Not all off-road SUVs spend their life in the dirt, some are on pavement just as much as the trails, if not more so. We set out to see what's the most practical off-roader for daily life, yet still ready to tackle the trails. Kyle went the sensible route while Mike went a little off script.
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Jeep Wrangler vs Toyota 4Runner: Can They Be Sensible Daily Drivers?
Not all off-road SUVs spend their life in the dirt, some are on pavement just as much as the trails, if not more so. We set out to see what's the most practical off-roader for daily life, yet still ready to tackle the trails. Kyle went the sensible route while Mike went a little off script.
Both are fantastic but if you off road more I think the Wrangler is better.![Image]()
Not all off-road SUVs spend their life in the dirt, some are on pavement just as much as the trails, if not more so. We set out to see what's the most practical off-roader for daily life, yet still ready to tackle the trails. Kyle went the sensible route while Mike went a little off script.
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Prices are sky high on both, thats for sure. And when used, people still think they are made of gold.
The alternate title for the video could be: "Here's why I think my vehicle is better." lol. Why on earth didn't they switch off and drive the other person's vehicle so they can contrast?? It's really not a fair comparison between the two vehicles, but if I had t choose, no doubt the 4Runner would make the better more comfortable family DD with occasional off-roading. If hard-core off-roading is in the cards, the Jeep is the way to go. How often do people REALLY 'wheel' their new and DD family vehicles hard-core? Sure a small number of owners do, but how often? Most people might do a few trails with their vehicles, the same kind of trails I could do in a plain subaru. It's not like doing Moab trails every weekend. If yer doing many trails, then the Jeep or a Bronco is for sure the better vehicle.
Jeep Thoughts:
I rented a '25 almost brand new, Rubicon 4XE for 5 days and drove from Chicago to St Louis (R/T) ....and around St Louis area quite a bit. Thinking what it would be as a DD vs the 4Runner, I liked it but it was fatiguing to drive long distance on the interstate, and kind of stiff around town. The seats seem a lot stiffer than my Sahara. It's like Stellantis engineered the comfort out of the Jeep! Sure it drives fine on brand new roads like the video shows, but get on crappy roads for an hour and it's a different feeling. The seat bottoms are somethwhat high by way of how Jeep does their seating style. And the bottom of my Rt leg was being pinched by the stiff foam. And I'm normal height. The interior noise was quite high. That's the worst part of any Jeep for a DD. Too loud to really enjoy the stereo going 80 down the interstate. Obviously it was a Rubicon. I thought the 4cyl had plenty of power. I was astonished it was pretty powerful on the highway at 75 and 80mph. Plenty of pick-up around town. The handling dynamics are kind of wonky too. It tended to bounce around on rough roads and IDK... just had to keep on top of things constantly as you are driving. I have a solid axle G/C and the driving dynamics are much nicer IMO. Since most people spend 95%+ time on the road, IDK that I would spend full price on a new Jeep for a DD. But I'd consider one as a second vehicle if I found a good used deal (of course I own one so I guess I did). The 4XE would be wonderful if a guy did a lot of around-town driving and errands. But I live in the stix and a hybrid doesn't do me any good.
4Runner Thoughts:
I haven't driven a brand new 4Runner, but I'm a little familiar with the previous generations. They drive great. Like a car or SUV. They're not the spartan rugged 4Runners of the 90's. You don't have to 'try' to pilot it, and it's not going to get out from under you. Very predictable. Toyota makes a great vehicle. The attention is in the find details most mainstream DD buyers don't even know. But the ones you feel every day, like comfort, ...In the Toyota you sit lower to the ground, feet outstretched, more like a car than a truck. For longer distance and normal driving, I find that position a LOT more comfortable. But that's somewhat personal choice. Ergonomics are better IMO. The 4Runner is much quieter inside. The 4 runner electric lowering rear window is kind of a PITA for daily use when you just want to open the R door and put your stuff in the back and close the door and move on (several times during a shopping trip). Like my H3, you just open the door and put your stuff in there, and close it. Same as a Jeep. It's a 5 second one-step process. No waiting for the window to lower or go back up. Lastly, and more importantly too me, Toyota's have become butt-ugly over the years. Each new model gets uglier than the one it replaced!! I could never put my money down on a vehicle I thought was ugly no matter how great it drives on road or off. I'd opt for the Jeep for that one reason alone. Or better yet get a trail-rated Grand Cherokee or a Bronco ..before I'd get the ugly 4Runner.
Personally my H3 with a lower seat position, nicer leather seats, better stereo (even for an 07!!), IFS, rack/pinion steering, drives a LOT better than my Jeep. It is MUCH quieter inside. I've driven it out to Moab and back, taken it on a couple long trips. Does great off-road. But obviously there are reasons Jeep Wranglers are what they are. If you want to do the kind of things Jeep Wranglers can do, there aren't too many other options except maybe a kitted-out Bronco.
