2015 Toyota 4Runner - Driven
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Toyota 4Runner - Driven
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Year:2015
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Make:
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Model:
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Engine:V6
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Transmission:Five-speed automatic
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Horsepower @ RPM:270 @ 5600
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MPG(Cty):17
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MPG(Hwy):21
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Torque @ RPM:278 @ 4400
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Displacement:4.0 L
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0-60 time:7.6 sec.
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Top Speed:115 mph
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Layout:Front Engine, 4WD w/ Low Range
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Price:
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car segment:
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body style:
They say honesty is the best policy, and in the world of SUVs, it doesn’t get any more honest than this. The Toyota 4Runner has foregone the popular changeover to a unibody structure, keeping instead its old-school, body-on-frame design, solid rear axle, and manual transfer case (at least in the Trail and TRD Pro models).
The 4Runner has been around since the dawn of time – or at least Toyota’s influx into the U.S. back in the 1980s – and was derived off Toyota’s pickup truck line, which is now the Tacoma. The 4Runner’s genealogy continues today, with it sharing much of the underpinnings and powertrain of the last-generation Tacoma.
Though the 4Runner is due for an update following the 2016 Tacoma, the 2015 model soldiers on unchanged since its last update in 2014. Still present is the old 4.0-liter V-6, and five-speed automatic transmission. The pair certainly isn’t known for its fuel economy, but the engine and transmission offer rock-solid operation and get-there-and-back reliability. No turbos, no fancy direct injection – just a no-nonsense powertrain.
The same is true for the rest of the SUV. Practicality and function win out over appearances and luxury. Sure, the 4Runner can be had with leather seats, navigation, an electronic transfer case, and other niceties, but that’s just a bandage on top of its ruggedness. As Taylor Swift says, “Band-Aids don’t fix bullet holes,” so neither do the luxuries take away from the 4Runner’s macho presence. That’s something sorely missed in today’s lineup of soft crossovers and road-biased SUVs.
So what’s it like to live with such an undomesticated beast? Well, it’s easier than you might think, but you’ll have to keep reading to find out.
Continue reading for the full driven review
Latest Toyota 4Runner news and reviews:
2022 Toyota 4Runner TRD Sport Brings Off-Road Capabilities To The Road
The Toyota 4Runner is currently in its fifth generation - and we have to admit that, after more than 11 years on the market, it is long overdue for an update. But, a sixth generation 4Runner is still years away, so Toyota is still playing with what it has. For the 2022 model year, the 4Runner has received a series of exterior updates - nothing major though, and most importantly the addition of a new TRD Sport model.
2022 Toyota 4Runner TRD Sport
Toyota has been quite busy in the last few days. The automaker unveiled the new GR86, a carbon-fiber Supra, debuted the Corolla Cross, introduced the refreshed Tacoma TRD Pro, and even brought the bZ4x concept to our shores. Apart from all this, Toyota also introduced a new TRD Sport model to the 2022 4Runner’s lineup. If you want something that has more off-road vibes and street cred than the regular trims but not something as full-blown off-roader as the TRD Pro trim, then the TRD Sport will fit your bill.
You Could Definitely Survive the Apocalypse With This Custom Toyota 4Runner
With everything that is going on this year, it feels like we’re heading towards an apocalypse. Perhaps, that is why we’re seeing so many converted vehicles lately. Here’s another fine example that was listed on Craigslist. JBA Motors has posted an ad for this 2016 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4x4 Custom that looks Armageddon-ready. The brute has less than 300 miles on the odo, which makes it practically brand new.
The Toyota Tacoma, Tundra, and 4 Runner Just Got a Little More Outdoorsy
Toyota created a buzz before the 2020 Chicago Auto Show kicked off by announcing it’ll bring “sporty and outdoorsy, with a touch of nocturnal mischief.” to the show. Toyota teased the Tacoma’s front passenger side lower fascia in a teaser image leading to the auto show, but now we have all the scoop. The company has brought along Trail and Nightshade editions for a handful of its vehicles.
