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DRIVEN: Toyota 4Runner Rules As Old-School SUV
Truck-based off-road champ gets new styling and refinement to compete with crossovers.
Bob Golfen  |  Posted September 07, 2010   Phoenix, AZ
Toyota 4Runner soldiers on as a rugged truck-based SUV while unibody crossovers take over the market. (Photo: Toyota)
The fifth-generation Toyota 4Runner has been completely upgraded and redesigned, but it still remains stuck in the past.

Carlike unibody-constructed crossovers have stolen the thunder in the midsize SUV domain from such truck-based craft as 4Runner and Nissan Frontier, with even Ford Explorer abandoning its body-on-frame roots for 2011.

For most drivers, crossovers’ superior drivability and economy trump the old-guard SUVs for what they are mostly used for: commuting, family hauling, grocery getting and other wagon duties. Not many people miss the rugged off-road capabilities of the SUV trucks, but they do appreciate the better versatility of the crossovers.

The fifth-generation 4Runner gets a new look and improved aerodynamics. (Photo: Toyota)
There are still those drivers among us, however, who do want the boulder-hopping, mud-crawling, back-country ruggedness of a real adventure truck, and for them, 4Runner fits the bill. These trucks are renowned for their sturdy durability and reliability, notwithstanding Toyota’s recent troubles with some of its other models.

The latest 4Runner rolled in as a 2010 model and continues for 2011 with just minor revisions. I drove a mid-range SR5 model with full four-wheel-drive capability, although like most owners, I barely got it off the pavement. Still, I’ve driven these before on rocky trails in the Arizona desert and know how well they perform and hold up against the roughest terrain.

4Runner drove well on streets and highways, though handling was decidedly truckish. But Toyota has dialed in this beast pretty well, and the hefty SUV rides and corners about as well as any of this breed possibly could.

At highway speeds, the difference compared with a crossover is minimal; 4Runner is notably quiet and nonplussed at 75 mph. Around town, though, the ride is stiffly buffeting, and corners are accompanied with plenty of body sway. All pretty typical for a body-on-frame setup.

The most notable element of 4Runner’s makeover is its new 4-liter that makes 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, significantly better than the old 236-horsepower six. The beefy V8 option is gone and hardly missed with the new V6, although towing capacity is somewhat compromised.

4Runner drives with smooth competence on the highway. (Photo: Toyota)
Fuel mileage is improved but still pretty modest, at 17 city and 22 highway. This is, after all, a 4,675-pound truck. That would be a deal breaker for many potential owners, considering that a crossover of similar interior dimensions does so much better.

Still, I like driving this now-classic form of midsize SUV, warts and all. I enjoy the macho, unbreakable feel of a tough truck, and I most certainly enjoy taking them out for an outdoor adventure. The drivability compromises are not such a big deal, although the fuel mileage does give me pause.

There’s still a four-cylinder engine option, a 2.7-liter with a decent 157 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. But it gets just a slightly better mileage at 18 city and 23 highway with two-wheel drive. It’s that weight thing again.

The off-road electronic systems in the 4X4 models are impressive and designed to keep you on the trail and keep you out of trouble. Among them: Crawl Control, which maintains a constant low speed in low-range 4WD with automatic throttle and braking, regardless of incline; Multi Terrain Select that allows the driver to select the optimum throttle and traction-control response for various types of terrain; and Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, which automatically disconnects the stabilizer bars to increase suspension travel and movement.

The interior works well enough but the trim and design are uninspiring. (Photo: Toyota)
The new styling conveys an appropriately muscular look with a wide stance under its flared fenders. Toyota says the designers kept an eye on improving aerodynamics, but there’s only so much you can do with a tall brick. The sharply defined contours are sharp looking with no frills or extraneous detail.

The interior is also basic and functional, which may be acceptable on this type of rig but it pales compared with much of the competition. The gauges and controls are simple and clear, nothing fancy or very special.

Front-seat space is good, back-seat space is fair, and there’s an optional third seat that would accommodate only small children or pets. One of my tall grown sons rode back there, however, although he sprawled sideways. Don’t try that with Aunt Tillie.

The highlight of the interior was the optional eight-speaker audio system with satellite radio and full connectivity, which sounded pretty good. I didn’t get a chance to sample the available 15-speaker JBL system with its Party Mode that blasts music from the back with the tailgate raised.

The video image for the rear-view camera shows up in a corner of the rear-view mirror of the Toyota 4Runner. (Photo: Toyota)
The test SR5 came equipped with the leather-seat, third-row option that broke the bank at $3,570; a $1,050 convenience package with a power panoramic sunroof and AC power outlets;
the audio option with Bluetooth, USB and iPod ports, and some other stuff, $585; a backup camera with the video image displayed on one side of the rear-view mirror, which I liked, $525; some floor and cargo mats at $204; and $800 for shipping.

Thusly, we turn a well-equipped $31,000 4Runner into a very-well-equipped $37,849 4Runner, which seems kind of pricey. 4Runners do hold their value as used vehicles due to their acclaimed durability.

4Runner is most likely near the top of the midsize SUV truck pecking order, which is becoming a smaller niche yearly. The highly stylish FJ Cruiser built on a similar platform must be stealing sales from 4Runner, but for those who desire the capability of a frame-on SUV truck in a roomier, less-conspicuous package, 4Runner is still hard to beat.

Details

Vehicle type: Seven-passenger, four-door SUV, four-wheel drive.
Engine: 4-liter V6, 270 horsepower at 5,600 rpm, 279 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm.
Transmission: Five-speed automatic.
Wheelbase: 109.8 inches.
Overall length: 189.9 inches.
Curb weight: 4,675 pounds.
Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds.
EPA mileage rating: 17 city, 22 highway.

Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEED.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, who has driven and evaluated essentially every new vehicle sold in the United States. A lifelong car enthusiast with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle, he annually attends and writes about Arizona's famous January collector-car auctions, focusing on Scottsdale’s monumental Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event and other Barrett-Jackson auctions. SPEED.com fans email Automotive Editor Bob Golfen at

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or Speed Channel

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