The Tacoma and the 4Runner - A Tale of 2 Trucks

by "HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
Published 01/12/2017 at 17:41

Tags: Toyota ; 4Runner ; Tacoma ; hhfp
STARS: 20

So this comes up a lot, people think that the 4Runner and Tacoma are related - I’m here to set the record straight: The Tacoma and 4Runner are not and never have been the same truck.

Yes they share components, but they are different chassis entirely and a 4runner is NOT a Tacoma SUV.

Before you freak out its important to note that there is a difference between a Toyota Tacoma and a Toyota “Truck”

Back in the day the Toyota Truck, known globally as the Hilux but in north america as “Truck” was the truck Toyota had been importing to people to use as a working vehicle. In the mid 1980's it was used as the base of a new kind of “crossover” vehicle between a family vehicle and a truck, the 4Runner was born and it was, for all intents and purposes, a Hilux SUV. In fact, in some markets it was simply called the Hilux Surf

Same truck underneath, but the bed was now part of the body shell, which body was reinforced with internal bracing for when you took the fiberglass back off. In fact, before Toyota had a go at the SUV full swing they tip toed into the market with the Trekker, a factory authorized conversion of a Pickup into an SUV by Winnebago ( you can read about it here if you want )

The point is that, yes, the Hilux and the 4runner were the same truck, for the 1st generation of 4runner, and the 2nd.

In 1995, as Toyota grew larger and gained a strong US presence the need to build a pickup truck domestically to get around the 25% import tariff on small trucks as well as to strengthen its brand in North American meant it was time to leave the work based Hilux to other markets and create the North American styled, built and recreationally focused Tacoma to replace the rough and tough Hilux.

The Tacoma was no longer related to the Toyota Hilux, which continued to be sold elsewhere in the world which meant that the by now very popular 4Runner, would need to come from somewhere else. Strong growth in the SUV market as a suitable family vehicle meant that a truck based utility vehicle no longer made sense as a base and so Toyota looked elsewhere for a suitable platform and found one in the international light duty Land Cruiser known as the Prado (Code J90) on which the 3rd gen 4Runner was based

While many components continued to be shared across the entire light duty truck range (engines, transfer cases, transmission, axles, some front suspension components) they were different platform: Tacoma, Hilux and Prado/4runner.

It’s here the pickup trucks and SUV’s in North America diverged and never again crossed paths. The Tacoma continuing on as a stand alone model made in the US and Mexico, and the International Prado/4Runner made in Japan which made financial sense to Toyota since only trucks (and not passenger vehicles like SUV’s) were subject to the import tariff. Hence, a Tacoma and a 4runner have never been [directly] related.

The 4th generation 4Runner moved to the new J120 platform which was followed up by the Fj cruiser which was also based on the J120. In addition, the 4th generation J120 Chassis also brought us the Lexus Gx470, which is most visually similar to its platform donor, the Prado J120

The Current GX and Prado J150 are again virtual doppelgangers based on the latest platform of Prado

As well as the current 5th Generation 4runner

Once again, there are many mechanical similarities to the Toyota light duty trucks (Hilux, Prado/4Runner/Tacoma) but they are not the same platform.

Interestingly enough, in markets where the Hilux is still sold there IS an suv based off that platform called the Toyota Fortuner. It exists separately from the Prado and is, ironically, built to satisfy the more pedestrian roles the 4Runner was meant to take on when it adopted the Prado chassis, which in other markets is seen as a much more agricultural and traditional SUV.

Replies (32)

"victor" (victor)
01/12/2017 at 17:49, STARS: 0

Current Prado D-4D 2.8 engine is a total dog. I’d still rock a Prado here if I could.

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
01/12/2017 at 17:50, STARS: 0

really? I’ve heard good things about the 2.8. I mean, Toyota has never played the HP war games, but i hear its perfectly adequate.

"Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap" (ddadragon)
01/12/2017 at 17:56, STARS: 0

Wasn’t it called the 4runner only in the US market?

"Amoore100" (amoore100)
01/12/2017 at 17:57, STARS: 2

But this:

Is a Hilux wagon, right?

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
01/12/2017 at 17:59, STARS: 0

That used to be the case, but the Surf is now the 4Runner in most markets where its sold.

"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
01/12/2017 at 18:00, STARS: 1

The Lexus GX is my biggest inexplicable want in the automotive world. Not the current one, but the previous two (J120 and the facelift). I just can’t do The Predator.

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
01/12/2017 at 18:00, STARS: 2

Nerts, I was going to include the Fortuner (stupidest name ever) and forgot...to the editing room!

"vicali" (vicali)
01/12/2017 at 18:02, STARS: 1

Bolt pattern is the same though..