The Trail Editions are introduced on the 2021 models of the Tacoma, Tundra, and the 4Runner. They are aimed at folks who prefer rugged vehicles for a “sporty and outdoorsy” lifestyle. The Trail Edition will be based on the SR5 trims on all three vehicles. They will be offered in special exterior colors that include Army Green, Cement, Midnight Black, and Super White, and also receive black badging to distinguish from the regular SR5 trims. On the inside, Toyota has upholstered the vehicles in black seats with tan contrast stitching. All-weather floor mats also come as part of the package. The Tacoma Trail will come with stuff like:
- * Dark Gray 18-inch TRD Off-Road wheels
- * Kevlar All-Terrain tires
- * Front fascia grille borrowed from Tacoma Limited
- * A 115-volt power outlet in the bed
- * Lockable bed storage that doubles up as a cooler as well
- * Limited to 7,000 Tacomas
As for the Tundra Trail, you receive:
- * Chrome grille from the 1794 trim
- * Special Edition exclusive wheels
- * Lockable bed storage-cum-cooler like on the Tacoma Trail
- * Limited to 5,000 Tundras
The 4Runner Trail will be equipped with:
- * Dark Gray TRD Off-Road wheels
- * Yakima LoadWarrior Rooftop Cargo Basket
- * Custom 40-quart Cooler
- * Sliding Cargo Tray
- * Limited to 4,000 4Runners
Toyota has also blacked out a few more models in its portfolio. Currently, the company offers the Nightshade package on five of its products – 4Runner, Camry, Corolla, Corolla hatch, and Sienna – on the SE trims. Now, Toyota has added the Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia to the range as well. The Limited trims of these three vehicles will be treated to the Nightshade package. Customers can have the Nightshade package on these new vehicles in Midnight Black Metallic or Magnetic Gray Metallic exterior shade. Toyota offers this package on the Tacoma in Super White shade, too. The common package details across the three models include:
- * Black Leather Seats
- * Blacked-Out Front Grille
- * Black Mirror Caps
- * Black Door Handles
Apart from this, the Tacoma Nightshade also receives:
- * Dark Smoke 18-inch Wheels
- * A Black Exhaust Tip
- * Black Fog Light Bezels
- * New Grille Insert Design
- * Offered in Windchill Pearl shade as well
- * Limited to 5,000 Tacomas
On the Tundra, the company offers black wheels and black exhaust tip. Other than the two standard exterior shades, you can order it in Windchill Pearl, or Super White as well. Toyota will only make 5,000 examples of this one. As for the Sequoia, it receives darkened chrome "Sequoia" badging, body moldings, lower grille, and fog light surrounds. The SUV with the Nightshade package can be had in Blizzard Pearl shade as well. The company has limited the production to 2,500 examples for the Sequoia Nightshade.
Toyota hasn’t revealed the pricing for any of the Special Edition vehicles, but we don’t expect a major increase in any of them. The company also hasn’t announced when these vehicles will be available.
2020 Toyota 4Runner Venture Edition
With a manufacturing facility sitting deep in the heart of the state, Toyota is always a lock to be in attendance at the Texas State Fair. Past years have shown the automaker debut models like the Toyota 4Runner Nightshade Edition to go with SX versions of the Toyota Tundra and Toyota Tacoma.
This year, Toyota is returning the to the fair with a more functionally inclined special edition model called the 4Runner Venture Edition. The exclusive touches are mostly of the cosmetic variety, but there’s enough of them in the 4Runner Venture Edition to go around to pique the interests of prospective owners of the special edition SUV. The Toyota 4Runner Venture Edition is already available for order so if you’ve got an eye for a new roof rack, among other things, you can buy Toyota’s latest special edition SUV for a tidy sum of $45,405.
Best Used Off-Road SUVs 2016
SUVs have played a dominant part in the industry. SUVs help you conquer places no other vehicle can. More or less, every segment in the auto industry has seen a make-shift revolution except SUVs. They’re still rugged, butch, and intimidating as ever. In fact, these beautiful monsters age gracefully and are known for their longevity and reliability. See the Landcruiser for example; or even the 4Runner. They’ve been around for decades and are still selling strong. Here is a list of 5 ultimate, off-road SUVs of 2016:
2019 Toyota 4Runner Nightshade Special Edition
For the last three-and-a-half decades, the Toyota 4Runner has been one of the go-to models for practical body-on-frame SUV adventure and outdoor cred. Now, the Japanese automaker is offering a new upgrade for the top Limited trim level. It’s dubbed the Nightshade Special Edition, and it adds a fresh coat of aesthetic appeal to the mid-size utility vehicle.
2018 Toyota 4Runner Nightshade Special Edition
Toyota has unveiled the 4Runner Nightshade Special Edition at the Texas State Fair. Based on the Limited variant of the 4Runner, the Nightshade Special Edition features aesthetic changes on the full-sized SUV. A series of black details highlight the changes, a lot of which give the 4Runner a darkened appearance. The 4Runner Nightshade Special Edition $1,740 to the 4Runner’s sticker price of $43,225.
2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro
The Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro is one of the capable SUVs on the market today. While most SUVs have softened into crossovers with unibody chassis, the 4Runner continues its body-on-frame tradition matched with the even-more-capable TRD Pro suspension system. Yet, for 2019, Toyota is turning up the heat.
The 2019 4Runner TRD Pro gets upgraded Fox Racing Shocks that help better handle high-speed desert running while providing a civil ride around town and a new roof rack offers more storage for dirty gear. A few other changes inside and out help keep the 4Runner fresh as interest explodes for its main rival, the Jeep Wrangler.
