Looking for new multi purpose Toyota

[Sport43537]

I'm in the market for a new multi purpose Toyota. I'm considering a 2013 / 2014 Tacoma DC TRD, FJ Cruiser, and 4Runner SR5 (not considering a Trail). I will be adding an OME 2-3" lift to each vehicle and 285/70 BFG All Terrains. Trying to decide which vehicle would best fit the following criteria:
Daily Driver seeing about 50 miles per day or highway driving
Able to tow a pop-up camper
Ample room for camping gear
Ability to handle overlanding adventures in the Midwest, mainly Ohio and Michigan, along with a yearly trip out West. No extreme rock crawling.
Comfortable for young kids
I'm leaning towards FJ due to improved off-road capability over SR5 4Runner (I'm assuming due to better angles and locker) and larger aftermarket support. The Taco is about $2500 less expensive, but I'm concerned about rear seat room. I love the durability of the Taco, but I think the FJ and 4Runner should be just as durable. The dealer is offering the FJ at $1500 below invoice and both the Taco and 4Runner at invoice. Looking for advice!!! I was also looking at Jeep Unlimited Rubicon, but concerned with reliability.

 

[Sport43537]

I would install 255/85/16 tires on the Taco and 265/70/17's on 4Runner. I'd go with 285/70/17's on FJ.

 

[daveyboy]

I own a 2008 Tundra, but I have a number of friends that all have FJs--which I think are super cool. But EVERY wife of those friends HATES the FJ when it comes to family friendliness and visibility. YMMV... .

 

[Ace Brown]

Why not the 4Runner Trail? It's the best choice available that fits your needs. This from an FJ Cruiser owner of the past five years. Visibility from the FJC is poor and I would not subject kids to the back seat "dungeon". Do you know that rear windows do not open?


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[Plannerman]

I would agree, the 4runner trail edition is probably the best, as well. It's wheel base and approach/departure angles are amazing (much better than the SR5). If that is absolutely not an option, them I'd go Tacoma and then SR5 4runner. I would not get an FJ for family purposes due to the limited accessibility to the back seat.

I have a Tacoma and it works great with two kids in car seats in the back seat.


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[Sport43537]

Thanks for all of the replies. The only reason I have not considered the Trail is I do not like the look of them. I like the appearance of the SR5 better....call me crazy! Also, the trails in my region are all optioned near $40k and that's a little more than I wanted to spend. I've driven the FJ and definitely recognize the horrible blind spot and limited access rear seat. I've also driven limited ones with the OME and the drive great and seem very capable. I have not driven the TRD for an extended period of time. Plan to take one overnight tomorrow. I like the price of the Taco and the aftermarket support. Definitely seem a bed rack system in my future and like the increased towing capacity of the Taco. Also like the versatility for working around the house (building materials, land scaping, etc.). Any opinions on durability or overall off-road capability of the 3 choices?

 

[Sport43537]

Would a non-TRD Tacoma also be a good option? Would save approximately $2500 over a TRD. For my type of overlanding / wheeling, would I miss ATRAC and locker? Thanks!!

 

[daveyboy]

Would a non-TRD Tacoma also be a good option? Would save approximately $2500 over a TRD. For my type of overlanding / wheeling, would I miss ATRAC and locker? Thanks!!

I didn't know that non-TRD Tacomas didn't have ATRAC. All 4x4 Tundras have it (but unfortunately no locker) and assumed that all 4x4 Tacomas and FJs did as well.

 

[Derek24]

If you have kids Id go with either the 4runner or Taco. FJ is a single or couples rig. I just bought an FJ and love it, but it's just me and the GF. Just got back from a two week road trip and the FJ was filled to the max, no room, back seat down! 4 door short bed Taco with a shell would be the best IMO for your situation.

 

[FJOE]

From an FJ owner, as was stated above great singles car. If i had a familiy, I'd dump it for a 4Runner trail in a heartbeat.

 

[Martinjmpr]

For comfort and accessibility I'd say consider a 4runner. The FJC is a great vehicle but IMO it's very 'specialized': It's great at being an off-road vehicle and marginal at just about everything else. OTOH the 4runner is not as great off road (Stock) but with the conventional station-wagon layout is more of a "jack of all trades/master of none" type vehicle. And the thing is, if you need more off-road capability, you can add it to the 4runner via lift options, bumpers that improve the approach angle, and a rear locker (about $1500 to install a full ARB Air locker setup, IIRC.)

As Ace pointed out, on the FJC you have two windows that you can open, three if it has a sunroof. The rear window swings up as well, but of course it does that manually. On the 4runner, you have 5 windows you can open with the touch of a button, 6 if it has a sunroof, which is great for ventilation and access to the inside.

The Taco DC could be a great vehicle if the back seats are big enough. I know on the 1st gen (01-04) DCs, I have heard people complain about cramped rear legroom, but the 2nd gens are much bigger. With the DC you could have the "dirty area" (bed) separate from the "clean area" (cab) but the cost of that is that in having a divided interior, you can't sleep inside it unless you get something like a Flip-pac camper or unless you opt for the 6' bed (which makes for a LOOOOOONG vehicle!) Since you have a family, that's probably not an issue, most likely you'll be pulling that camper so if you go with a Taco I'd stick with the short bed for maneuverability.

If I were you I wouldn't get hung up on TRD or locking diffs, for two reasons: (a) You say you aren't planning on any hardcore off roading and most casual 'wheelers don't need a locker (I've been 4 wheeling for a couple of decades and I've only owned one locker-equipped vehicle), and (b) if you really, really need a locker or an upgraded suspension, you can put that on yourself when time and money permit (AFAIK the locker and the upgraded suspension are the only real "upgrades" in the TRD package. Oh, except for those cool stickers but if you really need them you can buy those too. )

Also, this probably doesn't apply to you, I'm guessing, but the Taco is available with a manual transmission if you want (as is the FJC.) Of course, most people choose the auto and as much as I dislike slushbox transmissions, I have to admit that the A750 that comes on the 4runner (and I presume this is the same transmission that's on the Taco and the FJC) is a pretty decent unit. Heck, according to the EPA estimates, the auto-equipped 4runner actually beats the 6 speed in MPG. (Personally I find that hard to believe, but that's what they say.)

Sounds like you're buying new, so in terms of the 4runner, that would be the 5th gen model. As a plus, the 5th gen SR5 has a by-God shift lever for the transfer case, which is a big plus in my book (my '07 has the stupid little dial selector ) Unfortunately, Toyota in their wisdom deleted the very cool multi-mode transfer case that the 4th gens were lucky enough to get, that allows you to run either 2wd (for better MPG) or full-time 4wd (for traction on intermittently-slippery surfaces) or conventional 4wd (for off-road or icy/snowy roads.) The 4th gen 4runner was the only 4runner to get that feature and they all have it except the V8's which got full time 4wd and the 4.7 V8 engine. No pickup or FJC ever had multi-mode 4wd and AFAIK the only Toyota SUV that has it now is the Sequoia.

 

[Westy]

4runner, no question. FJC are not family or multi passenger friendly. The 4runner can be built just as capable enough for your needs.

 

[Sport43537]

Once again, thanks for the replies. I am still thinking through the decision. I looked a Taco tonight and unless you get the TRD Off Road package, no ATRAC or rear diff lock. The 4Runner SR5 comes with ATRAC, but no more lever for tcase shifter. The FJ comes with ATRAC, Crawl Control, and rear locker. FJ price is reduced to $29995, Taco is 30,995 for TRD, and 4Runner's are all running around $38k due to all in my region have leather and nav.

I really like the feel of FJ, but blind spots are horrible (livable with convex mirrors), rear doors are a pain (possibly livable since kids only ride in my vehicle on weekends). Love the look of them with lift and 33's. Seem more maneuverable and responsive than 4Runner. I like the seat position and headroom.

4runner is very nice...leather and nav are nice but not really needed. Love rear window. The only big issue is headroom. I'm 6'2" and with the sunroof, head space is very limited unless seat is at lowest position. Much more room in back seat and cargo area than FJ. 2-3" lift and bigger tires would definitely improve the look and feel. Stock truck has way too much body sway for me.

One other option is a Taco SR5....can buy for less than $28k.

The debate continues

 

[mtnbike28]

Take the whole family and get in and out of the FJ a few times... I know our weekend trips we are in and out a lot.....

 

[SWITAWI]

From an FJ owner, as was stated above great singles car. If i had a familiy, I'd dump it for a 4Runner trail in a heartbeat.

Amen to the above and other previous statements likewise. As another unmarried FJC owner I have to say Family = Taco/4Runner over FJC just for every day livability, and also Towing Often = Taco/4Runner over FJC IMHO.
Definitely not knocking the FJC as I've enjoyed every one of the almost-80k miles I've put on mine as my daily driver (50mi round trip Mon-Fri) since I got it used, but your criteria would steer me more towards one of the others.
The FJC could do the job, but always choose the best tool for the job with the least compromises for you out of the box. You'll be happier down the road (pun intended).