While these figures aren’t staggering, they are more than adequate to get the 4Runner up and moving. With a few tweaks along the way, the power plant now makes 270 horsepower at 5,600RPM and 278 lb-ft of torque at 4,400RPM. Under the hood, Toyota’s workhorse 4.0-litre V6 (codenamed 1GR-FE) does the job, and has been used in the 4Runner since the 2003 model year. Instead, they are developing updated infotainment interfaces in-house – expect to see them in updated Toyota products starting in 2018.
There’s no Android Auto or Apple CarPlay support, and Toyota doesn’t currently have plans to include these two great smartphone pairing methods in the near future. The system’s built-in Gracenote album art database also does a commendable job at picking album and artist information to match the music being played.
There’s a 6.1-inch touch screen in the middle of the dash, which offers full navigation functionality in addition to Bluetooth smartphone pairing. For cargo carrying, there’s 1,337 litres (47.2 cubic feet) of capacity with the second row of seats up, and expands to 2,540 litres (89.7 cubic feet) with the seats folded.įor infotainment, the 4Runner gets a similar system as seen in other products, including the Corolla, Camry, and Sienna ( reviewed here). Seat comfort is average for longer trips, and a short bottom cushion up front could stand to gain more thigh support. With many of today’s cars and trucks moving to a pushbutton start system, the 4Runner still has a conventional turn-key ignition. The saving grace here is that they’ll age well and won’t scratch or fade like piano black or softer touch materials. The plastics are hard and a sea of gray and black, with some faux carbon fibre trim throughout. Its large buttons are ergonomically good, but don’t do the Toyota any favours aesthetically. The Jeep biases toward better road manners and interior gadgetry, but isn’t as heavy-duty as the bombproof 4Runner.Īs a sport utility vehicle that can tackle the trails, the 4Runner features a relatively simple interior that’s all about function over form. With an as-tested price of $46,720, the 4Runner TRD Off Road does make good value proposition against the likes of the more expensive but better-equipped Jeep Grand Cherokee. The package also adds Toyota’s Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS), which automatically disengages the anti-roll bars as needed in order to enhance suspension articulation when off-road. The test truck was also equipped with the $1,920 TRD Off Road Package, which adds a mechanical linkage and lever for four-wheel drive shifting instead of a dial, automatic disconnecting differential, four-wheel crawl control, unique 17-inch wheel, third-row seat delete, and various TRD visual enhancements inside and out. There’s four-wheel drive with off-road downhill assist control, fuel tank and transfer case skid places, SofTex synthetic leather seating surfaces (that feel like real leather yet wear better), SiriusXM satellite radio, navigation, 40/20/40 split rear seats, and a towing hitch. Starting at a base price of $44,800, the 4Runner comes complete with just about all of the standard features that rugged truck buyers are looking for. The DoubleClutch.ca team got a chance to put one of these trucks to the test, with a Nautical Blue Metallic 2017 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off Road being assigned for cottage weekend duty just north of Toronto, Ontario. While many disparage them for not being the most up-to-date vehicles in terms of technology and design, they’re built using tried and true practices that are very well known to be good and fail proof. They possess an unflappable reputation for one of the most durable vehicles money can buy, and are consistently at the top of reliability rankings. Countless people swear by them, and many have been repeat buyers for many years. In the automotive world, there are few followings more loyal than that of the Toyota truck.