Toyota provides customers with two highly excellent midsize car options, whether you’re looking for a crossover or an SUV. The Toyota Highlander, a popular midsize crossover from Toyota, is a fantastic choice for customers seeking a comfortable ride. Because the body and frame of the Highlander are constructed as a single unit, it is smooth and responsive to drive.
However, the Toyota 4Runner is categorized as an SUV since its body is attached to the frame, giving it a platform similar to that of a truck. Drivers can now travel on and off the road with a stronger handling thanks to this.
In order to better handle rain, snow, ice, and your undiscovered adventures, both the Highlander and the 4Runner are offered with four-wheel drive.
For drivers searching for a brand-new mid-sized car that is dependable and sturdy, the 2018 Toyota Highlander and 2018 Toyota 4Runner are fantastic possibilities. Below, we side-by-side compared these two Toyota models to demonstrate some of their basic specifications.
In This Article...
How is a 4Runner’s frame constructed?
I always look forward to reading your Motormouth piece in the paper’s Rides section. I came across a query from P.O., Montgomery, Illinois, inquiring as to whether any truck-framed SUVs were still available. The Toyota 4Runner, in my opinion, is one. Since I’ve had 4Runners for a while, I’m confident that they are still constructed on a truck-based frame. I’m from Scottsdale, Arizona, and I go off-road in the desert nearly every day. With the places my 4Runner goes, I would wreck the majority of other SUVs.
A: The 4Runner does have a body-on-frame, as numerous astute readers noted, but it is not built on the same platform as the Tacoma. Instead, the Land Cruiser Prado, which is not offered in the North American market, provides the frame. Jeeps are in a class by themselves. Additionally, crossover vehicles have a monocoque or unibody chassis and are just a transition from a car to a utility vehicle.
A: For Christmas, I got a 12-volt plug-in heated seat pad. In driver’s education lessons forty years ago, I seem to recall learning that you shouldn’t have anything plugged in while starting the automobile. It has to do with the increased power usage, especially during these chilly days. Before starting the car, I try to remember to disconnect it, but I frequently forget. When starting the car in the cold, does it matter if that is plugged in or not?
A: The accessory plug you are using is presumably on a switched circuit, assuming your battery hasn’t already run out of power during the course of the night. In other words, when the ignition key is switched off, the accessories stop consuming any current. The accessory circuits are likewise bypassed during cranking in such scenario, so you shouldn’t experience any issues.
Q: I believed that pumping the gas didn’t assist the car start on newer vehicles.
A: Pressing the gas pedal all the way to the floor frequently stops the fuel injectors from spraying when the engine first starts. If the engine is flooded, you can do this to avoid making the situation worse by adding more fuel and escalating the flooding issue. On fuel-injected engines, however, the pedal should never be depressed.
A 2007 Chevy Cobalt is what I own. The electric door locks quit functioning a time back. The key fob’s battery was changed, but it still only occasionally works. The locks occasionally click on and off, but not too frequently. What should I do?
A: Since the key fob occasionally opens the locks, we suspect it is in good working order. Open the trunk remotely to confirm it. We believe the automobile is where the issue is, possibly with the switches but certainly the lock actuators. See a professional now.
a 4Runner mounted on a Tacoma chassis?
Two of Toyota’s best-selling off-road vehicles are the 4Runner and Tacoma. Both vehicles, which have been on the market for years and share a body-on-frame structure, are full-sized trucks with a solid rear axle and genuine low-range 4-wheel drive.
Are the Hilux and 4Runner interchangeable?
The passenger-car version of the Toyota Hilux pickup truck is the Toyota 4Runner, often referred to as the Toyota Hilux Surf in various regions. From 1992 to 1995, the Toyota 4Runner (Toyota Hilux Surf) was offered for sale in the UK before being superseded by the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado.
Is Tacoma and 4Runner on the same platform?
Hardcore Toyota fans will be aware that the Tacoma and 4Runner share a platform and have a shared ancestor with the Toyota Hilux. The Toyota Pickup and the two vehicles mechanically separated from one another in the mid-1990s.
Is the Camry used as the frame for the Toyota Highlander?
Initially, the 2001 Toyota Highlander was a five-passenger, four-door SUV. Some models for 2004 had three rows of seating for seven people. The Highlander was based on the Toyota Camry sedan chassis, unlike the majority of comparable-sized SUVs at the time, which were constructed on truck frames. With either four-cylinder or V-6 power, front- and all-wheel drive variants were offered, and a gas-electric hybrid model was added for 2006.
What issues are there with Toyota 4Runners?
The front brake calipers, front brakes, warping concerns, and early wear of the front brake rotor and brake master cylinder have all been reported by numerous owners. Brake issues are common in 4Runners of the fourth generation, particularly in the 20032005 model years.
The Toyota Highlander was a truck frame manufactured vehicle.
