The Toyota 4Runner was once a mainstay of the midsized SUV market. Think about this claim from Toyota’s Web site: there are more 10-, 15-, or 20-year-old 4Runners still on the road than any other equal-aged midsized SUV. Heck, the first Ford Explorer had just rolled out of the factory 20 years ago. Pilots, Highlanders, Traverses, Flexes--they weren’t even around 10 years ago, much less 15 or 20.
But time marches on, even if a nameplate manages to stick around. With the shift to car-based platforms, the truck-based body-on-frame 4Runner has moved to being a niche vehicle. But even niche vehicles need periodic redesigns, and the 4Runner’s number came up for 2010.
As before, the 4Runner’s claim to fame is off-road capability. While towing capacity is long associated as a benefit of body-on-frame construction, the 4Runner’s 5,000-lb capacity doesn’t shine even compared to many car-based competitors; some blame goes to the loss of the V8 engine option in this generation.
This time, engine choices are limited to a 270-hp, 4.0-liter V6, or for those who can live without four-wheel-drive and with a lot less power, a 157-hp, 2.7-liter four-cylinder. (It’s not that the V8 wouldn’t fit; after all, the 4Runner’s platform-mate, the Lexus GX 460, gets a sweet 4.6-liter V8, but that adds only 31 more hp over the 4.0-liter.) A third-row seat is available.
Our two-row 4Runner SR5 4x4 stickered at $37,425 with an optional moon roof, backup camera, and leather power seats. That price didn’t buy us automatic-climate-control or full-time four-wheel-drive; those features are come with the more-pricey $40K Limited. Their omissions, even at our SR5’s price, inspired logbook gripes.
What else did our testers write in the logbook? Here’s a look:
“Lots of pitching and bobbing, noticeable when you stop.”
“Decent power, but you really need to push the long-travel throttle pedal.”
“I run out of head room when I put the seat to a desirable height.”
“Typical body-on-frame soft rubbery jiggle and rock. Clumsy handling. At least it’s quiet.”
“Love the retractable rear window. More SUVs should add this.”
“Lots of nose dive on stops.”
“HVAC and radio buttons are still obnoxiously large, but the display is on the small side.”
“Noisy engine and fan on cold morning will wake up the neighborhood.”
“Constant blinking ECO light is silly given the average 18.4 mpg I got.”
“The rocker (sill) catches everything kicked up from the front wheels and makes getting in and out a challenge, especially if you’re wearing nice clothes.”
“This thing better be awesome off-road...”
“Ride is relatively smooth at times, but then lots of pitching and rolling. Not the most confidence-inspiring driving experience.”
“Not impressive at all.”
“I prefer our (Kia) Borrego for far less money.”
So it appears that despite the redesign, the old-school 4Runner “seems like a relic from the past,” as one logbook commenter put it. We’ll see how it scores when we put it through the full array of tests at the track.
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