Superficial comparison look at Tacoma vs 4Runner TRD Pro (materials, build quality, feel, paint)

[james cole]

Hello everyone,

I currently own both a 2025 Tacoma and a 4Runner TRD Pro (sorry, didn't know there were other trims). I wanted to highlight the striking differences between the two, especially since Tacomas often get a bad reputation for being built in Mexico, while 4Runners are praised for being Japan-built.

If I haven't mentioned a specific difference, it either slipped my mind or there’s nothing notable to comment on.

1. Interior

Some posts on X suggest the 4Runner is slightly more luxurious with better materials than the Tacoma. Let’s examine the main differences:

• Headliner and Sun Visors: The Tacoma’s headliner is made of a high-quality, luxurious fabric, while the 4Runner’s resembles flimsy black cardboard, which detracts from its interior appeal. Both vehicles use the same material for sun visors, but the 4Runner’s are poorly cut and stitched. The Tacoma’s sun visors are impeccably crafted.

• Center Armrest: The Tacoma’s armrest features a higher-quality matte material, while the 4Runner’s looks like cheap, glossy vinyl and feels overly soft in an unpleasant way, its already marked on the very edge for some reason.

• Glovebox: The Tacoma’s glovebox has a nice matte finish with a premium feel. The 4Runner’s, however, uses glossy, low-quality material that looks worn and clashes with the red interior. The Tacoma’s interior finishes feel consistently high-quality throughout.

• Soft-Touch Door Materials: The 4Runner’s door panels feel softer but in a fragile, low-quality way, as if the padding might degrade quickly. The Tacoma’s soft-touch materials are firmer and seem more durable, suggesting they’ll hold up better over time.
• Interior Plastics: Most plastics are similar, but the Tacoma’s feel slightly higher quality, though the difference is subtle.
• Door and Window Operation: The 4Runner disappointed me here big time, Its front windows rattle over bumps when halfway down, as if loose, and the doors closing “thunk” sounds cheap. The Tacoma’s windows don’t rattle, its doors have a heavier, premium feel, and the overall experience is noticeably better.

• Cabin Noise: The Tacoma’s interior is about 20% quieter, possibly due to its smaller cabin.
• Rattles: The 4Runner has rattles in the dash, passenger door, and possibly the rear. The Tacoma is mostly rattle-free, except for the seats, which I hope Toyota addresses with a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB). The seat rattle seems like an easy fix, and I’m experienced at resolving car rattles.

2. Exterior and Paint

• Paint Quality: The 4Runner’s paint quality is superior, particularly on black painted surfaces, where it’s flawless. The Tacoma’s paint is good but falls slightly short, especially on the black fender flares, which lack gloss and show factory imperfections even after paint correction. Both vehicles have excellent panel gaps.

3. Drivetrain and Ride Quality

• Drivetrain: Both vehicles feel similar, but the 4Runner operates in electric mode more often than the Tacoma for reasons I’m unsure of. Engine vibrations are identical when the gas engine kicks in. The Tacoma’s exhaust is sportier and louder due to a smaller rear muffler.
• Steering and Turning Radius: The 4Runner’s steering rack is quicker and easier to maneuver, with a significantly better turning radius than the Tacoma’s, which is quite poor.
• Ride Quality: The 4Runner’s ride is 50% smoother, likely due to its 2-inch lower suspension, requiring less stiff springs and shocks. The Tacoma handles high-speed bumps better, though.
• Vehicle Noise Generator (VNG): In electric mode, the Tacoma’s VNG is about three times louder than the 4Runner’s, which is only noticeable outside the vehicle, as it should be.
• Horn: The 4Runner’s horn sounds like it belongs on a 1970s Datsun—not a fan.

TL;DR I'm amazed that the Mexican-built Tacoma surpasses the 4Runner in build quality and interior materials, paint Japan is still king. Old perceptions linger, but rest assured, things have changed.

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[maxx075]

Quite surprising given the complaints I've seen about the Tacoma. The 4-Runner quality must have gone down hill.

 

[24 TRD OR]

Would be interesting to compare the 4th gen tacoma with the 6th gen 4runner. Or 3rd gen tacoma with the 5th gen 4runner. More "apples to apples " if you get my drift.

 

[EVOTACO]

Would be interesting to compare the 4th gen tacoma with the 6th gen 4runner. Or 3rd gen tacoma with the 5th gen 4runner. More "apples to apples " if you get my drift.

I believe the comparison is the 4th and 6th gen vehicles respectively. I read the post as being a 2025 Tacoma TRD Pro and a 2025 4Runner TRD Pro, but I could be mistaken.

 

[Droid]

Would be interesting to compare the 4th gen tacoma with the 6th gen 4runner. Or 3rd gen tacoma with the 5th gen 4runner. More "apples to apples " if you get my drift.

