Tacoma Vs Highlander

By sheer luck and a crazy chain of events, I now own two 2012 Highlander Limited. As much as I love these, I have been ogling Tacomas for almost a year and may replace one of the Highlanders with a Tacoma as there are only two drivers at home.

Could someone please point me to previous posts about comparing Highlanders and Tacomas. I know they are different animals but I want to prep for what to expect.

 

There really is no comparison between these 2 vehicles. They are completely different animals. The Highlander is a unibody AWD SUV. The Tacoma is a full frame pickup truck. They really couldn't be more different.

I think the question to ask yourself is do you need a truck? If they answer is yes, go for it! I guess the only things to really know if the Tacoma will not ride the link Highlander (because it's a full frame truck). It probably won't be as full efficient for the same reason. They are both Toyotas though, and that means you get the overall reliability that comes with the brand, provided the same starting baseline with regard to maintenance and care.

 

Test drive or rent a Tacoma for a few days.

 

x2 on this advice. Hertz and Enterprise both have Tacomas and it shouldn't be difficult to rent one in a TRD Sport or TRD Off Road trim. Invest a couple of hundred in a several day rental over the weekend so you can do your daily activities and maybe some weekend things to see if...

• You like the performance around town
• The hit you take on gas mileage in a Taco is worth it
• You like the performance in traffic and on short trips
• You can get it an out and like the feel of the seat + the sitting position
• You don't mind the stock tune and gearing
• The spouse and or family like riding in it and driving it if the kids are of age

You have two highlanders which means performance specifications and technical details will not make or break you. Please don't start another gas mileage thread on the forum. The only thing that remains of that horse is the dust the bones have been crushed to from being beaten.

 

Neophyte here, is the 4 Runner similar to Tacoma?

 

Use case? Unless you need a bed or to go off road, the Highlander is a better vehicle in nearly every way. Hell, it even tows.

 

Yes, the 4Runner is similar in many ways to the Tacoma, as it's also a full frame truck. So ride will be similar, although the 4Runner is probably a fair deal quieter. Engines are different, with the 4.0L in the 4Runner feeling a bit more powerful than the 3.5L in a Tacoma (which makes sense given that it's a larger engine) although it's actually rated a few ponies less at the crank than the Tacoma engine. Much of that has difference has been addressed by the Tacoma tuning community at this point. Transmissions are also different, with the 4Runner having a 5 speed vs the 6 speed in a Tacoma, IIRC. The 4Runner tends to be pricier too. Limits can easily touch $60k in some regions, although with markups on the Tacomas, they aren't far behind!

 

I LOVE having a bed. It helps me keep my entire life more organized.

Some shit goes inside, some shit goes outside.

 

Felt that way after the last 4 Runner drive about a year ago. Thanks for confirming!

 

My opinion doesn't matter, because I absolutely despise all FWD/AWD unibody SUVs. I hate-hate-hate the crackerjack vanilla, absolute lack of personality, that every. single. one. of those vehicles possess. They all drive alike no matter the brand, model, or trim.

I love the Mazda 3, I loathe the Mazda CX3. Same exact turbo AWD drivetrain, same features, same interior. One is spirited enough to push you into the bucket and rail around corners, the other is mind-numbingly sleep inducing. Don't get me started on the Highlander. I can't stand that one either.


Now, if you are not like me, then you love unibody SUVs. You probably like their easy predictability or their quiet, effortless comfort. If you like these things, you probably will not like a Tacoma. A Tacoma is not predictable, easy, fast, or comfortable. But it has personality, and I love personality. Most people are not like me though. If you are a Highlander fan, you are probably not like me. I would suggest the above, and renting one for a weekend. There is a good chance that you might not like cars with quirky personality. (Which is ok, but look before you leap.)