Continue reading for more on the 2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro.
The Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro Gets Updated for 2019
Toyota has given its TRD Pro lineup a welcomed update for 2019. That includes the Tundra, Tacoma, and this, the iconic 4Runner. While the changes are relatively small, they contribute to a more capable and more enjoyable off-road experience. From updated Fox Racing Shocks to a new roof rack, the updates keep the 4Runner from gong completely stale.
Continue reading for more on the 2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro.
Toyota Teases 3 Special Editions For Chicago
Toyota is gearing up for a busy weekend at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show that includes debuting a new lineup of off-road vehicles. The Japanese automaker released a teaser photo of its Chicago attendees, and we can clearly see that the three models are the Tundra, Tacoma, and 4Runner. It’s hard to make out the specifics because of the distance of the vehicles in the photo, but it is believed that all three models will come to Chicago sporting new off-road packages.
Toyota Finally Working on Updates For 4Runner, Tundra, Sequoia
It’s no secret Toyota has several aging SUVs and a pickup that desperately need attention. The full-size Tundra was last touched – and mildly at that – in 2014 and the 4Runner isn’t much further ahead. The three-row Sequoia is the segment’s oldest contender, dating back a full decade to 2008. Small changes are coming for the 2018 Sequoia, but it won’t be enough to catapult this body-on-frame SUV to the top of the pack. Thankfully, Toyota knows this, and as the automaker’s vice president of marketing told Automotive News, things are soon changing.
Ed Laukes spoke with AN at the 2017 Texas State Fair’s opening weekend about Toyota’s lack of fresh truck-based vehicles at the truck-centric event. When asked if it was time for Toyota to update its aging platforms, Laukes said, “One hundred percent. We are working on that right now.” Toyota’s stagnate models are further highlighted by the constant change and updates happening with Ford, General Motors, and Ram’s products. Toyota’s renewed focus on trucks can likely be attributed to both the truck and SUV segment’s explosion in popularity and Toyota America’s recent move of its headquarters from California to Texas. Texas is well known for its love of trucks. Some say Texas sets the tone for a pickup’s success in the rest of the U.S. Now with its new multi-million dollar HQ outside Dallas and its Tundra and Tacoma assembly plant in San Antonio, it’s highly likely Toyota will wholeheartedly dawn its cowboy boots and Stetson hat.
Continue reading for more information.
2015 - 2017 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro – Driven
The 2015 – 2017 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro is Toyota’s most rugged and capable SUV. Thanks to some clever engineering in the Toyota Racing Development labs, the 4Runner enjoys a truly hard-core off-road version that usurps even the venerable Trail Edition 4Runner. Heavy duty Bilstein shocks with remote reservoirs, thick coil springs with a 1.0-inch suspension lift, upgraded wheels and tires, and a tank-like front skid plate makes the TRD Pro a natural in the dirt. All the same off-road tech on the 4Runner Trail Edition carries over to the TRD Pro, too. This includes the electronic locking rear differential, manual transfer case, and Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select system.
A unique front grille with the blocky T-O-Y-O-T-A lettering sets the TRD Pro apart, along with TRD Pro badging on the C-pillars and bespoke TRD Pro wheels and all-terrain tires. Things inside aren’t much different than other 4Runners, beside a TRD gear shifter and some like-branded floor mats. So how does the TRD Pro handle everyday life and the sandy trails of Central Florida? Keep reading to find out.
Continue reading for the full review.
2017 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road
Beyond the name change, the 4Runner remains basically intact. The trim level lineup still contains the base SR5, the better-equipped SR5 Premium, the luxury oriented Limited, and the all-out off-roader, the TRD Pro. Positioned above the SR5 Premium grade, the Off-Road and the Off-Road Premium trims will bring an extra level of ruggedness to the 4Runner without driving prices skyward.
Of course, Toyota has yet to announce official pricing for the trim levels; 2017 is still a ways off. Nevertheless, expect the renamed trims to follow the previously laid groundwork. That suggests the 4Runner Off-Road will start around $37,000 while the better-equipped Off-Road Premium carries a $40,000 price tag. While pricey, it’s still less expensive than the 4Runner TRD Pro, which itself will likely get a price hike to $42,000.
Expect the 2017 Toyota 4Runner with its new trim levels to hit showrooms in the fall of 2016. We’ll bring updates on pricing and availability when Toyota releases the info.
Continue reading to learn more about the Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium.
They say honesty is the best policy, and in the world of SUVs, it doesn’t get any more honest than this. The Toyota 4Runner has foregone the popular changeover to a unibody structure, keeping instead its old-school, body-on-frame design, solid rear axle, and manual transfer case (at least in the Trail and TRD Pro models).
