Great comparison David. My neighbor has a beautiful new Honda Pilot. It is a great ride. I think it would make for a great road trip vehicle. But he is completely bewildered why I just took delivery of a 5th Gen 4Runner. He points out I could have gotten a Pilot for the same money, or even saved a few bucks. I just smile, because I know he will never understand. This is my 4th 4Runner, and I have enjoyed each and every one. Especially my 1988 Gen1.
@@BritGuyAbroad -By comparison, the 4Runner is certainly technologically outdated compared to the Pilot. The 4Runner is chock full of ancient 2003 technology. The 4Runner features Port injection while the Pilot has both Port and Direct. Hydraulic power steering where the Pilot has electric steering. Cable actuated emergency brake in the 4Runner where the Pilot has an electric emergency brake. The far superior on-road handling of the Pilot compared to the 4Runner. The modern 8 speed transmission of the Honda Pilot compared to the ancient 5 speed A750F tranny of the 4Runner. Compare the entertainment centers and the safety systems (nannies) of the two vehicles, and you will see the Pilot is utilizing modern technology, while the 2023 4Runner is in many ways still using tech that was carried over from the Gen4 model which was released in 2003. I could go on and on. Construction methods and materials of the two vehicles, etc etc. And yet, I choose the 4Runner for its basic, bullet proof, epitome of engineering. It possesses time tested reliability, refined through the Japanese process of "Kaizen." It is old school, SUV transportation, made the Toyota way. The 5th Gen 4Runner is the end of an era of off-road vehicles from Toyota that is not likely to reappear.
This was really helpful to learn and better understand. I only learned these concepts this morning, and I appreciate you explaining the functional differences in feel and engineering and uses Thank you for your 3 pros and cons for each type!!!
That honda pilot checked all the boxes for me. V6 naturally aspirated, new honda trans, spaceous, robust design, new awd system. I switched to honda this year after being a loyal toyota fan for decades.
The Honda Pilot's Unitized Body construction and independent suspension are designed to provide handling similar to a car, although it's "rigid body construction" comprised of 66% high strength steel also has included integrated perimeter frame rails (similar to the Honda Ridgeline) for towing and light off road use!
Best explanation on this topic by far. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. As Einstein said: If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
I always appreciate your videos! I buy body-on-frame SUVs specifically for off road use, and buy unitized SUV for my luxury comfortable daily use SUV. Body-on-frame have a solid rear axle that articulates under the moving vehicle, giving superior articulation and off road performance! Unitized fully independent suspension is best for on road comfort, handling and the true luxurious feel! And as David says, better on fuel lol
David… it’s not about the “feel” that I want a 4Runner body on frame… it’s all about the STRENGTH the frame offers when doing hardcore off-roading and over landing. Monocoque unibody SUVs can’t handle the twisting forces and the added weight that off-roaders build into their rigs with heavy armor, 5-gallon Jerry cans for water and fuel, 33-35” wheels that might weigh over 100Lbs each, front and rear metal bumpers, dual batteries , winch, drawer systems, plus all the gear and passengers. Most 4Runners rigged out for real off-roading are at or close to max GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). Unibody vehicles just can’t handle this stuff. Overlanding is so big these days that there will always be a large market for body on frame. I personally don’t know anyone who decides to buy a body on frame for the driving feel of it. In my opinion, unibody offers better driving feel by far, but for everyday road driving. You feel a a more nimble ride and handling and more connected to the road. The 4Runner does have more of a vagueness in road driving over a unibody but who cares when you’re conquering double black diamond advanced off-road trails! 😊
Thanks David for the comparison, very educative. I prefer the unitized body for smooth and comfortable ride. Besides I do not do off- roading . But it makes sense to know the difference to guide us in our choice.
