4runner/LC250/GX

[max2me]

Hello,
Long-time lurker, first-time poster..

I currently have 2007 Toyota RAV4 V6. It served my family well and we are now ready for a new vehicle. I've been reading threads, watching reviews and over the last 6 months changed opinions multiple times between new 4runner vs LC 250. Perhaps because of the delay with 4Runner, I'm starting to consider GX OT as well.

Aside from Costco runs, my goal is to use vehicle to go on roadtrips across US as I've yet to explore it properly. Mostly on paved roads but having offroad capabilities would be handy.

Given that I tend to hold on to my cars for a while, I'm okay stretching a bit extra for additional capabilities I'd use or comfort my family will enjoy. Fuel economy is another consideration although I am trying to figure out how really important is it (extra $500/year or something wont make significant difference but then 17mpg from GX also feels quite low?)

What appeals to me about 4runner & LC250 is Toyota's durability and cost effective maintenance (on my RAV4 I just had to replace water pump a few times plus springs). But then new cars are more complicated than that.

Do you have any thoughts on how cost of ownership between these three models would compare? (roughly)

Trims I'm considering: 4runner TRD offroad / LC 250 / GX Overtrail.

I haven't driven any Lexus vehicles but is it more comfortable for longer trips? I don't care for the luxury badge per se just utility of it. Would it be too crazy of an idea to take it to proper offroading? (I'm assuming any repairs would cost a lot more than on Toyota?)

I'd appreciate any thoughts or input you all might have on it.

 

[Blomdala]

If the RAV4 does everything you need, it’s going to be more economical and more comfortable ride quality than any of the other options. Their purpose is to expand the terrain type capabilities and utility be having a frame rather than a unibody. Unibody is really good at ride quality, and less good at the hard use cars like off roading.

You will notice a decline in MPG(fairly significant drop) from the rav4, especially with larger tires, in any of the options you mentioned. The ride quality is very good on the new models, but I think a Rav will still eventually outdo it for asphalt driving. Since you do road trips a lot, that mpg will be a pain point.

Now, if the rav is a little too small and you want to do more rugged off-roading in your road trips, than any of them are good options. Lexus will get you a fantastic dealer experience for service (not that Toyota is always bad, but it’s a luxury brand) but you are stuck with the worst MPG of the bunch and lower bumper skins. I like the LC250 design so that’s where I would go, but alot of that is personal preference. If you need a 3rd row or like the more aggressive styling if 4Runner, you will also have the option of a non hybrid 4cyl (compared to all LC being hybrid). I love hybrids, but if that’s not your thing then 4Runner is for you.

 

[krice118]

Honestly grand highlander hybrid would be a great choice if you aren’t off-roading.

I wouldn’t be afraid of taking the GX off-road. The GX would and should be more comfortable on long trips

 

[max2me]

Thank you for the insights, folks!

RAV4 has been pretty to great to us. We do want something a bit bigger though as I keep running out of space when packing for trips.

Part of dilemma is figuring out how much actual offroading we'd be doing (going on some USFS roads vs going all in on venturing outthere). I'm intrigued by the prospects of offroad adventures but having not done any of that, I'm struggling to decide.

 

[Jstawgn]

Honda Pilot would be much roomier and more off road capable than highlander. They can get 28 MPG on highway and much roomier than LC250. The trailsport are nice. The 10 speed with paddle shifeer are a hoot to drive. More than any 3rd row SUV should be.

 

[Jetboy]

FWIW - I owned a 4Runner and Lexus RX350 that I bought literally the same day. We still have the RX350, but have sold the 4Runner.

I would say without question the unibody RX350 (shares the platform with the rav4, but different engines) is a better highway and street use vehicle. It's significantly better to drive as far as everything from cornering, handling, managing road imperfections, etc. The RX gets about 20% better mpg - it's not a huge difference. Road noise is actually pretty similar, but the vibration and harshness you feel from the powertrain is night and day better in the RX. Unless you watch the tachometer, you'd never know its shifting or down shifting on passes. And the RX is much better in terms of throttle tune and shift tuning - it's always in the right gear and feels powerful where the 4Runner feels like you have to get way deeper into the throttle to get the power out and it has a lot more tendency to jump around shift points.

As for cost of ownership - both were flawless for the 8 years we had both at the same time. Neither had so much as a bulb burn out. That said - at 120k on the RX, it has needed an alternator replaced. I'd guess that the alternators probably use the same internals as the 4Runner, but I don't know. The 4Runner does have them mounted a lot higher and more protected though. The biggest PITA was that the RX alternator is a 5 hour labor book rate. It's very hard to access and requires removal of a lot of stuff including the radiator to access. During my alternator swap I found corrosion on the radiator and chose to install a new radiator. So - it now has had a full coolant swap, new radiator, and new OEM alternator totaling about $800 in parts plus about 6 hours of my labor in the first 10 years/120k miles. I would consider both to be low cost of ownership.

If you are going to tow or do a lot of heavier demand use like hauling heavy stuff, spending time on dirt roads, that sort of life - the 4Runner or LC will be better. It's a utility vehicle more than car with big tires. And everything is built heavier. The suspension is notably bigger and heavier duty. The wheel bearings, the driveline, all of that is going to be a lot stronger and handle a lot more abuse. But for typical highway use I don't think you'll see a meaningful difference in maintenance costs and you'll have a lot of fuel savings with a Rav4 - especially a hybrid.