The 4Runner has been around since the dawn of time – or at least Toyota’s influx into the U.S. back in the 1980s – and was derived off Toyota’s pickup truck line, which is now the Tacoma. The 4Runner’s genealogy continues today, with it sharing much of the underpinnings and powertrain of the last-generation Tacoma.
Though the 4Runner is due for an update following the 2016 Tacoma, the 2015 model soldiers on unchanged since its last update in 2014. Still present is the old 4.0-liter V-6, and five-speed automatic transmission. The pair certainly isn’t known for its fuel economy, but the engine and transmission offer rock-solid operation and get-there-and-back reliability. No turbos, no fancy direct injection – just a no-nonsense powertrain.
The same is true for the rest of the SUV. Practicality and function win out over appearances and luxury. Sure, the 4Runner can be had with leather seats, navigation, an electronic transfer case, and other niceties, but that’s just a bandage on top of its ruggedness. As Taylor Swift says, “Band-Aids don’t fix bullet holes,” so neither do the luxuries take away from the 4Runner’s macho presence. That’s something sorely missed in today’s lineup of soft crossovers and road-biased SUVs.
So what’s it like to live with such an undomesticated beast? Well, it’s easier than you might think, but you’ll have to keep reading to find out.
Continue reading for the full driven review
They say honesty is the best policy, and in the world of SUVs, it doesn’t get any more honest than this. The Toyota 4Runner has foregone the popular changeover to a unibody structure, keeping instead its old-school, body-on-frame design, solid rear axle, and manual transfer case (at least in the Trail and TRD Pro models).
The 4Runner has been around since the dawn of time – or at least Toyota’s influx into the U.S. back in the 1980s – and was derived off Toyota’s pickup truck line, which is now the Tacoma. The 4Runner’s genealogy continues today, with it sharing much of the underpinnings and powertrain of the last-generation Tacoma.
Though the 4Runner is due for an update following the 2016 Tacoma, the 2015 model soldiers on unchanged since its last update in 2014. Still present is the old 4.0-liter V-6, and five-speed automatic transmission. The pair certainly isn’t known for its fuel economy, but the engine and transmission offer rock-solid operation and get-there-and-back reliability. No turbos, no fancy direct injection – just a no-nonsense powertrain.
The same is true for the rest of the SUV. Practicality and function win out over appearances and luxury. Sure, the 4Runner can be had with leather seats, navigation, an electronic transfer case, and other niceties, but that’s just a bandage on top of its ruggedness. As Taylor Swift says, “Band-Aids don’t fix bullet holes,” so neither do the luxuries take away from the 4Runner’s macho presence. That’s something sorely missed in today’s lineup of soft crossovers and road-biased SUVs.
So what’s it like to live with such an undomesticated beast? Well, it’s easier than you might think, but you’ll have to keep reading to find out.
Continue reading for the full driven review
Ford is no longer the biggest manufacturer in the game of building life-sized Tonka trucks. Injecting a bit of fun into its SEMA booth, Toyota brought the Tonka 4Runner, a customized SUV that’s designed to play in the same sandbox as the Mighty Ford F-750 Tonka concept and the limited-production 2014 Tonka F-150 by the Tuscany Motor Company. The Tonka 4Runner is just begging to be played with, gotten dirty, and left out in the rain.
Built in conjunction with Funrise, who manufactures Tonka toys for Hasbro, the Tonka 4Runner is a high-riding, adventure-oriented off-roader. It’s the second collaboration with Funrise for Toyota, following the Tonka Tundra fire truck. The Tonka 4Runner is an extreme truck, with a dizzying ten-inch suspension lift, huge off-road tires and a roof tent in addition to familiar Tonka graphics. From a distance, it looks like you could just pick this one up and play with it. Although it’s inspired by toys, it’s also been designed to be a very functional expedition vehicle. The modifications to the suspension and body have been made to improve capability and versatility. There’s even a roof-mounted fuel can.
Licensing restrictions mean that production is unlikely, but as a functional, adult-sized toy, the Tonka 4Runner is a good inspirational vehicle.
Continue reading to learn more about the Toyota 4Runner Tonka.
For most of us, Tonka might bring back childhood memories of playing with that big, yellow dump truck in the sand box, but the company isn’t exactly toying around these days. Tonka now has a motorsports team – aptly named Tonka Motorsports – that runs a full array of trucks in the exciting Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series, and to drum up some added publicity, it has developed a bunch of cool new trucks, like the 2016 Ford F-750 Tonka, to show off at races and other events.
