The 4Runner by Toyota. One of the most well-known brands of cars today, and for good reason: it is strong, dependable, and ideal for taking backroads. However, many individuals will soon turn away when they see the price tag on some of the newest models.
The used 4Runner market is more competitive than ever. More consumers are starting to turn to the used automobile market as a result of the shortages that are driving up the costs of new cars.
Thankfully, numerous 3rd and 4th Generation 4Runners are consistently advertised on classified websites like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and eBay. In this post, we’ll delve a little deeper into each car and discuss when you might prefer one over the other, even though both generations are excellent choices.
The fourth-generation 4runner has grown in size and power. Some people find it more comfortable, and it’s better for towing. The third-generation 4runner is slightly more compact and agile. It has features not present in the 4th generation, such as a manual transmission and a rear locker.
See how these two well-liked 4runner generations contrast in the following table:
In This Article...
A third-generation 4Runner is what?
From 1996 until 2002, the Toyota 4Runner’s third generation was available. If you’re interested in checking out one of the model years from this generation, you have numerous options to choose from. It’s also thought to be the best generation to go off-roading in a used 4Runner.
There are two possible engines for it. One is a 2.7-liter 4-cylinder engine with 150 horsepower, and the other is a 3.4-liter V6 with 183 horsepower. These two engines are more than sufficient for tackling the back trails, despite the fact that there are more potent ones available nowadays.
Although this model of 4Runner handles more like a truck than your regular SUV, most off-roaders shouldn’t have a problem with that. A-TRAC active traction assist and electronic stability control are further features that aid off-roaders.
Dual airbags and reinforced doors are two safety improvements that Toyota incorporated. By today’s standards, these qualities are so ordinary that hardly one even mentions them. But compared to the previous generation, they were a considerable advance.
When did the Gen 4 4Runners debut?
The fourth-generation Toyota 4Runner, which was produced from 2003 to 2009, is the one that most often goes unnoticed. Even though these SUVs were not well received when they were first released, they represent a fantastic deal when compared to their forerunners.
What 4Runner generations are there?
Consider the 4Runner as the opposite of a crossover. Many car-based soft-roaders today have visual upgrades to communicate ruggedness. With the Toyota 4Runner, that has never been the case because it was designed from the ground up to be capable when the pavement ends. Although it has a body-on-frame chassis, locking differentials are an option, and four-wheel drive is standard, it is nonetheless roomy and comfortable in town. The car, which is currently in its fifth generation, keeps enhancing its key capabilities. Continue reading to learn how far it has come and to view images of 4Runners from each generation.
What does SR5 refer to?
Sport Rally 5 speed is referred to as SR5. Sport, RE (EFI) engine family, and 5 refers to the five-speed transmission in the acronym SR5. The aforementioned response is not entirely accurate, but it is mostly accurate. The term “SR5” typically refers to a specific Toyota trim level with a more aggressive appearance, stronger suspension, and a large range of available options.
How many miles can a third-generation 4Runner travel?
What if you don’t find a Toyota 4Runner with 200,000 miles on it to be all that impressive? You must have some fairly high standards then. Yet in this instance? Actually, it’s alright. Because the 4Runner is designed to last for more than 200,000 miles, as it turns out. In fact, iSee Cars estimates that only 0.2% of 4Runner vehicles will travel more than 300,000 miles.
Which Toyota 4Runner generation is the best?
Although almost every model has the ability to become a nice, trustworthy used SUV, the 2017 Toyota 4runner model year is the most trustworthy. The majority of vehicles in the fifth and current generation, which debuted in 2010, are powered by a 4.0 liter V6 engine. Consumers ranked the 2018 and 2017 models first, according to J.D. Power. The 2017 model, however, has a higher reliability score.
The 2017 Toyota 4Runner additionally received a J.D. Power Dependability Award. The reliability score for this capable pre-owned SUV is 88/100. The 4Runner gained a few trim levels in 2017 and now offers three TRD-branded variants.
Nevertheless, because 4Runner models retain their value well, even secondhand ones are frequently quite pricey. According to J.D. Power, a used Toyota 4Runner costs, on average, between $23,992 and $48,884.
What V6 engine powers the third-generation 4Runner?
