Introduction

The sturdy Toyota 4Runner is built for durability and all-terrain capability. Using rugged body-on-frame construction, the 4Runner is intended to be a tough and reliable sport utility for the more adventurous owner. In 2014 the 4Runner got a new nose and body parts, along with upgrades to cabin trim and infotainment. The 2015 changes are few, except for the addition with much fanfare of the TRD Pro model that Toyota says is aimed squarely at extreme offroading enthusiasts who push their trucks and SUVs to the limit. We didn't push the TRD Pro to the limit, but we did get some seat time in a Pacific Northwest forest. 

The 4×4 TRD Pro ($41,310) comes with fat Bilstein dampers with remote reservoirs, a big black grille, 17 black alloy wheels, 31.5-inch-tall tires called Terra Grappler, a vented aluminum front skid plate, black fabric seats with red stitching, TRD floor mats and shift knob, and TRD badging outside (black) and inside. It comes in black, white, or a new burnt orange color called Inferno. 

If you don't tow and don't need serious four-wheel drive, just all-wheel drive for snow and ice, Toyota's Venza or Highlander might fit better. The Highlander offers similar room and fuel mileage but is quicker and rides better. 

The 4Runner is powered by a 4.0-liter V6 that makes 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, backed by a five-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy ratings are 17 mpg City, 19 combined and 22/23 mpg (2WD/4WD) Highway. Maximum towing capacity is 4,700 pounds by most recent SAE standards, enough for light boats, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles. Rearview camera and electronic trailer sway control are standard. 

The 4Runner comes in distinct models equipped for lifestyle needs–luxury, sport or economy, in rear-wheel drive or four driven wheels. The standard safety features are extensive, the seating and cargo spaces are flexible, including 3 rows for 7 passengers. 

The base SR5 comes with fabric upholstery, automatic air conditioning, and 17-inch wheels. The Trail Edition has increased approach and departure angles at the front and rear bumpers, high ground clearance, and other features for the outdoor and offroad enthusiast. 

The Limited is loaded with leather, cabin comforts, and 20-inch wheels. 

The 4Runner has good dynamics, resulting in good behavior on the road. There's rack-and-pinion steering and big-enough disc brakes. It rides smooth and civilized on a road trip, while being ready for an offroad trip. 

There are few body-on-frame SUVs left. There is the Toyota FJ Cruiser, far less family-friendly; the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (more choices, open top, less expensive, less refined, less efficient); and the Nissan Xterra (choice of transmissions, better power-to-weight, lower EPA, smaller cargo, less expensive). None of those offer a third row of seats, as the 4Runner does. 

Lineup

The Toyota 4Runner is available in SR5, SR5 Premium and Limited with two or four driven wheels, and Trail and Trail Premium are 4WD only. SR5 and Trail 4WD use a part-time four-wheel-drive system. Limited uses a full-time, no low-range multi-mode all-wheel-drive system. SR5 and Limited offer a third row for seven-passenger seating. A 4.0-liter V6 and 5-speed automatic are standard across the range. 

The TRD Pro ($41,310) is Baja offroad ready, see its equipment above. 

The SR5 ($33,210 with 2WD, $35,085 with 4WD) comes with cloth upholstery, air conditioning, six-way power driver's seat with lumbar, four-way passenger seat, sliding/reclining second-row seats split 40/20/40, Entune Plus audio system (AM/FM/CD/MP3, eight speakers, SiriusXM, USB port with iPod connection, hands-free phone capability and music streaming via Bluetooth), tilt/telescoping steering wheel, electroluminescent instrumentation, cruise control, 10 cupholders, multi-information display with compass, rearview camera, power windows including tailgate, power locks, remote keyless entry, three 12V power outlets, auto-off headlights, fog lights, color-keyed fenders and bumpers, spoiler, exterior puddle lamps, 265/70R17 tires on alloy wheels (steel full-size spare), tow hitch, and skid plates. 

SR5 options include a sliding cargo deck with subfloor storage, fixed running boards, Entune premium audio and navigation upgrade, and third-row seats with sliding second row. 

SR5 Premium( $35,950 with 2WD, $37,825 with 4WD) adds SofTex upholstery, heated front seats, moonroof, power passenger seat, HomeLink garage door opener, outside mirror signal and puddle lamps, electrochromic inside mirror, 120-volt outlet in cargo area and Entune premium audio with navigation (adds iPod control, iTunes tagging, HD radio, text-to-voice, radio buffering, voice recognition and customizable vehicle settings). 

4Runner Trail ($36,115) gets unique 17-inch wheels and 265/70R17 tires, smoked light bezels, locking rear differential, overhead console crawl and multi-terrain controls. A Trail Premium ($38,885) gets the same upgrades as the SR5 Premium. Trail options include the Entune audio upgrade with navigation, fixed running boards, sliding cargo floor, and KDSS (kinetic dynamic suspension system). 