The company’s latest creation is a monster of a Toyota 4Runner, which was introduced this week on the sprawling property of Tonka’s Pro2 driver, Myan Spaccarelli. Although I wasn’t among the select members of the media that were able to attend the event, I was able to talk to Kevin Bloomfield, Tonka’s vice president of product development, to get a little more insight about this crazy-looking 4Runner. As he put it, “Nobody makes aftermarket anything for the new 4Runners,” so essentially the entire truck has been fully customized by various companies (mostly off-road parts suppliers) to transform this stock 2015 4Runner SR5 into what you see here. In addition to the 4Runner pictures, Tonka also supplied some bonus images of its equally awesome Ford Super Duty affectionately known as T-Rex. Enjoy.
Continue reading to learn more about the 2015 Tonka 4Runner.
The accessory business is certainly booming these days, with customers decking out their new rides with personalized touches from wheels and trailer hitches to graphics and horsepower. Even automakers are getting into the game. GM is a prime example, offering aftermarket-like wheels and other parts right from the factory. However, none of the automakers come close to Toyota’s attention to vehicle customization.
More specifically, it’s Southeast Toyota that leads the pack of new vehicle customization. SET is a privately owned distribution company that supplies every dealer in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina with Toyota vehicles. You see, Toyota takes an interesting and rather different approach to distribution in the U.S. Unlike other automakers, it divides the country into 12 regions. Privately owned distributors control two of those regions; SET is one and Gulf States Toyota is the other. The remainder of the U.S. is handled by Toyota itself.
Long story short, the two private businesses act competitively, striving to sell more vehicles faster. One of SET’s and GST’s more successful strategies is offering a unique set of trim packages that come compete with aftermarket-like products, but that are covered by the vehicle’s warranty and are manufactured to Toyota’s specifications.
Enter: The Toyota X Series.
The X Series is a set of trim packages offered solely by SET for Toyota’s more popular models, including Tacoma, Tundra, 4Runner, Camry, Avalon, and most recently, Camry.
Southeast Toyota recently invited me to its Jacksonville, Fla. distribution hub and assembly center to learn more about the process and the products.
Click Continue Reading for more
With the Baja 1000 quickly approaching and Toyota preparing to race a Tundra TRD Pro in the Full Size Stock class, the automaker needed a few support vehicles to assist the team. That’s where off-road truck builder N-Fab came in and helped modify three vehicles for the event; a Tundra TRD, a Tacoma TRD, and this 4Runner TRD. All three chase trucks will be following the competing Tundra over the treacherous, 1,000-mile race, assisting with extra fuel, supplies, and replacement drivers and navigators.
N-Fab started with a standard, four-wheel-drive 4Runner and swapped out its grille for a 4Runner TRD Pro grille. The wheels get the same treatment, with the matte-black, six-spoke TRD Pro units replacing the standard wheels. The story continues with the suspension. TRD Pro coil-over shocks keep the terrain under submission and aftermarket BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires hold the whole thing off the ground.
Behind that updated grille is a 30-inch light bar while a 40-inch unit is mounted on the roof rack. An ARB shade tent rides up top as well, giving crew members a respite from the extreme desert sun. A cooler inside the 4Runner offers a few cold drinks. The rear of the roof rack is also decked out with two, 10-inch light bars colored in amber and clear.
In case the going gets extremely tough, a Smittybilt XRC winch hides behind the front bumper, rated to pull 9,500 pounds. Rock rails with removable steps help protect the 4Runner’s rocker panels.
The 4Runner’s interior gets updated with TRD-embroidered headrests, a carbon-fiber trim kit, an RCI case radio, and a Lowrance five-inch GPS system mounted atop the center stack.
Click past the jump to read more about the Toyota 4Runner TRD.
The Jeep Wrangler has long been the king of off-roading machines. It’s two solid axles, manual transfer case, gracious ground clearance and never-ending supply of aftermarket parts have made the Wrangler the stuff of legend. What’s more, its removable doors and top put passengers closer to the elements and heightens the thrill of the trail.
Of course, for all good champions, a new challenger is never far behind. Enter the 2015 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. This is Toyota’s latest version of its (almost unchanged) 4Runner design. Thanks to some clever engineering in the Toyota Racing Development labs, the 4Runner now enjoys a truly hard-core off-road version that usurps even the venerable Trail Edition 4Runner.
Heavy duty Bilstein shocks with remote reservoirs, thick coil springs with a 1.5-inch suspension lift, upgraded wheels and tires, and a tank-like front skid plate make the TRD Pro a natural in the dirt. All the same off-road tech on the Trail Edition carries over to the TRD Pro as well. This includes the electronic locking rear differential, manual transfer case, and Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select system.
Differentiating the TRD Pro series 4Runner from the standard models is a unique front grille with TOYOTA spelled out in block letters. Appropriate TRD Pro badging follows suit, attached on the C-pillars and bespoke TRD Pro wheels. Things inside aren’t much different than other 2015 4Runners, beside a TRD gear shifter and some branded floor mats.
So how does the 4Runner stack up against the stalwart Jeep Wrangler? Head on past the jump for the full rundown and videos.
