Any regrets buying the 6th gen vs 5th gen

[thomasJ2352]

I remember a story from my motorcycle years of a guy who when he bought a new bmw cycle brought it home, purposely laid it over on the garage floor, picked it back up and said...ok...its got a scratch now...I'm going to worry about it! Dont think I could do that but I get it...I'll likely baby it as well when I bring it home then learn to relax after a year or so!

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[Evergreen104]

This 6th gen is overall so much better. The negatives are smaller gas tank, higher cargo platform, and interior not as well screwed down as previous. That said this 6th gen drives and rides so much better and mpg is definitely an improvement.

 

[T4RAZ]

No regrets with the 6th Gen other than how damn soft the clear coat and paint are (obviously getting black wasn't my best decision here, but I still love the look.)

I never owned a 5th gen but have rented most of the trims from Turo and have driven several thousand miles in them, including a lot offroad. Just about every single complaint I see about the 6G is just as bad or worse in the 5G.

-Ride quality over bumps isn't super impressive in either, but the 5G has awful brake dive and wobbles in tight corners and high wind. The 6G feels way more planted.
-Wind noise is noticeably worse in the 5th Gen
-Neither is as spacious inside as they look like they should be, but 6G isn't any worse than 5G imo
-6G interior does feel a bit plasticky in places, but again, I don't think the 5G is all that much better
-6G seats are comfier, though the back seats are bit more cramped (not that I sit back there)
-6G console, screens, and tech are a massive upgrade
-5G engine is hella sluggish, especially uphill and at altitude. 6G crushes it for low down torque, highway speeds, and overtaking
-6G transmission can definitely be a little clunky, especially after cold start between 2nd and 3rd, but 5G will hunt gears continuously and downshift at weird times
-5G is well known for wheel shake at ~60mph -- 6G has no such issues
-6G back seat folding is definitely inferior, but 5G seats still don't fold flat either. At 6'3" I can't sleep in the back of either without a platform. Both are inferior to my old Grand Cherokee, Honda Trailsports, etc. that lay fully flat. This is by far my biggest complaint with the 4Runner overall, but it is what it is.
-The obvious elephant in the room is overall reliability. The 5G is legendary and can often go 300k+ miles without too many issues. The 6G is a bit unproven here by nature of being new, but this has been discussed ad nauseam and personally if I can get 200k+ out of it, I'll still be happy compared to any previous vehicle I've owned.
-One thing I don't love with the 6G is the rear window logic. The inside button always works but the outside buttons have some weird-ass rules I still haven't quite figured out. Can't roll it down while the engine's running if a door is open, can't open the tailgate with the window down, etc. Sometimes it just won't go down for no obvious reason and will beep at you for what feels like 15 seconds for no apparent reason. I don't recall this ever being an issue with the 5G.
-Styling is entirely subjective. Both look rad but I still find myself looking back at my 6G even after a year plus.

Ultimately, if I were looking for a full time overlanding machine that I wanted to beat the shit out of for the next 20 years, I'd probably look at a 5th Gen. But for a daily driver with some weekend offroading and occasional road trips, the 6G checks way more boxes for me and I have zero regrets.

I currently own a 6th gen and 5th gen.
I've also had a 4th gen another 5th gen and several Tacomas as well. The 4Runner and Tacoma quality is worlds apart, which is why I'm back in a 4Runner. I agree with pretty much all of this, except the wheel shake, never heard of or experienced that? I do still love the 5th gen though and won't ever be getting rid of this one. I'll add that 5th gen windshield more than any other gets pretty sand pitted and trashed after many miles on the freeways in AZ though

 

[Steveg203]

I have a 2026 limited and I traded in a 2020 Honda Passport. I do miss ride of the Passport. This is my first 4 runner and I had regrets at first. I’m really starting to like it now. I was having issues with the last few Honda’s I had.

 

[1stRunner]

No regrets with the 6th Gen other than how damn soft the clear coat and paint are (obviously getting black wasn't my best decision here, but I still love the look.)

I never owned a 5th gen but have rented most of the trims from Turo and have driven several thousand miles in them, including a lot offroad. Just about every single complaint I see about the 6G is just as bad or worse in the 5G.

-Ride quality over bumps isn't super impressive in either, but the 5G has awful brake dive and wobbles in tight corners and high wind. The 6G feels way more planted.
-Wind noise is noticeably worse in the 5th Gen
-Neither is as spacious inside as they look like they should be, but 6G isn't any worse than 5G imo
-6G interior does feel a bit plasticky in places, but again, I don't think the 5G is all that much better
-6G seats are comfier, though the back seats are bit more cramped (not that I sit back there)
-6G console, screens, and tech are a massive upgrade
-5G engine is hella sluggish, especially uphill and at altitude. 6G crushes it for low down torque, highway speeds, and overtaking
-6G transmission can definitely be a little clunky, especially after cold start between 2nd and 3rd, but 5G will hunt gears continuously and downshift at weird times
-5G is well known for wheel shake at ~60mph -- 6G has no such issues
-6G back seat folding is definitely inferior, but 5G seats still don't fold flat either. At 6'3" I can't sleep in the back of either without a platform. Both are inferior to my old Grand Cherokee, Honda Trailsports, etc. that lay fully flat. This is by far my biggest complaint with the 4Runner overall, but it is what it is.
-The obvious elephant in the room is overall reliability. The 5G is legendary and can often go 300k+ miles without too many issues. The 6G is a bit unproven here by nature of being new, but this has been discussed ad nauseam and personally if I can get 200k+ out of it, I'll still be happy compared to any previous vehicle I've owned.
-One thing I don't love with the 6G is the rear window logic. The inside button always works but the outside buttons have some weird-ass rules I still haven't quite figured out. Can't roll it down while the engine's running if a door is open, can't open the tailgate with the window down, etc. Sometimes it just won't go down for no obvious reason and will beep at you for what feels like 15 seconds for no apparent reason. I don't recall this ever being an issue with the 5G.
-Styling is entirely subjective. Both look rad but I still find myself looking back at my 6G even after a year plus.

