i owned a 2001 4runner prior to purchasing my X5. since selling the X5, i've
reacquired my previous 4runner. as xx3 said, they really aren't in the same class,
but u already know that. i don't have any experience w/ any of the other vehicles
except for the 4runner. i've enjoyed my 4runner and w/ the right mods, it's helping
me not to miss the X5 too, too much. i don't know about the 4runner's safety
rating, but it should be plenty big for a family of 4 and a dog. what kind of dog?

H2

I have driven both a 4runner (loaner car) and owned a Ford Explorer

4Runner-I would say it is VERY rough driving, you know your driving a truck and the loose steering didn't inspire much confidence in it's safety, it is a tall, harsh car and I wouldn't recommend it due to the fact that it is expensive and never felt very sold, on the upside the Seats are very comftorable and it has a good sound system and I like the looks

Explorer-This is definitly a better vehicle then the 4runner, especially now with the improvements they have made. My Eddie Bauer 4x4 was good in all areas but never great, it offered good comfort, a great sound system and excellent (in my opinion) braking, but again loose steering! I loved the look of the interior and found it to be quite durable under heavy use. The AC/Heat system worked well for me. On the down side, like the X5 the seats could be considered stiff and suffered from cheap-grade easily fading leather that looked aged quick quickly.

Overall-The Explorer is a far superior car, then and today to the 4runner, it's safer, quieter and more luxurious then the 4runner, the 4 is better offroad but you do not need that, so why sacrifice the comfort of a lower step in height?

Bekah,
I personally don't have any experience with the vehicles you listed. A good friend of mine who has two boys - 10 and 7 - has a Pilot and loves it. She actually just got her 2nd.

She got rear ended waiting at a railroad crossing of all places. The kids were freaked needless to say. The cop on the scene could not beileve how well the pilot held up. No one was hurt. The nose of the car that hit her was destroyed.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Laura

:confused: what model years are u comparing? the new v6 has 236HP and the v8 has 260HP.

Brknlgs24- Sasha is a pure bred pit bull!

IMHO:
get the 'hoe :rofl:
you can find one stuffed at a lower price point thanks to incentives, and it has tons of cool gadgets (and DOD, which may or may not be the second coming of SMG in GM form)
Everything else... just seems to 'hollow'
$.02...

ah, ok. i was only asking because if u had an english mastiff or something similar,
u might want to look at even bigger SUV's.

I say go with the Tahoe. The new model looks good and its huge. You have to get the LT or LTZ though with the 20" rims.

:thumbdown

I don't think its a crime anymore to key those around here... :nanana:
well, it is better for the environment than a prius :rofl: