In an automotive world that caters to crossovers, the Toyota 4Runner SUV is a purebred in a dying breed. It's a mid-size SUV with body-on-frame architecture and seating for up to seven (when equipped with an optional third-row seat). Offered with a V-6 powertrain, the 4Runner faces competition from the Jeep Grand Cherokee, among others. As one of the market’s few mid-size SUVs with a bona-fide off-road passport, ready to take you beyond where the pavement ends, the 4Runner is ideally suited for drivers with an appetite for adventure and a tolerance for its sometimes-clumsy street manners. It comes in a bevy of configurations for a range of budgets.
Popular competitors:
- 2010–22
- 2002–09
- 1992–2001
Latest generation
2010–22 4Runner
The current iteration of the 4Runner brought boxier styling when it debuted for 2010. It’s offered with rear- or four-wheel drive, and its standard 4.0-liter V-6 pairs with a five-speed automatic transmission. The 4Runner received aggressive new front-end styling for 2014, and …
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Previous generation
2002–09 4Runner
The redesigned 2003 4Runner marked the first time the SUV could have a V-8 engine instead of the standard V-6. The V-8's output jumped from 235 to 270 horsepower in 2005.
- MSRP range$28,640–$39,360
- Consumer rating
- Combined mpg 15–18
- Body style SUV
Notable features in 2009:
- Standard 236-hp V-6
- Available 260-hp V-8
- Available Trail Package
- Two or three rows of seats
- RWD or 4WD
1992–2001 4Runner
Changes in this generation included an all-new body on an all-new chassis. With a larger body on a longer wheelbase, larger cargo area, more cabin space and more aerodynamic styling, this 4Runner shared little with the pickup truck from which the nameplate originated. This 4Runner wa…
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