Jeep Thoughts:
I rented a '25 almost brand new, Rubicon 4XE for 5 days and drove from Chicago to St Louis (R/T) ....and around St Louis area quite a bit. Thinking what it would be as a DD vs the 4Runner, I liked it but it was fatiguing to drive long distance on the interstate, and kind of stiff around town. The seats seem a lot stiffer than my Sahara. It's like Stellantis engineered the comfort out of the Jeep! Sure it drives fine on brand new roads like the video shows, but get on crappy roads for an hour and it's a different feeling. The seat bottoms are somethwhat high by way of how Jeep does their seating style. And the bottom of my Rt leg was being pinched by the stiff foam. And I'm normal height. The interior noise was quite high. That's the worst part of any Jeep for a DD. Too loud to really enjoy the stereo going 80 down the interstate. Obviously it was a Rubicon. I thought the 4cyl had plenty of power. I was astonished it was pretty powerful on the highway at 75 and 80mph. Plenty of pick-up around town. The handling dynamics are kind of wonky too. It tended to bounce around on rough roads and IDK... just had to keep on top of things constantly as you are driving. I have a solid axle G/C and the driving dynamics are much nicer IMO. Since most people spend 95%+ time on the road, IDK that I would spend full price on a new Jeep for a DD. But I'd consider one as a second vehicle if I found a good used deal (of course I own one so I guess I did). The 4XE would be wonderful if a guy did a lot of around-town driving and errands. But I live in the stix and a hybrid doesn't do me any good.
4Runner Thoughts:
I haven't driven a brand new 4Runner, but I'm a little familiar with the previous generations. They drive great. Like a car or SUV. They're not the spartan rugged 4Runners of the 90's. You don't have to 'try' to pilot it, and it's not going to get out from under you. Very predictable. Toyota makes a great vehicle. The attention is in the find details most mainstream DD buyers don't even know. But the ones you feel every day, like comfort, ...In the Toyota you sit lower to the ground, feet outstretched, more like a car than a truck. For longer distance and normal driving, I find that position a LOT more comfortable. But that's somewhat personal choice. Ergonomics are better IMO. The 4Runner is much quieter inside. The 4 runner electric lowering rear window is kind of a PITA for daily use when you just want to open the R door and put your stuff in the back and close the door and move on (several times during a shopping trip). Like my H3, you just open the door and put your stuff in there, and close it. Same as a Jeep. It's a 5 second one-step process. No waiting for the window to lower or go back up. Lastly, and more importantly too me, Toyota's have become butt-ugly over the years. Each new model gets uglier than the one it replaced!! I could never put my money down on a vehicle I thought was ugly no matter how great it drives on road or off. I'd opt for the Jeep for that one reason alone. Or better yet get a trail-rated Grand Cherokee or a Bronco ..before I'd get the ugly 4Runner.
Personally my H3 with a lower seat position, nicer leather seats, better stereo (even for an 07!!), IFS, rack/pinion steering, drives a LOT better than my Jeep. It is MUCH quieter inside. I've driven it out to Moab and back, taken it on a couple long trips. Does great off-road. But obviously there are reasons Jeep Wranglers are what they are. If you want to do the kind of things Jeep Wranglers can do, there aren't too many other options except maybe a kitted-out Bronco.
i agree on the looks on the toyotas, they are terrible now.
also on the seats in the wrangler. i don't know why the base is so tall. i am only 5'8" and can't wear a hat while driving my wife's 2019 because the baseball hat rubs the soft top. i put the seat as low as i can and its still very high.
and the interior noise on the wrangler is terrible but we have a soft top. the jlu soft top is waaaayyyyy better then our previous jku or any of our tj, yj, or cj soft tops though. the improvement is astonishing but still, at highway speeds (here in texas, thats 80+) the interior noise means you cannot have a conversation without yelling and you are not listening to the radio, at all. the soft top is so loud that my wife would rather us drive my truck on trips out of town than her wrangler.
also on the seats in the wrangler. i don't know why the base is so tall. i am only 5'8" and can't wear a hat while driving my wife's 2019 because the baseball hat rubs the soft top. i put the seat as low as i can and its still very high.
and the interior noise on the wrangler is terrible but we have a soft top. the jlu soft top is waaaayyyyy better then our previous jku or any of our tj, yj, or cj soft tops though. the improvement is astonishing but still, at highway speeds (here in texas, thats 80+) the interior noise means you cannot have a conversation without yelling and you are not listening to the radio, at all. the soft top is so loud that my wife would rather us drive my truck on trips out of town than her wrangler.
It's like there was an internal design challenge at Toyota that is a joke on the rest of us: "Let's see how ugly we can make our vehicles and still hood-wink people into buying them!"
Kia's and Fords look pretty good. GM seems to think they need to play catch-up and join the "If Toyota can make them ugly, we can too!" club.
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