By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(November 9, 2017) In many respects, Toyota’s 4Runner is a dinosaur of a vehicle, a throwback survivor that’s been roaming the earth for 34 years, 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.

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.

For 2018, 4Runner is available as the popular, well-equipped SR5; the SR5 Premium with additional amenities; TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, TRD Pro, and top-of-the-line Limited. It’s offered with a choice of 2WD, part-time 4WD with a 2-speed transfer case, or in the Limited, full-time multi-mode 4WD.

There are two new upgrades for 2018. 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.

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 mid-level TRD Off-Road Premium with 4WD, a tough looking exterior, aggressive front maw and a hood air scoop. 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 river beds. 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.

Also missing are modern safety features like forward collision braking, lane departure warning, and pedestrian detection systems. The 4Runner was awarded 4 out of a possible 5 stars by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration for overall crash worthiness.

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 17 mpg city and 20 mpg highway.

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.

Vital Stats
Base Price:  $34,410 - $44,760
Price as Tested: $42,202
Seating: 5 or 7
Engine: 4.0-liter V6
Horsepower: 270hp
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Fuel Economy: 17-MPG City – 20-MPG Highway

Competes With:
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Nissan Pathfinder

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