TOYOTA 4RUNNER – RANKINGS, COMPARISONS AND INFORMATION SHEETS

Updated March 3, 2022

WHY IS THIS INFORMATION IMPORTANT?

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The Toyota 4Runner is a compact, later mid-size sport utility vehicle produced by the Japanese manufacturer Toyota and sold throughout the world from 1984 to the present. In Japan, it is known as the Toyota Hilux Surf (Japanese: トヨタ・ハイラックスサーフ, Toyota Hairakkususāfu) which was withdrawn from the market in 2009. The original 4Runner was a compact SUV and little more than a Toyota pickup truck with a fiberglass shell over the bed, but the model has since undergone significant independent development into a cross between a compact and a mid-size SUV. All 4Runners have been built in Japan at Toyota’s plant in Tahara, Aichi, or at the Hino Motors (a Toyota subsidiary) plant in Hamura.

The name ‘4Runner’ was created by a copywriter named Robert Nathan who was working for the advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi. The agency held contests to invent new vehicle names before the introduction of new Toyota models. The name 4Runner was created as a play on the term “forerunner,” since the sport utility vehicle was the first of its kind for Toyota with an emphasis on its 4×4 capability and seating for four.^{[citation needed]}

For Southeast Asia the Hilux Surf was replaced in 2005 by the similar Fortuner, which is based on the Hilux platform.

As of 2021, the 4Runner is sold in the Bahamas, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, the United States and Venezuela.

The 4Runner came in at number five in a 2019 study by iSeeCars.com ranking the longest-lasting vehicles in the US. The 4Runner had 3.9 percent of vehicles over 200,000 miles (320,000 km), according to the study.

— Source Wikipedia

Official Page – Toyota 4Runner
Price: Starts at $47,250 USD
Comparable to: Chevrolet Blazer, Dodge Durango
Maintenance costs: This vehicle will cost approximately $5,825 to maintain over 10 years.

REVIEWS AND IMPRESSIONS

We have put together as many reviews and impressions as we could find. Each finds a way to touch upon something that the others missed. If you are serious about this vehicle then these videos are worth the time.

OUR SCORE

You can view the overall Mid-Size SUV Rankings here and the Luxury Mid-Size SUV Rankings here.

Our Score

SCORES BY PUBLICATION:

Kelley Blue Book: 3.0 / 5

USNews: 7.1 / 10

Edmunds: 7.6 / 10

J.D. Power: 82/ 100

Car and Driver: 4.0 / 10

Motortrend: 6.4 / 10

What the critics have to say…

Step aside RAV4; for those who want more utility and off-road toughness in their SUV, the 4Runner is a tried and true option. It stands as the middle child of Toyota’s SUV lineup, above the C-HR, RAV4, Venza, and Highlander, but below the Sequoia and Land Cruiser. The 4Runner shares a platform with the more luxurious Lexus GX for those who want an off-road capable midsize SUV that can coddle them a bit more than a top-trim Toyota.

Motortrend

HOW DOES IT DRIVE?

The 4Runner’s performance is adequate. It’s not terribly fast, but the engine and transmission are smooth. It can hold its own in traffic. The brakes are a bit jumpy, and there’s some nosedive when you really mash the brake pedal, but you’ll get used to it. Around corners, the 4Runner turns in quickly and provides a pleasing amount of stability for a truck-based SUV. Even so, other car-like crossover SUVs are more nimble.

Edmunds

IS IT RELIABLE AND HIGH QUALITY?

Is the Toyota 4Runner Reliable?

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner has a predicted reliability score of 81 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average, and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.

Toyota 4Runner Warranty

Toyota covers the 4Runner with a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

HOW COMFORTABLE IS IT?

You wouldn’t be far off the mark if you sized up the 4Runner’s comfort potential just by looking at it. You actually can judge this book by its cover. Its truck-based construction results in a somewhat bouncy and stiff ride. It’s not terrible, but just about any other crossover SUV rides more smoothly.

Edmunds

WHAT IS THE INTERIOR LIKE?

The interior of the 4Runner is not what you’d call state-of-the-art, with switchgear that could have come from the latter years of the last millennium. Lackluster materials and styling aside, it manages to comfortably fit humans front and rear in spite of its back-of-the-class interior measurements.

Car and Driver

WHAT IS THE TECHNOLOGY LIKE?

The 4Runner’s touchscreen audio system has clear graphics and numerous fixed shortcut buttons that make it easy to drill down into the menus without staring at the screen as much. It also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. Standard driver aids include traffic-adaptive cruise control and forward collision mitigation.

Edmunds

WHAT IS THE CARGO SPACE LIKE?

A flexible cargo area and several large, deep cubbies in the front row mean that the 4Runner is as versatile a hauler as it is a rock-crawler. Just don’t try to heave anything into the cargo hold unless you have a chiropractor on call—its floor is uncomfortably high off the ground. The two-row models that we tested had an optional pull-out cargo deck designed to make loading and unloading heavy items—up to 440 pounds—a little easier. It can also double as a tailgate for seating. This provides a flat load floor when the second-row seats are folded, but also robs the cargo hold of several inches of height. Even so, we fit an impressive 14 carry-ons behind the second row.

Car and Driver

IS THIS VEHICLE A GOOD VALUE?

The 4Runner costs more than some of the crossovers it competes with, but in return you get more in terms of off-highway and towing performance. It also has a strong resale value, so much of the extra you’ll pay up front will come back when you move on to something else later on.

Edmunds

IS THE Toyota 4Runner A GOOD SUV?

The Toyota 4Runner is an OK SUV, but it has too many notable flaws to call it good in most respects. The V6 engine delivers adequate power, and most other midsize SUVs can’t match this Toyota’s off-road ability. Inside, you’ll find two rows of roomy seats and a good amount of cargo space. The infotainment system is intuitive as well.

USNews

SHOULD I BUY THE Toyota 4Runner?

You should give it a look if you like it, but frankly, there are much better options out there. You’ll also save money by looking elsewhere because the 4Runner is one of the most expensive vehicles in the class.

USNews

THE FINAL WORD

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner is a better off-roader than nearly all other mid-size SUVs. It lags behind its classmates in a lot of other areas, however, including interior quality, ride comfort, and gas mileage. That’s why it’s not a top choice in the class.
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