2020 Toyota 4Runner

The Toyota 4Runner is one of the coolest sports utility vehicles in the market. In an era of crossovers and compact SUVs, the Toyota 4Runners stands alone as a conventional, hardcore, boxy SUV. Toyota claims that this mighty SUV is one of the most durable, off-road capable and practical SUVs in the market.

So, can this monster of a car be your vehicle of choice for your next expedition to the Himalayas? We' ll investigate that in this review of the Toyota 4Runner.

Toyota offers five trim levels for Toyota 4Runner, which have 3 drivetrain choices: RWD in the SR5, SR5 Premium, and Limited, part-time 4WD in SR5 and TRD (Off-Road, Off-Road Premium, and Pro), and full-time 4WD for the Limited trim. 

Being a champ off-roader, 4Runner isn't known for a comfortable ride, but rather for the rough terrains 4Runner can take on. Keeping that in mind, the TRD Off-Road Premium feels like a viable choice. The 'Off-Road' part is justified by features like locking rear differential and KDSS, and the ‘Premium’ part is justified by features like heated and synthetic leather-trimmed front seats, easy-clean vinyl upholstery, heated power outside mirrors and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

Trim	SR5	SR5 Premium	Venture Special Edition	Limited	Nightshade Edition
MSRP (4x2)	$36,120	$39,315		$44,985	$46,725
MSRP (4x4)	$37,995	$41,190	$44,385	$47,020	$48,760
Key Features	Projector-beam headlights	heated power outside mirrors with turn signal indicators	Yakima MegaWarrior cargo basket	Auto On/Off headlights	Projector-beam headlights with smoked trim
	Integrated Fog Lights	Windshield wipers with de-icers	Black door handles	Chrome door handles with touch-sensor lock/unlock feature	Black door handles with touch-sensor lock/unlock feature
	Heated power outside mirrors	SofTex trimmed heated front seats	"TRD" red lettering on the driver and front passenger headrests	Power tilt/slide moonroof with sunshade	Aerodynamic variable intermittent windshield wipers with mist cycle
	Roof Rails	Smart Key System	Black rear spoiler with the centre LED centre high mount stop light	Dual-zone automatic climate control with air filter and second-row vents	Privacy glass on the rear side, quarter and rear liftgate windows
	17 inch 6 spoke alloy wheels	Power rear liftgate window with auto up/down and jam protection	17 inch 7 spoke dark grey metallic alloy wheels	20 inch split 6 spoke alloy wheels	Perforated leather-trimmed heated and ventilated front seats

We Recommend

For pure off-roading, go for the base SR5 trim level with the 4 wheel drive system. This trim has everything in it for taking you through the jungles, dirt marshes, the mountains and the rivers. Want your off-roading experience to be luxurious at the same time?

Go for the Limited trim level with the 4 wheel drive system. All the trim levels are equally good at their price point but make sure that you get your car with the 4 wheel drive system. Otherwise, your 4Runner could just get called as 2Runner.

The Toyota 4Runner is equipped with a chunky 4-litre V6 engine. The power unit pumps out a solid 270 horses and delivers 278 lb-ft of torque. The engine comes mated to a 5-speed torque converter automatic transmission and you can send power either to the rear wheels or to all the 4 wheels via a limited-slip differential. The powertrain of the 4Runner is pretty much outdated and we expect this car to make more power than it already makes.

Although 4Runner’s V6 generates more torque than most competitors, the engine lacks power. The 4Runner is the king of off-roading, but the mighty fall in a civilized road scenario. The all-wheel-drive variant has low-range gearing. The 5-speed automatic acts precise, but could use an extra gear for comprised freeway driving.

