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Just purchased a 2024 4Runner, getting out of a 2018 Outback. They already don’t make ‘em like they used to, 4Runner inventory is basically nil now until the new 2025 style debuts.
Real-world driving has been 19-20 mpg for an 80 mile round trip commute, 2-3 days a week.
If I end up commuting 5 days a week and gas goes to $7, it represents an additional $3500 in annual gas cost over my old Outback. Given that it will last longer than a Subaru or nearly anything else, I think I am OK with this. By the time I need to replace it, EV tech may be more mature and worth buying, or we will collectively admit that regulating ICE out of existence is not a viable plan.
Worst case, I buy an economical third car to share some of the commuting miles.
Worst worst case, I anticipate there will be buyers for 5th gen 4Runners for some time in the event I don’t want to drive the wheels off it. Toyota will be aggressive about fixing the problems with their new turbo truck engines, but I still don’t see light duty gas turbo engines standing the test of time in salty winter locations. There’s just less to go wrong with the 4.0.
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