that the back of the 4Runner is more useful to me than the bed of my Taco ever was. Of course, that is based on how I used it - never loaded it with lumber, bricks, loose mulch, friends/relatives shitty furniture, etc...

 

I drove a 1996 4Runner with manual transmission and loved it. In 2010, I wanted to trade as the miles were really piling up, but still wanted a manual transmission so I bought a 2010 Tacoma. I loved it too. I already owned a nice Aluma 63"x120" utility trailer for hauling motorcycles, mulch, an ATV, or my Deere X728. I had put a cap on it and kept my hiking, biking, hunting equip dry in the bed. My Brittany was the sole occupant of the second row seats. In 2018 I traded up to a Tacoma TRD Sport. It too treated me well, but it was slowly occurring to me I wasn't really using it as a truck - what I was putting in the back of the truck could easily go in the back of a 4Runner. Near the end of 2021 local Toyota dealer was desperate for used Tacoma's and offered me more for my 30,000 mile 2018 than I had payed for it on trade for a 4Runner (that they also didn't have in stock). I took the plunge back to the 4Runner with a very modest trade up price. I am very happy with it. I have had a few, very few, occasions when a truck would have been handy, but the trailer has built in ramp, much lower lift over height, and easily transitions from truck towing to tractor towing to ATV towing. So, I'm a happy Toyota time line guy:

1996 4Runner



2010 Tacoma:


2018 Tacoma TRD Sport



And finally, the 2022 4Runner w/trailer and a pair of Yamaha Dual Sports:



I'm very happy with my transition, and most happy with where I ended - so far.

Anyone notice a color preference?

 

Yeah that sums it up very well. I do a lot of photography, some involving drones which batteries need charged "on the fly" from job site to job site...and the 4R is PERFECT for that kinda work (minus the MPG of course lol). The 4R is just much more "usable" space than the Taco...the back seat on the Taco is only good for young kids or very short rides for adults. I basically used the back seat of the Taco to store my gear, but it was very hard to get it in and out from the rear passenger door.