Ultimately, if I were looking for a full time overlanding machine that I wanted to beat the shit out of for the next 20 years, I'd probably look at a 5th Gen. But for a daily driver with some weekend offroading and occasional road trips, the 6G checks way more boxes for me and I have zero regrets.

Wow nice input, much appreciated!

 

[Yoli]

I had a lot of people telling to get a used 5th gen vs a new 6th gen. But I looked and the value was not there. 10k less for aa 2-3 year old more stripped down version with 20-30k miles. No thanks.

This was pretty much my exact reasoning as well. Plus I get a 3yr warranty for that extra 10k on a new vehicle with near-0 miles (mine had 4)

 

[MartyMcFly]

My 5th Gen was my fav vehicle I have ever owned.

The 6th Gen hybrid is more fun to drive. Lost a little storage room but I just removed the back seats as my kids are grown and I don't use them. As I have the hybrid so I don't love the bump in the back but it's really not a big deal. My list of issues with the vehicle ends there. I have absolutely no regrets.

 

[Desert_6Gen]

Drive both. They are night and day difference. Both have their pros and cons.

 

[SGXLX]

Just over a year of ownership of my 6th Gen and I still look at my vehicle with the same passion and enthusiasm as the day I drove home from the dealer. The handling and daily driving of this generation 4Runner, in my opinion, vastly improved on the 5th Gen. MPG's UP, Power UP, infotainment improved. My only wish, was it had the built in dash cam using the existing cameras on the vehicle, that is available on the 6th Gen RAV4's. I do find myself watching my mileage like a hawk so that I keep up with the maintenance. Just over 14K miles and loved every mile driven both on and offroad adventures. Toyota, let's go places.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

I do regret waiting all the way until October to pull the trigger on getting mine.

Other than that….no.

 

[EricGoleta]

My 6G is my 1st 4Runner. I've had for 6 months and love it, already put 7500 miles on it for trips and look foreword to many more. Comfortable, powerful, plain fun to drive. I'm very happy I bought it.

One thing I did do was do XPEL PPF the sides, front, and partial hood. Toyota is known for soft paint. My 83 SR5 pickup peeled so bad that Toyota repainted it under warranty after 4 years old. Luckily I started complaining in the 3rd year and the dealer backed me. I've bashed thru bushes on trails and not a scratch on it

 

[Brody_703]

I miss my 2022 5th gen. Much better headlights, larger coverage area for the windshield wipers, less cramped feeling and better quality interior, limo-like back seat, better sounding engine, smoother transmission, no windshield spray in rain when the active vents operate, softer ride over bumps, no front window rattle, the list goes on. If I could do it again, I would not have traded.

 

[jblack]

I miss my 2022 5th gen. Much better headlights, larger coverage area for the windshield wipers, less cramped feeling and better quality interior, limo-like back seat, better sounding engine, smoother transmission, no windshield spray in rain when the active vents operate, softer ride over bumps, no front window rattle, the list goes on. If I could do it again, I would not have traded.

Yeah traded a 2022 and yes I could have said the same
Back seat when back there is actually better than one would expect and feels weirdly very similar to the 5th gen but some positives there is more room between the edge of the rear seat and the door and i suspect the seat base is longer giving more thigh support
Air flow to the rear sear via the console vents seems better it was pathetic in the 5th gen
Regrets? Not really much point in regrets if anything only how much the thing was to buy
Never thought I would buy a car at lexus prices
But SR5 was too stripped out and still expensive

 

[jayT]

yep..i really tried to like the 6th gen vs the 5th Gen. i purchased the 2025 6th Gen SR5 PT4WD, thinking if i did mods to it, i would like it..Paid cash for it-paying it off when purchased..After 10 months or so of ownership, I traded it..B/c of all the mods i did to it, i lost about $7000, including the new vehicle I purchased later..i ended up trading for a 2025 Ford Bronco Badlands (Mid pkg) with a Sasquatch Pkg...I came from owning a 2008 Toyo FJ Cruiser 4WD, that I purchased in the Fall of 2007 and owned it for 18 1/2 years, at which time in july of 2025, i purchased the 2025 4R with PT4WD..i liked to to some degree with my mods but i just didnt want it anymore..lol

 

[thomasJ2352]

wish the bronco had a greater towing capacity

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