5th Gen 4Runner to 200 series L.C. thoughts?

[GreatestDane]

My wife's DD is a 16' 4Runner Limited (slightly modified). I just traded from a 19' Tundra Pro to a 21' LC200 (decently modified). I just drove my wife's runner on the freeway to the dealer today for an oil change. It's HUGE difference with the 5.7 vs the 4.0. Fit, finish, ride quality, etc was night and day difference. Like everyone says, the 5.7 is thirsty but the 4.0 isn't that fuel efficient IMO so I feel it's under powered without the benefit of fuel economy. (note, I think the 4runner is great overall, but we are comparing it to an LC 200)

 

[samster747]

Upgraded from 4Runner to 2020 LC HE. It is night and day. The 4Runner is a great vehicle but the LC is in a totally different league....we're talking minors to majors. Also, I had the TRD Pro trim in cement gray to feel somewhat special. Nothing special about seeing every other 4Runner out there getting blacked out and trying to look TRDish...plus there are just so many 4Runners out there. Drive a LC and you hardly ever see another LC let alone a HE.....I feel real special now!

 

[Bendcruiser]

I sold my 2014 4Runner and bought a 2015 CPO with 19K on the clock. Sold the 4Runner after 4 years and 37K miles for $5K less than I paid. It's not just about the economics, the 2 vehicles are night and day. Power, tank, comfort, and quality you can see and feel. Get one!

 

[geddon01]

Last year I test drove an army green 4Runner Trd pro. I really liked it. Then right afterwards I test drove the LC parked next to it. What I learned is, if you have any interest in a 4Runner, do not test drive a LC.

 

[John Guedry]

Last year I test drove an army green 4Runner Trd pro. I really liked it. Then right afterwards I test drove the LC parked next to it. What I learned is, if you have any interest in a 4Runner, do not test drive a LC.

This is hilarious, I did the same but with a sequoia and the redesigned armada. Test drove those, then drove a LC. Got the LC.

 

[CharlieS]

Best advice ever - don't drive a land cruiser if you hope to ever be content with another vehicle.

 

[louislee6]

After seeing all these feedback I feel very nervous with the idea of go find a LC to test drive

 

[Simpleman]

I made the switch from a 16 limited 4wd to the 16 lc, loved the 4runner although under powered unless heavy on the foot. My wife liked the 4runner more however didn't like the v6. You won't look back once you get the lc.

^Same same for me. Moved from a '17 4Runner Limited to a '13 LC. Loved the 4Runner but seemed underpowered and flimsy. After significant hail damage, the wife nicknamed it "potato chip". LC is a tank with some giddy-up, when needed.

 

[Hugh Bris 1]

I switched from a 2015 Trail Premium to a 2013 LC. I am so glad I made the switch! The LC is more comfortable overall and the extra storage or passenger space is great! 10/10 would recommend.
The only small little niggle for me is that the USB audio controls are a step backward from what was on the 4Runner.
As for maintenance, I agree with what has already been stated. The LC is as easy to work on as the 4Runner. If you buy used and change your own oil. Be careful the first time you remove the plastic filter housing. Tends to get over-tightened by folks that don't care. There is a lot of info on here about that topic if you're interested.

 

[Omega3651]

Interesting comments.
I currently have both vehicles, a '16 TRD PRO and a '21 LC HE.
Honestly, the LC isn't that much larger than the 4Runner but drives much smoother and is definitely a more plush ride. The interior is quieter on the LC and the seats are in a whole other league in terms of comfort and softness.
Fit and finish are better in the LC but both are similar in some ways as it relates to Toyota build quality and durability.
You honestly can't go wrong with either but agree on the lack of power in the 4Runner. It gets the job done but you always feel like it should have come with 300HP and 300LB/FT of torque and a six speed transmission from the factory.
I like them both and both will last well past 200K miles and be relatively worry free for a decade or three so if you can have both, then life is good.
The LC is not without a few shortcomings but it is an improvement over the 4Runner in every way. Headlights are better, power is better, seats are better, the list goes on.
You can almost think of the LC as a MUCH improved 4Runner albeit with a way better pedigree and legendary history.

 

[Moby]

I went from my '62 (destroyed) to a GX460 to a 2020 HE. I really liked the GX, and the 4.6/6 speed really separate it from the 4R (test drove). But the only thing I miss are the seats (much better support) and maybe the mpg. Though I will readily admit that I've just been a cruiser head since I read Malaria Dreams at maybe 15. Nothing else is going to make the nut.

