2023 Toyota 4Runner Overview What’s new: Special 40th-anniversary edition with a look back The Trail Special Edition from before is no longer being made. Now, every car comes with a blind spot and rear cross-traffic warning system. A 4Runner from the year 2010 that is part of the fourth generation The Toyota 4Runner is a rugged, traditional body-on-frame midsize SUV that has done well in a market where stylish, technology-packed SUVs based on cars are the norm. Even though it isn’t high-tech, comfortable, or fuel-efficient, it is liked for its rugged looks, off-road history, and adaptability. Like many truck-based SUVs, the 4Runner can go off-road, pull a lot of weight, and has a lot of space for cargo. Some competitors try to look as tough as the 4Runner by adding body cladding and all-terrain tires, but few are made for driving off-road. The 4Runner will be 40 years old in 2023. The 40th Anniversary Special Edition, based on the popular and reasonably priced SR5 model, is a way for Toyota to mark the event. This 4Runner looks great thanks to a traditional design package that includes bronze wheels and badges. This car’s red, orange, and yellow racing stripes are a nod to the old Toyota pickups that the first 4Runner was based on. If you don’t like the 4Runner’s retro look or don’t need its excellent off-road performance, a few other options are more modern and drive better in the city. Both the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Ford Bronco have been updated recently and offer a lot of comfort and technology while also being able to go off-road. The Honda Passport is another option. It has many modern features and is good enough off-road for most people. Pros vs Cons Pros: Fantastic ability to go off-road A variety of layouts to meet the needs of different buyers The space for cargo can be changed, especially if the floor slides out. Cons: Compared to newer crossover SUVs, the ride could be more stable. In terms of how much gas they use, V6 engines could be better. Having a high step-in height makes it hard to get in and out. Performance The way the 4Runner is driven. The 4Runner does its job well enough. Even though it’s not very fast, the engine and the transmission are smooth. It can get around in traffic. When you slam on the brakes, you’ll get used to how the brakes jump and how the car nosedives. For an SUV based on a truck, the 4Runner turns in quickly and is stable enough. On the other hand, SUVs that look like cars are more agile than SUVs that look like cars. If you take the 4Runner off-road for exploring or adventure camping, it turns into a superstar. Its high ground clearance, multimode 4WD system, and unique TRD features are not affected by rough terrain. If that’s important to you, the 4Runner’s average performance in most other ways won’t matter much. Comfort How beautiful is the 4Runner to ride in? If you only looked at how the 4Runner looks, you’d be close to figuring out how comfortable it is. A book can be evaluated based just on its cover. The ride is stiff and bumpy because it is built on a truck. It’s not terrible, but almost every other crossover SUV drives better. The 4Runner makes more wind noise than its competitors, usually smoother and lower to the ground because of its boxy shape. Surprisingly, the body-on-frame structure adds another layer of soundproofing between the road and the cabin, which helps reduce road noise from the tires. Interior How does the inside look? Even though owning a 4Runner is generally a good thing, the vehicle’s high ride height is a significant downside. Because of this, getting in and out may be challenging, but there are side steps that can help. It’s no worse than a full-size pickup truck in this way, but other crossover SUVs are easier to get into. Inside, you’ll find easy-to-use controls and a driving position that can change to give you a great view of the road ahead. There is sufficient space for both the first and last rows. The 4Runner’s windows and squared-off shape make it easy to see out the sides and back. Technology How good is the tech? The 4Runner’s touchscreen audio system makes it easy to move through the menus without staring at the screen for too long. The images are apparent, and there are several preset shortcut buttons. It can also connect to your phone through Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Forward collision mitigation and traffic-adaptive cruise control are two common driver aids. Storage What about putting things away? The ample cargo space in the 4Runner is made up of squares. You can even roll out sleeping bags when the back seats are folded. Of course, c can open the hatch or the 4Runner’s motorized back window to get to the cargo. The second row is big enough to fit any of the three car seats, even the larger ones facing backward. The square doorways make it easy to get in and out, but small children will have trouble getting to the cabin. The car can pull up to 5,000 pounds, enough for most boats and small camping trailers. The vehicle is also ready for the seven- and four-pin trailer plugs that come with electric trailer brakes. Fuel Economy How well does it use gasoline? The old 4.0-liter V6 engine and five-speed automatic only get 16 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. On average, this gets four mpg less gas mileage than all-wheel drive crossover SUVs that compete with it. Value Toyota Safety Sense is included in the price of the vehicle. In order to avoid collisions, drivers can benefit from this gathering of accident prevention tools. Adaptive cruise control, pre-collision warning, and lane departure warning are all included. The top-of-the-line Limited model comes equipped with parking sensors. In terms of off-road capability, the Toyota 4Runner in 2022 is unbeatable. Families who want to go camping and trekking in remote areas will love this SUV. There’s never been a good time to take a spin in the 4Runner. Wildcard It’s OK to do so when driving. This is the way to get there. The fun part is off-roading. When every other SUV has turned into a crossover that’s only good on pavement and snow, the 4Runner still stands for body-on-frame SUV fans who want actual off-road capability. What is Invoice Pricing's Recommendation? The 4Runner comes in several styles, all of which can go off the beaten path. Get the TRD Off-Road grade if you want severe off-road gear to go with how rugged this SUV looks. With that model, you get rear differentials that can lock, cruise control for off-road, and different drive modes for off-road. The top-of-the-line TRD Pro is much more expensive, but it can do a few things better than the other models. Toyota 4Runner models For 2023, the midsize Toyota 4Runner comes in eight trim levels: SR5, TRD Sport, SR5 Premium, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, 40th Anniversary Special Edition, Limited, and TRD Pro. Each is equipped with an automated five-speed transmission and a 4.0-liter V6 engine that produces 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. The SR5, SR5 Premium, TRD Sport, and Limited models have either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive (4WD). The 4WD system is built into other 4Runners. Standard seating is for five people, but some trim levels have a third row that can fit seven more people. 2023 Toyota 4Runner Video Review
