The 4Runner is competent in most ways and its
power, interior quality, and refinement are class standouts. Thus, it doesn’t
seem to meet the criteria for a finish this far back in a large comparison.
But a closer look at the specifics makes things clearer: The 4Runner is
expensive, has rather uncomfortable seats, and doesn’t handle very well, and
only stands out in the areas mentioned above. But it isn’t so much the
4Runner’s own issues that shove it to 14th place but its
competitors, many of which are also powerful, high-quality, and refined. Many
are also less expensive or more comfortable inside, or beat it in other ways.
And while the 4Runner can hold its own with them, it can’t outdo them overall.
It remains a nice vehicle, but that’s not enough to be better than a dozen
competing nice vehicles.
The 4Runner has a very comfortable ride in most
conditions, smooth, controlled, and absorbent. Some bumps taken at highway
speeds can lead to side-to-side rocking however, and ride float is
occasionally noticeable as well. There is less control evident in cornering,
however. Body roll is excessive, but the vehicle remains safe overall. The
steering is completely numb, but fairly accurate and responsive. The 4.7-liter
V8 makes the vehicle surprisingly quick, yet the engine (shared with several
more-expensive Toyota and Lexus models) remains almost disconcertingly quiet
under acceleration. Wind and road noise are well-suppressed as well. Gas
mileage, not surprisingly, does not impress.
Inside, the 4Runner’s front seats are
well-shaped, but too low. The rear seat is mounted too low as well, and
surprisingly cramped, lacking in head space despite the seat’s placement and
in foot space beneath the front seats. The third row is low, hard, and
cramped, but most adults should be able to physically fit. The dash uses
mostly notably high-quality materials that fit together well, though some
plastics on the center stack feel insubstantial. The gauges are very clear,
and the instruments are well-placed and easy to use. Visibility is good, with
pillar-mounted inside mirrors compensating somewhat for the pillars'
thickness, but the driver sits too low, though comfortably enough. A high ride
height complicates entry/exit. There is very little cargo space behind the
third row, but folding it opens up an adequately-large, well-shaped area. The
particularly high floor complicates loading large items, however.
The 4Runner did well in crash testing, earning
four stars for both the driver and the front passenger in the NHTSA frontal
crash test, and five for both the driver and the rear passenger in the side
crash test. NHTSA also estimated that the 4Runner would have a 20% chance of
tipping up in a single-vehicle accident, good for a rating of three out of
five stars. The IIHS awarded the 4Runner a rating of Best Pick in its offset
crash test, but haven’t evaluated the vehicle’s head restraints.
The 4Runner reviewed here came in at $30,811.
Traction and stability control are standard, and the price also includes
torso-protecting side airbags and curtain-style head-protecting side airbags
that cover the front and second-row seats, as is an automatic climate control
system and a power window for the liftgate (a unique feature in this group).
It does not however include dual power seats, leather, seat heaters, a
sunroof, a 6-disc CD player, or a reverse-sensing system, all of which are
available at a cost that would push the vehicle out of this price range, and
all of which are equipped on many others here.
Overall, unlike some competing vehicles that placed near the
back of the group, the 4Runner is not without definite strong points, the most
important of which are related to the excellent 4.7-liter V8. But its deficits
in terms of interior comfort, agility, and value not only take it out of the
running for being considered one of the best vehicles in this class, but leave
it behind even most competitors here. Its power and refinement make it worth a
look, but there are better choices overall.
