So this is my first car. The Axial SCX24 Toyota 4Runner in orange — and yeah, I picked the color on purpose. If you’re just getting into RC, or specifically into rock crawling, trail trucking, or overlanding, and you want something portable that still has enough room to make it your own, this little SUV might be exactly what you’re looking for.
I’m going to walk you through what comes in the box, what makes it actually good, and then get into some real talk about scale realism versus performance — because if you’re comparing SCX24 models and trying to figure out which one to get, that decision matters more than most people think.
What You Get Out of the Box
The SCX24 Toyota 4Runner ships as a true RTR — ready to run. Here’s what’s in the box:
- The 4Runner itself (obviously)
- Spektrum SLT2 2.4GHz transmitter
- 4 AA batteries for the transmitter
- 350mAh 2S LiPo battery
- USB LiPo charger
- Instructions
That’s it — charge the battery, pop in your AAs, and you’re out the door. No soldering, no setup headaches. For a first car, that’s exactly what you want.
The Specs That Actually Matter
- Scale: 1/24 — pocket-sized, fits in a backpack
- Drivetrain: Full-time 4WD with worm gear axles
- Suspension (front): 3-link
- Suspension (rear): 4-link
- Shocks: 40mm oil-filled (older SCX24s had friction dampeners — basically springy plastic)
- Wheels: 1.0 Pro-Line wheels
- Tires: 57mm Toyo Open Country R/T Trail — officially licensed
- Lights: Two in the bumper, two in the body
- Electronics: Spektrum 2-in-1 ESC/receiver, AS-1 servo, 050 brushed motor
- Price: ~$160 USD
The oil-filled shocks alone are worth calling out. They give you real tunability — you can swap in 43mm or even 50mm shocks to increase ground clearance without a full rebuild. I’m running 40mm Pro-Line shocks on mine and they made a noticeable difference. Would 100% recommend that upgrade.
Scale Realism vs. Performance — Here’s the Real Talk
In the RC crawler world, people split into two camps: the scale realism crowd and the performance crowd. The 4Runner sits firmly in the scale realism corner — and that comes with tradeoffs you need to know about before you buy.
Angle of Attack (AoA) — Why the Body Shape Matters
AoA is the angle at which your front wheels can approach a vertical obstacle without the bumper hitting first. With an SUV body like the 4Runner, that extended front bumper forces you to approach obstacles at a diagonal to get a tire up onto a rock — that’s not a flaw, it’s literally how real 4×4 rock crawling works. But it is a thing to know.
Compare that to the SCX24 Basecamp (~$120 USD). Better approach angle, lower center of gravity, climbs steep inclines more easily. Downside: friction dampeners instead of oil-filled shocks — bouncy and hard to tune. For ~$200 total (Basecamp + 40mm Pro-Line shocks at ~$40) you’d have a more capable crawler than the stock 4Runner. But it looks like a comp truck, not a scale SUV. Different goals.
How the 4Runner Compares to the Other SCX24 SUVs
The Lexus GX470 is the short-wheelbase SCX24 — more top-heavy and more prone to rolling. The 4Runner and the Basecamp share the same wheelbase (which surprised me). The GX470 is the odd one out there.
One model I’d steer people away from: the Gladiator. Aftermarket body selection for that extended wheelbase is thin — and the huge aftermarket community is a big part of what makes the SCX24 platform great.
The Tire and Wheel Setup
The stock Toyo Open Country R/T Trail tires are genuinely good. Sticky enough to grip rocks and packed dirt, and they look the part. Stickier tires and heavier wheels bring the weight down lower — helpful on steep climbs. The SCX24 aftermarket is massive, so you won’t run out of options.
Is the SCX24 Toyota 4Runner Worth It?
If scale looks matter to you and you want something you can take anywhere — backpack, trail, backyard — yes. It’s my first car and I don’t regret it. The oil-filled shocks, the 4WD with worm gear axles, the working lights — it’s a solid, fun crawler that anyone can pick up and run. Could you squeeze more raw performance out of the Basecamp for the same money? Yep. But the 4Runner looks like a proper scale rig, and that matters for some of us.
You could genuinely put a grand into an SCX24 if you went full send on upgrades. The platform supports it. But stock out of the box, the 4Runner is exactly what you need to get started. Go enjoy it and don’t hurt yourself. 🙂
Madison is the Skilled Off-roadsman and Expert Navigator of the RC Car Fans blog.