I currently own a 2015 Toyota RAV4 and absolutely love it but am considering upgrading because I got an unexpected and compelling offer on my RAV4 from a potential buyer. My only complaint about the RAV4 is its wimpy 1500lb towing capacity. I'd like to be able to trailer my 900lb cruiser motorcycle on a UHAUL trailer on road trips so I can ride at the destination, but the 800lb empty weight of their motorcycle trailers puts me above the rated capacity of my RAV4, and I don't think towing nearly 2000 lbs with a 4 cylinder on the freeway for hundreds of miles is a good plan anyway. I'd like to stay with Toyota, and I drive a ton between commuting and actually driving for work, at least 400 miles weekly, so fuel mileage matters. Based on my own research, it seems the Highlander and 4Runner are clearly my best options. I'm looking at 2014+ highlanders and 2009+ 4Runners, with 70-100k miles. I think the Highlander will definitely be more comfortable for 98% of my driving, but I'm also thinking nothing can beat body-on-frame construction for towing. Fuel mileage seems to be pretty equivalent with a slight edge for the Highlander. Any vehicle I buy will be 4WD/AWD.
Tough choices! Both amazing.
You're probably right on the body on frame distinction giving the 4Runner a slight edge in towing. It really is a truck.
If you do a bunch of towing, I'd go 4Runner and eat the cost of the gas.
If you do more daily driving, and less towing, I'd go Highlander.
Heck, try them both out, see which one you feel rides better. Better yet if you are allowed to test it out with a trailer!
I would get a Highlander. The ride quality is much better than 4Runner.
That's what I'm leaning towards. I still want to test drive a 4runner just to see if I fall in love, but it doesn't seem like the smartest option on paper despite being a much more fun vehicle than a Highlander.
If it's your motorcycle you're looking at trailering both will haul that, no problem. The Highlander will definitely be the more comfortable ride. I've had both and liked the Highlander way better. The ride quality in the 4-runner can be rough, my dog always got car sick in the 4-runner, never in any other SUV or pickup since then. If you're not going off-road, I'd do the Highlander.
Thanks for answering, and I'm especially interested in your answer considering that you've owned both. I know the Highlander will definitely be more comfortable on the highway because I won't tow very often, but how bad are the Runner's road manners on the highway? We all know it's not a Cadillac, but in terms of comfort and fuel mileage how much worse is it than the Highlander? I used to own a Tundra TRD and that thing could literally give me a stomach ache on a bumpy freeway, but I figured the extra weight in the rear would help the Runner ride at least somewhat better.
I averaged about 18/19 winter and 19/20 summer with the 08 4-runner. With the Highlander I was getting 19/20 winter and 21/22 summer. While the 08 ride was better than the 99 and 2003 we had it still wasn't as comfortable as the 08 highlander Ltd. V6/AWD. I recently test drove a 21 Highlander L AWD and was quite impressed with the ride of the base AWD one. Narrow down your selection and test drive them all and see which you like better.
There aren't really any examples of either vehicle in my area that I'd seriously consider buying because they're all higher mileage than I'm looking for so I'm planning to make a cross country trip. These vehicles are way more popular in areas with snow, and I live down south so they're difficult to find and very expensive compared to other areas. I think I'll go test drive the high-mileage Runner anyway. I'm borrowing my dad's 09 Highlander for the week so I'll have plenty of exposure to Highlanders.
I would go with the highlander since you are only towing 900lbs. after all and the highlnder can do it all and has a better, more utilitarian feel to it. The 4runner is for off roading and it has crappy head room for the size of it. The highlander has high resale value as well, and you don't need to upgrade to a truck from a tiny rav4. The trucks always ride a lot worse and more heavy than a car riding, unibody highlander. Plus, the highlander is newer and is better priced the way the market is going these days.