Click past the jump for the full Wrangler vs. 4Runner battle
Having the right tool for going off-road is just like having the right tool for the track; purpose-built vehicles work best for their intended purpose. And just like we at TopSpeed often compare track toys that go fast, we also like to compare the dirtier side of the automotive spectrum.
Below the jump is our pick of the top-five best off-road vehicles currently on the market. They hail from five brands, three continents, and two vehicle types. These trucks and SUVs represent the best in modern innovation tied in with proven technology wrapped in attractive packages.
Just like at the track, it’s all about getting power to the ground when heading off the beaten path. Locking differentials, axle articulation, and proper tires make all the difference. With pricing in the comparison ranging from $31,000 to in excess of $50,000, the group varies wildly from spartan to outright luxurious. But no matter what the interior looks like, the greasy bits underneath are what count the most.
Click past the jump for TopSpeed’s Top Five Off-Roaders
I recently spent a week behind the wheel of a 2013 Toyota 4Runner, and while it missed Toyota’s 2014 mild refresh, it still had the guts of a true off-roader and honest-to-goodness sports utility vehicle. My 4Runner was decked out with the Trail package that included part-time four-wheel-drive, a locking differential and Toyota’s KDSS suspension system with Multi-Terrain Select. With all the right option boxes checked, this 4Runner was set to live up to its name.
It was 1984 when the 4Runner began making its name known to Americans as the SUV adaptation of Toyota’s popular pickup. In fact, the 4Runner was basically a Toyota pickup, or Hilux as its known outside the U.S., with a removable fiberglass camper shell over the bed and a removable rear seat installed inside. It competed directly against the Ford Bronco and Chevrolet Blazer and won a loyal following with its nimble size and bulletproof powertrain.
Over the years, the 4Runner has undergone many changes and became its own vehicle apart from the pickup. But that body-on-frame construction, four-wheel-drive, and nimbler size still lives on. Even in a time when the traditional SUV is becoming an endangered species, the 4Runner hasn’t lost its rugged appeal. The crossover crowd has the Highlander, and that’s just fine, as it leaves the 4Runner to cater to a more adventurous crowd who still use low range and the trailer hitch.
Click past the jump to continue reading our review of the 2013 Toyota 4Runner
Toyota’s Racing Development team recently pulled the covers off this hardened version of the popular 4Runner SUV with a new off-road packaged called TRD Pro. It puts together some stout suspension equipment for handling some of the toughest terrain around and a few cosmetic upgrades to make the looks match its capabilities.
Starting with a 1.5-inch suspension lift in the front, the TRD Pro 4Runner gets an extra inch of wheel travel thanks to remote-reservoir Bilstein shocks that help the 4Runner with added ground clearance and help smooth out rough terrain. Remote-reservoir Bilsteins also find a home in the 4Runner’s rear suspension.
All-new, 17-inch TRD alloy wheels are murdered out in all black and wrapped with more aggressive off-road tires. Although Toyota doesn’t specify, the 4Runner in many of the pictures appear to be wearing modified Falcon tires.
Appearance wise, the 4Runner TRD Pro only comes in three colors: Black, white, and an all-new Inferno Red. The unique grille prominently displays "TOYOTA," a throwback to the old FJ40 and more recent FJ Cruiser. Strong aluminum skid plating with a stamped "TRD" logo visible under the front bumper provide the necessary protection needed off road, while TRD Pro-specific bumpers give the 4Runner a menacing look.
Toyota left the interior almost untouched except for a TRD shift handle, TRD Pro-stitched floor mats, and red-stitched seats throughout the cabin along with red stitching on the center console.
The TRD Pro package will also available on the 2015 Tundra and Tacoma. There’s no word yet on pricing, but the trio of trucks go on sale this fall.
Click past the jump to read more on the Toyota 4Runner
Back in September, Toyota announced the first details on its "Dream Build Challenge" launched for this year’s SEMA Show. Back then we only got a sneak peek at the models to be displayed in Las Vegas, but now we have the chance to see them in all their glory.
One of the models entering the "Toyota Dream Build Challenge" was designed by freestyle skier Simon Dumont in cooperation with Oakley Design.He specially designed the 4Runner for the needs of a man capable of doing double front flips 100 feet in the air, and then landing in one piece.
His concept is based on the recently revised 4Runner that now has an aggressive and sporty look, and an interior equipped with all the comforts appreciated by an athlete at the end of a long day. The name is also very suggesting: "Ultimate Dream Ski 4Runner."
Click past the jump to see just how the pro skier muscled up the 4Runner.
Off-roading can be just as challenging, scary and life-changing as a high-speed track session with a supercar.
With supercars, the chances of a costly mistake are present but manageable. The tracks are typically perfect, the guard rails are there to keep you out of the trees in the case of a spin out, and generally, backing off the throttle is enough to recover control before anything goes *crunch*.