Great video David, as always. You do quality checks on cars that are, for the most part, of good quality. It would be nice to show cars with lower production quality for your viewers too. Thank you
In the market for QX80s and Armadas right now. I was looking at minivans, but realized a full size, body on frame SUV is more my gig. I love the utility and extra space. The independent suspension on the Y62 platform is kinda what I'm after for road comfort, and will be a bit nicer on my wife. Dollar for dollar, a used QX80/Armada seems to be the way to go on the used market in this segment. Plus they still got the VK56 at the heart. Im a new subscriber and really love your vids. My father is an automotive engineer and you remind me a lot of him in the way you speak about the details, so you really know how to speak to me 😂 Keep it up sir❤
@JayYeasmin I don't want a goddamn 6k lb car powered by a tiny ass twin turbo v6. Plus the rear end looks absolutely horrendous on it. The 5.6L V8 is what I'm after. Those engines are proven
David, If you are asking me to choose between a unibody Honda Pilot with a timing belt and a body-on-frame 2 door Prado Sumo with a 2TR-FE engine, I will choose the Sumo every time. 😁
And also don't forget, as a manufacturing standpoint, unibody will usually be cheaper to build because body-on-frame requires separate assembly lines, where as unibody only needs one, lowering the cost on count of less labor and materials.
Unibody. We have a regular 21 RAV4 LE for driving to Mexico. It has good ground clearance, drives on the unpaved roads, and gets 40-43 mpg. No way a Body on Frame gets that fuel economy!
My preference is body on frame. We have owned both. In the end, my wife feels safer while sitting higher, with better visibility. We currently have a 4Runner Limited, which has a well designed suspension system, that makes the ride better.
Thanks for a great video, as always. I bought a used 2021 Lexus GX460 (with just 21,700 km in it) instead of the 2023 5th gen Toyota 4Runner. Soo happy with this decision.
I’ve heard that a lot of the vehicles that last the longest on average are body on frame vehicles. But obviously those vehicles are mostly 15+ years old that are at getting to 200 or 250+ k miles. I wonder if the unibody vehicles today are more similar to body on frame vehicles today when it comes to long term reliability or if they will still have less longevity on average.
years ago I went to the Pittsburgh auto show and they had an 86 Accord hatch back with 615,000 miles and an Acura Legend with over 1 million miles. That is Honda quality for you. Toyota makes some awesome vehicles, but I believe Honda builds the best engines.
love body on frame SUV (or ladder frame, cmiiw) . Check out the 3-row mid size All New Daihatsu Terios / All New Toyota Rush in some countries. made in Indonesia & it's best seller there.
It depends on your use case. If you go off road often as is the case here in the Middle East then you go with a body on frame SUV. If you barely go off road then a unibody SUV makes sense. You could also buy a pickup truck if you need a bed and use that to go offroad and buy a unibody SUV to use in the city and for travel.
Body-on-frame is hands down the strongest type of chassis made, and still is till this day. It’s superior for NVH levels, and gives a smoother quieter ride over the roughest roads over Unibody construction. This is why so many vintage large luxury cars were always BOF because they wanted to isolate the passengers from badly maintained streets and dirt roads back when many parts of U.S. didn’t even have paved roadways. So many of the large American cars from the 1920s-70’s were built like trucks that had a ladder or perimeter style frames for the best durability and riding comfort. The frame takes all the punishment from the road, and definitely when one wants to off-road, without worrying about the A Pillar cracking in half from extreme flexing like from rock climbing, you’re going to want a BOF vehicle, period. Most unibody vehicles I’ve driven always feel cheaper and are less solid to drive than one of my classic BOF cars, which feels like a silent tank cruising down the highway.
@@realnapster1522 Yeah, but we’re not talking or really caring about MPG’s. What is important here is the strength and how well a BOF truck performs on the roughest terrain. With a well tuned suspension, you can mitigate roll overs. They’re no different than a tall unitized crossover with a floppy feeing suspension.
