[wcarron]

While the author rightfully decries the bloating of the Rav4, it's pretty close to a perfect size for a couple who consistently travels outdoors. Our '14 Subie crosstrek just shit its transmission out and we migrated to a used pre-facelift Rav out of necessity, being in a small city with little pub transport and poor infrastructure.

I just really, really wish a carmaker would make something that size, and put it on a real 4x4 platform. AWD is okay, but if you're really gettin' out there, sometimes you just need that extra capability. As of right now, there's basically no true 4x4 out there that has decent cargo space and isn't absolutely gigantic. New Jeeps are as big as old Hummers (which used to be considered massive), the Bronco has piss-poor cargo space for just how bloated the thing is. The 4Runner is getting bigger almost every year.

There simply are no worthwhile new, small, capable vehicles for sale. A Rav4 or Outback sized body-on-frame 4x4, with an 8 speed auto or 6-spd manual, good suspension, cupholders that fit a Hydroflask, and some sturdy roof rails and a hitch to hold a bike rack is the ideal outdoor vehicle, imo. Toss in the new niceties like wireless phone charger, CarPlay/Android Auto, and blind spot detection, adaptive CC, etc. to make paved driving a bit nicer, and you're golden.

[CobaltFire]

Just as a note: The 4Runner (and related GX) haven't changed in size since 2004 (GX this year got larger).

They aren't "getting bigger every year"; they've stayed basically the same size for a very long time. The incoming Tacoma/4R is almost the same size as that 2004 model, and is a hybrid to boot with a true 4WD system. It's larger than the RAV4, but the gap has gotten smaller every time the RAV4 gets larger.

Source: Currently have a 2004 GX470, used to have a 2018 GX460, most of my friends have 4R's or Tacoma's. Note that my daily is a Mercedes Metris because my child is special needs; the GX has been in the family for a very long time at this point.

[chiefbucket]

I wonder how much of this perception is based on the observer’s age. To me “trucks have gotten so much bigger than I remember” but what I think of as my formative car years were late 90s, so of course that is how it feels… it’s for sure true that rigs have ballooned since ‘95. It’s not necessarily true they have since 2015?

[CobaltFire]

No, they absolutely have continued to. The new Tundra is an absolute monster.

The Toyota 120/150 platform trucks (FJ Cruiser, Tacoma, 4Runner, GX) are an exception to that trend, lasting from about 2003 to 2024. I think the new Tacoma/4R are pretty close to the same size, but the GX did increase a bit.

My formative years were the same as yours. Got my license in 1998, and I drove a 1979 Toyota truck that was absolutely TINY even compared to my 2004, but was the same size as the other mini trucks that were everywhere at that time (Mitsubishi Mighty Max, Toyota whatever they called it, Nissan Hardbody, etc.).

[tmerc]

I think until 1996 it was just called the Toyota pickup. 1996 introduced the name Tacoma.

[timbit42]

It sounds like you want a station wagon.