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
01/12/2017 at 18:04, STARS: 4

GX470's are being the hot biz in the overland world right now. Great trucks.

"EL_ULY" (uly)
01/12/2017 at 18:04, STARS: 2

epic truck-gasm, yo!

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
01/12/2017 at 18:05, STARS: 3

Toyota aint no dummy, in fact all the Toyota Trucks moved to a 5 bolt in 1998. Its weird that my 97 Land cruiser is a 6 lug, but the 1998 Land Cruiser is 5, despite being massively heavier.

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
01/12/2017 at 18:09, STARS: 0

The Trekker (and the Breaker-Breaker for that matter) are incredibly rare and very expensive. I hope one I see one in person some day.

"benjrblant" (benjblant)
01/12/2017 at 18:10, STARS: 0

It might be down a nut, but they are bigger.

"Amoore100" (amoore100)
01/12/2017 at 18:10, STARS: 0

Nice fix, but I thought this was the Prado’s agricultural cousin?

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
01/12/2017 at 18:11, STARS: 8

what is: Lance Armstrong?

"benjrblant" (benjblant)
01/12/2017 at 18:12, STARS: 1

Nice! Starts out logical, much like the original Hilux/surf, then just gets more complicated and boring as time progresses. Much like most of the Toyota lineup.

I see what you did there.

Also, 4runner final assembly is in Japan. Taco, Tundra, and Sequoia are assembled in ‘Murica.

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
01/12/2017 at 18:13, STARS: 2

They all 3 exist...which I find fascinating. The Prado is a “light Duty” Land cruiser, so Land Cruisery kinds of work...but not as much. The Fortuner is clearly and squarly aimed at families that want an off-road capable family wagon, much like the 4Runner is here.

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
01/12/2017 at 18:15, STARS: 2

Yup, Exactly...well or Baja. What’s interesting is that the Sequoia isn’t even a Tundra SUV, its chassis is semi-related to the 200 series land Cruiser, but unique to it (IRS, not solid rear axle). What a weird ship Toyota runs.

"Probenja" (probenja)
01/12/2017 at 18:21, STARS: 5

There’s also the Toyota Innova which is a Hilux minivan but it’s probably off topic:

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
01/12/2017 at 18:30, STARS: 3

Well now that is a thing I didn’t know existed. Not as cool as the Tacoma based sienna [concept]

but still interesting. Why though?

"Under_Score" (tomtheatum)
01/12/2017 at 18:34, STARS: 0

Those fifth gen 4Runner Limited wheels on that fourth gen look nice.

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
01/12/2017 at 18:38, STARS: 3

Man, what a headscratcher of a vehicle. Its like if GM was still making the astro/safari

Given they have the Fortuner, the Kluger the Prado AND the Tarago...whats the point?

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
01/12/2017 at 18:40, STARS: 2

I’ve never liked the limited wheels, but maybe thats because I have instant dislike of any wheels larger than 16 in on a 4x4

"RonnyPStiggs" (dyeg96)
01/12/2017 at 19:03, STARS: 0

Fun fact: the 3.4L 5VZ can be bolted the the R150 trans and engine mounts of the 1st and 2nd gen trucks and 4runners that have the 3.slow 3VZ. There’s a company that sells a whole conversion kit.

"vicali" (vicali)
01/12/2017 at 19:06, STARS: 0

or Tom Green.

"Probenja" (probenja)
01/12/2017 at 19:14, STARS: 2

Cheaper than all those you mentioned and high ground clearence/reliable chassis for places like India where it sells really well. Rear wheel drive only though so they make you get the Fortuner if you want to go off road.

"vicali" (vicali)
01/12/2017 at 19:15, STARS: 1

All I see..

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
01/12/2017 at 19:29, STARS: 0

Fair point

"dogisbadob" (dogisbadob)
01/12/2017 at 19:30, STARS: 0

I like the tall rear side windows on those old pre-Tacoma Hilux extended cabs. All the Japanese trucks of the late 80s seemed to do that.

Just too bad Toyota didn’t just build the Hilux in the US instead of making the weaker Tacoma.

Fortuner... four-tonner? :p

"Tapas" (tapas)
01/13/2017 at 04:37, STARS: 0

So I hit the start button to recommend your post.

Your recommended starts went down when I hit it. I kept hitting it till you had zero stars? Wtf kinja?!

"Tapas" (tapas)
01/13/2017 at 04:38, STARS: 0

Its called the “Innova” here. I put quotes because it’s stayed the same since 2004.

"adamftw" (adamftw)
01/13/2017 at 06:53, STARS: 0

Wasn’t the first gen Seqouia a Tundra SUV and now it’s more differener?