 

[hickuptruck]

You're comparing one that is double the price of the other. Will it do the same stuff yes. Are the insides different yes. Are they similar to wrench on? Yes. They are both body on frame with IFS and solid rear. Wrenching on them will be nearly the same because they're both BOF Toyota SUVs. You're also comparing 2 SUVs that are too new for someone to say "yeah, the parts on the 200 will cost more". What you're looking at isn't at that point of ownership unless you're getting a 2008 200 series which needs a complete baseline, cooling system, and new suspension.

Parts are far more available and ready on the 4Runner because there are that much more of them. I've driven Tacoma, 4Runner and the 200. The 200 is most isolated out of all of them, and buy a fair bit. I hate the seating position in the Taco and the 4Runner, as well as the GX. The 4runner, you just hear and feel more of the road, feel as in a bad way, not the sports car way.

I've driven the 4Runner and Taco, probably a total of 3-4 weeks total in various rentals. Some with only 1500 miles on them. I would never own 4Runner or a Tacoma in my life ever. Period. Even if I had never driven a Land Cruiser before, I still wouldn't own a 4Runner or Taco. I am very much a touch/tactile guy, as well as auditory, and the touch and what I hear from the Taco and 4R is just something I'd never be able to live with. Sorry if I'm harsh on the platform, but I really don't like the feel or what I hear from them.

GX460/470, yeah I would, but only if I put on a mid-travel suspension setup. Tundra, yes I would absolutely own one with the 5.7L.

 

[40Man]

I have both. If you aren't putting armor on it, the 4Runner has sufficient power, but the power band is in the higher rpm powerband. The transmission is smooth. Some dynamat can quiet it down. I wish it had an awd in every model like the 4th gen, rather than just the limited. The 200 is definitely better, but the 4runner is likely more reliable (radiator, starter water pump, cam tower and valley leak...4Runner does not have similar common issues), and has a better resale percentage.

I tried a GX, but found them way overpriced for what you get. And the extra weight sucked up some of the extra oomph I expected from the 4.6 V8. It also felt to much like a 4Runner. I'd take a LC 10 times out of 10 over a GX Luxury.

 

[Itsky]

One thing worth noting is that the LC needs a few things to remain reliable. For example, the radiator will blow between 70-110k miles and the starters tend to give up the ghost without warning. There are other concerns around 100k miles as well.

at 100k I replaced the radiator (Which blew in my driveway) belts, tensioner, water pump and starter

coming from owning an 06 4runner for 12 years of hard use without a single issue - I was a little disappointed in this.

 

[thammer62]

at 100k I replaced the radiator (Which blew in my driveway) belts, tensioner, water pump and starter

Do most anticipate doing this replacement package again at 200k? Or do folks use some aftermarket products that have proven to last longer?

Oh and switched from 05 4Rr to 13 LC. Not exactly OPs ? but from someone that genuinely loved everything about that vehicle other than interior height and space for a 6’3” person, ignorance is bliss.

The LC is like Prime bone-in ribeye compared to choice sirloin. You are still eating a steak with 4Rr, but let’s not confuse the two.

 

[bloc]

Do most anticipate doing this replacement package again at 200k? Or do folks use some aftermarket products that have proven to last longer?

Oh and switched from 05 4Rr to 13 LC. Not exactly OPs ? but from someone that genuinely loved everything about that vehicle other than interior height and space for a 6’3” person, ignorance is bliss.

The LC is like Prime bone-in ribeye compared to choice sirloin. You are still eating a steak with 4Rr, but let’s not confuse the two.

The old radiator design has been superceded to a better version. If you replaced with the original part (before ~2019) you'll probably need to do it again, if it is the new part it probably won't fail quickly and you shouldn't have to worry about it.

Starter issues are overblown here, IMO. Few actually fail, the problem is when they do it is often without warning, and it is quite tricky to get the truck started, though it can be done with jumper cables, two people, and a very long screwdriver. For this reason many of us that spend time in the boonies do the starter as PM.

If toyota made any updates to the water pump they aren't visible, but the new ones seem to go longer than originals.

I had to do the tensioner/idler/fan bracket at about 150.. they seem to go that far for most.

Cam tower leak was mentioned.. it also seems to be pretty rare, but if you need to fix it that's a big job.