@@trumpisastump9382 That’s not entirely true. You’re going to be far more safe in a 4Runner than in a Honda Pilot. A modern BOF truck or SUV is far safer than the old BOF vehicles from say 50+ years ago that didn’t have safety features built into their bodies. Unibodies vehicles crumple more and so much too the point where passengers get crushed in major accidents. Having a fully boxed frame truck or suv, gives additional protection from heavy impacts as the frame takes most of the energy in the accident and doesn’t crumple as severely. This can prevent passengers from being severely injured or killed in a crash. This is why 2 firefighters that I know both drive truck’s because they’ve seen horrible accidents over their course of their careers and understand that a large heavy framed vehicle will give you best chance at survival in a serious wreck.
If the frame is exposed to elements and rusts, you can wave goodbye to your “long-lasting” body on frame SUV. The frame is exposed on Lexus GX460, and needs to be powder coated for better protection as you can see on Car Care Nut channel. The Unibody SUVs have full underbody shield from plastic which paradoxically can lead to longer life and no underbody rust.
@@David_Journey water if it gets in has to be able to get out So if it can get out it can get in and if it does get in it is harder to wash off Just saying
Only two reasons to go with the inefficiency of body on frame. Heavy duty off roading or load carrying. If you don’t intend to do either get unibody construction the ride and efficiency will be superior.
With all respect .....it is not about how is feeling when you drive it , or how faster are making the cars unibody platform IT IS about the impact in crash The SUV on truck chassis are much stronger on impact crash , IT IS NOT about marketing or price ... IT is about safety of family ! With all respect for TRUTH and KNOWLEDGE
Also that's why I asked you if the Century SUV will be available in the middle east. It would be a flagship unibody SUV and could be an alternative option to the LX which is the flagship body on frame SUV.
Hello David, I have a quick question about door alignment on GX460. When they mount doors to the hinges is there any adjustments made? Or there is no adjustments at the hinges and majority of adjustments are made at the door striker position? Thank you! Love your channel.
And yet, Honda hasn't made the Pilot any lighter (1st reason), or any more fuel efficient (2nd reason) than a body-on-frame Toyota, and hasn't made it any cheaper (3rd reason) than a body-on-frame Toyota. They've done all of that while staying with an old technology 6-cylinder engine that is less fuel efficient than some full size domestic trucks like the F-150 or Silverado/Sierra, and a smaller screen than in its Accord sedans. Sure, it rides great, but I can have that in a sedan. If I'm getting an SUV or truck, it's for the capability to get deep into nature. I don't want a soccer vehicle. I want to make it a badass off-roader. But that's just not Honda. And Honda really, really needs to do that with the Ridgeline. It cannot do it in the Pilot, but it can do that in the Ridgeline and the Passport. It needs to go all-in on those for more extreme capability the likes of Tacoma TRD and 4Runner TRD.
Unibody vehicles are safer than body on frame. The frame does not allow for the dissipation of the force of the crash in the way unibodies do. A quick Google search (safety of unibody vs. body on frame vehicles) will confirm this.
I have a 1988 Mazda B2200 with frame based body and a 2021 Crosstrek Sport with the unibody. As much as I love and prefer my Crosstrek, I still feel safer in my very, very old pick up. To be really honest my B2200 has been completely refurbished.
Body on frame is not safer. The new crash tests show the 4Runner having 3 stars for the 23 4Runner. Nope, I won't put anyone in the passenger seat with that rating. Otherwise, I love the looks, but not the drive, but that's just me.
Awkward lower front bumper corners. The black door handles, and grey body cladding screams base model. Looks like they're benchmarking Ford Explorers instead of leading the pack like every other previous gen model.
@@hansdoreen well the ridgeline and the passport are basically similar to the pilot, but the ridgeline has a longer chassis and the passport has a slight shorter chassis. all unibody vehicles that honda said can go off the beaten path
Some of the new colors these days will not age very gracefully. This will probably affect resale value when it comes time to sell the car. Color trends haven't been this trendy since the '60s.
Drove my friends 4runner for 400 miles in Colorado once-it drives like shit,ride is very bumpy,even my friend says his old subaru forester rides much better than his 4runner...not sure what u mean saying "very isolated,smooth ride"...