The Toyota 4Runner has always been impressive but never as impressive as it is in its current generation.
The Toyota 4Runner is one of the most popular SUVs in the market and rightly so, because Toyota has got a lot of things right with 4Runner. When you think of it, Toyota often perfects the formula of making a good car. Be it the Toyota Supra or the Toyota Land Cruiser, these cars went on to establish themselves as the definitive of their time and of the segment that they competed in. Setting benchmarks is not something that Toyota finds difficult to do.
If we look at the current range of cars being sold by Toyota, it is the Toyota 4Runner that seems to be on its way to being the next big Toyota to look out for. It has been a popular model, no doubt, but now it is the best that it has ever been. Here are the reasons why we believe that the fifth-generation Toyota 4Runner is the best the SUV has been since it first arrived.
When you think of Toyota, the first thing that would come to your mind is the extremely high reliability and the low cost of maintenance that Toyota cars require. In the case of the Toyota 4Runner, what you get are a lot of model options that come with different drivetrain combinations to suit your need. At the top of the food chain is the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. It comes with a 4.0-liter DOHC 24-Valve V6 motor which comes with Dual Independent Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence (VVT-i). This engine makes 270 horsepower at 5600 rpm and 278 pound-feet of torque that is delivered at 4,400 rpm. This engine comes paired with a 5-speed transmission automatic transmission with a part-time 4-wheel-drive system. The TRD Pro trim of the 4Runner also gets a locking rear differential and active traction control (A-TRAC) as well.
You get the idea, the 4Runner has a potent drivetrain. When you combine it with the reliability and longevity that Toyota engines are known to have, you have a workhorse that will run for decades, if they are looked after properly.
Related: Here Is How The Toyota 4Runner Evolved Over The Years
What makes the deal sweeter is that even though the Toyota 4Runner is a family SUV, it is built in such a way that when the family goes on a vacation, the car is more than ready to tackle all kinds of challenges. Even more so, if you want to go for an off-road experience and drive along some challenging trails, the Toyota 4Runner is ready to go and does not require you to tinker around with it.
There is a coil-spring independent double-wishbone front suspension with a stabilizer bar, and at the back, there is a coil-spring 4-link with lateral rod rear suspension with a stabilizer bar as well. In the TRD Pro trim, you get high-performance shocks and TRD-tuned front springs for added ruggedness. The reinforced body-on-frame SUV also has a ground clearance of 9.6 inches and the TRD Pro comes with chunky all-terrain tires. There is even a full-size spare tire mounted under the body. Other tools at your disposal that can make you look like an off-highway hero include Multi-Terrain Select for optimized traction, Hill Start Assist Control, and Crawl Control as well which basically takes care of everything by automatically modulating the throttle and the brakes on five low-speed settings. All you have to do is navigate. Lastly, it has a 33-degree approach angle and 26-degree departure angle.
With so much capability right out of the showroom floor, you will end up looking for the road less taken in the Toyota 4Runner.
Related: Here Is How The 2022 Toyota 4Runner Stacks Up Against The Competition
With all the off-road capabilities, one might think that the Toyota might be running low in terms of offering features and technology, but it is not the case. Conversely, the 4Runner does not go overboard with touchscreens and does not remove the good-old physical buttons from the dash either. It comes with features like LED headlights and LED fog lights, the signature powered rear glass for easy access to the trunk, a 120V AC power outlet for emergency power supply, and a 15-speaker JBL audio system for a good audio experience.
The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system comes with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and Bluetooth as well. On the safety front, it gets eight airbags as standard, a backup camera, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and Toyota’s Star Safety System that includes Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Anti-lock Brake System, Brake Assist, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, and Smart Stop Technology. And remember, this is high on practicality too as you can have passengers seated all the way to the third row as well.
But why are we talking about what all the 4Runner comes with? The reason is simple – it is these features and practicality combined with the reliability promise and off-road capabilities that make it the ultimate family SUV in the market. With a starting price of a little over $38,000 and the top trim costing less than $53,000, the value that the 4Runner brings is extremely high. And the Toyota 4Runner makes the strongest case for itself with the current generation than it ever has. There is a brand-new generation 4Runner that is in the works and we cant wait to see how capable it will be.
I often write about cars that I can't own but I still have a lot of things to say about. Thankfully, HotCars let me do that.