Compare the2024 Toyota 4RunnerVS 2023 Porsche Macan

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the 4Runner are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Macan doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The 4Runner has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Macan doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The 4Runner has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Macan’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 4Runner’s standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Macan doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The 4Runner’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Macan doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 4Runner and the Macan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive and around view monitors.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the 4Runner 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Porsche covers the Macan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Macan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the 4Runner for 1 year and 15000 miles longer than Porsche pays for maintenance for the Macan (2/25000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 6 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 4Runner’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the 4Runner’s reliability 19 points higher than the Macan.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 4Runner first among upper midsize suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Macan isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Porsche vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Porsche is rated lower.

The 4Runner’s 4.0 DOHC V6 produces 9 more horsepower (270 vs. 261) than the Macan’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota 4Runner uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Macan requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The 4Runner has 5.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Macan (23 vs. 17.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better traction, the 4Runner has larger standard tires than the Macan (245/60R20 vs. 235/55R19).

The Toyota 4Runner’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Porsche Macan only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The 4Runner has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Macan; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The 4Runner TRD Off-Road offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Macan doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The 4Runner’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53.6% to 46.4%) than the Macan’s (55.7% to 44.3%). This gives the 4Runner more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the 4Runner’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Macan’s (37.4 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

For greater off-road capability the 4Runner has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Macan (9.6 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the 4Runner to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The 4Runner’s minimum ground clearance is .7 inch higher than on the Macan (9.6 vs. 8.9 inches).

The 4Runner offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Macan can only carry 5.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the 4Runner’s middle row seats recline. The Macan’s rear seats don’t recline.

The 4Runner’s cargo area provides more volume than the Macan.

The 4Runner 5-Passenger’s optional sliding cargo floor is capable of supporting 440 pounds, to make loading and unloading cargo easier and safer. The Macan doesn’t offer a sliding load floor.

The 4Runner’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Macan’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The 4Runner’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Macan’s (5000 vs. 4409 pounds).

The 4Runner has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Macan (1625 vs. 1288 lbs.).

The 4Runner has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Macan (1700 vs. 1383 lbs.).

The 4Runner Limited/TRD Pro has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Macan doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

If the windows are left open on the 4Runner the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Macan can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the 4Runner has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Macan only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the 4Runner has standard extendable sun visors. The Macan doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The 4Runner has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Macan doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The 4Runner is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Macan doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 4Runner is less expensive to operate than the Macan because it costs $527 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the 4Runner than the Macan, including $700 less for a muffler, $265 less for front brake pads, $58 less for fuel injection, $449 less for front struts and $538 less for a power steering pump.

The TRD Pro was selected by Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine as their 2015 4x4 of the Year. The Macan has never been chosen.

The Toyota 4Runner outsold the Porsche Macan by almost 8 to one during 2022.