4Runner Limited ($41,580 with 2WD, $43,620 with AWD) upgrades from Premium with leather upholstery for all seats, dual-zone climate control, chrome and color-keyed exterior trim, push-button start, ventilated and heated front seats, leather-trimmed steering wheel with redundant controls, X-REAS suspension, 245/60R20 tires on alloy wheels (matching alloy spare), 15-speaker JBL sound system, Safety Connect and front/rear parking sensors. All-wheel drive models use a single-speed, full-time all-wheel drive system with Torsen center differential. 

Options for Limited are auto-retracting running boards, sliding cargo deck and third-row seats. 

Safety features on all 4Runner models include front, front side, front knee, and all-row side-curtain airbags, rearview camera, active front head restraints, ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability and trailer sway control, traction control, hill-start assist, LATCH child-seat anchors, tire-pressure monitors; downhill assist control is included on 4WD models. Limited includes Safety Connect with automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle location, emergency assist, roadside assistance with 1-year trial subscription and front/rear parking sensors. 

Walkaround

The Toyota 4Runner is shaped like a truck, with a flat roof and flat window lines. It's a big box with a wide stance and edgy wheelwells There are no pinched, tucked or wraparound pieces trying to make this SUV pretty. The fenders suggest muscle and the bumpers suggest heft, even with their angles for clearance and climbing. The grille is pronounced and the lights stick out, front and rear. The standard roof rails and trailer receiver add to the impression that this truck is meant to be used. 

The TRD Pro raises the ruggedness to another level. Its massive black grille pays tribute to the early Toyota Baja offroad racers, and its P265/70R17 Nitto Terra Grappler tires set it apart. The eye-catching skid plate adds a chunk of wow, and, with the front end lifted by one inch to make room for the additional inch of wheel travel, the mechanical pieces of suspension and steering are visible. Beefy red Eibach springs wrap around fat polished Bilstein dampers, while axles and rack-and-pinion steering arms hide their joints inside three black accordion boots on each front wheel. 

SR5 and Trail are styled to project rugged good looks and a sporting nature. Nothing speaks macho like a bumper that looks like a brush bar is built in; none of that bolt-on towel rack stuff for the 4Runner. Trail has a faux hood scoop, its own wheel style, color-matched exterior trim and bumpers, and a dark smoke treatment on the headlights and tail lights. 

The Limited comes on lower-profile, narrower P245/60R20 tires mounted on alloy wheels. It gets more chrome and a less pronounced proboscis; it's still a blunt instrument, it's just shinier. All models come with a proper full-size spare, and the Limited has a matching alloy spare. Like the SR5 and Trail grade, the Limited has a rear spoiler that houses the rear wiper, keeping it tucked away from harm but not as easy to clean. Optional retractable running boards stay out of harm's way on the road or trail, but should have an out position on the switch so you don't have to crack a door open to clean them off. 

Interior Features

The Toyota 4Runner interior was designed to be practical and utilitarian. The cabin is trimmed in textured materials appropriate for a vehicle likely to carry dirty boots, dogs and kids. The Limited model achieves those things while lolling in the lap of luxury, namely leather including the third row for kids. 

The front seats are comfortable and supportive, with good adjustability working in concert with the tilt/telescoping steering wheel. The seats wide enough for an average body, with low bolsters on the seat cushion and taller side bolstering on the seat back that provides support on winding roads without making the driver's seat hard to get into.Two fabrics are offered, in addition to leather. 

Second-row 60/40 seats have a comfortable recline and fold flat. If you order the 50/50 folding third-row seats the second row slides forward to ease rear access. Neither rear access nor second and third-row room matches three-row crossovers, many of which are larger outside, nor the Durango. The two-row Jeep Grand Cherokee, the shorter Nissan Xterra, and the creative Jeep Wrangler Unlimited have more second-row head and legroom, but the 4Runner has more cargo space (about 90 cubic feet behind front seats and 46 behind the second row). 

The steering wheel is a thick four-spoke. The Optitron instrument cluster is crisp and clear, switchgear easy to sort out, and the Entune line of audio and navigation systems quick to master. Top models link vehicle settings to paired smartphone, so your phone brings your radio stations, climate control settings and so on. Cabin lighting is blue. Although all 4Runners have the 2/4-wheel drive control on the console ahead of the properly gated shifter. The Trail models have more controls in the overhead above the rear-view mirror. 

Three 12-volt outlets are located in the glove box, the center console stack, and the cargo area. An available 120-volt AC outlet, useful for charging batteries or running appliances at the campsite, is located in the cargo area. Some sound systems have a party mode that adds bass and shifts audio power rearward for listening with the hatch open. 

