CARGAZING Minimizing the Drawbacks 4Runner an SUV Survivor Thanks to Surprising On-Road Refinement

By Derek Price Pricing starts around $34,000 for the CARGAZING.COM 4Runner, while my more capable TRD Pro test vehicle rang up close to $43,000. here’s no such thing as a perfect vehicle. The closest ones simply make the most palatable tradeoffs. What was tested? TIn the case of off-road vehicles like 2016 4×4 TRD the Toyota 4Runner, those tradeoffs typically come in the form of road Pro V6 ($41,550). Options: Sliding comfort, noise and fuel economy. All rear cargo deck ($350). Price as the attributes that make a vehicle great tested (including $900 destination on the trails — high ground clearance, charge): $42m800 grippy tires, indestructible suspension bits and a big engine with lots of low- : 109.8 in. range torque — add up to a vehicle Length: 191.3 in. that’s just not perfect for highway use. Width: 75.8 in. But the 4Runner comes close. Even on the tough-as-nails 4Runner Height: 71.5 in. TRD Pro that I drove for a week, Toyota Engine: 4.0-liter 6 cylinder did a great job keeping the impact from (270 hp, 278 ft. lbs.) all its off-road hardware to a minimum. It’s one of the few truly built-for-the- : Five-speed wilderness vehicles that I could live with automatic on a daily basis. Fuel economy: 17 city, Wind and road noise are reasonably 22 highway quiet. The suspension doesn’t beat up your spine every time you hit a pothole. Even the maneuverability and visibility PHOTOS COURTESY OF TOYOTA 4RUNNER RATINGS in tight parking lots is better than some Toyota’s 4Runner is a traditional SUV designed for off-road capability. The TRD Pro version, shown here, Style: 9 mid-size crossovers I’ve driven. is customized at the factory for heavy use on the trails. Performance: 9 In fact, the only place the 4Runner really makes you pay for its capability is sure sign of its heavy, rugged design That’s an important point of The TRD Pro version is the one you’ll Price: 8 at the fuel pump. It’s rated for 17 mpg that most companies have dropped in distinction. The 4Runner is one of the want for serious off-roading, with its Handling: 6 in city driving and 21 on the highway, a favor of vehicles. last true SUVs remaining in this Bilstein high-performance shocks, Ride: 6 segment, the rest having switched to special TRD front springs, Nitto tires car-like construction. Even some of the and a beefy skid plate to protect the Comfort: 7 most famous SUV names, including the undercarriage from boulders and ruts. Quality: 8 and , are It’s ready to rock the trails straight from Overall: 8 now built around lightweight unibody the factory. shells just like passenger sedans. Oddly, you can buy a two-wheel- The 4Runner doesn’t follow that drive 4Runner, but I don’t see the Video review path, though. You can see the benefits point. The whole reason for this 2016 Toyota 4Runner from it on the trails and the drawbacks SUV to exist is its off-the-pavement http://bit.ly/20164runner at the fuel pump. prowess, and only sending power to For people who do serious off- two wheels defeats that purpose. You roading, it’s hard to beat the everyday don’t even get much of a mileage usability of this Toyota. At least, it’s boost, either, with the same city rating tough to do at this price point. and just 1 mpg improvement on the The 4Runner starts at $34,010, a highway, according to the federal mere fraction of the $84,325 price tag government. of Toyota’s legendary luxury off-roader, So if you buy a 4Runner, for heaven’s the Land Cruiser. While the 4Runner sake, opt for the 4×4. isn’t as sumptuous, I bet there aren’t Power comes from a 4.0-liter V6 that Why buy it? too many places a Land Cruiser can makes 270 horsepower and 276 pound- It’s a true off-road SUV that go that a 4Runner can’t. It seems to feet of torque, and it has no trouble you can live with every day. It’s The 4Runner’s cabin has a rugged feel, with big controls and roomy have inherited 90 percent of the Land getting this beast moving from a dead surprisingly composed and quiet Cruiser’s capability at 40 percent of the stop. The power and gearing all feel seats. It’s also impressively refined on the street considering its off- price, albeit without all the Ritz-Carlton perfectly sorted out, just as you’d expect at highway speeds, even on the road credentials. trappings. from a Toyota. beefed-up TRD Pro version. CARGAZING

