And now for their respective costs of entry. The most basic Tacoma, a two-wheel-drive SR with the XtraCab, starts at $33,990 including the destination fee. The least expensive 4Runner — which, remember, has more doors and seats — is the rear-wheel-drive SR5 and runs from $43,465. If you were to option a Tacoma SR5 with the Double Cab and short bed, making it more comparable to the SUV, it’s $35,650. That means adding a roof on the back raises the price by almost eight grand.
The least expensive hybrid Tacoma is a TRD Sport with a starting price of $48,780. The cheapest way into a gas-electric 4Runner is with the TRD Off-Road trim for $54,685. And if you go all in and choose the hybrid-only TRD Pro that tops both lineups, it’s $66,195 for a truck and $69,795 for the SUV before options.
Which one you choose comes down to what you plan to do with it. The Tacoma can save you a little or a lot over a 4Runner, but it can’t keep your family and your grocery haul safe and dry at the same time. That said, it’s a heck of a lot easier to toss a muddy mountain bike into the back of the Taco than the 4Runner. Either way, Toyota wins this scrimmage.
