A window into the early days of the Sportus utilitas.
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| Toyota 4Runner 2016 |
In a world built for crossovers, the 4Runner is one of the last mid-size SUVs to share DNA with a pickup truck. That’s great for drivers who need a 5000-lb tow rating or who spend weekends off-roading; for those accustomed to the smooth ride and swanky interiors of car-based crossovers, however, the 4Runner may fall short. Available with just one powertrain—a 4.0-liter V-6 with 270 hp and 278 lb-ft mated to a five-speed automatic transmission—this beast is outdated and a little sluggish.
The Toyota 4Runner remains what it has always been, an SUV with pickup-truck DNA. It has a solid rear axle and body-on-frame construction. Order four-wheel drive, and you get a two-speed transfer case with a low range in the SR5 and Trail models. (The Limited gets a full-time all-wheel-drive system with no low range.) This is how SUVs used to be built, when gas cost less than a buck a gallon, back before the term “crossover” entered the automotive lexicon. Most automakers have abandoned this original SUV formula in favor of the lighter, carlike, more fuel-efficient crossover. The 4Runner’s closest competitor, the Nissan Xterra, was discontinued last year. But the 4Runner remains true to its roots and is now one of the last of its species.
Sales prove that Toyota’s own Highlander likely is the better choice for most consumers, but the 4Runner continues to sell well with minimal updates to buyers who crave off-road chops, a 5000-pound towing capacity, and chunky styling. For the off-roaders, the Trail and Trail Limited models offer Toyota’s Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS), which electronically disconnects the anti-roll bars to ease wheel articulation.
A 4.0-liter V-6 with a five-speed automatic transmission is the only powertrain available; it will move the 4Runner to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds. The V-6 makes the same 270 horsepower as it did in 2010 and still sounds a bit breathless as it works to move the 4Runner. Newer crossovers easily beat the 4Runner’s EPA ratings of 17 mpg city and 22 mpg highway (21 highway with 4WD). Viewed as a body-on-frame mid-size SUV, the 4Runner has no competition. The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited comes close, but the 4Runner is much more luxurious. The unibody Jeep Grand Cherokee is similarly capable off-road and more pleasant on-road.
What’s New: What we have here is a living fossil. Okay, the 4Runner isn’t exactly a coelacanth—there have been a few updates over the years. As part of an update for 2014, Toyota revised the exterior styling, presumably to make the 4Runner look more like a weird Japanese robot than it already did. That same year, the interior was treated to a slight refresh and gained Toyota’s Entune in-car apps. But, overall, not much has changed since this generation arrived for 2010.
What We Like: The 4Runner stands tall. It’s a truck and proud of it. It’ll cruise highways in quiet comfort, and its ride is better than a Toyota Tacoma’s. Accurate, if heavy, steering matches well with the big feel of the 4Runner. But you shouldn’t choose one of these for its on-road demeanor. This is an SUV that will make your off-road fantasies a reality. We might be bemused by its old-school construction and its dated interior design, but the 4Runner promises to be a quiet and reliable SUV that will endure years of abuse without complaint. Another cool thing: You can still lower the rear liftgate window, just as in every 4Runner since 1984.
When equipped with the 20-inch wheels that are part of the Limited trim level, the ride becomes quite choppy. Limited models come with electronically controlled dampers (X-REAS), but the ride is bouncy and occasionally harsh. The tires don’t provide much grip in corners, so it’s best to not hustle the 4Runner. A more relaxed pace is exactly what the 4.0-liter V-6 prefers, too. Power and acceleration are good, but the V-6 sounds as if it’s struggling when asked to perform a quick pass or get up to freeway speeds. Toyota equips the 4Runner with four-piston front brake calipers, but the brake pedal has a disconcerting amount of travel and not much feel in normal driving.
Having enough ground clearance for serious off-roading means that getting into the 4Runner requires a bit of a climb. Drivers accustomed to more carlike unibody crossover SUVs might find the extra effort annoying. The touchscreen infotainment system works well enough, but like the small LED screen between the speedometer and the tachometer, the display isn’t as sharp or attractive as you might find in similarly priced vehicles with newer technology.
Those who have no use for the 4Runner’s rugged construction and off-road chops probably would be better served by one of the many carlike SUVs that now rule the roads. Source by caranddriver.com
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