2020 Toyota 4Runner — Old school, but surprisingly addictive

Editor's note: This review was originally written about the 2018 4Runner. Little about the vehicle has changed since that time, but the review has been updated to include changes for both the 2019 and 2020 model years.

By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(February 5, 2020) In many respects, Toyota 4Runner is a dinosaur of a vehicle, a throwback survivor that’s been roaming the earth for 36 years and five model generations since 1984, long before car-based SUVs and the term “crossover” even existed.


Unlike crossover vehicles, 4Runner is a body-on-frame truck-based SUV that has remained largely unchanged since its last major refresh in 2010 (with a mild update for 2014). Most vehicles have a five-year product cycle but, according to Toyota, 4Runner’s next refresh could be another year or two away, maybe longer.

Appearance-wise, 4Runner is a bit of a pareidolia for me; I have always seen a rhinoceros when looking at it. It’s muscular with a rather long snout, incredibly rugged, yet agile, and fearlessly go-anywhere with incredible off-road credibility.

There were two new upgrades for the 2018 model year. The Wilderness Package – available for the SR5, SR5 Premium, TRD Off-Road and TRD Off-Road Premium grades – equips 4Runner with roof rack crossbars, all-weather floor liners and a cargo tray. The TRD Enhancement Package, available for the TRD grades, adds TRD 17-inch matte gray alloy wheels and a TRD-stamped aluminum front skid plate.

For 2019, Toyota introduced the Nightshade special edition featuring black-colored wheels and trim, while the TRD Pro got an all-new suspension with Fox internal-bypass shocks. Otherwise the 4Runner remained the same as it was for 2018.



For 2020, 4Runner is available as the popular, well-equipped SR5; the SR5 Premium with additional amenities; TRD Off-Road; TRD Off-Road Premium; TRD Pro; Limited; Nightshade Special Edition; and new-for-2020 Venture Special Edition. All trim levels are available as 4x4.

The new 4Runner Venture Edition includes standard Yakima Megawarrior roof rack and crossbars, black outer mirrors, door handles, rear spoiler and badges. The Megawarrior rack measures 52 inches in length, 48 wide and 5.6 inches in height.

Inside, the Venture Edition floors gain additional protection from the elements thanks to standard all-weather floor mats. A rear cargo mat will also come standard, and an additional cargo solution comes in the form of an available rear sliding cargo deck.

All 4Runners for 2020 come equipped with Toyota’s suite of Safety Sense driver-assistance features including a pre-collision system with autonomous braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beams. A new infotainment system increases in screen size from 6.1 to 8.0 inches and features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. A redesigned instrument cluster now includes a 4.2-inch screen for trip meter and fuel-economy data as well as TSS P function display. Every 4Runner now has two rear USB ports; SR5 Premium and TRD versions get Toyota's smart key (keyless entry and push-button start).

But of all the new-new for 2020, the one that by far commanded the most attention was the new Army Green color. A countless number of people commented to me how much they liked the color, which actually surprised me. I certainly liked it, but it isn’t one I would choose.

The 4Runner is just slightly smaller than a Jeep Grand Cherokee and just as capable. While it doesn’t have quite as much ground clearance as the Grand Cherokee, 4Runner has a solid reputation as an off-road vehicle, with low range on the four-wheel drive, and downhill assist control that helps maintain a constant slow speed and prevent wheel lockup. The driver primarily just steers the vehicle.

It also features hill-start assist, which gives additional control when accelerating from a stop on a steep incline. It holds the vehicle stationary for approximately five seconds while the driver transitions from the brake pedal to the accelerator.

The 4Runner TRD Off-Road, Off-Road Premium, and TRD Pro models add an electronic-locking rear differential and Toyota’s Crawl Control (CRAWL) feature. The latter helps maintain a constant speed in low-speed off-road situations, enhancing vehicle control when driving up, over, or down obstacles. With the transfer case shifted into low range, CRAWL regulates engine speed and braking force to propel the vehicle forward or in reverse at one of the five driver-selectable low-speed settings. The driver can focus on steering without having to also modulate the throttle or brake pedal.

Our test 4Runner was the TRD Pro with 4WD, a tough looking exterior, aggressive front maw and a hood air scoop. Like our previous 4Runner, we took it to Arizona’s very challenging Butcher Jones State Park, putting it through extreme off-road conditions, including boulder-strewn V-ditches, deep rutted inclines and slopes, and deep sand dry riverbeds. In one place our 4Runner was buried to the axels in sand, yet when engaging the CRAWL feature it easily worked its way out and back on the trail. Very impressive.

The interior will accommodate five adults and there’s an option for a third-row seat. But there isn’t really all that much room. I’m tall, but the roof still felt low, as did the side windows. There is a standard rear backup camera that does help, but blind spot monitoring isn’t available and other features felt old school. For example, there’s no auto headlight feature, a small sunroof rather than panoramic, and an outdated, hard-to-use infotainment system with a tiny touchscreen.

All 4Runner models are powered by a 4.0-liter V-6 with 270-horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque, paired to a five-speed automatic transmission. The transmission seemed ancient; seven or more speeds are common in similar vehicles. Gas mileage was dismal, with EPA ratings of just 16 mpg city and 19 mpg highway.



The Multi-Terrain Select system includes mode settings for Mud and Sand, Loose Rock, Rock and Dirt, Mogul and Rock. There’s a five-level crawl control that manages throttle and braking. We used it at Butcher Jones, but it’s noisy and we really didn’t need it much. We did like the knobby Nitto Terra Grappler tires on our TRD Pro that handle off-roading better than the TRD Off-Road trim.

The ride was decent, especially on the highway. But make no mistake, this vehicle drives like a truck — and I don’t mean a modern-day Chevrolet Colorado or GMC Canyon. 4Runner has an old-school feel to be sure. Handling felt vague, even sloppy, steering slow, and there was plenty of rock and roll on curves and corners. It’s obvious this vehicle is more at home off-road, where it really stands out.

To be sure the 4Runner does not drive like modern mid-sized SUVs of various brands like the Grand Cherokee, Ford Explorer, the excellent new Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade, and its missing a lot of modern creature comforts found on those vehicles. Still, there’s something eerily attractive and almost addictive to driving the “old school” 4Runner. Maybe it’s just how straightforward everything is about it – easy to use switchgear, no overly complicated technology three screens deep to change the radio channel or HVAC settings. Whatever, it grew on me from my last review two years ago and I honestly enjoyed my weeklong testing of the 4Runner this time around.

Vital Stats
Base Price:  $36,120 - $49,867
Price as Tested: $52,147
Seating: 5 or 7
Engine: 4.0-liter V6
Horsepower: 270hp
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Fuel Economy: 16/19/17 – city/highway/combined

Competes With:
Ford Explorer
Hyundai Palisade
Honda Passport
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Kia Telluride
Nissan Pathfinder

Fab Features:
Impressive off-road capability
Power up/down rear liftgate window
Exceptional resale value