Have owned both 3rd gen Tacoma and 5th gen 4Runner (still waiting on my 4th gen Taco order.) There is no comparison between those two vehicles on interior quality. For their vehicle category / price points, the 3rd gen is at the bottom of the industry and the 4Runner is at the absolute top.

 

[james cole]

Would be interesting to compare the 4th gen tacoma with the 6th gen 4runner. Or 3rd gen tacoma with the 5th gen 4runner. More "apples to apples " if you get my drift.

Reading is hard.

 

[24 TRD OR]

Oops, I guess the lighting is bad in my "underground garage". My mistake.

 

[Droid]

BTW wonder if your 4Runner just got "cleaned"/PDI'ed by dealer with some lousy products. I think those red glove boxes and center console covers would be the same part number.

 

[24 TRD OR]

Interesting that OP has 2 brand new vehicles and doesn't really like either one very much. "Cheap interior", " pogos", "2 inches too high", "back seat too small" " colors clash", "windows, doors and seats rattle"... May want to bring an objective friend next time you go car shopping.

 

[james cole]

No, they were professionally detailed and no PDI was done, they were taken straight to the detailer and tint.

I thought the same, even ran some magic eraser but no change.

The point of this post is to see superficial differences because I really thought the Japanese build would be better but its mostly the opposite.

BTW wonder if your 4Runner just got "cleaned"/PDI'ed by dealer with some lousy products. I think those red glove boxes and center console covers would be the same part number.

 

[LincolnSixAlpha]

Thanks for your observation @james cole. Appreciate the update. I was wondering the differences myself. Not that I know much other than a handful of Toyotas I owned in the late 90's, I've not had any other experiences since so I was curious. I owned a '96 Tacoma with that 4.3 v6 and 5 speed manual, and a '98 4Runner. Of the two I really loved that 4 runner. Felt great, whereas that Pickup didn't feel cheap, but certainly wasn't as nice as the 4Runner back then.

As for my new '24 Taco, I'm very happy with it. I do feel the that Toyota cheaped out with the interior quality materials (this is where other manufacturers have stepped up their game in recent years) I'm still very happy with it. Thanks for taking the time to detail some of your observations.

 

[Droid]

Interesting that OP has 2 brand new vehicles and doesn't really like either one very much. "Cheap interior", " pogos", "2 inches too high", "back seat too small" " colors clash", "windows, doors and seats rattle"... May want to bring an objective friend next time you go car shopping.

I'm not OP, but personally I'm critical of all my vehicle purchases. I've never understood folks who are like "well, I spent 50 or 70 grand on this therefore it is great and we will speak no ill of it!" I don't attack other people's stuff like this, but I see no point in lying to myself about my own. That 3rd gen I had had lousy interior quality, crappy ECU programming (had manual but engine would lug uphill in 2nd at 25mph), and plenty of other little warts. But overall I really liked that truck, in fact, I miss it.

 

[TX-BluStreak]

Excellent comparison and contrast of the two “sibling” TRD Pros (Tacoma & 4Runner). That was definitely a good read to a very mundane workweek before the 4th of July holiday.

There was one area I had hoped you could shed some light on, the front seats.
The Tacoma Pro has the exclusive Isodynamic seats whereas the 4Runner Pro does not. So far, I have not gone airborne to test out the seat’s capabilities but they’re somewhat comfortable compared to my 2nd gen Taco and tres unique. Sometimes I feel like I’m sitting in a luxurious cockpit of a of sorts.

I personally don’t mind the ISO seats, I often tell my fellow coworkers and friends that aside from its primary function of absorbing shocks and dampening body movement when going off-roading. It’s also a rocket boosters in disguise, lol. Now with my nifty eject button and a sunroof to boot. I can finally eject their butts outta my truck if they ever get too rowdy.

(Kidding aside) For those of us who loves our Tacoma TRD Pros but not the ISO seats; it is possible to swap out the seats from the 4Runner Pro which would therefore provide more space for rear passengers?

 

[Appaloosa2]

Thanks for posting the differences. Being the Tacoma has been out 1 year ahead of the 4runner maybe they have worked more issues out. I personally like my interior on my 25 tacoma sport my paint is okay the flares need more clear coat as they are horrible. I also have zero squeaks or rattles.

 

[pepco]

Nice write up, I have a 2025 tacoma pro and have a very minor noise that's coming from the drivers seat where the seat controls are, I only hear it when I accelerate from at start or when I apply break and when making a slow turn, it doesn't do it going over bumps or just driving down the road. Every thing else is rock solid. I do like the seats and they are comfy, and when I have someone ride in the back I just move the seats up a few inches and they are fine back there for short trips. I have wondered it the 4runner pro seats would be plug and play on the tacoma pro?

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