Off-roading, however, brings a real chance that poor driving or the wrong car will result in serious damage to both that driver’s confidence and the car’s rolling ability.
While most racetracks are filled with other cars to help you get home after putting yours into a wall, the situation out on desolate off-road trails is much more grim is something really breaks. Being stranded becomes a real possibility, with bad results almost a sure thing.
After popping three tires and cracking an alloy rim of the 18-inch wheels and 35-section tires of my (poor, abused) Subaru Legacy GT wagon in Oak Ridge, Tennessee a few years ago, I had to limp down the mountain on two hideously-bent donut spare steel wheels. Tires sheared off long before, so it was a clunky and scary ride to a place that a tow truck could find me.
It was this moment I finally realized something: as with everything challenging, to go off-roading the right way, you need the right tools.
Those tools have adjustable suspensions, huge wheel travel, and tires so knobby that a 65 mph cruise on the highway sounds like a Monster Truck.
Great A/C, comfy seats and mechanical reliability are also key parameters for this list.
Click past the jump for the full Top-Ten Best Off-Road SUVs, featuring everything from Bowler Land Rovers to the Nissan Xterra.
Toyota is coming back to this year’s SEMA Auto Show, and it’s bringing along the Dream Build Challenge for an encore run.
Last year, the competition was won by NASCAR racer Kyle Busch, who took home the title for his work on the 2013 Toyota Camry, or as he later on christened it: the Rowdy Camry.
This year, another NASCAR driver, Parker Kligerman, will team up with Kyle Busch Racing to be one of the four participants in the complete custom build of four unique Toyotas. In the case of Kligerman, he has the task of using another Camry and create a rally-inspired version that has been dubbed the "CamRally".
Meanwhile, freestyle skier Simon Dumont will be teaming up with Oakley to work on a Toyota 4Runner, or as it will be built and called, the "Ultimate Dream Ski 4Runner".
Representing the world of Supercross are a pair of the sports biggest stars, Justin Brayton and Josh Grant, both of whom will collaborate with Joe Gibbs Racing Motocross to build the "Let’s Go Moto Tundra" pickup.
And finally, BMX rider Drew Bezanzon has the Toyota Corolla all to himself. He’ll still get help from Skullcandy to build what we can only imagine to be an audio box on wheels, thus its aptly named handle, the "Corolla Crusher".
All four entries will be in attendance at the SEMA Auto Show where just like last year, the fans get to decide which build stands out ahead of the pack.
Click past the jump to read about last year’s winning build, the 2013 Toyota Camry Rowdy Edition by Kyle Busch
The fifth-generation Toyota 4Runner was unveiled in 2009 and now the company is preparing to release a revised version for this generation. After teasing it for a few weeks, the revised 2014 4Runner made its debut this weekend at the 2013 Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio, Calif., near Palm Springs.
The 4Runner has been a staple in Toyota’s lineup for about three decades now and since its launch, it has been one of the few fully capable SUVs available in its segment. The SUV is available in a variety of configurations and in three models: a well-equipped SR5, top-of-the-line Limited, plus a Trail grade for amazing off-road capability.
Updates for the 2014 model year will include updates to both the exterior and the interior, and updates to the SUV’s comfort and convenience without sacrificing its hallmark performance capability and excellent value.
Updated 04/29/2013: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs.
Updated 09/03/2013: Toyota has officially unveiled the pricing details on the 2014 4Runner. It starts at $32,820 and caps at $43,400. See all of the details after the jump.
Click past the jump to read more about the revised Toyota 4Runner.
The second concept car to be displayed at the SEMA Show is a Toyota 4Runner SUV customized by Wheeler Magazine. Called the 4Runner Backcountry, this SUV comes packing some serious features that will allow just about anyone to take a successful trip of hiking, camping, or just plain exploring through any and all roads.
The 4Runner Backcountry features an ARB Steel Touring Style Roof Rack - used to mount the ARB Series III Simpson Rooftop Tent and ARB Awning 2000 -, HID driving lights, and a rear tire and Expedition One Geri fuel can carrier that moves the spare tire from under the vehicle to the back. More cargo space out back was achieved by modifying an Old Manu Emu (OME) suspension system and lifting the SUV by about three inches higher than a standard 4Runner. This tweak made it possible to fit P285/70R17 Falken WildPeak A/T tires mounted to 17x8 Teflon-coated ATX Mojave wheels to the vehicle.
The interior of the 4Runner Backcountry doesn’t get much changed, but there’s a ton added to make those trips that much more convenient. The 4Runner gets a Cobra CB radio and a dash-mounted Garmin GPS system, along with factory switch blanks to clear out the dash. The SUV also gets a rear cargo area-mounted Power Tank on-board air system for airing up tires and an ARB Fridge Freeze for those yummy snacks.
