From a more practical perspective, 3rd gen 4Runner has a larger cargo space than either gen 1 or gen 2 Xterra, if that is at all important. Roll down rear window is just plain awesome. 3g 4Runner has better articulation front and rear than both generations of Xterra, again, if that is important. 4Runner 3.4L has a lot more balls than the wheezy VG33 IMO, but VQ40 on gen 2 Xterra is a beast. Also, watch out for noisy timing chains on early-year VQ40s, and cracked exhaust manifolds on VG33 (ultimately leads to cat failure). Overall reliability wise I'd give the edge to the 4Runner but again, at this age condition and upkeep matter more.
OP I'd shop more on condition. If I found a clean 4wd Xterra V6 I'd scoop it up in a heartbeat, and I say this as a 3G 4Runner owner.
Here's a bit of a wildcard: Mitsubishi Montero II and Montero Sport. Fullsize IIs are pretty rare and hard to find in good condition, but they are very reasonably priced when you do. Stupendously overbuilt rigs, closer to a Land Cruiser really. Montero Sport is much closer to an Xterra or 4Runner by design, in that it is based on a compact pickup truck. Sports are good trucks as well IMO, engines/transmissions are generally reliable, aside from some oil leaks from valve cover gaskets and such.
Juan Thompson
>Nissan Xterra comes with 4.0 v6 producing 261 hp and 281 tq >Toyota FJ Cruiser comes with 4.0 v6 producing 260 hp and 281 tq >Toyota 4runner comes with 4.0 v6 producing 236 hp and 266 tq >Nissan Xterra gets ragged for having too small and weak of an engine why?
David Ramirez
Because if the intellectually disabled domestitard is to be believed, the VQ40 4.0 litre isn't a 4.0 litre, and is apparently smaller than some arbitrary capacity for this size SUV.
Jacob Long
samefag, and a moron to boot.
VQ40 is an excellent powerplant, if a tad unrefined and thirsty. Makes good power and torque in its intended application. Chevy neutered the Colorado with their coroporate 3.6L V6, Toyota followed suit. Nissan is the final holdout with a 'true' truck motor in their compact/midsize truck.
Leo Edwards
>Nissan is garbage What is >180sx >240sx >Silvia >Skyline >GTR And also those trucks they made in the 80's that go for 9999999999999999999999999 miles
Jordan Evans
Even then, a 3.halfish litre V6 is more than adequate for a 1/4 ton/midsize pick up/SUV. Especially given the broad output range they're capable of these days. Gone are the days requiring a long stroke with a pessimistic camshaft to achieve slow RPM torque.
Brody Cruz
Most reviews of both the 3.6 in the colorado and the 3.5 in the Tacoma make note of the weak low end torque. Toyota gained all of 1-2 mpg with the shift to the new motor, and part of that I think was the 6speed auto and the aero improvements. I'd love to see a Colorado with the Silverado's 4.3.
Nathan Lopez
save up more money then.
Nathan Cruz
>What is Not trucks or SUVs.
No idea but I had to take a guess it probably has to rev to the moon to make peak power. Peak power is a terrible way to compare engines in trucks and SUVs anyway.
Adrian Collins
wtf how does it have such little torque? An old three litre montero engine engine produces about 270-280nm of torque.
