10 Top Toyota 4Runner Competitors for 2018

2018 Toyota 4runner red side ・ Photo by Toyota

The Toyota 4Runner has built a loyal following since it debuted as 1984 model, and today's 2018 model is now the vehicle's fifth generation. The first 4Runner was based heavily on Toyota's pickup truck, a two-door SUV that wore a removable fiberglass shell with windows over the pickup bed area with a bench seat bolted to the bed. There was no wall between the bed and cabin.

The first-generation 4Runner proved so popular that Toyota designed a dedicated four-door SUV for the second generation, and the current model debuted in 2010. 4Runner sales hit rock bottom in 2009 at 19,675, but they have rebounded remarkably since then to an impressive 128,296 in 2017 — the highest total sales for 4Runner in 20 years. Let's see why it's so appealing and learn about its competitors. 

About the 2018 Toyota 4Runner

The 4Runner has grown in size with each generation, with a steadily increasing wheelbase, length, and weight. At 189.9 inches, the current vehicle is over a foot longer than the first- and second-generation 4Runners, and nearly 1,000 pounds heavier. Pricing for the current 4Runner begins at $34,610 for the base SR5 2WD model up to $45,460 for the Limited 4WD trim.

Today's 4Runner features seating for five plus an optional fold-flat third row; a robust body-on-frame construction with an independent double-wishbone front, four-link and coil- spring rear suspension; great ground clearance; and a seemingly indestructible engine and transmission. Ground clearance is up to 9.6 inches, and towing capacity is 5,000 lbs. As great as the 4Runner is, let’s take a look at 10 of its competitors, listed alphabetically. 

Photo by Toyota

2018 Chevrolet Tahoe

The 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe is among a handful of 4Runner competitors that retains its body-on-frame construction, rather than a unibody setup, making it a truck-based SUV and not a crossover vehicle. The Tahoe comes with a standard third-row seat. It's about a foot longer than 4Runner and outweighs it by about 1,000 lbs.

A 5.3-liter V8 engine is standard, with a 6.2-liter V8 available. The Tahoe is a great cruising machine and people-hauler, and with available four-wheel drive and 7.9 inches of ground clearance, the Tahoe is a very good soft-roader and a decent off-roader. It excels at towing with up to 8,600 lbs of capability. Prices range from $48,795 for a rear-wheel drive LS up to $66,495 for an four-wheel drive Premier.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Dodge Durango

Based on the same platform as the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the 2018 Dodge Durango might be the sleeper of the Toyota 4Runner competitors. Starting at $29,995 for the base SXT RWD and going up to $64,090 for the SRT RWD with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8, the Durango offers a wide range of powertrain and trim options.

The sweet spot in the lineup may be the R/T model (starting at $46,345). It comes with a 5.7-liter 360-hp Hemi V8, seating for up to seven, 20-inch alloy wheels, Nappa leather seating, an eight-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel drive, 7,200 lbs of towing capability, and up to 8.1 inches of ground clearance.

Photo by Dodge

2018 Ford Explorer

Until the 2011 model year, the Ford Explorer was a direct competitor to the 4Runner. The current generation of Explorer switched to a lighter-duty crossover configuration, but it still retained the Explorer name and much of its capability — and popularity. The Explorer was the best-selling mid-size SUV in the US last year with 271,131 units sold.

Consumers appear to value Explorer’s car-like ride and comfortable seating for up to seven passengers, and the availability of a 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbocharged V6 engine with all-wheel drive. The Explorer starts at $32,140 with a 3.5-liter V6 and front-wheel drive, and peaks in the Platinum trim level at $53,940 with the EcoBoost V6 and 4WD.

Photo by Ford

2018 GMC Yukon

The 2018 GMC Yukon shares a platform with another top 4Runner competitor, the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. In fact, the vehicles are mechanical twins, sharing quite a few dimensions, capabilities, and exterior and interior parts. GMC is considered more of a premium brand than Chevrolet, as evidenced by the Denali trim level.

The Yukon Denali starts at $70,495, and if that sounds high, consider the included features and equipment: a 6.2-liter V8 engine (420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque); signature Denali styling; Mastique ash wood interior trim; a 10-speed automatic transmission; heated and ventilated leather front seats; a 10-speaker Bose Premium Centerpoint surround sound system; active noise cancellation; Magnetic Ride Control; a head-up display; and more.

Photo by GMC

2018 Jaguar F-PACE

The 2018 Jaguar F-PACE is the British brand’s first mid-size crossover SUV. The unibody five-seater brings Jaguar’s luxury and sporting performance to the table — and borrows some of its sister company Land Rover’s off-road prowess as a bonus.

The F-PACE uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine, a 2.0-liter 180-hp four-cylinder diesel engine, or 3.0-liter 380-hp supercharged V6 gasoline engine, and all-wheel drive comes standard. Prices start at $42,065, while the top-of-the-line Portfolio trim level starts at $62,000. 

Photo by Jaguar

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Jeep name has always brought visions of off-road capability, and the Grand Cherokee represents the brand’s flagship vehicle, combining off-road chops with everyday comfort and capability. Like the 4Runner, the Grand Cherokee commands loyalty among its owners, many of whom replace their old Grand Cherokee models with newer ones as the need arises.

The Grand Cherokee is a unibody design and comes in a wide range of trim levels and prices. A base 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4x2 starts at $30,695, and a loaded Trackhawk 4x4 starts at $86,000. The maximum off-roader model, Trailhawk, starts at $43,395 with Quadra-Drive II 4x4, a 3.6-liter V6, and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Photo by FCA Media

2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

When it comes to pure off-road prowess, the 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited may be the most capable four-door SUV you can find on a showroom floor. The Wrangler is all-new for 2018, with an evolutionary update to its iconic exterior and military-style design. Inside, the Wrangler has matured significantly, adding comfort and convenience features and modern infotainment options. Even the convertible soft top and removable hard top have been updated to simplify operation and reduce cabin noise.

It’s not quite the everyday cruiser that a 4Runner can be, nor does it have much cargo capacity for an SUV. But if you’re roughing it, the Wrangler Unlimited is an excellent choice, starting at $30,995.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2018 Land Rover Discovery

If you’ve never experienced the capability and luxury of a modern Land Rover vehicle, you may be in for a surprise. The new 2018 Land Rover Discovery continues the Discovery lineage (replacing vehicles known in the U.S. as the LR3 and LR4). A radically new unibody design is less angular than before, and it now features comfortable seating for seven.

Available with 3.0-liter gasoline or diesel powerplants, Discovery starts at $52,090. The top-of-the-line HSE Luxury starts at $65,490. Discovery’s killer app is Terrain Response 2, which allows you to optimize the vehicle’s engine, transmission, center differential, and chassis systems to match the demands of the terrain — all while seated in the lap of luxury.

Photo by Land Rover

2018 Lexus GX

If you love the 4Runner, you may go mad for the 2018 Lexus GX. Think of it as a luxury 4Runner and you won’t be far off. Using many of the same mechanical and engineering features as 4Runner, the GX adds the Lexus touch with upgraded interior features, technologies, and accessories.

To start with, GX comes with a 4.6-liter 301-hp V8 engine, an upgrade over the 4Runner’s 270-hp V6. It gets a six-speed automatic transmission versus 4Runner’s five-speed, and the third row of fold-flat seating is standard. The 2018 GX 460 starts at $52,155, and the GX 460 Premium starts at $56,300 with mahogany wood accents and a third zone of climate control.

Photo by Lexus