Models	Toyota 4Runner	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Dodge Durango	Ford Explorer
MSRP	$36,120	$32,195	$30,495	$33,690
Engine	4L V6	3.6L Naturally Aspirated V6	3.6L V6	2.3L Turbocharged 4 Cylinder
Transmission	5 Speed Shiftable Automatic	8 Speed Automatic Transmission	8 Speed Automatic Transmission	10 Speed Automatic
Horsepower	270 @ 5600 rpm	295 @ 6400 rpm	293 @ 6400 rpm	300 @ 5500 rpm
Torque	278 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm	260 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm	260 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm	310 @ 3500 rpm

In its class, the Toyota 4Runner gives the smallest amount of power. While the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Dodge Durango does have more satisfying horsepower figures, the 4Runner endures the podium in torque. Nothing can, however, think of confronting the Ford Explorer here.

This monstrosity of a machine, with its 2.3L turbocharged Inline 4 makes 300 horsepower with 310 pound-feet of torque. Getting so much power out of such a small motor is quite an achievement.

Acceleration

Acceleration timings are a big turn off in case of the 4Runner. You can' t really expect it to have it sports car-like acceleration timings but the Toyota is still slow and sluggish for an SUV with 270 horses under its hood. The 4Runner hits 60 MPH in about 7.3 seconds and covers the quarter-mile distance in about 15.3 seconds.

Toyota 4Runner is easily thwarted by its competitors in engine power and acceleration, but 4Runner does well to hold its own and provides a respectable climbing power. This is a car that may not outshine rivals on paved roads but manages to provide a performance that’s decent enough for most people. 

Models	Toyota 4Runner	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Dodge Durango	Ford Explorer
0-60 MPH	7.3 seconds	6.7 Seconds	7.6 Seconds	6.8 seconds
Quarter mile	15.3 Seconds	15.2 Seconds	15.8 Seconds	15.3 seconds
Engine	4L V6	3.6L Naturally Aspirated V6	3.6L V6	2.3L Turbocharged 4 Cylinder
Emission (Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	10.4	8.4	8.4	7.3

As just announced, the 4Runner isn't very quick. Although it isn't the slowest in class, but about a second behind the master, which is the Jeep Grand Cherokee, with a 0-60 time of 6.7 seconds. Taking the group by surprise is the Ford Explorer. With its small 2.3L inline 4, it picks up with the leader. With a 0-60 time of 6.8 seconds, this realisation is quite impressive.

Finally, the Dodge Durango, the backseater of this class. The 7.6 seconds 0-60 is inadequate, primarily with what the Durango name persist for.

Ride and Handling

The 4Runner isn' t a machine you would buy to drive on the city roads. The jungles and the unexplored terrains are the real home of the 4Runner and to that' s where you should actually go to get the real fun driving experience from this SUV. Different off-roading modes offered with this car make literally the conqueror of all terrains.

The large tires offer the car good grip on the ground but the body on frame construction of the car results in a good amount of body roll and therefore passengers on the inside get thrown around while sharp turns and corners.

The steering is not the most desirable. It feels light and vague thereby making city driving a difficult task. We feel that Toyota should update its power distribution system which will further enhance the driving dynamics of the car and will make the car more driveable in the city traffic conditions. 

The classic body-on-frame design that gives it ruggedness and clearance also adds to its weight, which restricts its cornering, braking, and accelerating capabilities.

Braking

Toyota 4runner’s braking force is vague and one needs to squish the brake to two-third of travel for a sudden stop. There is a notable amount of nosedive, which is quite a problem. 

The panic stops also require a few extra feet than most modern crossovers. 

Model	Toyota 4Runner	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Dodge Durango	Ford Explorer
Brake Front (in.)	13.3	13	13	12.8
Brake Rear (in.)	12.3	13	13	12.8
Curb Weight (lbs.)	4400	4625	4989	4443
60-0 MPH (ft.)		124	127	125

The biggest of the bunch, Dodge Durango, travel the most length in case of a panic stop from 60 miles per hour; 127 feet. Although the Ford Explorer is smaller than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, it stops faraway, perhaps due to its tinier brakes.

The Grand Cherokee has the shortest braking length comparable to its weight. A panic brake stop distance of 124 feet is highly noble for a weight of 4600 pounds.

