4R TG and 200 are about the same in slalom and pull around .73g and rated good handling for offroad suv's w/ tall tires.
The 200 has the better ride and stability b/c of the longer wheelbase. But the 4Runner is lighter and nimble- meeting their design requirements.
Both are rated highly in crash tests. Different class vehicles but you will also find injury scores show occupants are safe in both.
The 200 is a full 2 sec faster 0-60 and about 1 sec faster in the 1/4 mile @ 94mph - a full 8mph faster than the TG 4R.
This is where it's clearly not even close. The 200 blows away the 4R in any powerplant measurement.
(The only place the 4R beats it is city mpg's.) If you mod, expect this gap to widen considerably.
I consider awd to be a safety feature and see that as a big plus to suv's. I won't get one without it. On pavement, it WILL be safer than the 4R that cannot use awd on pavement. I consider this a big mistake to only offer awd on the Limited 4R. (lack of awd, V8 are economic and mpg rating decisions by Toyota, imo)
It's silly. Look at your wife's Audi- Quattro awd is a STREET feature for better handling and safety ON road.
If, as you say, you rarely go offroad- you should have AWD as one of your requirements!
Let's look underneath and ask a few questions:
What size are the diffs in either? What size are all the chassis components? Look at the frames of both.
What is the design criteria of both? Because they are built for different capabilities and markets.
5.7L V8 w/ the beefiest drivetrain and frame of any Toyota product in existence.
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Clearly the 200 is the better suv in just about every measurable way. As it should be, per the design criteria and price.
Where the 4Runner beats it is in smaller size, nimble & more sporty value oriented pkg. Guess what? That's it's criteria.
Sounds like you want to change chimyz. The 4R TG is a great suv, it's got a lot going for it and would be fun to build up. It's got a more sporty feel.
It's kinda stupid, considering what you own, but go ahead