 

[krice118]

Toyota sienna woodlands edition?

 

[tacoshawn]

Hello,
Long-time lurker, first-time poster..

I currently have 2007 Toyota RAV4 V6. It served my family well and we are now ready for a new vehicle. I've been reading threads, watching reviews and over the last 6 months changed opinions multiple times between new 4runner vs LC 250. Perhaps because of the delay with 4Runner, I'm starting to consider GX OT as well.

Aside from Costco runs, my goal is to use vehicle to go on roadtrips across US as I've yet to explore it properly. Mostly on paved roads but having offroad capabilities would be handy.

Given that I tend to hold on to my cars for a while, I'm okay stretching a bit extra for additional capabilities I'd use or comfort my family will enjoy. Fuel economy is another consideration although I am trying to figure out how really important is it (extra $500/year or something wont make significant difference but then 17mpg from GX also feels quite low?)

What appeals to me about 4runner & LC250 is Toyota's durability and cost effective maintenance (on my RAV4 I just had to replace water pump a few times plus springs). But then new cars are more complicated than that.

Do you have any thoughts on how cost of ownership between these three models would compare? (roughly)

Trims I'm considering: 4runner TRD offroad / LC 250 / GX Overtrail.

I haven't driven any Lexus vehicles but is it more comfortable for longer trips? I don't care for the luxury badge per se just utility of it. Would it be too crazy of an idea to take it to proper offroading? (I'm assuming any repairs would cost a lot more than on Toyota?)

I'd appreciate any thoughts or input you all might have on it.

We have a 2023 RX350h (wife) and I have a GX550 OT+. Having just gotten back from a 3K+ road trip I can attest the GX is a road trip machine, quiet and comfortable. We got 17MPG on the trip with a best mileage of 19MPG. I don’t expect to ever see 21MPG.

As others have noted, the RX is better all around for surface street and normal driving. It is lighter, just as quiet, and 95% as comfortable (no massaging seats or thigh extender on ours) and gets twice the miles per gallon of my GX. As it is the hybrid with the Electronic planetary-gear CVT I frankly expect it will be half (or less) the maintenance cost of the GX (4 cyclinders, no turbo’s, simple transmission, only 1 differential).

I very much intend to take the GX on fire roads and even hit the trails in Moab so our solution was an RX350h for 80%+ of our ‘normal’ usage and the GX for my fishing/Mexico/Moab trips with my brother. Utility-wise we found the RX to be quieter, more comfortable than the RAV4 Prime we were cross shopping last year. On street the RX is actually an easier drive in stop/go than the GX due to the GX mass and BoF (Body-on-Frame) jiggles. On the freeway the GX shines. Front and second row room is virtually the same between GX and RX. The GX has at least twice the usable cargo volume of the RX.

If you really want (and need) durability in rough conditions where you will bottom-out and need off road capability the BoF 4R, the Landcruiser or the GX will serve you well. I guarantee the GX will be the most expensive to maintain and to run of these.

I can also pretty much guarantee the BoF vehicles all will have higher running and maintenance costs than the unibody Rav4 or Highlander/Grand Highlander or the Lexus RX or TX. Since you said you want more room than the Rav 4 I would tell you to look at the Grand Highlander and the TX (3 rows and they are siblings) as a comparison to your Rav4.

So, you have to decide which you want more - Rugged + higher maintenance and running costs or street comfort and lower maintenance/running costs? We went with best of both worlds with our combination of vehicles and I’m quite happy with having both in the driveway. In fact, today I took her RX to LA for customer meetings. Why? It’s comfortable, I’m happy to pile miles on it because I believe it will be very durable and cheap to run and maintain and it is a little easier to deal with surface streets and parking in LA land.

Post comment, the Lexus TX looks pretty sweet. We don’t need a 3-row anymore, but if we did I’d have steered my spouse to wait for the TX550h+ (the plug in hybrid one).

 

[posgu]

Having owned multiple Lexus and Toyota vehicles, and having driven brand siblings, I've found that the Lexus version will have noticeably better NVH than the equivalent Toyota. Something to keep in mind if you're considering LC vs GX.

I don't expect maintenance and repairs to be significantly different between the two. I used to have my old ES300 serviced at Toyota of Renton for the longest time, but mostly because they offered free loaners, even for the regular 5k maintenance. They were not significantly cheaper than Lexus of Bellevue. After I switched to using an independent mechanic this became moot.

As far as offroading, it depends on the type of offroading you're considering. If you're looking to do more technical stuff, say Gallager Head Lake, then the higher ground clearance of the 4Runner might be a deciding factor. You'll probably find yourself limited by approach and departure angles on all of these.

Size might be bigger factor , the LC and GX are both large vehicles and that will probably more of an issue on some of the trails along the Cascades in Washington and Oregon. My 4th Gen 4Runner gets more pinstripes when I go out, and a larger vehicle will get even more.

 

[Patassa]

Nothing wrong with not knowing your future desires or needs.

Will a new GX/LC/4R give you the ability to go just about anywhere you want in the US off road for family adventures? 100% yes.

Options to not spend as much but have similar opinions open to you would be the older model GX which are fabulous in their own right, comfortable, capable, reliable, maintainable.

200s series Landcruiser also.

Family hauler that would be more similar to your RAV4, but with AWD would get you down dirt roads and forest service roads in good condition, Lexus TX or Grand Highlander.