The fuel efficiency figures of the Toyota 4Runnner aren' t really all that great but nevertheless they are the best when it comes to comparing them with the competition. Toyota can go for 16 miles in the city on a single gallon of fuel while it can go for 19 miles on the highway on a single gallon of fuel. The 4Runner gets a combined fuel economy rating of 17 MPG.

Model	Toyota 4Runner	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Dodge Durango	Ford Explorer
MPG (city)	16	18	19	17
MPG (highway)	19	25	26	24
MPG (combined)	17	21	21	20
Fuel Tank Capacity (Gal)	23	24.6	24.6	19.2
Range (City/Highway)	368/437	442.8/615	467.4/639.6	403.2/537.6

Toyota 4Runner’s combined economy of 17 is almost embarrassing when compared to other rivals in this competition. Almost every rival surpasses 4Runner in mileage since it didn’t set the bar too high, to begin with!

Hop on the inside and you’ll find quite spacious interiors. But the quality of materials will pretty much disappoint you. The fit and finish are also not that really great. The plastics on the inside are flimsy and wobbly and tend to shake as you go over sharp bumps and potholes. In a nutshell, not the best place to be in and you would want more given the fact that you’d be paying $36085 for this SUV.

The seats are roomy with decent shape and a wide range of adjustments. The padding falls a bit short, though, when we consider that its strength in rough terrains. A high seating position makes for excellent visibility but may make getting in and out a bit difficult for some passengers.

Model	Toyota 4Runner	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Dodge Durango	Ford Explorer
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	7
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.3/57.8/41.7	39.9/58.7/40.3	39.9/58.5/40.3	41.4/61.5/42.9
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.6/57.8/32.9	39.2/58/38.6	39.8/50.4/38.6	40.6/61/39.5

Out of the group, the Ford Explorer has the most spacious cabin. The accommodation space in both the front and rear rows are class-leading. While the front rows of both the Dodge Durango and the Jeep Grand Cherokee are alike, the Jeep pulls ahead in roominess of the second row. The Toyota 4Runner is falling in between.

Interior Features

Some of the cool goodies offered on the inside of the Toyota 4Runner are listed below.

• Leather crafted steering wheel with tilt/telescopic adjustment.
• Fabric trimmed front seats.
• 8-way power-adjusted driver’s seat with power lumbar support.
• Adjustable front passenger seats.
• Optional SofTex-trimmed heated driver seats.

Infotainment 

Just like the simple design of the Toyota 4Runner’s interiors, the infotainment system is easy to use. The large knobs and buttons add to the ease of using the infotainment system. The 6.1-inch screen, however, feels too small for an off-roader and makes it hard to follow the map sometimes.

Infotainment Features

The standard infotainment system consists :

• Entune Audio Plus interface
• Navigation
• Eight Speakers
• USB port
• Voice recognition
• Bluetooth
• Siri Eyes Free
• Satellite Radio
• HD Radio
• 120-volt power outlet
•  Rearview camera

Cargo Capacity

The trunk of the Toyota is large enough to transport all of your camping and hiking equipment. With the second row of seats are up, the 4Runner can swallow 47.2 cubic feet of cargo and when the second row of seats are folded, you open up to 83.7 cubic feet of cargo volume.

The cargo space, in most cases, is plenty and convenient. It is equipped with a power lift-gate window which can be rolled down to haul longer items. There is also the option of a rear cargo deck that can hold up to 440 pounds but compromises with the cargo space a little.

Model	Toyota 4Runner	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Dodge Durango	Ford Explorer
Cargo Volume with rear seats up (ft.3)	47.2	36.3	47.7	21
Cargo Volume with rear seats down (ft.3)	89.7	68.3	84.5	80.7

The 4Runner and the Dodge Durango has comparable cargo space. Although the Dodge Durango is technically the winner, the difference in their storage space is negligible. The Ford Explorer is the one behind in line here. With a cargo space of 21 cubic feet, the Explorer really underperformed here.

However, things change when we talk about storage room with the seats folded down. The Explorer makes a phenomenal recovery from standing dead last and jumped up to the leaders. Although the Explorer is yet in third place, the contrast between it and the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is now at last place, is quite much.

