Why Are 4Runners So Expensive?

The offerings from Toyota stand out a lot when it comes to having high popularity among motorists. And as the 4Runner is within the lineup of Toyota cars, it is not an exception. However, when looking for a 4Runner, you will be quite surprised by its price. Even the used ones have a high price tag.

So, why are 4Runners so expensive? Well, the reasons are pretty simple! They have a higher reliability rating, they hold a high resale value, the demand for them never drops too much, and they have a low maintenance cost.

Want to know about each of these factors in detail? You would want to stick with this discussion as we will get to the bottom of the topic!

What Makes 4Runners So Expensive?

Let us get right into the topic at hand! So, these are the reasons why 4Runners generally has a higher overall price tag:

High Reliability

Toyota has configured the 4Runners with better dynamic mechanics. Thanks to that, these vehicles are insanely reliable. If you carry out a brief scan through the online forums, you will notice a ton of these cars have already clocked in 400 thousand miles. That is not a small number at all!

A lot of the owners also share their overall experience with the vehicle. And according to them, even after clocking thousands of miles, their 4Runners are providing impressive performance with a few occasional glitches. Some of the owners will also claim that they have clocked in more than 700 thousand miles.

It goes without saying that the brand has an inherent reputation for manufacturing long-lasting and reliable trucks and SUVs. And the 4Runners happens to be a good specimen for the brand.

Basically, Toyota manufactures the 4Runners to last long. And as per the consumer reports, these vehicles bagged a reliability rating of 5 stars out of 5. This rating has been consistent since 2010. The rating only dipped to four stars out of 5 on the 2015 model that Toyota pushed out.

4Runners Hold a High Value

The 4Runners always run in high demand. Well, the answer lies in the ability of the vehicles to hold their value over time. According to different reports, the 4Runnbers tend to lose only 35 percent of their initial value in the first five years. Naturally, these models will make their way into the list of the best cars out there.

This high resale value generally prompts people in terms of getting new 4runners. It naturally fuels the overall demand for these cars. Now, it goes without saying that the brand manages to make thousands of sales for such cars at relatively high prices due to their value.

Furthermore, as the 4Runnbers go through a very slow rate of depreciation, even the used cars hold a higher value in the market.

Supply and Demand Equation

A report from 2020 stated that Toyota 4Runner was among the very top 25 extremely popular vehicles. And for the legacy of Toyota when it comes to offering high-performance cars, this demand never seems to dip. This fact answers why Toyota owns the right to increase the price of the 4Runners periodically.

According to current demand trends, most new owners tend to retain their vehicles for several years. This fact implies that the used or second-hand market will have fewer cars compared to the demand for these used vehicles. And you can guess that the 4Runners naturally surpasses the supply, which further inflates the price.

Low Maintenance Cost

Nothing seems to bother used car owners more than high maintenance costs. However, that is not the case for a second-hand 4Runner. It has a relatively low repair and maintenance cost — no wonder why it is one of the most sought-after vehicles in the used car market.

In fact, the 4Runners might be one of the cheapest SUVs in terms of maintenance costs. Furthermore, you should note that the aftermarket spare parts for the 4Runners are pretty strong, thanks to their high demand. For that reason, you will not have to worry about spending too much time or struggling to get replacement parts.

Is Toyota 4Runners Worth the Money?

It is worth the money if you can afford a Toyota 4Runner. Toyota justifies the higher price tag with reliability, low-maintenance cost, and better overall performance. And as you can see, all of these claims are true. That is probably one of the most important reasons why the demand for 4Runners refuses to settle down.

The fact that 4Runners hold their overall value for a long time after the sale makes the used versions expensive. That is why it would be safe to assume that you are making a fruitful investment when purchasing the Toyota 4Runner. 

Yes, you can not ignore that the used 4Runners will generally cost the same as a new average SUV. However, the new average SUV will not be capable of providing the same level of performance as a properly maintained 4Runner.

For that reason, many car enthusiasts will recommend you opt for a used 4Runner instead of getting a new SUV at the same price. And the recommendation is totally valid. The value you will get from a 4Runner, even a used one, will be higher than the other SUVs.

Moreover, you should put the low-maintenance cost into the equation. But what about the common problems that happen with the 4Runners? Well, the thing is, every brand has its flaws. The same thing goes for the Toyota 4Runners. 

There are reports regarding technical glitches occurring over time. However, if you keep the standard parameters, the SUV does not have too many problems. 

Final Words

So, why are 4Runners so expensive again? In a nutshell, The 4Runner from Toyota is a great SUV. It excels in most factors, including reliability, resale value, and demand. Even the cost to maintain the SUV is comparatively low. And that is why the 4Runners are more expensive than most of the other SUVs.