I recently made the difficult decision to sell my beloved 2018 4Runner for a 2021 Tacoma. For anyone who knows me, I loved that 4Runner, but the decision to sell it was based on family needs. Now that I have had the Taco for a few months, I thought it would be interesting to break down my likes and dislikes and compare ownership of these two similar yet very different Toyota trucks.
Full disclosure, I sold my 2018 Toyota 4Runner at 97k miles after having it brand new off the dealership lot. The 2021 Tacoma was used with 31k miles, and I’m the second owner.
Table Of Contents
Modifications
Both vehicles have the same lift (Bilstein 6112/5160), and roughly the same tire size. I had 295/70/17 Yokohama Geolander M/T’s on the 4Runner, and currently have 285/70/17 Nitto Trail Grapplers on the Tacoma.
Interestingly, the difference in ride quality is very noticeable. The 4Runner, despite running HD springs in the rear and 650 lb springs in the front, ran plush yet firm, eating up a lot of the bumps on the road. My Tacoma, on the other hand, has light-duty springs and rides extremely rough. I feel every railroad track, pothole, and road imperfection. It’s even worse in the dirt.
Appearance & Aesthetics
I am a fan of the aggressive front end of the Tacoma. The rear end, while plain, is still iconic and looks great in my opinion. That being said, I fell in love with the 5th Gen 4Runner the moment I saw it. I remember being in Portland and seeing a quicksand TRD Pro drive by and instantly knowing that was going to be my next vehicle.
The Toyota designers knocked the 5th Gen’s design out of the park with iconic aggressive headlights, front-end “fangs”, and a modernized rear end that still paid homage to previous generation 4Runners.
Manufacturing Quality
When I first got my Tacoma, I immediately noticed the difference in manufacturing quality from the 4Runner. Simple things like the sound of shutting the door are miles apart. The Tacoma has a “tinny” sound while the 4Runner had that satisfying thud.
In the Tacoma, the padding on the cloth seats feels very thin and becomes uncomfortable after driving longer than 30 minutes. Also, the interior panels, trim pieces, and dash covers all make noise. In short, my OCD noticed every little new noise that my 4Runner did not make. When you lean on the driver door armrest, it moves. When you get in the truck, the seats squeak. As I drive, I can hear rattling everywhere and the sound of my exhaust droning makes me realize how poorly made this truck is.
In comparison, my 4Runner, after beating it up on road trips and countless hours in the dirt, rocks, and mud was significantly quieter on the road at three times the mileage. The dash and other trim pieces still fit perfectly without rattling, even after pulling them off numerous times for modifications.
There’s also much less road noise than the Tacoma, even after all these years. Regarding the seats, the SoftTex has held up better than the cloth Tacoma seats. I have done full days comprising 6-8 hours of consistent traveling, and the seats were still extremely comfortable.
The main culprit I could blame for the disparity in quality between the two trucks is that my Tacoma was built in Mexico while the 4Runner was built in Japan at the world-famous Tahara Plant. The attention to detail and pursuit of perfection are clearly evident now that I have owned both.
Other Issues
Outside of the previously mentioned gripes with the Tacoma, another thing that drives me insane is the seating position. Sitting so low to the floor feels odd, making mods like Seat Jackers a necessity. In my 5th Gen, I had a much more upright and comfortable seating position.
Another issue is the back seat. I have two young boys who fit back there just fine for now, but once they hit their growth spurts, we’ll need a new vehicle. Carrying their backpacks, lunch bags, and Jiu-Jitsu bags makes me look like I live out of my truck rather than dad duty. From what I’ve seen, the 4th Gen Tacoma’s rear seats are even smaller, especially the TRD Pro because of the Isodynamic seats. I have no clue why they would shrink an already crammed backseat.
Lastly, and although minute, I miss all the comfort features of the 5th Gen. The Tacoma only has automatic front windows, no 12v outlet for the back seats, and the AC already has that funky yeasty smell that Toyotas are famous for. My 4Runner had a 12v outlet for the back seats, perfect for my boys and their iPads. It also had a pull-down center console so they each had an extra cupholder.
Final Thoughts
If you are team Tacoma and came here hoping to hear how I was won over, I truly apologize. This is my third Tacoma, and unless I can get my hands on a nice 1st or 2nd Generation, it will probably be my last.
Yes, they are reliable. For all of my complaints about squeaks or legroom, it will always get to where I want to go. For that, I am grateful. My list of complaints comprises first-world problems, but when you spend so much money on a vehicle, it should be solid, especially when its SUV counterpart seems to be built better at a similar price.
Do I regret selling my 4Runner? In short, no, but only because I had to do what is best for my family in the immediate future. I would be lying if I said I enjoy driving this Tacoma over my 5th Gen. Selling my 4Runner has only assured me that the 5th Gen is one of the greatest platforms Toyota has ever produced. There is something to be said about selling a vehicle, only to plan on buying another one as soon as you can, and that is exactly what I plan to do!
