1997 Toyota 4Runner SR5 V6 from North America

Summary:

The best mid-sized SUV

Faults:

The only thing that has gone wrong the entire time I have owned this truck was the motor that makes the power antenna go up and down. I had it fixed right away where I bought the truck (not at a Toyota dealership), and it only cost me $70. Not bad for what it would have cost me at the dealership. They gave me an estimate of $300.00.

General Comments:

This truck handles well, both on and off road. It also handles nicely in the rain, which is more than I can say for the Ford Explorer. It has a very comfortable interior, large exterior mirrors, and impressive ride height. Women may find it hard to enter/exit from due to this, but side steps are an option. I bought this truck because of the reputation Toyota has for reliabilty and ruggedness. I expect to have at least 150,000 miles by the time I'm ready to sell it, and I don't expect any problems. Basically, all you need to do with these trucks is change the oil and put gas in them. Minor things might break, and they are not cheap, but it will outlast any American made SUV out there.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 28th September, 2002

1997 Toyota 4Runner SR5 V6 3.4 from North America

Faults:

None.

General Comments:

Hard in operation while turning when in 4X4 mode. A full time 4 wheel drive model added to this line will be appreciated. However, it is a strong SUV which protects my family during an impact. But, with a bit more money, the Lexus RX300 will be a smarter choice with bigger power, more comfortable and better handling.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th October, 1998

19th Feb 2007, 21:12

I was thinking about buying either a MB ML320 or the Lexus RX300 rather than a 4Runner. Have you looked at the comments pages for these vehicles? 99% of the comments for the 4runner were positive. 99%of the comments for the ML320 and the RX300 are about how expensive they are to fix and how often they fail. I'm going to stick with Toyota, they seem to know how to make a vehicle that lasts!

19th Jul 2009, 13:56

The Toyota 4 Runner is designed for off road use or extreme condition driving when in the four wheel drive selection. When you turn your front wheels, they are traveling at a different speed than the rear, causing them not wanting to go on road surfaces or any other surface with a lot of traction. In a mud or snow condition, the slick surface will allow the slower moving tires to match the speed while slipping. Four wheel drive is not designed for normal use, all wheel drive which contains a center differential is designed for this. Damage can occur when using a conventional four wheel drive system on a high traction surface.

30th Dec 2010, 14:29

I agree with the poster of 19th Feb 2007, 21:12. I love this site, as it gives me an insight into what actual owners think about their cars. The American models are like 50% good, 50% bad, and have many common expensive problems.

The more expensive luxury SUV's don't seem to fare much better on reliability and cost of repairs. The 4Runner is about 95% positive, and that's why I chose it over all the others.