The Toyota 4Runner has mostly stayed unchanged except for a few exterior revisions. The car gets new paint options like cavalry blue (TRD Pro exclusive), Midnight Black Metallic, and Super White, which was previously only available in TRD. The main focus of Toyota 4Runner is on functionality, which it makes clear with its boxy and slab-sided exterior. You won’t see too many angles and creases.

The closest things to a slanted design are the headlights, which when paired with the black grille give 4Runner an aggressive form from the front. Go to the back and you will notice a roll down the rear window to enhance its cargo utility, and also provides for a convertible-like feel on a hot day.

Model	Toyota 4Runner	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Dodge Durango	Ford Explorer
Curb weight (lbs.)	4400	4625	4989	4443
Length(in)		190.7	199.8	184.3
Width(in)	75.8	76.5	75.8	78.9
Height(in)	71.5	69.3	70.9	70
Ground clearance (in)	9.6	8.6	8.1	7.8
Wheelbase (in)	109.8	114.8	119.8	112.8
Track width (in) F/R	63.2/63.2	63.9/64.1	63.9/64.1	67/67

Some of the cool features on the outside of the Toyota 4Runner are listed below.

• Integrated fog lamps.
• Smoked projector beam headlights.
• Chrome cladding on the grill.
• Body-coloured front and rear bumpers.
• Sporty hood scoops.

Being an off-road vehicle, Toyota knows that this car will be taken to treacherous terrains and will face a lot of abuse. So, the 4Runner has been equipped with a lot of safety features. The Toyota gets a good' rating in most of the test conducted by the IIHS and also gets 5-star rating in most of the crash tests conducted by the NHTSA.

When it comes to safety features, there are surely more impressive cars out there. Even Toyota’s own Highlander provides standard features like forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control, which somehow didn’t manage to make a cut when it came to the 4Runner. Some of the safety features that 4Runner does provide are:

• 4-Wheel ABS
• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Daytime Running Lights
• Front and Rear parking sensors
• Front Tow Hooks
• Traction Control
• Child Safety Locks

2020 Toyota 4Runner vs 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee

As before, judging these large vehicles in an uneven terrain would tip the scales in 4Runner’s favour. But Grand Cherokee has much more up its proverbial sleeve in terms of power and economy. Its combined economy of 22.5 makes 4Runner look like a thirsty old-timer. Grand Cherokee also boasts a tremendous towing capability of 3,500 to 7,500 pounds, which is right there on the top of the table for this class.

Grand Cherokee also offers a V8 engine in its upper trims, while the V6 engine is standard for all 4Runners. This results in much more power generation which puts 4Runner to shame on roads. But being an off-roader, 4Runner has other features, like the trailer hitch, which is standard so you can just hook up your load and drive off. Unfortunately, a trailer hitch is an add-on in Cherokee.

2020 Toyota 4Runner VS 2020 Dodge Durango

The Durango is the most economical in the bunch. It is also the slowest. However, it does have good fuel economy and looks on the sporty side. The Cargo space is good but the 4Runner has more. The 4Runner shines in offroading. 

Its lighter weight makes it absolute to thrust against some dirt. Style and brand devotion can be the only reason to choose the Durango over the 4Runner.

2020 Toyota 4Runner VS 2020 Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer and the Toyota 4Runner have been foes ever since they were launched. Both the vehicles have historically been good off-roading tools. But, Ford has veered off towards the masses and have made the Explorer a fine tarmac riding machine.

Both comfortable and tech-loaded, Explorer is miles ahead of the 4Runner in the segment. The 4Runner on the other side has stuck with its rugged fascia. People who are not into extensive off-roading are better off then the Ford Explorer.

A big chunky car built to fulfil all your offroad fantasies, the Toyota 4Runner is a car that can as stated earlier, take you to any corner of the planet. Should this be the vehicle of your choice for your next Himalayan expedition yes?

Definitely yes. Should you buy this car if you have to wade through the concrete jungle every day to reach your office? Certainly not. Should you buy this car? Largely depends on your motive and purpose behind shopping in this category.