Over the course of its 40 years on sale, the Toyota 4Runner has earned the fame of being nearly bulletproof with regards to reliability and nearly unstoppable in tough off-road conditions, and for probably the most half these are correct statements. The most important downside with shopping for considered one of these rugged vehicles is the ridiculous costs they promote for — even examples with over 100,000 miles on their odometers promote for giant bucks.
The purpose of this weblog is to not rip on the 4Runner. Truthfully they’re powerful automobiles to fault and I’m a 4Runner fan, I am simply not a fan of their outrageous costs. Toyota’s different legendary off-roaders just like the Land Cruiser and FJ Cruiser each promote with huge value tags regardless of their mileage or age, too, however what rugged, succesful, and dependable off-roader would not promote for as ridiculous costs? The great ol’ second-generation Nissan Xterra, and its huge brother the third-gen Pathfinder. Each provide comparable off-road chops to the Toyota vehicles for round $10,000 much less, and each have correct roofs and extra on-road refinement than one thing like a Jeep Wrangler. Hear me out.
Naturally aspirated V6, accessible low-range 4WD, and truck-based toughness
The Xterra could technically be a compact SUV, but it surely seats 5 just like the 4Runner, and its 4.0-liter V6 produces 265 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque, six extra torques than the fifth-gen Toyota 4Runner’s 4.0-liter V6 however 5 fewer horsepower. The Xterra is a couple of foot shorter general than the fifth-gen 4Runner, so it does endure from a smaller cargo bay, however which means it has a two-inch-shorter wheelbase so it is able to a greater breakover angle. When geared up, the Xterra has a part-time four-wheel-drive system with an digital switch case with each excessive and low ranges, in addition to a locking rear differential.
The Xterra’s 4.0-liter V6 is a variation of the model’s VQ engine which was utilized in lots of Nissan’s fashions so there are many retailers which are acquainted with them and loads of elements accessible to restore or modify them. Another excuse that hardcore off-roaders flock to 4Runners is their accessible handbook transmission, which is a function that the Xterra affords, too.
Not essentially low cost, however cheaper than Toyotas
In the event you’ve ever searched the web for used Toyota 4Runners, Land Cruisers, or FJ Cruisers, what I am speaking about. They’re virtually at all times considerably costlier than different SUVs of comparable age and particularly at comparable mileage. I’ve even been responsible of claiming that their engines are barely simply getting broken-in at 100,000 miles, however spending practically $30,000 on a 10-year-old truck with 100,000 miles is hard to suggest, even for a Toyota off-roader. Nissan Xterras could also be a bit tougher to seek out, however low-mileage Xterra 4X4s usually value about $10,000 lower than comparable 4Runners, going for rather more affordable sums between $10,000 and about $20,000.
In the event you want extra room than the Xterra affords, Nissan constructed its Pathfinder SUV on the identical truck platform because the Xterra from 2005 to 2012, and it was even supplied with a 3rd row. Each the Pathfinder and Xterra fashions from this era are less expensive than their Toyota rivals, and symbolize a greater worth proposition with out sacrificing the rough-and-tumbled off-road functionality. Plus, you may stand out from all of the Toyota vehicles in your off-road excursions, and when you ask me, it is at all times higher to face out than to mix in.