One of the most dependable engines ever is the 3.4-liter V6 engine known as the 5VZ-FE. Despite having a 4-cylinder option, the V6 was thought to be the 4runner’s most desirable engine. The price of the first-generation Toyota Tacoma has increased as well. The Tacoma that has, you guessed it, the 3.4 Liter V6 engine shared with the 4runner is the most sought model. At the time of its initial introduction in 1996, the engine’s 183 horsepower and 217 LB ft of torque put it at the top of its class.
The fact that the 5VZ-FE is belt-driven but does not use an interference engine adds to its appeal. As a result, if the timing belt were to fail, the engine would shut off and prevent further internal damage. Compared to other belt-driven Japanese interference engines present in the 4runner’s rivals, the 3.4 liter non-interference engine is special. The 5VZ-FE is almost faultless, with the exception of the sporadic strawberry milkshake that happens when the gearbox fluid combines with the coolant in the radiator.
How long can the 4th generation 4Runner last?
This version of the 4Runner, which has model years from 2003 through 2009, is the greatest of the group for a variety of reasons, as Canadian Gearhead outlined. These models begin with the same dependability for which Toyota is renowned.
4th generation 4Runners can travel at least 500,000 miles with regular maintenance, which is really amazing.
Under the hood, this generation differs significantly from previous generations. The 4.7-liter V8 engine, which is also available in other Toyota models like the Sequoia and Tundra pickup, is unique to this generation of the 4Runner.
The V8’s specs changed according on the model year. 235 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque are available in the 20032004 models, while 270 horsepower and 330 lbft of torque are available in cars manufactured after 2005.
The fourth-generation 4Runner’s standard 4.0-liter V6 engine is also quite capable. It is found in the Toyota Land Cruiser, Tundra, FJ Cruiser, and Tacoma, and delivers 245 horsepower and 283 pound-feet of torque.
The V6 is ultimately more dependable and offers higher fuel efficiency, but being less powerful and refined than the V8.
What is the lifespan of a Toyota 4Runner?
You might get 300,000 miles out of a Toyota 4Runner. In reality, the majority of the evidence points to 0.2% of 4Runner vehicles lasting longer than 300,000 kilometers.
Are the second-generation 4Runners any good?
The red-headed stepchild of the Toyota 4Runner family is the second generation model. Due to a few less appealing features, these compact SUVs are frequently overlooked. First off, the majority of these vehicles are powered by the 3.0L V-6, a head gasket-eating, typically underpowered engine. These engines, the 3VZ-E V-6, have a long lifespan and only slightly more power (145150 hp, 180 lb-ft) than the 2.4L 22RE 4-cylinder engines, which are more dependable, efficient, and popular (113 hp, 140 lb-ft). In addition, the 2nd Generation 4Runners were the first 4Runners to feature a fixed stamped steel roof and four doors, giving them a more station wagon-like appearance and setting them apart from the sportier 1-door removable top models.
What exactly does 4Runner mean?
The Toyota 4Runner is a small, then mid-sized sport utility vehicle that Toyota of Japan has made and distributed worldwide since 1984. It was taken off the market in 2009 and is known in Japan as the Toyota Hilux Surf (Japanese:, Hepburn: Toyota Hairakkususfu). The 4Runner’s predecessor, the Toyota Hilux pickup truck with a fiberglass shell over the bed, was a tiny SUV. However, the design has subsequently undergone significant independent development to become a hybrid of a compact and mid-size SUV. At Toyota’s factory in Tahara, Aichi, or at the Hino Motors (a Toyota affiliate) factory in Hamura, every 4Runner has been produced in Japan.
Robert Nathan, a copywriter for the advertising firm Saatchi & Saatchi, came up with the moniker “4Runner.” Before the release of new Toyota models, the agency organized competitions for the creation of new car names. Since the sport utility vehicle was the first of its kind for Toyota, with an emphasis on its 4×4 capability and seating for four, the name 4Runner was invented as a play on the term “forerunner.” [Reference needed]
The Fortuner, which is built on the Hilux chassis, replaced the Hilux Surf in several regions in 2005.
The Bahamas, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, the United States, and Venezuela are among the countries that now sell the 4Runner as of 2021[update].