Instead of a truck frame, the Highlander is constructed on a Camry-derived platform. The Highlander’s lower ride height and more car-like appearance are made possible by its unibody design. Either front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive are options.
Does a 4Runner have truck-like handling?
The majority of the other mid-size crossovers and SUVs that litter the streets and fill suburban driveways are not like the 2023 Toyota 4Runner. This is due to the 4Runner’s older-than-new vehicle design, which features a pickup-truck frame and boasts true off-road prowess. It features enhanced suspension parts, an electronic locking rear axle, additional underbody armor, and knobby tires in its most powerful configurations. Every model comes standard with a 270-hp V-6 and an automatic transmission, as well as rear- or four-wheel drive. Sadly, that powertrain is outdated when compared to those driving competitors with body-on-frame construction like the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler. The 4.0-liter engine in the Toyota may be dependable, but it also consistently uses fuel at an alarmingly high rate. The truck’s interior is spacious for both passengers and freight, but the materials are dull. This truck-based SUV handles loosely and rides unpolishedly on public roads, just as a truck would. The 4Runner can travel in locations that many of its peers cannot, but outside of those specific, constrained situations, it is unquestionably out of date.
Is unibody preferable to body-on-frame?
Although unibody designs are gradually displacing body-on-frame vehicles, there are a number of advantages to its two-part architecture. Their off-road capability is the most obvious advantage. Body-on-frame designs, which consist of two components, are more resilient than unibody designs to the twisting pressures of off-road or uneven terrain. Furthermore, they are frequently mounted higher than unibody vehicles, which makes it simpler to navigate some terrain and stay clear of snow, mud, and muck. Body-on-frame constructions are excellent for towing high payloads or trailer capacities due to their robust underpinnings. Body-on-frame constructions are also frequently less expensive to maintain. On a car with a separate body and chassis, you can replace just the damaged part without having to replace or repair the entire frame.
Despite all their advantages, body-on-frame models have a few disadvantages that you should take into account before buying. Body-on-frame vehicles frequently weigh a lot, which lowers their ratings for fuel efficiency. They are more difficult to drive on South Bay roads and more likely to roll over due to their taller stature, stiff torsion flexing, and high centers of gravity. The safety ratings of body-on-frame designs are another important flaw. The answer to the question of whether a body-on-frame construction is safer than a unibody design is no. In crashes, body-on-frame vehicles’ lack of crumple zones can result in serious injuries and even fatalities.
The 4th generation 4Runner is body-on-frame.
With the fourth generation, the trend toward an SUV that is more focused on the road persisted. It still had a body-on-frame structure, but the outward appearance was rounded and car-like. The interior once more become more roomy and luxurious. A 4.0-liter V-6 engine replaced the four-cylinder options, and a 4.7-liter V-8 engine was added. Both employed a lockable Torsen center differential, which is more practical in everyday circumstances even though it is ultimately less trail-capable than independent axle locks.
Does the Toyota Fortuner resemble the 4Runner?
The Fortuner is initially more expensive than the car with the same name, the 4Runner. The starting price of the 2021 4Runner is reported to be around $37,500, which is about $1,500 more than the Fortuner. The 4Runner, on the other hand, comes with a 4.0-liter V6 gas engine rather than a turbo-diesel. This V6 has more horsepower but less torque than the Fortuner, with ratings of 270 hp and 278 lb-ft.
Both versions are extremely comparable SUVs when it comes to off-roading. According to Car and Driver, the 4Runner is equipped with traction control and a locking rear differential as standard equipment. Like the Fortuner, the 4Runner performs admirably off-road in tests, especially in its TRD configuration. Consequently, both Toyota SUVs have fairly similar off-roading abilities, despite the possibility of some minor variances in the end.
However, there is one area where they diverge: the interior. The Fortuner and 4Runner are both considered mid-size SUVs. The 4Runner lacks third-row seating, although the Fortuner does. Owners of Fortuners can therefore transport more passengers on an off-road excursion than owners of 4Runners. Additionally, the Fortuner has a significant torque advantage over the 4Runner, allowing it to haul substantially more weight.
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.
Is the 4Runner being discontinued by Toyota?
Learn about the two grades of the Toyota 4Runner that will be replaced in 2022. What happens next, too?
We get a lot of fresh facts about the cars we adore at this time of year.
For the 2022 4Runner model year, anticipate Toyota will discontinue the Nightshade Special Edition and Venture Special Edition.
Toyota intends to swap these out for something altogether different. Something that has not yet been named or identified.
In the upcoming weeks, a formal announcement is anticipated. But for the time being, all we can do is wait and watch.
The transition to a new 4Runner grade the following year excites me, but I also regret seeing Nightshade go. One of my favorite 4Runner trims was this one.
For the 2019 model year, the 4Runner Nightshade was released as a sportier alternative to the 4Runner Limited.
Enjoy this video in which Sierra and I contrast the 4Runner Limited and 4Runner Nightshade.