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TOYOTA 4RUNNER Toyota’s 4Runner is a traditional SUV designed for off-road capability. The TRD Pro version, shown here, is customized at the factory for heavy use on the trails. Minimizing the Drawbacks Toyota 4Runner an SUV Survivor Thanks to Surprising On-Road Refinement

By Derek Price | CARGAZING.COM here’s no such thing as a perfect vehicle. The closest ones simply T make the most palatable tradeoffs. In the case of off-road vehicles inherited 90 percent of like the Toyota 4Runner, those the Land Cruiser’s capability at tradeoffs typically come in the 40 percent of the price, albeit with- form of road comfort, noise and out all the Ritz-Carlton trappings. fuel economy. All the attributes The TRD Pro version is the one that make a vehicle great on the you’ll want for serious off-roading, trails — high ground clearance, with its Bilstein high-performance grippy tires, indestructible suspen- shocks, special TRD front springs, sion bits and a big engine with lots Nitto tires and a beefy skid plate to of low-range torque — add up to a protect the undercarriage from vehicle that’s just not perfect for boulders and ruts. It’s ready to highway use. rock the trails straight from the But the 4Runner comes close. factory. Even on the tough-as-nails Oddly, you can buy a two- 4Runner TRD Pro that I drove for a wheel-drive 4Runner, but I don’t week, Toyota did a great job keep- see the point. The whole reason for ing the impact from all its off-road this SUV to exist is its off-the-pave- hardware to a minimum. It’s one ment prowess, and only sending of the few truly built-for-the-wil- power to two wheels defeats that derness vehicles that I could live purpose. You don’t even get much with on a daily basis. of a mileage boost, either, with the Wind and road noise are same city rating and just 1 mpg reasonably quiet. The suspension improvement on the highway, doesn’t beat up your spine every according to the federal govern- time you hit a pothole. Even the ment. maneuverability and visibility in So if you buy a 4Runner, for tight parking lots is better than heaven’s sake, opt for the 4×4. some mid-size crossovers I’ve driv- The 4Runner’s cabin has a rugged feel, with big controls and roomy seats. It’s also impressively refined on Power comes from a 4.0-liter en. the street considering its off-road credentials. V6 that makes 270 horsepower and In fact, the only place the 276 pound-feet of torque, 4Runner really makes you pay for the last true SUVs remaining in The 4Runner doesn’t follow that price point. and it has no trouble getting this its capability is at the fuel pump. this segment, the rest having path, though. You can see the ben- The 4Runner starts at $34,010, beast moving from a dead stop. It’s rated for 17 mpg in city driving switched to car-like construction. efits a mere fraction of the $84,325 The power and gearing all feel per- and 21 on the highway, a sure sign Even some of the most famous from it on the trails and the draw- price tag of Toyota’s legendary lux- fectly sorted out, just as of its heavy, rugged design that SUV names, including the Ford backs at the fuel pump. ury off-roader, the Land Cruiser. you’d expect from a Toyota. most companies have dropped in Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder, For people who do serious While the 4Runner isn’t as sump- Pricing starts around $34,000 for favor of crossover vehicles. are now built around lightweight off-roading, it’s hard to beat the tuous, I bet there aren’t too many the 4Runner, while my more capa- That’s an important point of unibody shells just like passenger everyday usability of this Toyota. places a Land Cruiser can go that a ble TRD Pro test vehicle rang up distinction. The 4Runner is one of sedans. At least, it’s tough to do at this 4Runner can’t. It seems to have close to $43,000.

A CLOSER LOOK

AT A GLANCE: FACTS, FIGURES AND RATINGS What was tested? RATINGS Video review Why buy it? 2016 Toyota 4Runner 4×4 TRD Pro V6 ($41,550). Options: Sliding Style: 9 2016 Toyota 4Runner It’s a true off-road SUV that rear cargo deck ($350). Price as tested (including $900 destination Performance: 9 http://bit.ly/20164runner you can live with every day. charge): $42m800 Price: 8 It’s surprisingly composed Wheelbase: 109.8 in. Handling: 6 and quiet at highway Length: 191.3 in. Ride: 6 speeds, even on the Width: 75.8 in. Comfort: 7 beefed-up TRD Pro version. Height: 71.5 in. Quality: 8 Engine: 4.0-liter 6 cylinder (270 hp, 278 ft. lbs.) Overall: 8 Transmission: Five-speed automatic Fuel economy: 17 city, 22 highway