For two-row 4Runners a sliding load deck cargo floor is available, rated for 440 pounds. This could be useful as a pull-out picnic or work table, for jumping dogs to get in or out without scratching bumpers, or even forklifting big boxes in. The loss in cargo volume is negligible and there's a good-size well underneath it. 

The rear hatch has a vertically-sliding power window that can be controlled from up front, at the back, or by key remote. This can be used for loading lighter things in back or to promote increased flow-through ventilation with minimum wind noise, and likely appreciated by some smokers or anyone who carries stinky cargo. Since it's contained in the hatch it need not be lowered before the hatch is opened. It does use a rear wiper that parks above the window, so sometimes when washing the glass the muck streaks back down. 

Interior

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Driving Impression

The 4-liter V6 engine makes 270 horsepower with 278 lb-ft of torque, about what most V6 pickups come with. It's coupled to a five-speed automatic that shifts quick and clean, rather than imperceptible like a gentrified SUV. It takes more than eight seconds to accelerate to 60 mph, not great but quick enough. Hills might cause a downshift out of the overdrive that's fifth gear. It's EPA rated 17 city and 23 highway miles per gallon, not very impressive because it can't escape being a heavy vehicle with big tires. 

If you want a V8 in the Toyota family, there is the like-sized Lexus GX460 or the bigger Toyota Sequoia or Land Cruiser, all costing significantly more. 

The ride in the 4Runner's isn't as smooth as that of a crossover. That's because of its body-on-frame construction, making it a real truck under the skin. For that slightly rugged ride you get rugged durable parts. The SR5 has tall tire sidewalls to cushion the ride some, and the Limited uses 20-inch lower-profile tires. 

Each model has different ride and handling characteristics, but all are relatively quiet thanks to engineering efforts to isolate road noise. The brakes are big vented discs with good feel and consistent progression; but again, a lot depends on the tires. For example, the TRD Pro's Nitto Terra Grabber tires were meant to grab dirt, not asphalt. 

The 4Runner steers deliberately, although with an easy steering effort, and it turns a fairly tight U-turn. It uses a variable power-assisted rack-and-pinion system with a variable-ratio steering rack. This adjusts hydraulic assist based on conditions, and the rack has a different tooth arrangement at the ends so the wheels change direction faster the further they are turned. 

Trail models benefit from the big tire sidewalls on slightly wider wheels. They're also available with KDSS, or Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System. The KDSS uses much thicker antiroll bars, fattened in front to 1.68 inches from 1.18 inches, and in the rear to 1.18 inches from 0.79 inches. That gives the Trail better roll control and limits side-to-side movement and weight transfer on the road; these bars disconnect on the trail allowing each wheel maximum articulation. 

With a locking differential, 9.6 inches of ground clearance, solid underbody protection and clearance angles close to those of a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, the Trail will do a lot off road. Crawl control and Multi-terrain control electronics turn a novice into a star; in fact, these electronic strengths can make an experienced four-wheeler feel removed from the process, not unlike a veteran photographer with an automatic camera. 

The TRD Pro gets more, with big Bilstein dampers (2.5 front, 2.0 rear) with remote oil reservoirs, one inch more travel, and TRD-tuned Eibach springs in front (softer than stock for the ride). The fat front shocks (similar in size to those used on heavy-duty industrial vehicles, says Toyota) have larger and more rigid shafts, 18mm v 12mm stock. 

Limited models are no comparison on the trails, but they will still go off road better than a crossover thanks to is clearance, suspension travel, and beefy chassis. The tires are for the street and for comfort. Limited's secret weapon is the X-REAS damper system, that essentially links opposite corner shock absorbers to limit pitch and roll, making the big vehicle feel lighter and transition better. Limited's all-wheel drive system also helps grip and control, as it's engaged at all times. 

Maximum towing capacity is 4,700 pounds by SAE J2807 standard; unless it says J2807 you can't compare this to another vehicle's tow rating. With standard trailer sway control, the 4Runner makes a great tow vehicle for a boat or track-day car, even with a crew in the cabin. 

Summary

The Toyota 4Runner can deal with hardcore outdoor recreational play, or traffic-clogged commutes into a city with decaying streets, challenges that would destroy some crossovers. It's strong, comfortable, safe and taut handling. It comes in four easy-to-choose (life)styles: economy, sport, extreme sport, and luxury. 

Sam Moses reported from Oregon's Tillamook Forest, with G.R. Whale reporting from Southern California. 

Model Lineup

Toyota 4Runner SR5 (2WD ($33,210, 4WD $35,085); SR5 Premium (2wd $35,950, 4WD $37,825); Trail (4WD $36,115); Trail Premium (4WD $38,885); Limited (2WD $41,585, AWD $43,620), TRD Pro ($41,310). 

Assembled In

Tahara, Japan.