Of all the issues you see talked about, the radiator is the only sure-fire one. Literally every one of these built before late 2018 will need a radiator around 100k. I don't consider this a huge issue though. The part is less than $300 for OEM quality, takes a few hours to change, and is very easy to track. The crack will slowly propagate, and is right on top of the top tank. If you check it once every few fill-ups you'll have plenty of heads up. Many people go thousands and thousands of miles with the crack visible before it lets go.. and even then it usually isn't catastrophic.

Edit: and since you asked about aftermarket.. personally I don't trust anything to last longer than OEM, in this context. Toyota clearly had a design/production flaw with that original radiator, but (eventually) fixed it. Beyond that they use very high quality suppliers for most of the other stuff. There are vehicles where upgraded parts have been designed to address specific issues, but I haven't seen anything like that on these, save for maybe BJowett's oil filter housing. Which is really more about convenience than reliability. I'm using the OEM metal Venza filter cover and have no issues with it.

 

[TLC2013]

Do most anticipate doing this replacement package again at 200k? Or do folks use some aftermarket products that have proven to last longer?

Oh and switched from 05 4Rr to 13 LC. Not exactly OPs ? but from someone that genuinely loved everything about that vehicle other than interior height and space for a 6’3” person, ignorance is bliss.

The LC is like Prime bone-in ribeye compared to choice sirloin. You are still eating a steak with 4Rr, but let’s not confuse the two.

Before I purchased my 2013 LC last year I was was also considering a new 4runner. Budget was $40k so the prices were about the same. After driving the LC it was a clear decision. The 5.7 V8 is a phenomenal powertrain. Has never felt underpowered even during hwy mountain driving with larger tires, lift and bumpers.

I did end up encountering the dreaded radiator crack Around 84,000 miles. The updated design OEM radiator looks to address the weak spot that cracks but it’s too soon to tell as this new design is only a few years old, I think around 2018 it was released. At that time i also did the water pump, pulleys and thermostat as preventative. maintenance.

The early 200 series LCs were more prone to water pump failures. Before getting my 2013 I looked at a few 2008-2010 and found that the 2008 and 2009 had their WPs replaced under warranty with in the first few years.
i don’t anticipate replacing these items every 100k, there are plenty of members here on originals with well over 100k-150k. It does seem that the LC is more prone, at least the early years of the 200 series, to these repairs then the 4runner.

 

[serpico1]

I had a 2020 army green forerunner TRD pro. I loved the uniqueness of the color and of course the capability of the forerunner. That being said there is no comparison between Land Cruiser and I fifth GEN four runner.

I have a 2021 Land Cruiser which I absolutely love. There are so many X factors that make it so far superior. It’s not just a V-8 and the power. It’s the build quality at the iconic nameplate it’s the extra space it’s the smoothness even a detail like Air Conditioning as I live in Florida it’s dramatically better in the Land Cruiser.

We have all said it it’s double the price. Land Cruiser is 80 grand and a nice forerunner is 40 grand so that is a lot of difference. But as Ferris Bueller said if you have the means to pick one up I highly recommend it.

Sorry I was dictating with Siri through my phone for the miss spells and grammatical errors.

Bottom line if you upgrade to a Land Cruiser he will be thrilled. It is the most incredible SUV made. Of course that is my humble opinion but I firmly believe that when you take everything in totality.

 

[Bartleby]

I had a 2020 army green forerunner TRD pro. I loved the uniqueness of the color and of course the capability of the forerunner. That being said there is no comparison between Land Cruiser and I fifth GEN four runner.

I have a 2021 Land Cruiser which I absolutely love. There are so many X factors that make it so far superior. It’s not just a V-8 and the power. It’s the build quality at the iconic nameplate it’s the extra space it’s the smoothness even a detail like Air Conditioning as I live in Florida it’s dramatically better in the Land Cruiser.

We have all said it it’s double the price. Land Cruiser is 80 grand and a nice forerunner is 40 grand so that is a lot of difference. But as Ferris Bueller said if you have the means to pick one up I highly recommend it.

Sorry I was dictating with Siri through my phone for the miss spells and grammatical errors.

Bottom line if you upgrade to a Land Cruiser he will be thrilled. It is the most incredible SUV made. Of course that is my humble opinion but I firmly believe that when you take everything in totality.

 

[Bartleby]

Good conversation---

this to 04uzj100 and crush4-- you mention discontinued LC---do you mean V8?

Aren't we getting a v6 tt?