Press release after the jump.
Motor Trend is reporting that sources within Toyota have said that the four-cylinder version of the 4Runner is being discontinued after just one year. The smaller engine model hasn’t sold well at all, as the V6 model has accounted for over 90 percent of sales.
Part of the reason for this was that the smaller motor didn’t help the fuel economy numbers all that much. Not to mention drivers have to sacrifice 113 horsepower and 100 pound-feet of toque. That small motor in a vehicle that weighs as much as the 4Runner just isn’t going to work out. With that four-cylinder being forced to carry such a large body, the fuel economy numbers were only 1 mpg better than the V6. On the plus side, the smaller motor did save buyers $4,000.
Toyota has not announced sales numbers for the four-cylinder 4Runner, but we would assume they’re pretty low. That would make this model quite rare and a shocking flop for the company.
Off road racing in Southern California is one of the most popular and demanding forms of motor sport in the region. As part of the racing organization’s annual rounds of competition, their season always ends with the SCORE Baja 1000, a grueling 672 mile loop that must be completed in no more than 31 hours. This last race of the season is scheduled for November 20-21 and when all the buggies and trophy trucks line up in Ensenada, Mexico, Toyota will be on hand with one of their brand new fifth generation 4Runners.
The Baja 1000 is a test of both man and machine, "historically, only half of the racers finish this incredible test of man and machine, but we’re confident the Fifth Generation 4Runner will be a major contender in the stock mini class and can handle the grueling course." The Japanese automaker feels that their latest product is up to the task, and ensuring that they make it all the way to the finish line, Toyota has hired the multiple champion Ivan “Ironman” Stewart to pilot the 4Runner.
Press release after the jump.
First launched back in 1984, the Toyota 4Runner is currently entering its fifth generation of all terrain go anywhere toughness, this time with a more athletic look and a redesigned interior. Not to mention more power and better gas mileage, what is there not to like about the all new Toyota 4Runner. For 2010 Toyota will offer the sport utility vehicle in three different trim levels; the first is the Trail Grade 4Runner, followed by the well equipped SR5 with the Limited model topping out the range. TAs part of the fun truck’s off road agenda it will be offered with a rear wheel biased 4x2 drivetrain, part time 4x4 as well as a full time multi mode 4x4 rock crawling system.
On the outside, the 2010 4Runner comes with more rugged looking bumpers, more aggressive headlamps and taillights and some bolder boxed fenders that frame a set of 17 inch alloy wheels. The Japanese design team has also added a few new color options to the 4Runner’s pallet to satisfy the more refined off road shopper with colors like: Shoreline Blue Pearl, Magnetic Gray Metallic and Classic Silver Metallic. All 4x4 equipped models will be powered by a 4.0 Liter V6 that cracks out 270 HP and 278 lb-ft of torque while the 4x2 models will receive the new 2.7 Liter four banger engine that produces a much lesser 157 HP and 178 lb-ft of torque.
With the all new 2010 Toyota 4Runner, the Japanese automaker is reaching out to younger more enthusiastic car buyers with a fun truck that looks rugged enough to cross over any mountain trail and still look cool parked on the streets of a concrete canyon. Toyota is offering the reasonably sized 4Runner with a host of different trim level and drivetrain combinations to fit any consumer’s budget.
Press release after the jump.
Toyota revealed at the Chicago Auto Show, the all-new Sport Edition Urban Runner, a new package that adds new dimension in style, value, and upscale luxury to the capable SUV. Sales will begin in early February at a price of $34360.
Standard exterior features include 18-inch six-spoke aluminum alloy wheels, unique rear spoiler, color-keyed grille, Urban Runner badging, XREAS Sport Enhanced Suspension badging, chrome exhaust tip, and black-painted tubular side steps and tubular roof rack with crossbars. The 4Runner Urban Runner is available in only three exterior colors, Black, Titanium Metallic and, new to 4Runner, Blizzard Pearl.
Inside, the Urban Runner features a new audio system with an integrated portable Tom Tom personal navigation device, a Toyota first. With a paid subscription for additional services through Tom Tom, the device can keep users informed with real-time traffic and weather updates. An optional Tom Tom power kit and mounting device makes it easy to transfer the navigation unit to other vehicles.
Press release after the jump.
The fourth-generation Toyota 4Runner sport utility vehicle (SUV), which received V8 powertrain enhancements for 2005, gains freshened styling and interior upgrades for the 2006 model year. The Toyota 4Runner was named the "Highest Ranked Midsize SUV in Initial Quality" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2005 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS)*, and the "Most Dependable Midsize Sport Utility Vehicle" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2005 Vehicle Dependability StudySM (VDS). The VDS measured problems experienced by original owners of three-year-old (2002 model-year) vehicles.