To surf or to find the path first?

The Toyota 4Runner has been sold throughout the world from 1984 to present. In Japan it was known as the Toyota Hilux Surf. The 1990 model 4Runner represented a fundamental departure from the first-generation model. Instead of an enhanced pickup truck, the new 4Runners featured a freshly designed body mounted on an existing frame. The Nissan Pathfinder is a crossover SUV manufactured by Nissan Motors since 1986, derived from Nissan’s compact pickup truck platform. The second generation had more rounded styling. It was completely redesigned, switching from body on frame to unibody construction.

The Toyota 4 Runner and Nissan Pathfinder vehicles fill the middle ground as sports utility vehicles (SUVs) which are neither big station wagons like the Land Cruiser or Patrol nor small SUVs like the RAV4 or X-Trail. These two contenders are more like well built mid size pickup trucks, whose performance, design, interior fittings and comfort features have been upgraded over the years to make the them more competitive and attractive to the buyers.

The second generation 4 Runner also called Surf was built between 1989-1995 while the second generation Pathfinder a.k,a R50 Terrano Regulus was built between 1996-2004. Both vehicles were offered with V6 petrol and turbo diesel engines ranging from 2.4 litres to 3.5 litres. The most popular engine on these two contenders found in Ugandan bonded warehouses, is the 3.0 litre turbo diesel.

Performance
The Toyota 4 Runner and Nissan Pathfinder are “big in Japan” and the rest of the world due to their robust and reliable service. They come from a heritage of hard working and strong vehicles, which have impressive performance statistics in their league. The Pathfinder, however, breaks away from the pack with a more impressive performance. The Pathfinder is ‘faster and more furious’ delivering quicker acceleration, more pulling power and better fuel economy than the 4Runner.

Pathfinder’s nimble and “fuel friendly” performance is due to its turbo diesel with intercooled engine under double overhead camshafts and 16 valves. These features improve the Pathfinder’s high engine power output at low revolutions due to the higher gear ratios which results in greater fuel saving as the exhaust is re-circulated for “re-burning”.

Handling
The 4Runner and Pathfinder are both “muscular and tough” both on and off road. They both were remodelled with unitary chassis and body – “single shell” construction, as opposed to their predecessors’ body mounted on chassis platform. The unibody (mono coque) chassis and low profile gives both vehicles improved handling and response to altering dynamic forces.

The sporty but firm independent suspension on both vehicles improves the road holding when driving fast through sharp bends on Uganda’s highways. Pathfinder’s innovative ‘4WD shift on the fly’ gearbox enables the driver to conveniently flick a button to auto select four wheel drive high or low ratio when stuck, on the move without stopping. 4Runner on the other hand offers a manual but practical four wheel drive selector with two wheel and four wheel drive options for the high and low range gears accompanied by the limited slip differential. This gives the 4Runner an advantage in some tricky off-road driving situations common in Uganda.

Style, design and comfort
The second generation 4Runner and Pathfinder come with bolder, smarter and more innovative exterior and interior styling and designing. Better front headlights, grille and wheel arch designs make a statement and emphasise the muscular business like presence of these two contenders. Both SUVs are spacious, comfortable and endowed with the modern amenities like power mirrors and locks, CD entertainment and air conditioning. The Toyota 4Runner edges out Pathfinder in this segment with its convenient rear split seat and drop down rear tail gate window. This allows easy and convenient loading of cargo and carrying exceptionally long items through the open tail gate window.

Reliability, safety and resale value
The 4Runner and Pathfinder are reliable vehicles if bought in a good condition and maintained in accordance to manufacturer’s recommended service guidelines. The mileage of a used car matters especially if it is beyond 100,000 kilometres as there are costly major maintenance parts replacements due such as timing belts, suspension and gearbox service. Both models have dealers who stock fast moving parts for them but may not have some slow moving items like body panels. The used car market alleviates the situation for the 4Runner by availing used engines, gearboxes and suspension or body parts making it easier to look after the Toyota in Uganda. This gives the 4Runner a better resale value.

4Runner and Pathfinder attracted some safety concerns in the United States about the centre of gravity and stability when driving fast around sharp corners, on the first and second generations.
This seems to be addressed when the subsequent generation SUVs came with wider tyre track profiles.
There was a conscious effort to include side door passenger protection (side intrusion protection beams) and supplementary restraint systems (SRS) for both passengers on later models.

Verdict
Nissan Pathfinder earns a start point for an engine performance edge over the 4Runner and two more points for good handling, style and design. Toyota 4Runner earns four star points for good handling, style and design as well as better after sales maintenance parts availability as well as resale value.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com