TOYOTA 4RUNNER
The beast that refuses to die
At this point, the best way to describe the Toyota 4Runner is as a freak of nature, a dinosaur that refuses to acknowledge extinction.
In the age of the comfortable crossover, family haulers built on car-like chasses to haul up to seven people, pull a small trailer, and deliver the ride and handling of an upscale passenger sedan, the 4Runner is sort of the last truck standing, the sole remaining body-on-frame entry in the midsize SUV market.
Properly equipped, the 4Runner is exceptional offroad, but when it gets back on pavement, it doesn’t do anything particularly well. The ride is jittery, like the Tacoma from which it is derived, power is adequate, steering and braking feedback are a little numb, and the 4Runner sits at the back of the class in fuel economy.
On top of that, the it is pricey—starting at roughly $3,500 more than the class leaders, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota Highlander, both of which have much better road manners, more comfortable cabins and are more technology friendly. Indeed, I remember Toyota marketing folks saying at the launch of the Highlander that they expected the 4Runner would soon go out of production. And why not? Based on the Lexus RX 300 platform, the Highlander was roomier, more powerful, more fuel efficient and chock full of features. It was, and is, more family friendly in a segment dominated by soccer moms and little league dads. That was 2001. As it turns out, there is one thing the 4Runner does surprisingly well: It sells like hotcakes. Here we are 16 years later. The Highlander has gone through two complete redesigns of the Highlander and the 4Runner is basically unchanged and yet, in the first four months of 2017, 4Runner sales were up 3 percent. It sells particularly well in the Mountain West, where rough roads and winter weather are a big deal.
Highlander, better than ever with a 295-hp, 3.5-L V6, mated to a new 8-speed automatic, is selling like hotter hotcakes. Sales are up 20 percent. Highlander is roomier, quieter, rides and handles better and matches the 4Runner’s towing capacity (5,000 lbs.) and above-average predicted reliability.
Still, numbers are facts, and the fact remains that for every three Highlanders that Toyota delivers, it sells two 4Runners. Apparently, there are a lot of us dinosaurs who appreciate the strength, the heft, and the sense of security that comes from riding around in a downto-earth, honest-to-God real truck.
SIX TRIM LINES
Priced in the $34,000 to $45,000 range, the 4Runner starts with base model 4Runner SR5 starts at $34,210. It’s equipped with the only engine available, a 270-hp 4.0-liter V6, plus a five-speed automatic transmission, and rear-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive, available for an extra $1,875, includes a by a twospeed transfer case. Standard are a a 6.1-inch touch screen, a rearview camera satellite radio, CD player, eight speakers, Satellite
With the 4Runner, Toyota shows off exceptional off-road capability, but few road manners.
radio, Bluetooth, air conditioning, cruise control, remote keyless entry, power windows and doors, fog lights, a power rear liftgate, a power-adjustable driver's seat, a manually adjustable front passenger seat, a 40/20/40split second row, and fabric upholstery. An optional third row with two seats adds $995.
The SR5 Premium at $36,040 adds Satnav, traffic and weather alerts, an app suite, a garage door opener, heated side mirrors, leatherette upholstery, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable front-passenger seat. Again, four-wheel drive adds $1,875.
The 4Runner TRD Off-Road model starts at $37,335 and builds off the base SR5 trim level. Standard equipment includes four-wheel drive, a locking rear differential, multiple off-road traction control modes, a hood scoop, and TRD floor mats. The TRD Off-Road Premium trim ($39,295) adds the same features as the SR5 Premium model.
The 4Runner TRD Pro, $42,400, adds off-road-tuned Bilstein shocks, TRD springs, additional skid plating band a unique grille that announces it is serious about off-roading.
The top-of-line 4Runner Limited starts at $42,525 and adds leather upholstery, dualzone automatic climate control, a 15-speaker JBL sound system, front and rear parking sensors, proximity keyless entry, and a moonroof. Rearwheel drive is standard. Fourwheel drive is available for $2,035.
A TRUCK OF MANY USES
We have found the 4Runner to be comfortable on a road trip, with more than ample power to get up and get around log trucks or get away from oblivious tailgaters. We have also tackled on a hideous road trail in the Hill Country and never encountered an obstacle that caused the 4Runner, or us, to break a sweat.
The 4Runner shines at chores like hauling a load of plywood or bags of garden soil.
Fuel economy is behind the curve for this niche. Twowheel drive models get around 19 mpg city, 23 highway. Deduct 2 mpg from each for 4WD. By comparison, the Highlander gets 21 city, 27 highway, slightly better than the Honda Pilot and Grand Cherokee.
Both the Highlander and 4Runner have above-average resale values.
As is often the case with vehicles with older platform designs, the 4Runner does not do quite as well as modern competitors in safety testing. It scored well in most tests, but offers slightly less protection in front offset testing and is more prone to rollover.
BOTTOM LINE
People often put me on the spot and ask which, of the 1,500—2,000 vehicles I have reviewed, I would buy. Near the top of the list is the 4Runner. I don't have a long list of objective reasons for that. I just like it. It feels right.