5g Ranger vs 6g 4Runner

[GhostStrykre]

I have a 2018 4Runner SR5 Premium and my 2019 Ranger XLT.

The Ranger is actually more feature laden than the 4Runner and the Ford seats are just dramatically better than the Toyota seats. I’m not sure if you’ve lived with your 4Runner in heat yet, OP, but maaaaan I hate those softex seats. Instant back sweat during the summer. They don’t breathe whatsoever. The seating experience is always subjective to each owner tho. The seats are actually the biggest reason that we typically travel long distance in the truck, not the 4Runner. Toyota seats are typically more on the firm side vs Ford’s slightly softer entries.

aside from that tho and the ranger’s obvious truck capabilities, the 4Runner is the build quality champ. Built in a way that makes it feel like it was carved out of rock.

Except for one area: rust. The 4Runner has 30k fewer miles than the Ranger but rust underneath is worse. Ford did a better job from factory and all the bolts and such underneath are still in great shape. At 65k miles the 4Runner bolts all need swapped out. Surface rust on so many underneath parts at a level that is alarming. I am going to have to address it prior to next winter. The Ranger, meanwhile, I’m not worried about at all with regards to rust.

all that said, I’m never selling this 4Runner. 7 years old, 65k miles, paid off, and I still get cash offers from dealers that are 71%+ of my original purchase price. Still won’t sell. It’s my wife’s daily driver and I think our dog is the only thing she loves more than that 4Runner.

I appreciate the write up OP. Figured I’d toss in a 5th gen to 5th gen comparison I have of my own.

take care of that new 4Runner. If you live near salty winter roads, I highly highly recommend you fluid film the underbody. I don’t think Toyota has the best rust prevention practices. Enjoy the drive!

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[dtech]

Our 2023 Crosstrek Limited has self leveling headlights and steering response too.

yeah have that on wife's 2025 Outback XT and yrs back had self leveling on Saabs who also had headlight washers. Those Crosstreks are selling like Hotcakes and for 2026 you can get the 2.5 engine.
I joined the subaru.org forum, it's humorous reading some of the out there posts, a lot of old hens clucking and old farts .....well farting on there.

 

[IdahoRanger]

yeah have that on wife's 2025 Outback XT and yrs back had self leveling on Saabs who also had headlight washers. Those Crosstreks are selling like Hotcakes and for 2026 you can get the 2.5 engine.
I joined the subaru.org forum, it's humorous reading some of the out there posts, a lot of old hens clucking and old farts .....well farting on there.

Yeah, the Subaru forums are different. We have the 2.5 as the Limited, Sport and Wilderness trims have it. Still nothing like the Ranger or our old 3.6R from the '14 outback we had. I wish they had an XT version for the Crosstrek. It cracks me up having shift paddles with the CVT and makes me wonder if they pipe in shift sounds.

I know Subaru with the CVT changes ratios to simulate shifting but not piped in sounds.

 

[dtech]

Yeah, the Subaru forums are different. we have the 2.5 as the Limited, Sport and Wilderness trims have it. Still nothing like the Ranger or our old 3.6R from the '14 outback we had. I wish they had an XT version for the Crosstrek. It cracks me up having shift paddles with the CVT and makes me wonder if they pipe in shift sounds.

I know Subaru with the CVT changes ratios to simulate shifting but not piped in sounds.

The XT has extremely smooth power delivery from the CVT - arguable too smooth and too me the simulated shifting doesn't come close to a geared autobox. I've had shift paddles on several autos and never used them useless feature IMO. The only think I really dislike about the outback is a stupid touch screen where Subaru put nearly every control and their center display which is way too busy with non essential info. Heard they went back to more knobs in 2026.

 

[Trustable]

Self leveling headlights have been required for HID for decades in Europe. Good that Toyota has a manual feature - but I wonder how many will bother using it.

I did not know that. Probably not many. But I’ve been blinded by lifted trucks towing enough to use it lol

 

[Trustable]

I have a 2018 4Runner SR5 Premium and my 2019 Ranger XLT.

The Ranger is actually more feature laden than the 4Runner and the Ford seats are just dramatically better than the Toyota seats. I’m not sure if you’ve lived with your 4Runner in heat yet, OP, but maaaaan I hate those softex seats. Instant back sweat during the summer. They don’t breathe whatsoever. The seating experience is always subjective to each owner tho. The seats are actually the biggest reason that we typically travel long distance in the truck, not the 4Runner. Toyota seats are typically more on the firm side vs Ford’s slightly softer entries.

aside from that tho and the ranger’s obvious truck capabilities, the 4Runner is the build quality champ. Built in a way that makes it feel like it was carved out of rock.

Except for one area: rust. The 4Runner has 30k fewer miles than the Ranger but rust underneath is worse. Ford did a better job from factory and all the bolts and such underneath are still in great shape. At 65k miles the 4Runner bolts all need swapped out. Surface rust on so many underneath parts at a level that is alarming. I am going to have to address it prior to next winter. The Ranger, meanwhile, I’m not worried about at all with regards to rust.

all that said, I’m never selling this 4Runner. 7 years old, 65k miles, paid off, and I still get cash offers from dealers that are 71%+ of my original purchase price. Still won’t sell. It’s my wife’s daily driver and I think our dog is the only thing she loves more than that 4Runner.

I appreciate the write up OP. Figured I’d toss in a 5th gen to 5th gen comparison I have of my own.

take care of that new 4Runner. If you live near salty winter roads, I highly highly recommend you fluid film the underbody. I don’t think Toyota has the best rust prevention practices. Enjoy the drive!

Good to know, thank you! It’s crazy how much different the 5gen 4Runner is compared to the 6gen. And I’m glad you enjoyed the post!

With the surface rust I hear ya, they use mostly sand up here with a little salt so not as bad as downstate but still not great. My ranger had rust on the welds around some of the tubing which made me nervous when I lived downstate, so I am hyper aware of any indiciations of rust on the 4runner. My plan is to get it Woolwaxed or fluid filmed before winter. If I can’t get woolwax I’ll probably fluid film it myself.

Supposably Toyota has come a long way with underbody painting in the last 5 or so years. Time will tell though, I may end up seeing if I can do one of the warranties with fluid film or woolwax where if you get it done yearly they cover any issues with corrosion.

 

[Trustable]

Congrats on your new 4Runner! Sorry to hear that things didn't work out with Ford and your Ranger. Do you have any front 3/4 and side view pictures of your 4Runner?

Thanks appreciate it! Yes I wish it was different as I paid it off back in Feb so no payment would have been great! I’ve got a couple pics saved but I can take more tomorrow.

also, I did take off that front air dam as IMO it ruins the look for approximately .5-.7 mpg. It also wrecks approach angle and ground clearance. It’s easy to remove just some bolts and it pops right off.

 

[Trustable]

Our 2023 Crosstrek Limited has self leveling headlights and steering response too.

When I test drove a forester years ago I thought it was cool that the headlights turned with the wheel, that was pretty innovative, I havent seen it prior to that.

 

[dtech]

Ok son now has a "better" truck then I - a 2023 Tundra dual turbo v6 hybrid with off road package, top trim level , 36k miles for $42k , most surprisingly though he's getting $17k for his 2016 Taco with 113k miles, dealer says they can make money reselling it.

 

[Trustable]

Ok son now has a "better" truck then I - a 2023 Tundra dual turbo v6 hybrid with off road package, top trim level , 36k miles for $42k , most surprisingly though he's getting $17k for his 2016 Taco with 113k miles, dealer says they can make money reselling it.

Wow that is a great deal good for him! I’d imagine he will enjoy the extra power from the battery pack!

 

[dtech]

Wow that is a great deal good for him! I’d imagine he will enjoy the extra power from the battery pack!

yeah I drove it and it accelerates briskly, plus the twin turbo V6 makes a nice throaty snarl when you lay into the gas, I asked the salesperson if the sound was artificial and he said no "not like some Fords" . They also had a used F-150 Raptor , super charged 700+ hp that I could have test drove but passed.

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

Dang - it didn't really come out in the first picture you posted, but I LOVE the color. Well done.

 

[Trustable]

Dang - it didn't really come out in the first picture you posted, but I LOVE the color. Well done.

Thank you! I prefer the more “unique” colors for vehicles I guess. Besides the color of my vehicle I am pretty plain haha. I really like green as well and I already had blue and red so I wanted something different and ended up working out perfectly. I wish more manufacturers offered more color selection. I get why they don’t but still would be nice.

 

[AzScorpion]

Thank you! I prefer the more “unique” colors for vehicles I guess. Besides the color of my vehicle I am pretty plain haha. I really like green as well and I already had blue and red so I wanted something different and ended up working out perfectly. I wish more manufacturers offered more color selection. I get why they don’t but still would be nice.

That's why I was so bummed when my '19 got wrecked. The Saber color was very rare and I got compliments all the time on it.

But that's probably because of all the 303 Graphene I had on it.

 

[Trustable]

That's why I was so bummed when my '19 got wrecked. The Saber color was very rare and I got compliments all the time on it.

But that's probably because of all the 303 Graphene I had on it.

I feel ya there. IMO that was FordS best color they had at the time of all their models. Maybe the Ford saber paint just had 303 mixed in and that’s why it looked so good

hell, if ford had saber in the 70s on the trucks that could have been what the ford red turned into in terms of being recognized as a ford based on color alone.

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